Home to 1.8 million residents, Juarez, Mexico is a short walk across the border from El Paso, Texas. But it wasn’t always like this. The city on the Rio Grande was a popular getaway for Americans before the Mexican Revolution. They came to gamble in the casinos, drink during Prohibition, and party at the nightclubs. A streetcar ran across the border. People like Marilyn Monroe came to get a quickie divorce.
Often cited as one of the most dangerous places in the world, Juarez has been named the 5th most dangerous city for its high murder rate, especially due to cartel violence in the Chihuahua state. While most crime is far removed from the tourist areas, the reputation is a hard one to overcome.
But looking at the same list of 50 destinations, I was surprised to see how many I’d been to: Cape Town, Cancun, San Juan, Guatemala City, Durban, and New Orleans. I’d been to three this year alone. I’ve never put that much stock in these listings or warnings as there are places in my own city of Atlanta considered to be equally dangerous. So I decided to check out Juarez for myself.
Juarez murals 
Border crossing
Crossing the Border to Juarez
From downtown El Paso, you can see the border, just a few blocks away from many of the local hotels. American citizens simply need to pay a small fee to enter Mexico and don’t need to show their passports before crossing the bridge. You will, however, need it on the way back, as well as a few pesos upon returning as an exit fee.
Border wait times on each end vary based on if you’re going by car or on foot. It’s fairly simple to enter Mexico on foot. But if you’re returning into America on foot, you’ll need to go through Passport Control like you might at the airport. Global Entry works here, but you must have your physical card.
Tin Tan Statue 
Zoot suit
What to See in Juarez
I was visiting El Paso for a conference and we had the opportunity to do a day tour of Juarez with a guide from the local university. I knew hardly anything about the city before that day. Plaques on the street marked the former locations of popular clubs, many now closed.
We started at the Tin Tan Museum, a space devoted to the Mexican comedic actor, known officially as the Sala de Arte Germán Valdés Tin Tan. It contains posters from his most iconic films and the “zoot suits” that he frequently wore. A statue in his honor also sits on the main plaza.
The Museum of the Border Revolution is set inside a former 1889 customs house. By 1909, it operated as a French restaurant and served as the site of border talks between US President William H. Taft and the President of México Porfirio Díaz. Today it’s a museum with exhibits in English and Spanish with exhibits from the Mexican Revolution and beyond. Admission is free.
The Mission at Our Lady of Guadelupe Cathedral dates back to 1659 as the site where the Franciscans sought to convert the Natives to Christianity. A new cathedral was built alongside it in 1941. The mission has intricately carved wooden details and incredible artwork.
Other Landmarks and Day Trips from Juarez
Snap a photo from the giant red X that is one of the art pieces along the border. The Museum of Archeology of El Chamizal contains items from the pre-Spanish arrival in Mexico.
The state of Chihuahua, which Juarez is located in, has stunning destinations that aren’t overrun with tourists. The town of Chihuahua has a craft brewery and the towns around Copper Canyon are full of charm. The Salamayuca Dunes are otherworldly and offer dune buggy rides and sandboarding. They’ve even been used in films like for the movie Dune and Conan the Destroyer.
Eating and Drinking in Juarez
Start your day with a breakfast burrito from The Burrito Lady, one of the many local vendors. Nueva Central Restaurant is another favorite local restaurant serving Mexican favorites like tamales, pastries, and even burgers.
Most visitors to Juarez make a stop at The Kentucky Bar, known as the original home of the margarita. The bar opened in 1922 and was named for a distillery in Juarez that operated during Prohibition to create “Kentucky bourbon.” They also have delicious margaritas and tacos.
Safety in Juarez and Other Frequently Asked Questions
I will start out by saying that I felt totally safe while in Juarez. It wasn’t that different than so many other places I’d been. I would have felt just fine going on my own, especially knowing a little bit of Spanish. But our group did have armed guards with us at all times.
If you’re going across the border for dinner, bring a few people with you. If you’re going on your own, I’d head back on the early side and stay within the main tourist street. Use your best judgment as you would in any destination!
If you’d like to see other parts of Mexico, including Tijuana and Mexico City, Turista Libre is a company that operates day trips throughout the country. They also offer customized private tours in Juarez. This post from 52 Perfect Days also has some great suggestions.
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I’m really curious how being on a tour & having an armed guard with your group made things different. And there’s really no way to know. I was on a road trip with 2 girlfriends in 2003 (so I was 23 years old) & we spent the night in El Paso & decided to walk across to Juarez. It was just us 3 23 year old women in spaghetti strap tank tops without a clue. Men gawked at us the whole time & it felt so uncomfortable that we turned around & left. I think we only lasted an hour. But again, naive 23 year olds almost 17 years ago, so who knows. I certainly didn’t see that shiny giant Juarez sign or any of the other things you made it to. It’s just a fuzzy memory in my head at this point but I do wonder if we had just walked a little farther if we would’ve felt less creeped out, or if things have improved since then. I’m with you on the whole murder rate thing. It’s a scary statistic but most of the time you’re not who the murderers are targeting.
Yeah, I wonder as well, Ali. Obviously my experiences were different since we had guards and a guide, but I think they’ve definitely made an effort to encourage tourism.