Museums and galleries in Guadalajara

Museums and galleries in Guadalajara

1. See

   Belén Cemetery

   Panteón de Belén

   This old cemetery dates back to 1786. It has been converted into a museum that is full of interesting stories of cemetery hauntings and Tapatío culture in general. There are also night tours Th-Sa that many people are afraid to take! Photos and videos for a fee. Tours are offered.

   Tours Tue-Sat 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00, Thu-Sat also at 20:30, 22:00 and 23:30

2. See

   Blue Water Park

   Parque Agua Azul

   Open air concerts, a butterfly enclosure, an aviary and plenty of greenery are some of the things that can be enjoyed at Agua Azul. This is a good place to take a break from the often dry, dusty and crowded environment of the city. The park houses a museum of paleontology, and there is a museum of regional archaeology just across Calzada Independencia. The 1.5 km from the Centro Histórico to the park is quite walkable, but it is also accessible via the 62A and 62D buses along Calzada Independencia.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

3. Eat

   Bruna

   Contemporary upscale restaurant serving nouveau Mexican cuisine in an elegant dining room overlooking a sculpture garden that is part of the art gallery housed in the same building. Reservations suggested as this is one of the city's top restaurants.

   Daily 14:00 - 00:00·M$300

4. See

   City Museum

   Museo de la Ciudad

   Exploring Guadalajara's over 450 years of history, the Museo de la Ciudad is situated in a former convent in the Centro Histórico that dates to the 18th century. The museum's permanent collection is housed in six exhibition halls arranged chronologically according to century (16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st) and comprises artifacts and explanatory tests related to the history of Guadalajara in terms of art and architecture, ethnography, urban development, and the everyday life of Tapatíos. Temporary exhibits are also displayed, and lectures, workshops and symposia often take place in the auditorium and outdoor courtyard.

   Tue-Sat 10:00-17:30, Sun 10:00-14:30·M$20, teachers and students $10, free for children under 12 and Su

5. Do

   Estadio Akron

   formerly Estadio Omnilife

   This is the stadium where most of the outdoor events for the 2011 Pan-American Games were held, and—more importantly—where the most popular football team in the city and the whole country. The stadium's home team, Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas), has played since 2010. Chivas plays here every other Saturday at 19:00, unless otherwise specified. If you happen to be in Guadalajara on a Saturday, you are most likely to find either a Chivas football game in this stadium, or an Atlas game at Estadio Jalisco (below). Big games to watch out are Chivas vs. Atlas (which can be held in either stadiums depending on which one is scheduled as the home team) and Chivas vs. América—the "National Superclassic" (superclásico nacional)—as these teams are bitter rivals. Either of these match-ups are sure to sell out the stadium and treat those lucky enough to get tickets to an intense atmosphere. Estadio Akron is a difficult place to reach by public transport. It is close to the Periférico Oriente, so taking a taxi is the best option. Alternatively, use any bus that will go around Periférico and you'll eventually get there, just ask the driver to let you know when you are there, since the stadium's visibility from Periférico is very limited. Two museums inside Estadio Akron should not be missed. Museo Chivas is a soccer museum focused on the stadium's home team, Chivas, who are widely regarded as the most popular football team in Mexico. The museum chronicles the team's long history, with bios, statistics, and outstanding achievements of its players. The second museum is Jose Vergara Museo, known as JOVEM. This museum has nothing to do with soccer, making it an unlikely resident of the stadium. It is a design museum, focusing on the intersection of art and architecture. Guides are available to walk through the museum with you, explaining humanistic values comprising design elements.

6. See

   Guadalajara Regional Museum

   Museo Regional de Guadalajara

   A pleasant museum to spend a few hours in, especially on a hot day when you need some time out of the sun. It features the skeleton of a mammoth found on the nearby Laguna de Chapala.

   Tue-Sat 09:00-17:30, Sun 09:00-16:30

7. See

   Museo de lo Increíble

   It sounds tacky, but this wax/oddities museum can be an interesting way to learn about Jaliscian history.

8. See

   Museo del Ejercito y Fuerza Aerea

   Museum of the Army and Air Force

   Originally a barracks and military academy, the facility was renovated in the late 1990s and opened in 1999 as a museum documenting Mexico's military from its evolution from a colonial Spanish army to its complex and evolving role in providing for the national defense. 15 galleries highlight historic conflicts while providing displays of flags, uniforms, tanks, jeeps, artillery and other military equipment.

9. See

   Museum of the Arts University of Guadalajara

   MUSA, Museo de las Artes Universidad de Guadalajara

   University museum featuring temporary exhibits by local artists. The museum's star attraction is a lecture hall with a backdrop of a famous mural by Jose Clemente Orozco.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon

10. See

    Trompo Mágico Museum

    Interactive kids museum.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat Sun 11:00-19:00, closed Mon

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Guadalajara (CC BY-SA 4.0).