Vacation In Tijuana
Tijuana offers a wide variety of activities to engage in, no matter if you are looking for sightseeing, adventure or relaxation. This destination has a lot to offer that is off the beaten path, yet it is still close to home. Whether you visit Tijuana with friends or family, you should use this vacation as an opportunity to reconnect with people, nature and yourself.
Tijuana is a metropolis in Mexico that lies right up against the United States. It’s also a popular vacation spot for many people in California and tourists from across the U.S. Why? Because it’s cheap, fun, and easy to navigate.
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, Tijuana is Mexico’s most populated city. It’s known for its lively nightclubs, trendy restaurants and bars, shopping centers, art galleries and resident Hollywood stars. Spend your evenings dining on a delicious plate of fresh fish tacos or simply head to the beach to soak in some precious time in the sun.
Mexico has always been a country that travelers thought they had to visit at least once, and while Tijuana is also known as one of Mexico’s most dangerous cities, it has grown in popularity thanks to its location and great value.
Donkeys painted like Zebras. A Bustling craft beer and artisan coffee culture. Endless Chinese Buffets and the home of the Caesar Salad. Plastic surgeons and dentists on almost every block. Sound intriguing? Then head to Tijuana, or TJ as it is often called. For a city that has been damaged equally by its gang violence and its international reputation of danger, we found that there is a lot to love about this Pacific metropolis. Located literally on the U.S. border – you can reach through the fence and touch the ground of California – this city has developed an extremely unique blend of cultures.
Vacation In Tijuana
While Tijuana is widely known as one of the most dangerous cities on the planet (evidenced by it having the highest murder rate of any city not in an active warzone in 2018 and 2019) locals will tell you that this reputation is very misleading. We’ll get into more detail about that in the safety section, but I can sum it up like this: if Tijuana truly were that dangerous, would I really sit down and write a blog trying to convince you to go? In this blog I’ll highlight the top things to do in Tijuana, tell you how to get there and get around, and give you some safety tips specific for this city. If all that sounds like your cup of tea, keep reading!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Best Things To Do In Tijuana
- Best Places To Eat In Tijuana
- How To Get To Tijuana
- How To Get Around Tijuana
- Is Tijuana Safe To Visit?
- Best Time To Visit Tijuana
- Can You Visit Tijuana In One Day
- Our Final Tips For Visiting Tijuana
Best Things To Do in Tijuana
Tijuana is loaded with things to do, and most of them revolve around eating and drinking. There are restaurants of all kinds here, bars and taprooms of every vibe, and so much street food that you might not even wind up in a restaurant at all. Outside of the realm of food and drink, there is also so much more to do. Tijuana has a very unique culture and history, and you can see that all around the city and in its museums. In this section I’ll highlight some of the top ways to spend your time in the wild capital of Baja California.
1. Check Out as Many Craft Breweries as Possible
It would be fair to summarize our trip as a constant (but responsible) darty. Unknown to many outside of the Southern California and Baja California area, Tijuana has an absolutely incredible craft beer scene. I read that there are over 66 craft breweries within the city, and that is far and away the most of any city in Mexico other than Mexico City. (I don’t even know if Mexico City has that many; I just know that Mexico City is ginormous and has everything, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they had just as many craft breweries.) If you search for “Cerveceria” on any map app on your phone, you will literally see results everywhere. Three of our favorites were Mamut, Norte Brewing Co., and Insurgente. Insurgente and Mamut are both very easy to find using your maps app, but Norte Brewing Co. is a tricky one. For detailed directions on how to find this place, check the “Our Tips” section at the bottom of this post. In TJ you’ll be able to find literally every variety of beer, and I promise you that they’re all pretty fantastic. Just remember to always drink responsibly, because in TJ a drunk person can very quickly become a person without a wallet.
2. Hit the Beaches
Tijuana is located a few miles off of the shore, but it has a zone that extends out to the Pacific Ocean, and it is called Playas. If you head out this way, you’ll come across some fantastic seafood, a lively crowd, and some nice beaches. It’s a pretty good way to spend your afternoon if you’re looking for some sun! Additionally, you can check out the border wall here as the tourist area extends all the way to the U.S. border. In solidarity with all those affected by the migration crisis – migrants, their families, border patrol officers, etc. – the locals created a “Friendship Park” as well as several murals painted on the wall to offer words of positivity and love. Regardless of your stance on the border or the wall, this is a beautiful sign of humanity and love, and it is worth a visit if you’re out by Playas!
3. Visit the Tijuana Cultural Center
Sadly, this place was closed during our visit in March of 2021 because it still had not reopened from the pandemic. We were really looking forward to a visit here! The Tijuana Cultural Center houses a museum about the history of Baja California, several performing arts stages, an aquarium, an IMAX movie theater, art galleries, and a gorgeous garden. There is a little bit of everything here, and it is located very close to a nice outdoor mall area as well. Most of the galleries are free to visit and I’ve read that tours can be arranged in either English or Spanish. Check out their website to see if they’ve reopened and what their lineup of events is!
4. Walk up the Avenida Revolución to Plaza Santa Cecilia.
The Avenida Revolución is the main drag through Tijuana. On this street you’ll get a good feel for what Tijuana is all about. It is lined with restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, and stores. If you’re looking for something to do, you’re sure to find something by walking on this strip! The Plaza Santa Cecilia is a cute area at the northern end of this main strip. Here you’ll find a bunch of markets, restaurants, artisans, and people selling what are probably knockoff Nike’s. This area was pretty busy when we went, and it felt nice to see so many people gathering! We didn’t stop to grab any food, but the food and drinks options looked promising, and the area is worth a visit. The cathedral is also very close to here, and it’s also worth a visit. You can see its yellow domes from all over the city!
Best Places to Eat in Tijuana
Tijuana has an awesome food scene, and you can find something to meet any craving or desire. European food, Asian food, American food, you name it and Tijuana has it. So instead of trying to list off some of the top-quality restaurants in Tijuana, I’m going to list a few of our favorites that we think are worth a visit, even though they’re all very different. Also, it’s worth noting that Tijuana has more street food than any city we’ve been to in Mexico and everything we had on the street was great!
1. Telefonica Gastro Park
This place is epic. It is a gourmet food court with both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor portion is surrounded by food trucks of all different varieties and the inside portion is actually inside a large garage with several other options for food and drinks. The whole place has a young, hipster vibe to it. You can sit anywhere and the workers will deliver your food from their stand. There is a café, a full bar, a line of taps from local craft breweries, Greek food, Mexican food, American BBQ, a vegetarian restaurant, and more! For breakfast we’d recommend checking out Azarosa and for dinner you can’t go wrong with any of the options. If you come on a weekend for dinner be prepared for a line outside.