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During the Prohibition years of 1920 to 1933 when alcohol was banned in the United States, U.S. citizens flocked across the Mexican border to get their hands on a drink. It was then that Tijuana began to grow into a party capital. Whilst Prohibition may have ended almost a century ago, Americans are still rushing to Tijuana to let their hair down.
The legal age for drinking in Mexico is 18, so for 18-20 year olds who can’t legally drink in the U.S, a trip to Tijuana is a rite of passage. Add in the lower cost of everyday items, lower taxes on alcohol and cheap hotels, it’s no wonder tourism in Tijuana is booming.
Just across the border from San Diego, Tijuana is the easiest Mexican city to reach from the U.S. On top off the nightlife, it’s home to some stunning beaches and fascinating museums, which only add to its popularity.
Getting to Tijuana
By air
Tijuana International Airport sees daily service from a number of destinations across Mexico, including Mexico City. International flights are limited to a 6 x weekly flight from Phoenix, Arizona with American Airlines, which opens up connections from across the world. There’s also a year-round service from Hainan, China.
By land
With three border crossings with the U.S., the most common way to reach Tijuana is to cross by car or on foot. The most popular crossing is San Ysidro, which takes the title of the most crossed border in the world. If you’re driving, it’s as easy as crossing from England to France or the U.S. to Canada.
If you don’t have a car, there are three options for crossing the land border.
On foot
From San Diego Old Town and Downtown, you can catch the Trolley light rail right to the San Ysidro border. From there, you can simply walk to the border checkpoint and walk across (you’ll need your passport, of course).
When you reach the other side, there are always taxis waiting if you don’t fancy the 20-minute walk to Downtown Tijuana. If you take a taxi, ensure you take a licenced one and agree a price with the driver before setting off. They accept U.S. Dollars and Mexican Pesos.
By coach
Greyhound operates several cross-border coach services between San Diego and Tijuana daily. Many of these start in Los Angeles and serve cities along the coast on the way. If you’re concerned about how the border formalities work, this is a great way to cross as it’s more or less taken care of for you.
When you reach San Ysidro, the American driver gets off and a local Tijuanese driver takes over. They’ll guide you through the process and be waiting for you once you’ve had your passport stamped and luggage inspected. You must book your ticket online before traveling.
The only downside of taking the bus across is that the Tijuana stop is quite a way from Downtown. The coach will drop you at Plaza El Mexicano which is a 30-minute taxi ride from Avenida Revolucion, the main street.
Guided tour
A guided tour is a hassle-free way to reach Tijuana from San Diego. Whilst they’re generally designed for daytime visits, you’ll still get the chance to experience plenty of the venues that make Tijuana nightlife so great.
There are several tours offered; our favorites are this six-hour driving tour which includes lunch, and this seven-hour Mexican street food tour. And trust me, the street food in Tijuana is phenomenal!
Is Tijuana safe?
If you’ve ever considered visiting Tijuana, the chances are you’ve stumbled across articles alleging that, categorically, it isn’t safe to visit Tijuana. Let’s unpack that. At first blush, there’s no arguing with the figures: 2023 saw over 2,000 murders, that’s 105 for every 100,000 residents. In terms of world rankings, Tijuana is currently the sixth most dangerous city on earth, which is actually an improvement from a few years back when it hit the number one spot.
With all that in mind, I was a little nervous about visiting Tijuana. Once I got there, though, I felt just as safe as I have anywhere else. In fact, Tijuana felt safer to me than the New York subway after dark. The fact is, whilst Tijuana is without doubt a very dangerous place to live, it isn’t all that dangerous to visit. I recognize that safety isn’t a feeling, but keeping within the bounds of a few simple rules will get you most of the way to staying safe.
The most important piece of advice to follow is not to stray into bad neighborhoods. In Downtown, stick to Avenida Revolucion and the surrounding streets. After dark, don’t stray away from Avenida Revolucion which is patrolled 24 hours per day by a dedicated tourist police unit. Whatever you do, don’t venture into Zona Norte, just north of Av. Revolucion. This is Tijuana’s gang-controlled red light district and is notorious for violent crime.
Always walk with purpose, and always make sure you know exactly where you’re going and don’t wonder outside an area.
Outside the center, Playas de Tijuana, the main tourist area, and Zona Rio, the up-and-coming chic neighborhood, are safe to visit. At night, especially after a few hours indulging in Tijuana nightlife, it’s important to keep your wits about you. Look as if you know where you’re going, try not to appear drunk, and you’ll be fine.
The Best of Tijuana Nightlife
Av. Revolucion
The beating heart of Tijuana nightlife, Avenida Revolucion is Tijuana’s answer to the Las Vegas Strip. Busy at all hours, this is the place to go whether you want to relax in a craft brewery, party hard at the clubs or hit the casino.
Border Psycho
At the center of the craft beer revolution, Border Psycho has been a cornerstone of Tijuana nightlife for over a decade. It’s one of the original craft breweries in town, and it feels like little has changed here since they opened the doors for the first time a long time ago.
Open daily (except Wednesdays) until midnight and 2 am at weekends, this family-owned venue has indoor and outdoor seating. There’s over ten beers on tap at all times, plus they serve food. Their tacos go well with any beer (or maybe that’s just the time of night speaking).
The Beer Garden
My favorite spot to indulge in Tijuana nightlife, The Beer Garden sits on the corner of Revolucion and Carrillo Puerto. There are over a dozen beers on tap, and even the most expensive won’t set you back more than 90 pesos (US$4.50).
Take a seat on the terrace and watch the world go by. The cacophony of revelers, sirens and traffic is somehow overwhelming and soothing at the same time. The Beer Garden is open daily until midnight (1 am at weekends).
El Copeo
When the night gets old, or the morning is young, El Copeo is the place to go. Open until 5 am every morning, El Copeo is a place of paradise for true night owls. Getting in involves a fairly stringent security check (expect a TSA-style pat-down) but that’s not unwelcome in one of the world’s most dangerous cities.
The great thing about El Copeo is it attracts all crowds. If you want to party the night away on the dancefloor, you can. If you want to catch up on sports on the big screens, you can. And if you want to sit outside and ignore everyone, you can do that too. Oh, and a litre of beer costs 50 pesos (US$2.50).
Dandy Del Sur
Daddy Del Sur has been supplying patrons with cocktails for decades. A classic dive bar, this is the place to go to get a feel of the real Tijuana. The clientele has transformed what was an old-school bar into a bizarre blend of traditional cantina and chic cocktail bar. Whichever you prefer, it’s a staple of Tijuana nightlife that you really shouldn’t miss. Plus, it’s open until 3 am every day.
Caliente Casino
Tijuana’s biggest casino and a staple of Tijuana nightlife, Caliente is slap bang in the middle of Avenida Revolucion. This buzzing casino attracts crowds from every walk of life. From the locals throwing a few coins into slot machines, to Vegas’s most experienced trying their luck at the tables, whoever you are and however much you want to spend, you’ll be welcome here.
Tables include Blackjack, Poker and Texas Hold’em, plus there’s sportsbetting and a bar on offer too.
Zona Rio
Just outside Downtown, Zona Rio is Tijuana’s up-and-coming area and main business district. If you’re staying Downtown, it’s best to take a taxi or Uber out here at night for safety, but it’s well worth the journey.
Buda
Burger joint by day, music club by night, Buda is one of the trendiest spots in the Tijuana nightlife scene. This is one of those places that you’ll simply never find if you don’t know it’s there. On the side of Plaza Del Zapato mall, type in 9450 Guadalope Victoria on Google Maps and you’ll find it. But be warned, this is true Sin City territory: anything and everything goes here!
Sotana Suizo
The place the locals come to unwind, Sotana Suizo is a traditional music bar. Playing everything from rock to opera, seemingly in no particular order, whatever you genre, this is a great spot to while away an evening.
It’s decked out as a classic American dive bar and it feels much the same. Sit inside and enjoy the party or take a seat on the patio and make the most of the cooler evenings. Sotana Suzio is open every night until 2am.
Lion Fish
Despite mainly serving as a seafood restaurant – and a great one at that – Lion Fish has become something of an icon of Tijuana nightlife.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet night or somewhere to go before hitting the bars, Lion Fish is ideal. Plus, it’s the perfect spot to line your stomach with some delicious fresh seafood before heading out for the night.
Playas de Tijuana
Tijuana’s daytime hotspot, if you’re staying by the beach and don’t fancy venturing downtown, or just want to go somewhere a little more relaxed, Playas has some great Tijuana nightlife spots.
Rambay Restaurant & Bar
For the early crowd, Rambay Restaurant & Bar is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink with a view. A firm-favorite seafood spot, Rambay’s terrace is the place to watch the sunset over Playas De Tijuana. Alongside their fresh, local fish, they serve a massive selection of craft brews.
Matt Bar
Playas de Tijuana’s late-night place to be, Matt Bar has long been a staple of Tijuana nightlife. Opened in 1976, it feels more like a London pub than a bar steps from a Mexican beach. There’s music, but it’s quiet enough to have a conversation, and there’s a good variety of craft brews alongside staples including draught Guinness. Matt’s Bar is open Tuesday to Saturday until 2 am.
Ruben’s Hideaway
Hidden away, as the name suggests, with no clear signage at the north end of Avenida Del Pacifico, Tijuana’s main promenade, this unsuspecting bar is technically Tijuana’s closest bar to the U.S. Despite that, it’s surprisingly quiet.
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