Tijuana

Avenida Revolución holds much of Tijuana’s history and continues to evolve. Besides its craft shops, restaurants, bars and lively nightlife, the avenue features several key spots: Plaza Santa Cecilia, where you can enjoy mariachi music; the 60-meter-high Monumental Arch; and the historic Jai Alai Palace, which is now a multipurpose venue.

Pasaje Rodríguez has become a creative corridor filled with murals, independent cafés and design shops. Nearby stands the Agua Caliente Tower, which was part of a historic 1920s resort complex that once served as a beacon for the city’s first airport. 

Thanks to its architecture, strategic location and mission of serving as a bridge between cultures, CECUT is one of the city’s cultural landmarks. It offers exhibitions, film screenings, theater performances, art displays and community activities. The most recognizable feature of the center is the spherical IMAX Dome, which has become an iconic symbol of Tijuana. Designed by architects Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and Manuel Rosen, the complex blends modernity with cultural references from the region. 

Estadio Caliente, home to Tijuana’s First Division soccer team, the Xolos, opened in 2007 and seats 27,000 spectators. In addition to soccer matches, the stadium hosts concerts, special events and exhibitions. Attending a game there offers a very different atmosphere than that of stadiums in the U.S., driven by the passion and intensity of the local fans. 

You can visit Tijuana on guided tours that depart from San Ysidro. Options include taco-focused food tours, craft brewery visits, and walking tours of key locations. The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego also offers cultural excursions that include a visit to an artist’s studio. Reservations can be made on the museum’s website. 

This museum houses a large private collection dedicated to the world of Mexican wrestling. The exhibit features more than 6,800 items, including original masks, belts, photographs, keychains, comic books and figurines of various sizes and poses. The museum offers a vivid display of Mexican popular culture. 

This is the point where the city meets the Pacific Ocean. Playas de Tijuana blends residential areas, beaches, a seaside boardwalk and urban attractions. Cafés and restaurants with ocean views line the coast, and murals and street art add a unique cultural touch to this geographic corner.  

Among the main shopping malls in Tijuana are Plaza Río Tijuana, Galerías Hipódromo, and Plaza Península. Plaza Río is a complete shopping mall with department stores, a movie theater and a supermarket. Galerías Hipódromo is a modern shopping mall offering stores, restaurants, a movie theater and entertainment areas such as a game center, a skating rink and arcade games. Plaza Península is known for its size, cleanliness and variety of stores, which often offer similar options to those in the United States.  

In recent decades, Tijuana’s culinary reputation has grown, and many of its most renowned restaurants are in the Zona Río neighborhood. This area contains the financial district, hospitals, and numerous shopping center options. You’ll also find Mercado Hidalgo here, a traditional market with stalls selling fruits, vegetables, crafts and local food. It offers an authentic glimpse into everyday life in the city. 

This binational event celebrates jazz culture with performances in San Diego, Escondido and Tijuana. It is the first of its kind and seeks to promote cultural unity through music. The festival traditionally lasts three days, with performances spread across different dates and venues in the region.