Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport serves Guadalajara, Mexico's second city and cultural capital, birthplace of mariachi and tequila.
It is located approximately 16 km from the city center, the access point to the colonial historic center and the nearby Tequila region, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
How to get to Don Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to GDL
Parking near Don Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla International Airport
A multi-level parking structure is adjacent to the terminal.
Rates are in line with standards of a major Mexican hub.
How to get to Guadalajara from GDL
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Need an airport transfer?
Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com
Car rental at Don Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla International Airport
Major international car rental companies have desks in the arrivals area, useful for reaching Tequila and surrounding regions.
The documents to have are driver's license, passport, credit card, plus an IDP in nearly all cases.
Hotels near Don Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla International Airport
At the airport
The Hilton Garden Inn is inside Terminal 1, right after the baggage claim exit: no transfer needed.
Best for: Layovers of a few hours and departures before dawn, when you don't want to leave Terminal 1.
- You reach check-in on foot in a few minutes, with no taxi or shuttle
- Handy even just for a shower or a rest between two flights, open round the clock
- Only terminals and car parks around: for dinner you stay in the hotel
- For an evening downtown you still need 25-40 minutes by taxi
Airport area
About 5 minutes by car (less than 11 km) from the terminal, with a free round-trip shuttle running round the clock.
Best for: Those arriving late or by car who want to spend less than at the airport, with a shuttle for the morning flight.
- Free airport shuttle running round the clock, handy for the earliest flights
- Lower rates than the hotel inside the terminal
- On the Carretera Guadalajara-Chapala, an area with no evening life within walking distance
- For the historic centre you still need 30-40 minutes by taxi
Historic Centre
About 25 km from the terminal, 30-40 minutes by taxi or Uber depending on traffic; no direct Mi Tren or Mi Macro line from the airport.
Best for: Those who want the Cathedral, the Teatro Degollado and the Hospicio Cabañas within walking distance, accepting the longest transfer from the airport.
- The Cathedral, the Teatro Degollado and the Hospicio Cabañas within walking distance
- A light rail station right in front of the hotel, handy for getting around the city without a car
- Transfer from the airport among the longest in this guide: 30-40 minutes with no rail alternative
- Central tourist area, so more noise and crowds on weekends
Providencia and the Expo area
About 20-23 km from the terminal, 30-40 minutes by taxi or Uber; the historic centre is about 4 km away, 10-15 minutes by car.
Best for: Business trips, trade fairs at Expo Guadalajara and those who prefer a quieter residential neighbourhood than the historic centre.
- Financial district with restaurants, the Punto Sao Paulo shopping centre and the Country Club a few steps away
- Closer to Expo Guadalajara and the main corporate centres than the historic centre
- The same long transfer from the airport as the city average, 30-40 minutes with no rail alternative
- You need a car or a taxi to reach the historic centre and its monuments
Recommended hotels
- NH Collection Guadalajara Providencia On the corner of Calle Sao Paulo and Avenida Américas, 4 km from the centre and a step from the Punto Sao Paulo shopping centre and the Guadalajara Country Club. View availability
- Presidente InterContinental Guadalajara by IHG On Avenida López Mateos, facing the Plaza del Sol shopping centre and a few minutes from Expo Guadalajara; among the most established business hotels in the city. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, one of Mexico's major ones, handles intense domestic traffic and some direct international routes.
To be safe, it's advisable to arrive 3 hours early for international flights.
Map of Don Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is Uber or taxi better in Guadalajara?
Uber is generally cheaper (150-250 pesos versus 400-500 pesos for the official taxi) and is available right outside the airport terminal.
Q. Is Guadalajara close to the Tequila region?
Yes, the town of Tequila and its surrounding region, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its agave cultivation and production of the famous spirit, are about an hour's drive away.
Q. How much does an official taxi from the airport to downtown cost?
Roughly 400 pesos during the day, up to 500 pesos during the night hours (10 p.m.-6 a.m.).
Q. Is Guadalajara the birthplace of mariachi?
Yes, it's considered Mexico's cultural capital, the historic home of mariachi music and tequila.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
