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Destinations / Mexico

Oaxaca

Oaxaca de Juarez

Mole, mezcal and Zapotec ruins in the highlands

foodarthistorybudgetarchitecture
Plan your trip to OaxacaSee the top 10
270,955Population
713,000Metro area
SpanishLanguage
MXNCurrency
5 daysIdeal stay
$100-180Typical day

Oaxaca is a colonial city of green stone churches and markets in a highland valley. It is one of Mexico's top food destinations, with mole and mezcal. Monte Alban and craft villages are nearby.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Monte Alban was the Zapotec capital for over a thousand years, built on a flattened mountaintop above the valley. Its plazas, pyramids and ball court are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    3 hoursTime needed
    about $11-12Cost
    noBook ahead

    2026 foreigner fee is MXN 210; open 8 am to 5 pm, last entry 4 pm.

    Tip. Take an early shuttle from town, bring a hat and water, and visit the site museum.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. This former Dominican monastery has one of the most lavish gilded baroque interiors in Mexico. The adjoining cloister holds the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures and an ethnobotanical garden.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free; museum fee.

    Tip. Visit late afternoon when the facade glows; dress modestly during services.
    See on the map

  3. The Zocalo is Oaxaca's shaded main square, framed by arcades, cafes and the cathedral. It is the heart of public life, with music, protests and balloon sellers.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Have a hot chocolate under the arcades and watch the evening scene.
    See on the map

  4. The 20 de Noviembre market is famous for its smoky grill hall, where you choose raw meat and have it cooked on the spot. Stalls also sell mole, chocolate and chapulines.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Go at lunch, pick meat at one stall and tortillas and salsas from the vendors.
    See on the map

  5. Hierve el Agua is a set of mineral springs on a cliff edge, where calcium deposits look like frozen waterfalls. Infinity style pools overlook the mountains.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $3-6Cost
    noBook ahead

    Rough entry price.

    Tip. About 1.5 hours away; access is run by local communities and can close at short notice, so check first.
    See on the map

  6. The Ethnobotanical Garden occupies the old monastery grounds and showcases plants of Oaxaca, from cacti to agave. It is visited only on guided tours.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $5-10Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Tour.

    Tip. Tours run at set times, some in English, so check the schedule and arrive early.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. Small family distilleries around Oaxaca roast agave in earth pits and distil mezcal by traditional methods. Tours show the whole process and end with tastings.

    Half a dayTime needed
    about $30-80Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Tour.

    Tip. Santiago Matatlan is the hub; go with a driver if you plan to taste.
    See on the map

  8. The Museum of Oaxacan Cultures fills the former monastery with archaeology, including the gold treasure of Monte Alban Tomb 7. The cloister views alone justify a visit.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $5Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Allow at least two hours; the upper windows look over the garden.
    See on the map

  9. The Tule Tree in Santa Maria del Tule is a huge Montezuma cypress, thought to have one of the widest trunks in the world. It stands in a churchyard about 10 km from town.

    30 minutesTime needed
    about $1Cost
    noBook ahead

    Small fee.

    Tip. Combine with Mitla or a mezcal tour on the same road.
    See on the map

  10. Macedonio Alcala is the pedestrian street linking the Zocalo with Santo Domingo, lined with colonial houses, galleries and cafes. It is the classic evening stroll.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk it at dusk when street musicians play.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Oaxaca in three days

Day two Monte Alban, day three Hierve el Agua and mezcal.

  1. Santo Domingo de Guzman1 hour · Free
  2. Monte Alban3 hours · about $11-12
  3. 20 de Noviembre Market1 hour · Free
  4. Zocalo1 hour · Free
  5. Hierve el AguaFull day · about $3-6
  6. Ethnobotanical Garden1 hour · about $5-10
  7. Mezcal distillery tourHalf a day · about $30-80
  8. Museum of Oaxacan Cultures2 hours · about $5
  9. Tule Tree30 minutes · about $1
  10. Andador Macedonio Alcala1 hour · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Mitla

Zapotec ruins with stone mosaics.

28 mi · Car about 1 hour

Teotitlan del Valle

A weaving village.

19 mi · Car about 40 minutes

San Bartolo Coyotepec

Home of black clay pottery.

7 mi · Colectivo or taxi, about 30 minutes

Cuilapam de Guerrero

A 16th century convent with a peaceful setting.

7 mi · Colectivo, about 30 minutes

Puerto Escondido

Beach town on the Pacific coast, better as an overnight trip.

155 mi · Flight or long bus ride

Hierve el Agua and Mitla

Petrified mineral rock waterfalls and cliffside infinity springs overlooking mountain valleys, paired with geometric Zapotec mosaic palaces.

43 mi · Shared colectivo or guided day tour coach via the highway in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: October to April. Dry, sunny; Day of the Dead in November.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.4JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

70°F
Typical daily high
Average58°F
Rain0.7 in
About2 rainy days
Sun strength4.3 kWh/m²

No season note for this month.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jul

Guelaguetza

Last two Mondays of July (dates set each year by the state)

A dance festival of regional delegations on the Cerro del Fortin.

Oct

Day of the Dead

October 31 to November 2

Altars and cemetery vigils.

Dec

Night of the Radishes

December 23

Radish carving contest in the Zocalo.

Dec

Posadas and Christmas

December

Lantern processions and holiday celebrations.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Mexico at Level 2 (increased caution) overall, with state level advice varying; Oaxaca has Level 2 advice; the city is calm, but protests and road blockades happen.

5/5
Walkability

The center is compact and walkable.

2/5
Public transport

Buses and colectivos run; visitors use taxis.

Sources disagree on: scores.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Centro

$$

Best for: first-timers

Near the Zocalo.

2. Jalatlaco

$$

Best for: couples

Colorful quiet streets.

3. Xochimilco

$

Best for: budget

Local feel.

4. Historic Centre

$$

Best for: first-timers, food, culture

Walkable to the Zocalo, markets and churches.

5. Reforma

$

Best for: families, budget

Residential area with restaurants away from crowds.

6. Colonia Centro Sur

$

Best for: budget

Cheaper hostels and guesthouses.

Getting there and around

Main airportOaxaca International Airport (OAX), 5 mi from the center
To the centerShared shuttles or taxis take about 20 minutes.
Around townWalk the center; take tours or colectivos to ruins.
Ride appsUber, DiDi, Local yellow taxis hailed on street.
Taste it

What to eat

Mole negro

Dark chili and chocolate sauce.

Tlayuda

Large crisp tortilla.

Mezcal

Agave spirit.

Chapulines

Toasted grasshoppers.

Quesillo

Stringy Oaxaca cheese.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 127 V
Tap waterUse bottled water
TippingLeave 10 to 15 percent in restaurants and small tips for guides and hotel staff.
PaymentsCards are common in resort areas; carry pesos for taxis and small vendors.
EtiquetteGreet people before asking a question, and ask before photographing indigenous vendors. Dress modestly in churches and villages.
  • The city sits at about 1,550 meters, so evenings are cool.
  • Day of the Dead and the Guelaguetza in July are peak times; book rooms well ahead.
  • Road blockades by protesters happen sometimes; check local news before long drives.
  • Many villages have weekly markets on fixed days, such as Tlacolula on Sundays.
  • Altitude is about 1,550 metres, so the sun is strong; use sunscreen.
  • Roadblocks and protests can affect travel, so check news.
  • Avoid unlicensed mezcal sellers and drink responsibly.
  • Many sites and museums close on Mondays.

A short history

Zapotec people built Monte Alban about 500 BC. The Spanish founded the city in the 1500s. It has a strong indigenous culture. UNESCO listed the center and Monte Alban in 1987.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Oaxaca