Oaxaca City, Mexico: travel guide
A UNESCO colonial city celebrated for its indigenous Zapotec culture, complex moles, mezcal, vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations, and nearby Monte Albán ruins.
- Country
- Mexico
- Currency
- MXN
- Time zone
- America/Mexico_City
- Nearest airport
- OAX
Top places to visit in Oaxaca City
Monte Albán
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry MXN 85
A UNESCO Zapotec city built atop a levelled mountain with 360° panoramic valley views. Founded ~500 BC with massive plazas, tombs, and an astronomical observatory.
Mercado Benito Juárez
Market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
Oaxaca's primary traditional market — moles, tlayudas, chapulines (fried grasshoppers), mezcal tastings, black clay pottery, and Zapotec textiles.
Hierve el Agua
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry MXN 35
Petrified mineral waterfalls and infinity pools over mountain cliffs with sweeping Oaxacan valley views. ~60km from Oaxaca City.
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Church · about 0.8 h
Monumental 16th-c. Baroque church with a gilded interior, Oaxaca's architectural jewel.
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Museum · about 1.5 h · entry MXN 90
Ex-convent museum beside Santo Domingo housing the Monte Albán Tomb 7 gold treasure.
Jardín Etnobotánico
Nature · about 1.3 h · entry MXN 100
Living collection of Oaxaca's endemic plants behind Santo Domingo; guided visits only.
Andador Turístico Macedonio Alcalá
Cultural · about 1 h
Pedestrian street of galleries, mezcalerías and craft shops linking the zócalo to Santo Domingo.
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Market · about 1 h
Food market famed for its smoky "pasillo de humo" grilled-meat hall and Oaxacan specialties.
Basílica de la Soledad
Church · about 0.7 h
Baroque basilica honouring Oaxaca's patron, with an adjoining religious-art museum.
Árbol del Tule
Nature · about 0.5 h · entry MXN 15
The world's stoutest tree — a 2,000-year-old Montezuma cypress in Santa María del Tule.
Teotitlán del Valle
Cultural · about 1.5 h
Weaving village famed for naturally dyed Zapotec wool rugs; workshop demonstrations.
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá
Heritage · about 0.5 h
Belle Époque theatre (1909) with a Louis XV foyer, a Porfirian landmark on the zócalo.
Things to do
- Hierve el Agua Petrified Waterfall Adventure · 5 h · from MXN 600 per person
- Oaxacan Cooking Class Cooking · 6 h · from MXN 1,800 per person
- Oaxaca Market & Street-Food Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from MXN 550 per person
- Mezcal Distillery Route (Santiago Matatlán) Tour · 6 h · from MXN 900 per person
- Monte Albán & Artisan Villages Tour Tour · 6 h · from MXN 850 per person
- Alebrijes Woodcarving Workshop (San Martín Tilcajete) Workshop · 2.5 h · from MXN 500 per person
- Oaxacan Chocolate & Mole Class Workshop · 3 h · from MXN 700 per person
Day trips and tours
- Oaxacan Village + Mezcal + Mitla Ruins 8 h · from 1,600
- Monte Albán + Rug Weaving Village 7 h · from 1,400
Where to stay in Oaxaca City
- Centro Histórico about MXN 2,200 per night
The only place to stay in Oaxaca — walkable to Zócalo, Monte Albán shuttles, mezcal bars, market, and cooking schools. Boutique colonial hotels at all budgets.
Hotels
- Casa Oaxaca Hotel 5-star · MXN 6,000 to MXN 12,000 per night
- Casa Antonieta 4-star · MXN 2,400 to MXN 3,800 per night
- Quinta Real Oaxaca 5-star · MXN 4,200 to MXN 8,500 per night
- Hotel Azul 2-star · MXN 600 to MXN 1,100 per night
- Hostal Casa Ángel 2-star · MXN 280 to MXN 900 per night
- Hotel Parador San Miguel 3-star · MXN 1,300 to MXN 2,100 per night
Where to eat
- Casa Oaxaca Restaurante oaxacan, contemporary · about MXN 1,200 per person
- Tlayudas Libres oaxacan · about MXN 120 per person
- In Situ Mezcalería oaxacan, bar · about MXN 400 per person
- Los Danzantes Contemporary, Oaxacan · about MXN 850 per person
- Origen Contemporary, Oaxacan · about MXN 900 per person
- La Biznaga Oaxacan, Mexican · about MXN 400 per person
- Levadura de Olla Oaxacan · about MXN 500 per person
- Zandunga Oaxacan, Isthmus · about MXN 350 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Mezcal tour overcharging
Zócalo touts and unofficial guides
Street touts sell inflated "mezcal route" tours of dubious quality.
How to avoid it: Book through your hotel or a reputable operator with fixed pricing.
Mezcal Bar Overcharging
Oaxaca Centro bar strip, especially Calle Murguía
Bar hands you an unlabeled artisanal mezcal and charges premium prices (MXN 400+/shot) without disclosing prices. Bill arrives dramatically inflated.
How to avoid it: Always ask for the price list (carta de precios) before ordering. Established bars like In Situ Mezcalería display prices clearly. Avoid establishments that pressure you to try "free samples."