A Perfect Day Trip to Tlaquepaque: What to Do, Eat and Experience
If you’re visiting Guadalajaraand craving something a little slower, a little more colourful and a lot more charming then a day trip to Tlaquepaque is exactly what you need. Attempting to pronounce this town was half my obsession during our February 2026 visit. I think I finally got it down. Maybe! Just a short drive from Guadalajara city, Tlaquepaque feels like stepping into a living, breathing postcard. Think cobblestone streets, vibrant artisan shops, mariachi music floating through the air and some fun eats and drinks.
We visited on a Sunday (highly recommend) and we just wandered, snacked, shopped and soaked it all in during our weekend getaway in Guadalajara.
A Quick History of Tlaquepaque
Before we get into the fun stuff, here’s a little context. Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) comes from the Nahuatl language and roughly translates to “place above clay land.” Historically, it was known for its pottery and ceramics and that artisan spirit is still very much alive today. While it’s technically part of the greater Guadalajara area, Tlaquepaque has held onto its own identity. Over the years, it evolved into a cultural hub filled with galleries, workshops and family-run businesses that celebrate traditional Mexican craftsmanship.
How to Get to Tlaquepaque from Guadalajara
Getting to Tlaquepaque is easy, which makes it perfect for a half- or full-day trip.
By Uber or taxi: The easiest option. It’s about 20–30 minutes from central Guadalajara depending on traffic.Our Uber was 139MXN going there and 99MXN on the return. Just know that some streets are closed on Sundays so you may be dropped off a block away from the main entrance.
By public transit: Buses are available, but if you’re traveling with kids or short on time, Uber is much more convenient.
By car: If you’re renting, there’s parking nearby, but it can get busy (especially on weekends).
Tip: Aim to arrive late morning so you can enjoy the full day and stay into the evening when the vibe really comes alive. We arrived close to noon and regretted having made other plans in Guadalajara that we had to rush to come evening.
Things to do in Tlaquepaque
Having no agenda is your best friend here because it’s small enough for you to stumble your way through but also chat with the local shop owners because they definitely have solid advice! Tlaquepaque is a designated Pueblo Mágico by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism and well worth a day trip to. If time doesn’t permit a full day, even 3 hours will be sufficient to get a good feel. We visited on the weekend and the place was buzzing!
Wander the Pedestrian Streets
The heart of Tlaquepaque is its main pedestrian corridor, lined with colourful buildings, boutiques and street vendors. On Sundays, it’s especially lively with performers, food stalls and families out enjoying the day. Let the kids roam a little, grab a snack, pop into shops and enjoy the chilled-out vibes. Quite a few stores and restaurants are housed in old historic mansions that are decorated by local artists so it’s very cool to aimlessly roam around. There are also a lot of candy shops so kids will definitely want to pop into those.
Take a Chocolate Tour at Nuestros Talleres
One of the most fun (and delicious) things we did was a chocolate experience at Nuestros Talleres. Everyone tells you to do a free chocolate tour but no one really tells you WHERE it is. Luckily we got chatting with someone who pointed us in the right direction. Let me help you by sharing the Google Pin to help you navigate yourself towards the free chocolate!
This isn’t just about tasting chocolate. It’s about understanding it and appreciating the artform. I wasn’t sure what to expect on a free tour (yes it truly was free) and while the tour is in Spanish, you can turn Google translate on and be totally fine! We were the only ones on our tour and each room had a different specialist who took us through the elements and provided the sample before we moved on to the next room.
You’ll learn about:
The origins of cacao in Mexico
Traditional chocolate-making techniques
The cultural significance of chocolate and the various styles
Obviously, you’re sampling along the way. The tour was about 20 minutes.
Visit a Local Cathedral
Right in the heart of the action, you’ll find Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol. It’s a beautiful, peaceful stop amid the buzz of the streets. Even if you’re not planning a full visit, it’s worth popping in for a few quiet minutes and taking in the calmness that Church always brings my way.
Shop for Artisan Goods
If you love bringing home meaningful souvenirs, this is your place. Tlaquepaque is known for hand-painted ceramics, blown glass, textiles, leather goods and local art. Friends who were with us bought a lovely poncho and I nearly bought a leather purse but I resisted because I had just received a couple for Christmas. Skip the mass-produced stuff because here, you’re supporting real artisans and taking home something with a story.
Also, step inside this Sacred art gallery to see some unique statues and sculptures that are truly larger than life.
There are many cool art galleries throughout Tlaquepaque so be sure to pop into them. Rodo Padilla’s gorditos (chubby people) are quite cute and they are some of the most iconic pieces of public art in Tlaquepaque. The guitar player on a bench in front of his shop is where we plonked down for a bit but we did see other larger than life pieces of art throughout our day. Even if you’re not planning to buy art, you should still check it all out!
Even if you’re doing the Chocolate tour, I highly recommend visiting Cristina Taylor’s chocolate shop in Plaza de Artesanias. This plaza had some of the best shops and this chocolate store will let you sample things and we purchased some classic chocolates in Anise and Spicy flavours (these same bags were also at the chocolate museum/tour place).
We were only in Tlaquepaque for a few hours so we didn’t have a chance to try most of the places but the few spots we did were fab. I definitely spotted some places that looked like it would be a total vibe come evening!
Lunch or Dinner at Casa Luna
This spot is an experience. Set in a lush courtyard with multiple dining areas, Casa Luna is like dining at your rich aunt’s hacienda. It’s restaurant meets art gallery because many of the pieces on display are for sale. In fact there’s a boutique towards the entrance that had some gorgeous leather items.
Inside the restaurant there’s the main bar in the courtyard but we were directed towards one of the side rooms that had its own bar as well. It was mid afternoon and we had our kids with us but the entire place was very lively. There’s live performances throughout the day and I highly recommend making reservations. We happened to walk in on a whim and lucked out by only waiting 20 minutes (while we shopped) for a table.
The menu features traditional Mexican dishes and everything we tried was flavourful and beautifully presented. It’s a spot where you can spend a few hours sipping great drinks and munching on nibbles.
Drinks & Light Bites at La Mata Tinta
For something a little more casual, La Mata Tinta is perfect for a mid-day pause. We stumbled upon it accidentally when were doing our first chocolate tasting and it was a brilliant find. It was so good that we told our friends who were elsewhere to circle back and try it before they left Tlaquepaque.
This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have indoor seating as well as outdoor seating and our server mentioned that they have live music regularly. Oh and while we didn’t remember this, she did also mention that there’s an art gallery inside (we were seated in the courtyard).
Street Food & Sunday Vibes
If you’re visiting on a Sunday, come hungry. The side streets fill with vendors selling everything from fresh fruit cups to traditional snacks and sweets. It’s casual, affordable and truly one of the best ways to experience the local food scene. Because we enjoyed a street food tour in Guadalajara I opted to try the sit down restaurants in Tlaquepaque but the street food did look good!
Is Tlaquepaque Worth It?
100% yes.
A day in Tlaquepaque offers a completely different pace from Guadalajara because it’s more intimate, more colourful and deeply rooted in art and design.
It’s the kind of place where you don’t just see Mexico… you feel it. It’s very vibrant.
