One of the most visited cities in the world, Tijuana is a border city full of contrasts, famous for its wild nightlife and cheap shopping opportunities. Its close proximity to the major Californian cities of San Diego and Los Angeles in California makes Tijuana a very popular destination for day trips and short breaks, although drug-related violent crime has recently affected its popularity.
Border city located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Tijuana is the westernmost and sixth largest city in Mexico. It is one of the most visited cities by tourists in the world, largely thanks to its location right at the U.S.-Mexico border and its supply of inexpensive liquor and bootleg products. As one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico, Tijuana has a multicultural population coming from all parts of Mexico, as well as from Asia, South America and the USA.
Less known attractions. Although not known for its beaches, the seaside community of Playas de Tijuana also has sandy beaches, and there are good beaches not very far south from the city. In Playas de Tijuana you will also a a bullfighting arena with entertaining shows on most Sundays. While not just about nightlife and shopping, Tijuana also has a cultural center, race tracks, day spas, green parks, an amusement park, a wax museum and a small zoo. There are also two golf courses in Tijuana.
Travel to Tijuana is easy by air, as well as by road from the US side of the border.
Border city located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Tijuana is the westernmost and sixth largest city in Mexico. It is one of the most visited cities by tourists in the world, largely thanks to its location right at the U.S.-Mexico border and its supply of inexpensive liquor and bootleg products. As one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico, Tijuana has a multicultural population coming from all parts of Mexico, as well as from Asia, South America and the USA.
Sights and activities in Tijuana: shopping, nightlife and golf
The main attractions in Tijuana are the numerous discos, restaurants and souvenir shops of the city’s tourist district, centered around Avenida Revolucion in the city center of Tijuana. Nightlife in Tijuana is very lively and offers many types of entertainment from popular tequila bars and nightclubs to seedy massage parlors on the Zona Norte. Another popular reason to visit is the cheap shopping in Tijuana: Whether you are looking for Mexican souvenirs, inexpensive bootleg products, prescription drugs or anything else, you will find it on one of the numerous shopping malls, street stalls, souvenir shops or markets in Tijuana.Less known attractions. Although not known for its beaches, the seaside community of Playas de Tijuana also has sandy beaches, and there are good beaches not very far south from the city. In Playas de Tijuana you will also a a bullfighting arena with entertaining shows on most Sundays. While not just about nightlife and shopping, Tijuana also has a cultural center, race tracks, day spas, green parks, an amusement park, a wax museum and a small zoo. There are also two golf courses in Tijuana.
Tijuana travel tips and practical information
Tijuana has a subtropical Mediterranean-type climate similar to Southern California, with hot summers and temperate to warm winters, making the city a pleasant place to visit at any time of the year. There is constant humidity from the Pacific Ocean, but very little rain, especially during the warmer summer months from July to October. The cooler but still pleasant winter period from December to March has also some rains.Travel to Tijuana is easy by air, as well as by road from the US side of the border.
Photo: The Muddler, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There is a large international airport with regular domestic and international flights to Tijuana, and the international airport of San Diego is not that far either. However, most visitors to Tijuana enter the city through the border crossing at San Ysidro, the busiest border crossing in the world. You can cross this border by bus, private car, bicycle or by foot. San Diego Trolley train will also take you all the way to the border. There are buses to Tijuana from all major cities in Mexico.
Once in Tijuana, local transportation is available by local buses, route taxis or taxis. Taxis in Tijuana do not have meters, so you need to agree on the price before you enter the vehicle. Car rental in Tijuana is available, and car travel further into Baja California region is a good option.
Variety of services. There is a wide range of hotels in Tijuana, ranging from very cheap to very good ones, and restaurants in Tijuana offer cuisines for every taste and budget. US dollars are widely accepted as a currency in Tijuana, and most people working in the tourist areas of the city speak English.
Safety. Tijuana has a reputation for being a dangerous city, and crime is certainly not uncommon. While violent crime does occur, it is largely between rival drug gangs. Tijuana still has lower murder rates than some big US cities, so there is no need to be overly paranoid. As in any large city, do not forget your common sense when walking around, and avoid the potentially dangerous area of Zona Norte, and you will most likely be just fine.
hint See also these nearby destinations: San Diego, Ensenada, Palm Springs
