Oaxaca City, Mexico: travel guide
Mole, mezcal and Zapotec culture in a colourful colonial city
A UNESCO colonial city celebrated for its indigenous Zapotec culture, complex moles, mezcal, vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations, and nearby Monte Albán ruins.
About Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City is a colonial city in the southern highlands, widely loved for its cooking, crafts and living indigenous traditions. Its centre is a pleasant walking city of stone churches and courtyards around the Zócalo, and the pace here is gentle.
Food is the main reason to visit. The Mercado Benito Juárez is the place to try the region's moles, tlayudas and chocolate, while mezcal is made in villages not far away. Day trips include the Zapotec ruins at Monte Albán and Mitla, and the weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle. The Jardín Etnobotánico, the Teatro Macedonio Alcalá and the city's festivals add to the cultural interest.
Oaxaca suits food lovers and culture seekers. The dry season from October to April is the most comfortable, and the Day of the Dead period brings the busiest celebrations.
- Country
- Mexico
- Currency
- MXN
- Time zone
- America/Mexico_City
- Nearest airport
- OAX
Last updated
Top places to visit in Oaxaca City
Monte Albán
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry $85 (≈ ₹440)
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 · check the fee at the gate
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 $35 (≈ ₹180)
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 · check the fee at the gate
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 $90 (≈ ₹470)
Ex-convent museum beside Santo Domingo housing the Monte Albán Tomb 7 gold treasure.
Jardín Etnobotánico
Nature · about 1.3 h · entry $100 (≈ ₹520)
Living collection of Oaxaca's endemic plants behind Santo Domingo; guided visits only.
Andador Turístico Macedonio Alcalá
Cultural · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Pedestrian street of galleries, mezcalerías and craft shops linking the zócalo to Santo Domingo.
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Food market famed for its smoky "pasillo de humo" grilled-meat hall and Oaxacan specialties.
Basílica de la Soledad
Church · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate
Baroque basilica honouring Oaxaca's patron, with an adjoining religious-art museum.
Árbol del Tule
Nature · about 0.5 h · entry $15 (≈ ₹78)
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 · check the fee at the gate
Weaving village famed for naturally dyed Zapotec wool rugs; workshop demonstrations.
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá
Heritage · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
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 to Oaxaca City
Airport: Oaxaca (OAX)
How visitors arrive in Oaxaca City
- Flight from Mexico City By air from Mexico City · common
The small Xoxocotlan airport mostly handles flights from Mexico City, with a few direct services from US cities and Guatemala City. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Bus from Mexico City By road from Mexico City · common
Long-distance first-class buses reach the first-class bus station north of the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Bus or shuttle van from the coast By road from Puerto Escondido · possible
Buses and shuttle vans link the city with Puerto Escondido, and buses also run from Huatulco. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Shared van (colectivo) to your address
Shared vans drop passengers at their accommodation and leave when full. Tickets are sold at an office near the Zocalo, so book a day ahead for the return. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Airport taxi booths
Two taxi agency booths sit just outside arrivals and offer fixed-price transfers. City yellow taxis generally do not take airport fares. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- DiDi unconfirmed
The guide suggests DiDi as an option for the airport run. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Bus
City buses, including the municipal BinniBus, serve Oaxaca City, and colectivos run to outlying villages from hubs near the Mercado de Abastos.
- Taxi
Taxis are plentiful in Oaxaca's historic centre, with a rank near the Zócalo, and the price should be agreed before setting off.
- Walking
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."
Best time to visit Oaxaca City
- Jan 22°C
- Feb 25°C
- Mar 28°C
- Apr 29°C
- May 28°C
- Jun 24°C
- Jul 22°C
- Aug 22°C
- Sep 22°C
- Oct 22°C
- Nov 21°C
- Dec 22°C
More in Mexico
Frequently asked questions about Oaxaca City
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Oaxaca City?
- The highest-rated places in our Oaxaca City guide are Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, Mercado Benito Juárez.
- Where should I stay in Oaxaca City?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Oaxaca City: Centro Histórico.
- How do I get around Oaxaca City?
- Ways to get around Oaxaca City covered in our guide: City bus, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Oaxaca City?
- Scams reported to us for Oaxaca City include Mezcal tour overcharging; Mezcal Bar Overcharging. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Oaxaca City?
- Average daytime highs in Oaxaca City run from 21°C in Nov to 29°C in Apr.
- Which airport is nearest to Oaxaca City?
- The nearest airport to Oaxaca City has the code OAX.