How to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City

Why visit Mexico City?

Mexico City is a destination that will keep any type of traveller entertained for days on end. Interesting history, rich culture, endless shopping and vibrant nightlife are just a few of the many things Mexico City has to offer.

A fun fact, with over 150 museums, Mexico City has the highest number of museums in the world. When you’re museumed-out, there are plenty of other things to do in Mexico City. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, explore Frida Kahlo’s house, or take a boat trip along the canals of Xochimilco.

There are 2 ways to travel the 550 kilometers (342 miles) from Guadalajara to Mexico City. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes to 9 hours 20 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at 880 MXN ($45).

Flights from Guadalajara to Mexico City are cheap and plenty. Although we are not a fan of short-haul flights, we cannot deny that flying is the more cost-efficient option for this route.

There are many flights departing through the day from Guadalajara Airport and you will arrive in Mexico City after just a little over an hour. Note that you’ll need extra time to get to and from the airports.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Your departure airport is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport or Guadalajara Airport, which has a driving distance of 18 km south of the city. It takes around 30 minutes to get from the city centre to the airport.

The easiest and fastest option is to take a taxi for around 400 MXN ($20). This rate can go higher if you travel between 22:00 and 06:00. Uber can be a cheaper alternative. An average Uber rate to the airport is around 290 MXN ($14.80).

There is also a shuttle service provided by Shuttle GDL, which costs 250 MXN ($12.80) per person. Shuttles depart from the Shuttle GDL office, just a few blocks away from Glorieta de la Minerva in the city centre.

Shuttles depart every 2 hours from 09:10 to 21:10. They drop you off directly at the airport after around 20 minutes.

There are plenty of flights between Guadalajara and Mexico City every day — with departures from morning til late at night.

The flight time to Mexico City is around 1 hour 30 minutes. Three airlines fly daily for this route: AeroMexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris. AeroMexico is a bigger and more expensive airline while Viva Aerobus and Volaris offer low-cost flights.

Ticket prices for a direct flight from Guadalajara to Mexico City start from 560 MXN ($29).

TIP: Since Guadalajara and Mexico City are highly-frequented destinations, this route has a high demand. Therefore, booking flights a couple of weeks in advance will help you find better deals when travelling between the two cities.

Your flight arrives at Benito Juarez Airport (MEX), about 10 km east of Mexico City. From here, you have two main options to reach your hotel: Metrobus or a private transfer.

We recommend taking the Metrobus because it’s both cheap and convenient. Take Line #4 and you can get straight to the city centre in around 45 minutes. If you’re aiming for Mexico City’s main square, commonly called Zocalo, then you can get off at the nearest bus stop, which is Republica de Argentina.

A Metrobus ticket costs 30 MXN ($1.50). You will find the buses at Entrance 7 of Terminal 1 and Entrance 2 of Terminal 2.

If you prefer a private ride, you can hail an Uber with rates from 110 MXN ($5.60), but note that they sometimes take a while to arrive. Alternatively, you can book your private transfer in advance, a 3-seater car costs 640 MXN ($33) on BookAway.

Why we don’t recommend taking the Metro from Mexico City Airport

Although the Metro is the cheapest option at 5 MXN ($0.30), it is not ideal if you have luggage. Large bags are not allowed, and the trains can get extremely crowded, especially during peak hours. Plus, no direct line goes to the city centre, so you may need to make multiple transfers.

You can check our Mexico City Airport page for a more detailed guide.

Buses operating from Guadalajara to Mexico City take around 7 hours 20 minutes to 9 hours 20 minutes to complete the journey — triple the travel time of the flight, and most times more expensive too.

One advantage though is that many buses depart from Guadalajara in the late evening and arrive in Mexico City the next morning. That means you can save valuable day time as well as a night on accommodation.

Buses from Guadalajara to Mexico City depart from Central de Autobuses de Guadalajara, 12 km from the historic centre. You have 2 options to get to the bus station: a 20-minute light rail or a 30-minute Uber.

The TL3 light rail train can bring you to Central de Autobuses. If you leave from Guadalajara Centro, (which is right next to the main square), you’ll arrive at the station after around 20 minutes or 8 stops. From this last tram stop, also called Central de Autobuses, it’s just 500 metres away from the bus stop.

A light rail ticket costs just 10 MXN ($0.50) when coming from the centre.

For a more convenient and direct ride to the bus stop, you can take an Uber for 140 MXN ($7.20).

Two bus companies operate from Guadalajara to Mexico City: Primera Plus and ETN Turistar.

Primera Plus runs tourist buses with air conditioning, reclining seats, an onboard toilet, TV, and Wi-Fi, though the connection isn’t always guaranteed. ETN Turistar also offers air conditioning and Wi-Fi, but not all buses have a TV or onboard toilet.

Both companies provide comfortable rides, but it’s worth checking the amenities when booking to match your preferences.

Ticket prices start from 1,260 MXN ($65) and the journey takes around 6h 30m - 8h 30m.

Double check the arrival station to ensure you book a bus that stops near your destination. There are many arrival points in Mexico City from Guadalajara — two of the main bus stations are Central Mexico Norte and Mexico Poniente. If you arrive at any of these bus stations, you can take the Metro or Uber to reach the city centre.

Central Mexico Norte

Mexico City to Guadalajara guide

Travelling this route round trip? You can also check out our detailed guide for Mexico City to Guadalajara.