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The Centro Histórico is packed with shops as well as ambulatory vendors, who compete with pedestrians for sidewalk space. You'll find the most products under one roof at labyrinthine Mercado Libertad, one of Latin America's largest markets. Tlaquepaque and Tonalá are arts-and-crafts meccas. Shoe stores and silver shops are ubiquitous in Guadalajara.
Stores tend to open Monday through Saturday from 10 or 11 until 8, and Sunday 10–2; some close during lunch, usually 2–4 or 2–5, and others close on Sunday. Bargaining is customary in Mercado Libertad, and you can talk deals with some crafts vendors in Tlaquepaque and Tonalá. The ticketed price sticks just about everywhere else, with the exception of antiques shops.
Neighborhood street markets, called tianguis, also abound in Guadalajara. They take place at various times throughout the week, with a larger share on Sunday morning. Some focus on specific items like antiques or art, but many have a variety of vendors selling everything from chicken, homemade mole sauce, and fruits and vegetables to flowers, clothing, and housewares.
Sergio Bustamante's work is in galleries around the world, but you can purchase his sculptures of humans, animals, and fairy-tale creatures in bronze, ceramic, or resin for less here. You'll also find his designs in silver- and gold-plated jewelry. Don't expect a bargain, however; most pieces range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
The largest and most modern shopping mall in Guadalajara, Andares carries all styles of clothing in more than 100 stores, including designer retail shops. Both an indoor and outdoor shopping area, it has ice-cream shops and other quick bites, as well as sit-down restaurants along the main entrance. Generally speaking, prices tend to be high here.
Ana Lucia Pewter sells beautiful locally made pewter items—from decorative tableware to picture frames—at ridiculously low prices.
Excellent art pieces made by Indigenous craftspeople are for sale here, including sculptures, paintings, and more. The art pieces are purchased by the store owners in small villages in the mountains and brought here for sale.
This mall carries designer brands with price tags to match. There's a food court and some restaurants, too.
The government-run Instituto de la Artesanía Jalisciense, on the northeast side of Parque Agua Azul, has exquisite blown glass and hand-glazed pottery typical of Jalisco artisans. Prices are fixed.
Better known as San Juan de Dios, this is one of Latin America's largest covered markets. Its three expansive floors, with shops organized thematically, tower over downtown's east side. Fluctuating degrees of government intervention dictate the quantity of contraband electronics available, but it is certainly one of the best places to buy souvenirs and crafts. Avoid the food on the second floor unless you have a stomach of iron. Be wary of fakes in the jewelry stores. The market opens Monday–Saturday 10–8, but some stores close at 6; the few shops open on Sunday close by 3.
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