Hostel Hospedarte Centro — A backpacker home in the heart of the old town
If you're a backpacker after new friends, a prime location and the lowest price — Hospedarte Centro is your old-town home. A hostel in a converted old house with an easy courtyard, dorms and private rooms, activities and tours, and a walk to every Centro landmark.
Hospedarte Centro sits on Calle Maestranza in the heart of Centro Historico — a 5-6 minute walk to Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Plaza de los Mariachis. A prime spot at hostel prices is a backpacker's dream; step out and start exploring, no transport costs.
Guests say the Centro Historico location and the feel here are exactly what they came for — it set the tone for their whole trip.
It's a converted old house — the central courtyard is the heart, where guests gather to chat, play games and have an evening beer. The vibe is very friendly and solo travelers make friends easily. Hospedarte is a hostel group with several Guadalajara branches, well known among backpackers.
There are dorms and private rooms — clean dorms with lockers and privacy curtains, plus private rooms for couples or anyone wanting privacy while keeping the hostel vibe. Guests praise the cleanliness and friendly atmosphere.
There's a shared kitchen (big savings), free Wi-Fi, and the highlight — activities: the hostel runs pub crawls, Tequila tours, city walking tours and taco nights so guests meet and explore more. The young staff speak English and are great at trip planning.
Things to know — it's a hostel, so expect noise and energy, especially on activity nights. If you want quiet, choose an upper-floor private room or a different property. On safety — there are lockers and near-24h reception, but mind your valuables as is hostel etiquette.
On value — dorms from around MXN 350 (฿700)/night, the cheapest in our list, and great value with the prime location, free activities and the chance to meet fellow travelers. For backpackers or budget solo travelers, this is the best pick.
One practical note for Thai travelers: Mexico is not visa-free for Thai passport holders, but if you hold a valid US, Canada, UK, Japan or Schengen visa you can enter without a separate Mexican visa — confirm the current rules with the embassy before you fly. Guadalajara is also very Spanish-dominant; English is spoken at the front desk here and at tourist spots, but a few Spanish phrases (or a translation app) go a long way at markets, with Uber drivers and in smaller eateries. The city is the home of Mariachi and tequila, so even a short stay leaves room for a day trip to the UNESCO town of Tequila, an evening at Plaza de los Mariachis, and a wander through the crafts districts of Tlaquepaque and Tonalá.
In short, Hospedarte Centro sells atmosphere and location. If you want to save money, meet new friends and stay in the old town within walking distance of everything — go for it. Best for backpackers and independent travelers; if you want quiet and privacy, see other picks.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Friendly, easy to meet people
- ✓ Prime walkable location
- ✓ Fun activities & tours
- ✓ Very cheap
- ! Noisy on activity nights
- ! Shared bathrooms can mean a wait
- ✓ Shared kitchen saves on food
- ✓ Young staff help plan trips
- ✓ Private rooms available
- ✓ Walk to Mariachi & cathedral
- ! Not for those wanting quiet
- ! Basic amenities
- 💡If you want quiet and privacy · It's a lively hostel · Fix → see One Guadalajara or Casa Pedro Loza
- 💡If traveling with family/kids · Backpacker-focused vibe · Fix → see Riu Plaza or DoubleTree by Hilton
- 💡If you want full amenities · Basic hostel facilities · Fix → see a 3-4 star in the list
Heading to Guadalajara for the World Cup?
Guadalajara is a 2026 host city — see our full World Cup guide (matches, where to stay, tickets, visa) plus how to reach Estadio Akron on match day.