Tijuana is just across San Diego. Though it was once quite a shady place that people used to avoid, Tijuana is now one of the most sparkling tourist locations. From the popping Zona Centro to the sunny Pacific coast. Travelers ought to still use some level of caution in Tijuana, as nothing is perfect, but tourists are rarely the targets of any illegal activity that may still exist. And if you’re staying in the tourist sections, it is a near guarantee that you will be just fine. In this article, we listed Things to Do in Tijuana that you should do in your vacation.
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Avenida Revolución
Most visitors with limited time make Avenida Revolución in Zona Centro their first port of call.
Like many downtowns in the United States, Avenida Revolución is a little grimy, but is home to some real icons like Caesar’s which we’ll talk about below in “Local Food”. For roughly eight blocks there’s nothing but restaurants, souvenir shops, and bars.
At the upper end is Plaza Santa Cecilia, near the Tijuana Arch and where there are roving “conjuntos norteños” musicians, dozens of outdoor stalls selling clothes and arts and crafts, and no lack of street food stands either if you’re in the mood for a huarache, tostada or quesadilla.
Enjoy the beach life of Playas de Tijuana
Tijuana has some beach surprises too. Playas de Tijuana is located quite near to downtown Tijuana. Running from the Azteca Park to the U.S. border, there is a boardwalk made up of pedestrian bridges. The border can even be seen crossing the Pacific Ocean. This is how you know that the issues are real here!
Playas de Tijuana is a wonderful place filled with beaches offering a nice time and of the best sea-food you will ever devour in your life. Tourists mainly come to this place as it has some cozy beaches and a lazy kind of vibe.
Playas de Tijuana
Tijuana’s westernmost borough is a residential area ending at the ocean.
So you could head out here if you want a taste of the Pacific on Mexican soil without making the trip down to better-known beach resorts like Ensenada and Rosarito. As the name suggests, Playas de Tijuana has beaches; in fact, it’s one long beach that continues south from the border fence for around four kilometers to Puente la Joya.
The sand is kept clean, the gradient is light and the waves roll in around waist height. On weekends there will be families wandering along the Malecón (raised promenade) behind, and grab some seafood specialties like an octopus with rice, ceviche, fish tacos, and Camarones Cucaracha (shrimp with a spicy tomato and lemon sauce).
Eat a load of tasty local food
Of course, eating your way around the city is one of the best things to do in Tijuana; in fact, this city is fanatical about its food. Here you’ll find everything from chic rooftop restaurants to roadside stalls and restaurants – all serving up some delicious, delicious Mexican morsels to try out.
Head to Collectivo Nueve Food Hall in the Downtown area for an avalanche of choice and sample dishes at places like Brasa Taqueria. Alternatively (or, as well) make your way to Estadio Chevron and hit up the street food vendors that gather here from March to August; it’s some of the most underrated street food in the country.
Cherish the sunset at Rosarito beach
It is actually a town filled with residential areas, but it meets with the ocean at its end!
The coastal region is just a drive away from Tijuana at a distance of just 20 kilometers. Katharine Hepburn, Dolores del Río, Spencer Tracey, and many other golden stars all treated Rosarito as their weekend getaway from the hectic shooting life.
The beach is filled with white sand and is never crowded. It is so huge that no matter how many people go to the beach, it is always empty! Try to stay a night at Rosarito Beach Hotel which overlooks the ocean.
Playas de Tijuana
Venture outside of “downtown” to discover Playas de Tijuana, a western borough of the entire municipality. The boardwalk here is a four-mile ring of pedestrian bridges that runs from the Azteca Park to the U.S. border. It’s difficult to visit Tijuana and ignore the very real political issue between Mexico and the United States, and the boardwalk is an in-your-face reminder, as you can see the border wall that runs into the Pacific Ocean.
Seafood reigns supreme in Tijuana, and in Playas there is a bounty of it, from fish tacos to ceviche and beyond. The majority of travelers bypass Playas to head toward downtown Tijuana, but this is definitely a change-of-pace, laid-back vibe that offers a different side of northern Baja
