El Popo Market
El Popo Market
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience El Popo Market and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
935 within 5 kms
Attractions
97 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
108 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
46
Average
30
Poor
3
Terrible
1
kodachrome_photoart
6 contributions
Dec 2020 • Friends
The market was vibrant, colorful and fun. A local shop owner offered us a slice of whiskey soaked coconut and it was so delicious we bought a small chunk to take home. Also had some authentic and tasty Chile rellenos with rice, beans and tortillas. Due to COVID, restaurants took people’s temperatures and had a mat to sanitize shoes. Everyone wore masks as well. Since ours was a quick trip I didn’t get to look around much or buy souvenirs. But maybe next time!
Some advice- bring your passport and allow plenty of time to get back to San Diego. The line up to get back through the border is long, slow and tedious. With lots of street vendors and men, women and children dodging traffic to try and sell you something. It took us 3 hours to get back to the border. Make sure to bring extra food, water and money with you. And make sure your gas tank is full.
Some advice- bring your passport and allow plenty of time to get back to San Diego. The line up to get back through the border is long, slow and tedious. With lots of street vendors and men, women and children dodging traffic to try and sell you something. It took us 3 hours to get back to the border. Make sure to bring extra food, water and money with you. And make sure your gas tank is full.
Written 13 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nanchi
San Diego93 contributions
Just got back from 3 day trip to Tijuana, including an hour at Mercado El Popo on Saturday. I was the only tourist there. The market is not huge, but has lots of traditional Mexican items. The local people shop there, and it is like a different world.
Each stall has a specialty. One was a candy store, where you can sample delicacies like gloria caramel, white coconut alfajores, dulce de leche or walnut mazapan., and mouth watering Mexican chocolate. Dried and candied fruits include pineapple, mango, camotes, pumpkin, and chilacayote squash.
Some shops have dozens of bins full of different types of chili peppers, herbs, spices, and leaves used in cooking. One had potions and remedies, and a large Santa Muerte, which is the saint for some merchants. It was a large skeleton on an altar, decorated with flowers, cigarettes, and bottles of alcohol.
You will smell rows of strange cheeses, where you can buy samples to try. The cheso fresco cheese is different for each region of Mexico.
There are natural sponges, wooden tortilla presses, molcajete grinding stones, pumice stones, hollow wood for birds to build nests, quail eggs, large, flat dried and salted whole fish, and a dazzling jumble of items from all over Mexico.
Each stall has a specialty. One was a candy store, where you can sample delicacies like gloria caramel, white coconut alfajores, dulce de leche or walnut mazapan., and mouth watering Mexican chocolate. Dried and candied fruits include pineapple, mango, camotes, pumpkin, and chilacayote squash.
Some shops have dozens of bins full of different types of chili peppers, herbs, spices, and leaves used in cooking. One had potions and remedies, and a large Santa Muerte, which is the saint for some merchants. It was a large skeleton on an altar, decorated with flowers, cigarettes, and bottles of alcohol.
You will smell rows of strange cheeses, where you can buy samples to try. The cheso fresco cheese is different for each region of Mexico.
There are natural sponges, wooden tortilla presses, molcajete grinding stones, pumice stones, hollow wood for birds to build nests, quail eggs, large, flat dried and salted whole fish, and a dazzling jumble of items from all over Mexico.
Written 12 February 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ElCartoharvetta
Glasgow, UK481 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
Has everything you might need in tijuana. Food, kitchen, everything. Massive piñatas, quesos, hey, everything. Give it a visit.
Written 23 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Not Y
Phoenix, AZ68 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
Unfortunately in the last two or three years the market has gone down, several shops closed. It has become a shadow of its former self. Still interesting for the newcomer, but if you are brave enough to step outside the city center, proceed to Mercado Hidalgo, only a short ride by colectivo away, and find a more interesting place there.
Written 6 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JDTravelhome
Canada717 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
We were spending some time in San Diego so decided to take a quick trip to Mexico. We parked are car near the border and walked across for a short visit. A quick stop at the market to look around. A good place to get a few deals, lots of junk stuff but they are willing to negotiate. Some of the people can be a bit aggressive so just keep moving on.
Anywhere around the border has people selling items or jewelry for bargain prices. Keep an eye on your personal things, the market can be quite crowded.
One more tip to share is we picked up a few bottles of water and when we opened them they didn't crack like a new bottle. It seems like the guy we got them from maybe filled old bottles.
It was fun for a short visit but we were happy to get back to San Diego
Anywhere around the border has people selling items or jewelry for bargain prices. Keep an eye on your personal things, the market can be quite crowded.
One more tip to share is we picked up a few bottles of water and when we opened them they didn't crack like a new bottle. It seems like the guy we got them from maybe filled old bottles.
It was fun for a short visit but we were happy to get back to San Diego
Written 25 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ted R
Chicago, IL35 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
Didn't really buy anything here, by the time we got over to the market, I'd already picked up my souvenirs. Although I didn't make any purchases, I really enjoyed my time here. Very high energy, tons of people, and a thousand photo opportunities. I took so many pictures that I almost exceeded the memory space left on my camera phone, Next time, I plan to spend more time shopping.
Written 3 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
XtremeReball
Queenstown, New Zealand15 contributions
Mar 2013 • Family
Do not go here, we went with our 5 year old daughter for a look and it was hot, dirty and just didn't feel very safe. Its very dodgy, people are trying to pull you into their shops that are dark and full of junk. No thanku!!!!!! we sat at the bus stop for most of the time waiting to go back!!!
Written 12 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Markus B
Karlshamn, Sweden5 contributions
Dec 2017 • Friends
Comparing to the americanized plaze santa cecilia this felt not that touristy, you did not have to stop every second because people forced you to buy stuff. All the mexicans are really friendly and helpful here.
Written 5 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TraderBo
San Diego, CA126 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Good market to visit if you're anyway walking along the main tourist drag in Tijuana, Avenida Revolucion. They have a bit of everything and it provides for some nice photo opportunities. Spend 10-15 minutes looking around here and you're done unless you decide to purchase something.
For a more exciting experience, I recommend to visit the much larger Mercado Hidalgo, Guadalupe Victoria 2, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana. It also has the advantage of being on walking distance from the large shopping complex Plaza Rio.
For a more exciting experience, I recommend to visit the much larger Mercado Hidalgo, Guadalupe Victoria 2, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana. It also has the advantage of being on walking distance from the large shopping complex Plaza Rio.
Written 14 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gerryde2014
New Orleans, LA57 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
Great experience. Felt very safe contrary to internet warnings.....crossed over the border without any hassle both ways. There is an array of authentic items from art to herbs and many items in between. I was pleasantly surprised to how many spoke enough English and embarrassed by my lack of Spanish. But all who I interacted with were pleasant and gentle souls who understood my lack of Spanish as a second language
Written 4 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola soy fabricante de dulces típicos como son barra de amaranto,obleas de amaranto y palanquetas de cacahuate.
Written 2 December 2019
Mercado Hidalgo: How far is it from the city center? Easy to get there (I dont speak any Spanish...)?
Written 11 September 2017
Google it. Easy to get there. Make sure your cell phone internet works there so you can get maps and navigate. I've gotten lost several times in TJ ( it's apart of the adventure) and now I know my way around.
Written 12 September 2017
A Tripadvisor member
Dover, Delaware
4 contributions
Yes, I believe it is as safe as any market in Mexico. Fruits and vegetables need to be cleaned properly.
Written 7 March 2017
hola aunque vi gran cantidad de dulces no estoy seguro pero con seguridad en el mercado Hidalgo queda como a 5 minutos de alli, son 5 dolares en taxi, 2.50 en uber y caminando como 15 o 20 minutos alli si hay porque he comprado para mi mama
Written 25 August 2016
Is El Popo market open on Thanksgiving Day? What about the rest of the stores in Tijuana? I know it's Mexico but do they observe Thanksgiving or is everything open normal business hours?
Written 13 November 2015
Showing results 1-7 of 7
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing