What to expect when visiting 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.
2 ways to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City
There are two ways to travel the distance of 550 km (342 miles) from Guadalajara to Mexico City: by bus (8h30m-11h15m) and flight (6h15m). The journey takes between 6h15m - 11h15m and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 745 MXN ($42.50) for the bus.Where to stay in Mexico City?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Mexico City at the bottom of this page.
Guadalajara to Mexico City by Bus
Buses operating from Guadalajara to Mexico City take around 8 to 10 hours to complete the journey, and are sometimes more expensive than taking a flight.
One advantage though is that 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.
Step 1: Guadalajara City Centre to Bus Station
Guadalajara to Mexico City bus services are operated by 2 main companies: ACN and Autotravel. Their buses depart from different terminals in Guadalajara.
ACN departure point
In Guadalajara, ACN buses depart from Parada Portales. Double-check this when booking your trip as the other stop offered is further away from the Guadalajara exit to Mexico City and will increase your travel time unnecessarily.
You have 2 options to get to the ACN Parada Portales bus stop: a 20-minute light rail or a 15-minute taxi.
By Light Rail
Parada Portales is a bus station located 5 km southeast of the city, just a couple of blocks away from Guadalajara Main Bus Terminal. To get there you can use the light rail, a taxi or an Uber.
You can use TL3 light rail train towards 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 stop called Central de Autobuses, it’s just two blocks from the bus stop. A light rail ticket costs just 10 MXN ($0.50) when coming from the centre.
By Taxi
For a more convenient and direct ride to the bus stop, you can take a taxi with rates from 130 MXN ($7.00). Uber is another good alternative with fares from 90 MXN ($4.90).
Autotravel bus stop
If you booked with Autotravel, the bus departs from the Old Bus Station area by the city centre. The exact spot is the intersection between Calzada Independencia sur and Calzada Jesus Gonzalez Gallo.
If you are staying nearby you can walk or you can also take a taxi. A ride from the main square area costs around 50 MXN ($2.70).
Step 2: Guadalajara to Mexico City by Bus
ACN buses come equipped with A/C, reclining seats and a toilet. Meanwhile, Autrotravel offers a luxury service that also includes individual screens, charging ports, snacks and water, as well as more comfortable seats.
Autotravel
Autotravel rates are higher but keep in mind they depart from Guadalajara city centre and will drop you at Mexico City Centre. If you are staying in those areas, you will save money from transfers to/from bus terminals.
ACN
However, Autotravel takes a longer route to get to Mexico City so that will increase the travel time by about 2.5 hours. If you want to arrive faster, then the ACN buses are probably a better choice.
Bus options from Guadalajara to Mexico City
As there are only 2 buses operating from Guadalajara to Mexico City, we highly recommend purchasing your tickets online beforehand at least a day before for guaranteed seats.
PRO TIP: If your are going back to Guadalajara after visiting Mexico, you can save up to 20% if you book round trip tickets through BookAway!
Step 3: Bus stop to Mexico City Centre
Also in Mexico City, ACN and Autotravel have different arrival points.
ACN drop-off point
If you used the bus company ACN, you will be dropped off at the ACN bus station. Unlike other bus companies that park at Mexico’s big terminals, ACN uses a private stop located close to the airport, along Zaragoza Road.
Since you will arrive very early in the morning, we recommend using a taxi or Uber to get to the city centre. A taxi ride to the main square area takes about 30 minutes and costs around 150 MXN ($8.00). Uber can be a cheaper alternative if you have data on your mobile, with rates from 90 MXN ($4.90).
There is one metro station just a couple of blocks away from the bus stop. However, we don’t recommend walking in that area that early.
If you still want to take the metro, the nearest station is called Zaragoza. Note than on Sundays, the Metro doesn’t open until 07:00 in the morning. You can take line #1, going towards Observatorio and get off at the station Pino Suarez after around 20 minutes. The station is located within the city centre, just a couple of blocks from the main square.
A metro ticket costs 5 MXN ($0.20).
Autotravel drop-off point
If you took Autotravel, you will be dropped off in front of the Starbucks located on Republica del Uruguay Street, which is just a couple of blocks away from the main square.
Mexico City to Guadalajara guide
Travelling this route round trip? You can also check out our detailed guide for Mexico City to Guadalajara.
Guadalajara to Mexico City by Flight
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 after a little more than an hour you will arrive in Mexico City. 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.
Step 1: Guadalajara City Centre to Airport
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 220 MXN ($12.00). Uber can be a cheaper alternative. An average Uber rate to the airport is around 150 MXN ($8.00).
There is also a shuttle service provided by Shuttle GDL, which costs 100 MXN ($5.50). Shuttles depart from their office, located very close to the city centre in an area known as Minerva.
Shuttles depart every hour from 07:00 to 20:00. They drop you off directly at the airport after around 40 minutes.
Step 2: Guadalajara to Mexico City by Flight
There are several flights between Guadalajara and Mexico City every day. You can find departures roughly every 30 minutes between 05:20 and 22:00.
The flight time to Mexico City is around 1.5 hours. 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 keep a low-cost format.
Ticket prices for a direct flight from Guadalajara to Mexico City starts from 630 MXN ($34.50).
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 Guadalajara and Mexico City.
Step 3: Mexico City Airport to the City Centre
Benito Juarez Airport is your arrival airport and it has a road distance of 11 km from Mexico City. There are different transport options from the airport: a 45-minute bus, a 25-minute taxi/Uber, a 30 to 50-minute shared minivan, or a 50-minute Metro.
Public transport
The Metrobus is the cheapest way to get to your hotel. It departs right outside of Terminals 1 and 2. The rate is just 30 MXN ($1.60) and it takes about 45 minutes to reach Republica de Argentina, the closest stop to the city’s main square Zocalo.
Taxi
The most convenient option is to take a taxi. You can prepay for your taxi at one of the counters inside the airport. The rate will depend on the distance to your destination, but usually starts from 300 MXN ($16.50).
If you have internet access, a more affordable option is to use Uber. Fares for a ride to the city centre start from 150 MXN ($8.00). For both options, the time to reach the city centre is around 20 minutes.
For more transport options, you can check out our Mexico City Airport page.
Our favourite places to stay in Mexico City
Casa Emilia - Treating Yourself
Staying at Casa Emilia will make you feel like you’re staying in a cosy jungle retreat, rather than in a massive metropolitan city. All of the spaces around the hotel are designed for ultimate comfort and luxury, which it certainly achieves. You can relax on the terrace, in access hall or in the hotel’s sunroom.
Two of our favourite experiences at the hotel are the delicious breakfast and the huge, comfy beds offering a great night’s sleep. If you’re looking to treat yourself, this is the place to do it.
- Incredible breakfast
- Cosy jungle design
- Bike rental available
- Excellent location
Double rooms start from $80 per night
Casa Pancha - Treating Yourself
Located in the neighbourhood of Condesa, Casa Pancha mirrors the atmosphere of the area. The hotel’s culture is certainly one of its selling points, offering simplicity, originality, community and connection.
With a mixture of dorms and private rooms, it’s an easy place to meet people whilst maintaining privacy. The hotel is bright and natural throughout, with both a backyard and a balcony area to relax in. The staff are super friendly here and their love for the hotel quickly spreads through the space.
- Dorms and private rooms available
- Private garden and balcony
- Amazing staff
- Perfect location
Double rooms start from $80 per night
Stanza Hotel - Mid Range
If there’s any neighbourhood that you want to stay in Mexico City, La Roma should definitely be up there. And that’s where Stanza Hotel is located. It puts you close to the tree-lined streets that are brimming with hip cafes and bars.
The hotel rooms are clean and modern, offering everything that you could ask for. The beds are also huge and super comfy. If you don’t fancy leaving the hotel one night for dinner, the onsite restaurant serves delicious Mediterranean-Mexican fusion food.
- Great location
- Clean and modern rooms
- Onsite Mediterranean-Mexican fusion restaurant
- Helpful, English-speaking staff
Double rooms between $40-$80 per night
Casa Indigo - Budget Friendly
This place gets booked out fast (we’re talking months in advance)! The location is perfect and it’s super affordable. Casa Indigo is close to the historic centre, plus the rooms are clean and beautifully decorated.
The host, Salvador, will make your stay unforgettable with his friendliness and warm welcome. On top of all of that, you can enjoy a large roof terrace offering stunning views over Mexico City.
- Great location
- Huge roof terrace
- Friendly host
- Fully equipped kitchen
Double rooms between $15-$40 per night
Frequently Asked Questions about Guadalajara to Mexico City
What is the distance from Guadalajara to Mexico City?
The distance from Guadalajara to Mexico City is 550 km (342 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City?
The fastest way to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City is by flight and takes 6h15m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City?
The cheapest way to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City is by bus with ticket costs starting from 745 MXN ($42.50).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
