Living in Guadalajara: neighborhoods to know

Living is not the same as visiting

For a weekend, all you need is good restaurants nearby. When you live somewhere, other things matter: where you buy groceries, how long you drive to work, whether you can go for a walk at night, how much noise comes through the window and whether the building has somewhere to park. A neighborhood you love on a visit can wear you down by the third month, and one that seems dull can be exactly what you need to work from home.

That is why this guide is not about sightseeing. It looks at the five neighborhoods where we have apartments from the point of view of an ordinary Tuesday. Guadalajara has many more places to live than these five; we only write about the ones we know from the inside.

Colonia Americana: life on foot

In Colonia Americana, life happens on the street. Along Avenida Chapultepec and the blocks around it there are cafés, small family restaurants, bakeries, bars and galleries, and it is normal to walk out for bread or dinner without thinking about a car. For someone arriving alone, as a couple or to work remotely, it is the neighborhood where it is easiest to build a routine and meet people.

It has two costs. The first is noise: near the bars, weekends are loud, so if you are a light sleeper, ask about the street before you choose. The second is parking: only a couple of our apartments there include a spot. In exchange, most have a rooftop or a terrace, and several have a grill.

Ladrón de Guevara: quiet, close to everything

Ladrón de Guevara is a residential neighborhood right next to Colonia Americana. It has fewer bars and more houses, and it feels calmer at night, while Avenida Chapultepec is still within walking distance. Our apartments there are in a building with a gym, a rooftop and parking, which is exactly what Colonia Americana lacks. It suits people who want neighborhood life nearby, just not under their window.

Providencia: room for a family

Providencia is one of the most sought-after residential neighborhoods in the city: tree-lined streets, large houses, shops along the avenues and plenty of calm inside the blocks. That is where our only whole house is, along with the two floors of the Ricardo Palma house, so it is the area that works best for families or for anyone who needs an extra room to work. It is also one of the most expensive places to rent with a lease: according to El Informador, citing January 2026 data from ADI Occidente, apartments in neighborhoods such as Providencia, Country Club, Colomos or near Colonia Americana are commonly listed above 20,000 pesos a month^source.

Midtown: the building handles the practical side

In Midtown, our apartments are in a tower across from the shopping center of the same name. All of them have parking and security in the building. It is the area for people who want the practical things sorted: arrive by car, have shops across the street and not worry about the building entrance. It has less neighborhood life than Colonia Americana, and for some people that is the point.

Zapopan near Andares: life by car

In Zapopan near Andares, you live in a tower and you drive. Our apartments there are in two buildings, and all of them have a pool, a gym, parking and security around the clock. The surroundings are corporate offices, private hospitals and shopping centers, with wide avenues and few shops at street level. It works very well for people who work on that side of the city or arrive with children and want a pool at home. The thing to measure beforehand is traffic: at rush hour the avenues in the area fill up. If you are coming for medical care, read our guide to medical stays in Guadalajara.

Try the neighborhood for a month before you sign

Our answer to people who are thinking of moving is usually the same: before signing a one-year lease, live for a month in the neighborhood that interests you. A furnished apartment needs no guarantor and no furniture, and in that month you find out what the street is like at night, how long it takes to get to work and where you will shop. From 28 nights the monthly rate applies; see our page on monthly rentals in Guadalajara, and to plan the budget, read the cost of living in Guadalajara.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best neighborhood to live in Guadalajara?+

It depends on your routine. To do everything on foot, Colonia Americana. To live by car in a building with a pool and a gym, Zapopan near Andares. For quieter streets, Ladrón de Guevara or Providencia.

Can I live in Guadalajara without a car?+

Yes, in Colonia Americana or Ladrón de Guevara, where coffee, groceries and dinner are within walking distance. In Zapopan, near Andares, almost everything is done by car or ride-hailing app.

Can I try a neighborhood before signing a lease?+

Yes. You can rent a furnished apartment for a month or more, without a guarantor, and live in the area before committing. From 28 nights the nightly rate is lower.

Which area is best for a family?+

Providencia if you need space: that is where our whole house and our largest apartments are. Zapopan near Andares if you want a pool and parking in the building.