The Tijuana International Airport: Nearby Attractions, Hotels & FAQs
Tijuana General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport (IATA: TIJ, ICAO: MMTJ) is located in Otay Centenario, in the State of Baja California, Mexico. It is situated in the southern part of the United States border. The city center of Tijuana is 9 km (or 5.5 miles) away from this airport, and the US city of San Diego is 29 km (18 miles) away.
Tijuana International Airport is among Mexico’s five most important airports. It is a modern and busy airport with the capacity to serve 360 flights per day (some of which are non-stop flights) and receives approximately 7 million passengers per year. These flights mainly consist of travelers from Mexico’s inland, the United States, and Asia, each of whom arrives at this airport to visit the tourist destinations of the city of Tijuana or for border exchange.
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What to Visit Near Tijuana International Airport?
Tijuana’s city center is a 20-minute drive away from Tijuana International Airport. This is the most visited border city in the world, due to its impressive landscapes, extraordinary artistic and cultural wealth, varied gastronomy, attractive activities, and iconic places that will leave you fascinated.
Among the places you can visit near the Tijuana International Airport are the San Ysidro border crossing (where a large number of people cross the border between Mexico and the United States every day), Revolucion Avenue, the beaches of Tijuana, and Morelos Park, among others.
Attractions Near Tijuana International Airport
Traveling to Tijuana means visiting a city that has been recognized as a cultural mecca. In this historic city, you will discover wonderful places and fascinating artistic depictions as well as beautiful weather. Here, you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of attractions and you will have many exciting activities to do.
Revolucion Avenue
This is a beautiful avenue of great historical interest just a few minutes by car from the Tijuana International Airport, where you can see a good sample of the artistic expression of the city. The main restaurants and nightlife are also found on this avenue. You can also catch a movie at the Cinepolis while you’re on the avenue.
In “La Revu” (as it is also called), you can find the popular zebra-painted donkeys and the famous arch, ideal for taking photos. Among its passages, there are numerous shops where you can buy a souvenir or a piece of craft.
Malecon Beaches of Tijuana
Playas de Tijuana is a 4 km (2.5 mile) stretch of sand, where locals and tourists come to spend an enjoyable time in their surroundings. There is the Malecón de Playas, which is an international meeting point for tourists from the United States.
In this place begins the wall that separates Mexico and the United States. This means that it is a highly visited place where tourists usually walk along the boardwalk, take pictures with the letters of Tijuana, and enjoy delicious meals in restaurants or a rich snack.
Tijuana Cultural Center
This is one of the most emblematic cultural establishments in the country, not far from the Tijuana airport. There you can see art exhibitions and cultural events and festivals are also held here. Its structure and the spherical shape of one of its buildings are very striking.
At CECUT, art and national culture are promoted, organizing different activities and cultural events throughout the year. This important cultural complex has a botanical garden, an aquarium, a museum, a gallery, a reading room, a showroom, and the IMAX Dome where documentaries are shown.
Morelos Park
Morelos Park is a beautiful space where you can enjoy nature just a few minutes away from the Tijuana International Airport. This ecological reserve has wide natural spaces, an aquatic area, a zoo with varied species, and a large lake. You can relax and appreciate the natural beauty, and the park can be explored by train, which is a very pleasant experience.
Artisans Market
This market is located in the center of Tijuana and is a group of shops and stores that offer a wide variety of items for sale, each made by local artists and artisans. These items include such things as paintings, clay pots, blown glass, religious images, traditional clothing, hats, shoes, fabrics, sculptures, and other elements of Mexican culture.
Tijuana Museums
The Tijuana Wax Museum is considered the second largest of its kind in Latin America. Extraordinary works of art alluding to the history of Mexico are exhibited there. Another interesting museum in Tijuana is the El Trompo Interactive Museum, which is a space inspired by science, art, and technology. It is special for children and is located near the Tijuana airport facilities.
The Best Hotels Near Tijuana International Airport
Real Inn Tijuana by Camino Real Hotels
The Real Inn Tijuana is a modern and cozy hotel near Tijuana’s airport, where you can enjoy a pleasant stay. It is located next to a large shopping center with movie theaters and shops, and it’s very useful for emergency purchases. This hotel is close to restaurants, bars, and museums. This is one of the closest hotels to Tijuana’s airport.
The hotel has spacious and comfortable rooms, equipped with air conditioning, 46-inch flat-screen TV with satellite signal, a private bathroom with free amenities, a coffee maker with a daily courtesy kit and thermal cup, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. In the hotel facilities, there are 9 spacious meeting rooms, a restaurant, bar, and spa, a fitness center, and a parking lot.
- Address: Paseo de los Héroes 9902, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, BC, México
- Phone: +52 664 633 4000
Tijuana Marriott Hotel
It is a beautiful and quiet hotel where you can relax and unwind in great comfort. The Tijuana Marriott Hotel is a few minutes’ drive from the Tijuana International Airport. Next to the hotel is the Club Campestre Tijuana, which has golf courses where you can practice this sport, and Playas de Tijuana is 8 km (5 miles) away.
In this relaxed hotel, you will find simple rooms and upgraded rooms. The single rooms have air conditioning, a private bathroom, Wi-Fi for an additional fee, flat-screen TV, a coffee maker, and a minibar. Upgraded rooms include a balcony with views of the golf course.
24/7 room service and breakfast are available for an additional fee. For your convenience, there is a heated pool, 24-hour fitness center, a restaurant, a bar, and a lobby lounge.
- Address: Blvd. Agua Caliente 11553, 22420 Tijuana, BC, Mexico
- Phone: +52 664 622 6600
Quartz Hotel & Spa
The Quartz Hotel & Spa is a modern and elegant hotel that is located among a residential complex of high-rise apartment buildings. Very close to this hotel, at a 12-minute walk, is the San Ysidro port of entry. The hotel is not only close to the Tijuana airport, but it is only 1 km (or 0.6 miles) from the Tijuana Cultural Center, one of the city’s more notable sites.
The modern rooms at the Quartz Hotel & Spa have beautiful full-wall windows and are equipped with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, a safe, a tea and coffee maker, a private bathroom with amenities, and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have a terrace. For your comfort, the facilities include an outdoor pool, gym, spa with sauna, and a modern restaurant. Laundry service and free parking are provided.
- Address: Pº del Centenario 9580, Rio Tijuana Urban Zone, 22320 Tijuana, BC, Mexico.
- Phone: +52 664 862 8200
K Tower Urban Boutique Hotel Tijuana
Located in the center of the city of Tijuana and designed for adults only, the K Tower Urban Boutique Hotel Tijuana is a refined and elegant boutique hotel. This hotel near the Tijuana airport is also a few kilometers (or about two miles) from the famous Revolution Avenue, one of the main tourist attractions.
The beautiful rooms have a 60-inch flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, air conditioning, high-quality bedding, a minibar, free Wi-Fi, a private bathroom, and a balcony. Loft-style rooms are decorated in a movie star theme, feature a separate guest area, and include whirlpool tubs.
On the premises, there is a bar, gym, a sushi restaurant, a heated pool with whirlpool, and a bar. Free parking, paid breakfast, and butler service are provided.
- Address: Paseo de los Héroes # 10902 – 2, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22320 Tijuana, BC, Mexico
- Phone: +52 664 633 7500
City Express Tijuana Rio
The City Express Tijuana Rio is a modern and casual hotel located in the River Zone, just 10 minutes away from the Tijuana International Airport and 13 minutes away from the San Ysidro port of entry. Next to the hotel is the Zona Río shopping center and, after a walk of about 15 minutes, you can reach the Tijuana Cultural Center.
The rooms, decorated with colorful details, have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and cable internet, 32-inch flat-screen TV, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, bed linens, and towels. The facilities have a meeting room, facilities for people with disabilities, and a gym. Room service, American breakfast, laundry, transportation, and national and international calls are offered.
- Address: Dr. Atl 2282, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., México.
- Phone: +52 664 635 1090
Frequently Asked Questions About Tijuana International Airport
How far is it from Tijuana airport to downtown?
Tijuana International Airport is located near the city center, approximately 9 km (5.5 miles) away, so getting from the airport to downtown Tijuana will only take about 20 minutes by car. To go to the center of Tijuana, you have different options, such as taxi services, private transfer, and car rental.
Are there parks or attractions near the Tijuana airport?
Near the Tijuana International Airport, you can find key places such as the Wax Museum (which is 6.2 km, or 4 miles away) and the Tijuana Cultural Center (5.1 km, or 3 miles away). You’ll also see natural parks such as Morelos Park (which has an aquatic area), a zoo, and a lake, located 8.9 km (or 5.5 miles) from the airport). Finally, there are attractions such as Revolution Avenue, which features restaurants, bars, and craft shops. It is located 6.3 km (or 4 miles) from the airport.
Where can you go on foot from the Tijuana airport?
From the Tijuana International Airport, there are some interesting places that you can walk to, such as La Cava de Don Chava (about a 10-minute walk away), where you can enjoy good artisan food. There are also El Vergel pools, which you can reach by walking about 20 minutes from the airport, and La Plaza de la Unidad y La Esperanza, also a 20-minute walk.
What is the best taxi service at the Tijuana airport?
In the arrivals areas outside the airport terminal, you will find taxis that provide transportation services. The official taxi service is yellow and is available 24 hours a day. There are many services that offer transportation and car rental at Tijuana International Airport, and they are safe and efficient transportation. The trip from the airport to downtown Tijuana can take 15 to 20 minutes.
What to do with the children near the Tijuana airport?
Near the Tijuana Airport is Morelos Park, which is an ideal space for children to spend a fun and exciting day. This is because it is a natural space with a lake, a zoo, and a museum aimed especially at promoting a taste for nature and science in the little ones. Another interesting place for children is the CECUT, which has spaces where children can learn and have fun.
An Adventure Upon Arrival
When you arrive at the Tijuana International Airport, you get closer to living and enjoying the exciting moments that await you in the tourist destinations of the city of Tijuana. Fortunately, this airport has an excellent infrastructure, equipped to welcome all the visitors who arrive at it. For this reason, you can have the peace of mind that at the airport you will be able to find different reliable means of transportation so that you can transfer to your hotel or city center – and fully enjoy your trip to Tijuana!
You can also read this article in Spanish here: Aeropuerto Internacional de Tijuana.
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