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.
What are the 2 ways to travel from Guadalajara to Mexico City?
There are 2 ways to travel the 550 kilometre (342 miles) distance from Guadalajara to Mexico City. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes to 11 hours 30 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 ($49.50).
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 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 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.
Step 1: City Centre to Guadalajara 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 400 MXN ($22.50). 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 ($16.30).
There is also a shuttle service provided by Shuttle GDL, which costs 250 MXN ($14.10) 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.
Step 2: Flight from Guadalajara to Mexico City
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 ($31.50).
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 the two cities.
Step 3: Mexico City Airport to the City Centre
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 ($1.70). 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 ($6.20), 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 ($36) 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.
Guadalajara to Mexico City by Bus
Buses operating from Guadalajara to Mexico City take around 7 hours 20 minutes to 11 hours 30 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.
You can choose from four buses operating from Guadalajara to Mexico City: Futura Select, Elite Select, Futura and ETN.
Step 1: How to get to Guadalajara Bus Station
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.
If you’re staying near the main square, you can hop on the TL3 light rail from Guadalajara Centro to Central de Autobuses. The ride takes about 20 minutes, or 8 stops. Once you get off at the final stop, also called Central de Autobuses, you’re just a 500-metre walk from the main bus station.
A light rail ticket costs just 10 MXN ($0.60) when coming from the centre.
For a more convenient and direct ride to the bus stop, you can take an Uber for 140 MXN ($7.90).
Step 2: Bus from Guadalajara to Mexico City
The bus travel from Guadalajara to Mexico City takes about 6h 30m - 10h 30m. It’s a bit of a long journey. The good thing is, most buses on this route get good reviews in terms of comfort.
The bad thing? There have been more than a few cases of delays. These can take anywhere between 1.5 to 3 hours, especially during busy days and rush hour. Take the bus only if you are not pressed for time. Don’t schedule anything in Mexico City — like a connecting bus or flight — that is close to your expected arrival time.
Bus fares from Guadalajara to Mexico City start from 1,360 MXN ($77).
We highly recommend booking your tickets online beforehand at least a day before for a better chance of securing a seat at your desired date and time.
Step 3: Mexico City Bus Station to City Centre
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
You can get to the city centre from Central Mexico Norte Bus Terminal with a 30-minute Uber ride that costs around 145 MXN ($8.20).
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the Metro is just 5 MXN ($0.30). But reaching the city centre can be a bit of a hassle since you will need to switch lines twice.
Mexico City Poniente
Taking an Uber is the easiest way to reach the city centre from Mexico City Poniente Bus Station. A 40-minute ride to the historic centre costs 170 MXN ($9.60).
If you’re not carrying a suitcase, it will be cheaper to take the Metro from Observatorio Station, which is connected to Central de Autobuses Poniente. The journey takes about 35 minutes on Line 1 and costs only 5 MXN ($0.30).
Good news to us travellers because Observatorio Station is back in operation starting November 2025. The station was previously closed for remodelling.
Mexico City to Guadalajara guide
Travelling this route round trip? You can also check out our detailed guide for Mexico City to Guadalajara.
Best 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
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!
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 kilometre (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 2 hours 45 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City?
The cheapest way to get from Guadalajara to Mexico City is by flight with ticket costs starting from 880 MXN ($49.50).
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.
Faye is a writer and full-time mom. She loves planning trips to the beach, tasting new cuisines and discovering gems in the Philippines. But if she had to choose, London is her favourite place in the world and she can't wait to travel there again with her hubby and baby!
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.
