Do you want a vibrant vacation filled with nightlife, stunning desert landscapes, and rich cultural experiences? Look no further than Tijuana, located in Baja California right on the US border!
With so many neighborhoods to choose from, choosing the perfect place to live can be a daunting task, especially for first-timers! This guide will help you choose the best area in Tijuana to stay at.
Whether you’re on a budget or looking for something upscale, Tijuana offers plenty of options to suit every taste and interest!
Immerse yourself in the vibrant streets of downtown Tijuana to experience its vibrant culture, or experience the luxurious atmosphere of Rio. If you enjoy relaxing on the beach, Playas de Tijuana beckons with its oceanfront charm.
And let’s not forget Rosarito, a paradise for nightlife lovers!
Just be sure to book your accommodation in advance: Tijuana is a popular destination and fills up quickly! With its irresistible mix of attractions, Tijuana promises an unforgettable holiday experience.
Let’s divide Tijuana into 4 main areas:
- Tijuana Centro: for first-timers
- Zona Rio: for luxury
- Playas de Tijuana : for the beach
- Rosarito: for nightlife
Tijuana Centro – where to stay for the first time
For those new to Tijuana, the city center is the ideal transportation hub, offering easy access to all corners of the city via public transportation!
Downtown Tijuana, also known as Centro, offers a variety of lodging options among a maze of streets lined with authentic taquerias, cozy cafes, and familiar restaurant chains. As the financial core of Tijuana, the area attracts tourists and boasts many hotels.
If you’re visiting Tijuana for the first time, immerse yourself in the pulsating heart of the city, downtown of Tijuana. Here you will find a wealth of cultural wonders, historical sites, and vibrant nightlife.
Downtown Tijuana pulses with a dynamic mix of bars, cantinas, shopping centers, museums, art galleries, casinos, and theaters, home to the city’s top cultural events! From immersing yourself in Tijuana’s cultural heritage to enjoying the rhythm of the countless clubs on Calle 6, there is something for everyone.
For those looking for accommodation within walking distance of Tijuana’s top attractions, Avenida Revolución in Centro is an excellent choice. This lively street is located in the historic Old Town and is full of cultural gems such as El Foro, a former palace converted into a lively concert venue.
At the epicenter of Centro is the famous Avenida Revolucion, which was once a hub for Americans seeking legal libations during the Prohibition era.
Travelers inclined to Tijuana’s artistic flair can book accommodations near the city’s creative enclave of Pasaje Rodriguez. This atmospheric alley boasts galleries, murals, bookstores, and boutiques that let you tap into Tijuana’s creative pulse.
Things to do in Tijuana Centro:
- Gaze at the architecture of Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
- Buy authentic Mexican souvenirs at el Popo market!
- Relax or have a walk at the green Teniente Guerrero’s Park
- Learn about Tijuana’s history at Museo de Historia de Tijuana
- Recognize the 100 wax celebrities at the Wax Museum
- Attend an event at the Jai Alai Palace Forum!
- Go for a shopping afternoon at Plaza Río shopping center!
- Attend some football matches at the Caliente Stadium
Zona Rio – the most upscale area in Tijuana
The Rio Tijuana district, literally “Tijuana River”, is Tijuana’s modern business district, where all the region’s commercial and financial businesses are located. This neighborhood lies only 5 minutes by car from the US border: just to give you an idea, you can be in San Diego in 25 minutes!
Being a financial area, here you will find the city’s most luxurious hotels and upscale restaurants, offering delicious cuisines from around the world. If food is one of the main reasons you’re going to Tijuana, check out The Boulevard Sanchez Taboada, one of the city’s main gastronomical hubs!
And if you want to try something more local, there’s the farmer’s market Mercado Hidalgo where you can try the popular Cenadurias (Mexican cafes), fresh fruits, and vegetables.
But in Rio, there’s more than business and food. The district hosts the main Tijuana Cultural Center, as well as many shopping centers and stores selling any kind of product.
Booking a hotel near the banks of Rio Tijuana will put you within easy reach of some of the city’s trendiest restaurants and Plaza Fiesta, the unofficial home of the city’s growing craft beer scene.
To learn more about the history and culture of the Baja California Peninsula, stay near the Tijuana Cultural Center in Zona Rio, just east of the downtown area.
Being one of the main tourist points in the city, Río Tijuana offers a wide range of hotels (many with a river view). If you think this is the right area for you, try to book them as soon as you can… you could find some great deals!
Things to do in Zona Rio:
- Learn more about the region at Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT)
- Go for a personalized Wine Valley tour in Guadalupe!
- Do some hiking in the reddish Cerro Colorado
- Wonder around at Paseo De Los Heroes and Boulevard Agua Caliente
- Go crazy shopping at the big Plaza Rio Shopping Center
- Sample local Baja craft brews at the Plaza Fiesta
- Try the typical Cenadurias (Mexican cafes) at the el Hidalgo Market
- Sample delicious food in one of Boulevard Sanchez Taboada’s restaurants!
Playas de Tijuana – for the best beach holiday in Tijuana!
Make a hotel reservation along Playas de Tijuana for a fun and friendly atmosphere only a short distance from the city center.
Playas de Tijuana (Tijuana Beach) is the westernmost district in the city and stretches from the United States border all down the coast. This is the place to stay if you’re all about sand and sun, and fun watersports!
Depending on the time of the year here you can engage in either surfing, kayaking, or bodyboarding! However, the Tijuana Beach area hosts many other ways of entertainment, from concerts to festivals, sporting events like boxing matches, and even bullfighting!
One of the most popular attractions of Tijuana Beach is the Plaza Monumental Tijuana, a huge stadium commonly known as “Bullring By The Sea”, where you can go watch these bloody shows.
Playas de Tijuana is the place to gaze at the best oceanfront views, and taste delicious seafood, fish tacos, ceviche, and “Camarones Cucaracha” on the famous Malecón!
If you want to stay close to the beach and have all the comforts at the same time, check out the Rosarito area which is just about a 30-minute drive from the city center and it has amazing beaches and oceanfront hotels!
Things to do in Playas de Tijuana:
- Go with your friends for a tour of Tijuana’s most iconic craft breweries!
- Relax, swim, and splash at Tijuana Beach
- Try one of the many water sports: surfing, kayaking, or bodyboarding
- Check out the exhibitions of the arts & culture house
- Attend an event at Plaza Monumental Tijuana!
- Have the best seafood with a view at Sunset Lounge Playas
- Grab a fish taco while you’re walking on the Malecon promenade!
Rosarito – where to stay in Tijuana for nightlife
Farther south is Rosarito, a quieter beach resort that was once a favorite vacation spot of Hollywood stars including Orson Welles and Marilyn Monroe. Book a room along the promenade and get ready to swim or perhaps even dive at Rosarito’s artificial reef made from a sunken Mexican Navy patrol ship.
If you’re looking for the same ocean and laid-back vibe of Tijuana Beach, but with more nightlife, Rosarito is the right area for you! Even though technically it is a municipality, at half an hour from Tijuana, it is a super popular destination with tourists… and no wonder why!
Rosarito hosts so many stunning beaches (like Rosarito, Medio Camino, and Baja Malibu are just a few) where to fully relax and enjoy the best sunsets while sipping a fresh cocktail.
But if you’re not able to just lie down and do nothing, you’ll be happy to know that here you can engage in several water activities, from surfing to snorkeling or scuba diving in the Rosarito Underwater Park!
But Rosarito is particularly loved for its fun nightlife, so get ready to have some real fun in the eclectic bars and clubs of the area… here they will keep you going until the early hours of the morning!
The area is home to many stunning beachfront and oceanview hotels where to enjoy full relaxation and fresh sea breeze.
Things to do in Rosarito:
- Do some panoramic horse riding by the sea!
- Splash in the warm water of Rosarito Beach
- Surf the perfect wave in Muelle de Rosarito
- Dive into the Underwater Park and check out the sunken ship Uribe 121
- Go hiking at Cerro El Coronel, with panoramic views of the coast!
- Visit Puerto Nuevo town, the foodie’s paradise, at only 20 minutes driving
- Browse the local arts and crafts at the Local Artisan Market
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Tijuana’s surrounding small towns additionally offer excellent accommodations:
Tecate, a small city northeast of Tijuana best known for brewing the famous lager of the same name. A little farther from Rosarito, down the coast is Puerto Nuevo, a seaside village famous for its delicious lobster and pleasant accommodations with uninterrupted sea views.
Tijuana’s coastal position unsurprisingly gives it glorious stretches of golden sand ideal for a balmy beach getaway.
