El Popo Market
C. Benito Juárez 2da 8053, Tijuana, Mexico, 22000
Tijuana’s markets brim with bright colors, aromas, and local products you’ll have a hard time finding elsewhere, and this covered downtown market is among the city’s best. Visit to sample the local flavor and find everything from fresh cheese and Mexican candy to dried chiles and all kinds of household and kitchen goods—better yet, follow your nose to the tastiest items and talk with local merchants.
The basics
El Popo Market is a well-known tourist attraction, open morning to evening. Tijuana walking and sightseeing tours often cross the border from San Diego and stop here, giving travelers free time to shop for goodies and relatively authentic souvenirs. If you’re visiting solo, you can easily spend an hour or two browsing the market for what suits your fancy—and with a little more time, you can also head to Hidalgo Market, a similar locale in Zona Rio nearby.
Things to know before you go
El Popo is ideal for travelers interested in an authentic shopping experience.
Bring cash and prepare to haggle a little bit.
The market has food stalls and taco trucks—bring an appetite.
How to get there
El Popo is in central Tijuana on C. Benito Juarez 2da, one of the main streets cutting across the downtown from west to east. It’s also a few miles from the San Ysidro Crossing with the US border—you can easily visit the market on a day trip (or even a half-day trip) from the US when you’re longing for down-to-earth Mexican market shopping.
When to get there
The market keeps regular opening hours daily, from morning to evening. The best times to visit are early mornings when the market is less crowded and vendors set up fresh produce stalls. Late afternoons offer a lively atmosphere with more street-food options. Visiting during the Festival de Octubre adds a festive touch, with music and local cultural celebrations.
Tijuana’s best taco stand
El Popo is one of Tijuana's best-known markets. The other, Mercado Hidalgo, has a leg up on the former's taco stands. While you can find good local food at El Popo, the tacos won't match those from Tacos Fitos, one of the best taco shops in Tijuana—if you can make it to Hidalgo, don't leave without trying a birria taco, typically made with stewed meat.
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