Tijuana home to the busiest border crossing in world and the largest city in Baja California with a population of 1.8 million people. The city is a gateway to Baja California and a popular starting point for a Baja Calfiornia road trip, with thousands of people crossing into Mexico from San Diego every day.
Tijuana is starkly different from other cities in Baja, and from the rest of Mexico. Tourist areas of the city like Avenida Revolucion are always busy and if you look like a tourist, locals will likely speak English with you which you won’t experience in many other parts of the country.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Tijuana when I visited it from San Diego for the first time, because of its chaotic atmosphere and overly touristy parts, but I enjoyed Tijuana beaches and the local food scene. Tijuana is a perfect place to try the famous Baja fish tacos and see what Mexico’s busiest border city is all about.
The city has always been a popular weekend getaway for many people from southern California because of cheaper services, Baja Med cuisine and less crowded beaches, but in recent years it’s also become a popular destination for medical tourism, as more people come here for cheap dental work and other procedures. Whether you are visiting Tijuana as part of your Baja road trip or for a quick getaway, here’s some information about the city:
What is Tijuana known for?
Tijuana is known for its manufacturing economy, border tourism and mouthwatering street food, which blends Mexican flavors with Mediterranean influences. Its famous dishes include tacos de birria, tacos de pescado (fish tacos), and caesar salad, which was actually invented in Tijuana.
Where is Tijuana?
Tijuana is located in the northwestern part of Mexico along on the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s in Baja California Norte, just south of San Diego, California.
Is Tijuana in Mexico or California?
Tijuana is part of Mexico’s Baja California State. It borders the U.S. State of California to the north.
How far is Tijuana from the US border?
Tijuana is located along the U.S.-Mexico border. The actual distance between Tijuana’s city center and the U.S. border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers).
Where is Tijuana on the map?
Quick Tijuana Facts
📍Tijuana Time Zone: Pacific Daylight Time (GMT-6)
📍Language: Spanish is the main language in Tijuana, but English is widely spoken because of the city’s proximity to the United States. People working in hotels, restaurants and souvenir stores usually speak at least basic English, because the majority of tourists in Tijuana come from the United States.
📍Currency: The official currency of Tijuana is Peso, but U.S. dollars are accepted in many places.
📍Climate: Tijuana has a Mediterranean climate thanks to its location along the Pacific coast of Mexico. The city has mild, wet winters and dry summers. Although Tijuana doesn’t get too cold in winter, it can get chilly, especially around December and January, when temperatures can plunge into 50’s or even lower.
📍Economy: Tijuana’s economy is defined by its proximity to the United States. Many Tijuana residents work or run business in the U.S., while living in Tijuana because of cheaper housing. The city is also a major hub for manufacturing in electronics, medical devices, and automotive parts. Tourism plays a huge role in the city’s economy, as many people travel here from the United States because of lower prices on services and goods.
Tijuana International Airport
Tijuana International Airport, General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport (code: TIJ) has domestic and international flights and is a hub for low-cost airlines like Volaris. It’s a convenient starting point for your trips in Baja Norte, thanks to its location within a few hours from popular destinations like Rosarito, Ensenada and Valle De Guadalupe.
Safety in Tijuana
When talking about Tijuana, it’s impossile to avoid the elephant in the room – the city’s high homicide rate. When traveling to Tijuana, stay around popular parts of the city, and avoid going to unfamiliar areas, because if anything happens, you will be on your own. Although Tijuana has one of the biggest economies in Mexico, it’s not a place when you can safely explore new parts of town.
Why is Tijuana so dangerous?
Tijuana is dangerous because of the drug violence and a host of other issues including rampant corruption, assaults and human trafficking.
Tijuana crime
Tijuana has one of the highest crime rates in Mexico, and innocent bystanders and tourists have been killed on city’s streets in the past. If you decide to visit Tijuana, always be aware of your surroundings and limit your activities to day time, as most crime tends to happen at night.
Is Tijuana safe?
No, Tijuana is not safe. Make sure to stick to areas with high tourist traffic like Avenida Revolucion, Zona Rio and Playas de Tijuana. Keep a low profile and avoid wandering into unfamiliar areas on your own.
Tijuana border crossings
Tijuana has several border crossings, San Ysidro, which is the busiest, Otay Mesa, a smaller crossing to the east of San Ysidro and PedWest, which is not far from Las Americas Outlet Mall in San Diego.
If you are driving to Tijuana from San Diego, you will need a Mexican Insurance for your car, in addition to other documents, because U.S. car insurance is not valid in Mexico and will not cover you if you have an accident.
Baja Bound Insurance provides comprehesnive coverage for cars, RV’s motrocycles and otehr vehicles, so you can relax and enjoy your trip.
BEST GUIDED TOURS OF TIJUANA
If you don’t feel like driving to Tijuana on your own, and would rather have a professional guide help you navigate the city and introduce you to the best street food in Tijuana, book a guided tour of Tijuana from San Diego.
