Don Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla International Airport: where to stay…

Guadalajara airport is about 17-20 km south of the city, with no direct train or metro: the transfer by taxi or Uber takes 25-40 minutes, even an hour during rush hour. Those with a very early flight or a short layover find it convenient to stay literally inside Terminal 1, while those who want the colonial historic centre or the financial district of Providencia, closer to Expo Guadalajara and the neighbourhoods of Zapopan, need to allow a good half hour on the road.

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.

Pros

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

Cons

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

Recommended hotels in this area

Hilton Garden Inn Guadalajara Airport: The only hotel in the area inside Terminal 1, right after the baggage claim exit; 180 rooms, a round-the-clock gym and a restaurant open all day.

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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.

Pros

Free airport shuttle running round the clock, handy for the earliest flights
Lower rates than the hotel inside the terminal

Cons

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

Recommended hotels in this area

City Express by Marriott Guadalajara Aeropuerto: 5 minutes by car from the terminal on the Carretera Guadalajara-Chapala, with a free shuttle every half hour; breakfast praised in reviews more than the chain average.

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Historic Centre

City 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.

Pros

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

Cons

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

Recommended hotels in this area

DoubleTree by Hilton Guadalajara Centro Historico: On Calle Colón, facing the light rail station and a few steps from the Cathedral and the Teatro Degollado; the city's first DoubleTree.

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Providencia and the Expo area

Neighbourhood · 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.

Pros

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

Cons

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 in this area

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.
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.

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