10 Best Things to Do in the City of Oaxaca, Mexico

When a city is known as the ‘culinary capital of Mexico’, ‘the land of the seven moles’ and also the home of Mezcal, you know that there won’t be a shortage of things to try. So, if you’re heading to Oaxaca soon then make sure to check out some of the best things to do in the city so you won’t miss out on anything.

The city is filled with colourful buildings, street art, friendly people, the most delicious food and drinks and also plenty of unique day trips. So it’s no wonder that in just a few days Oaxaca became our favourite city in Mexico. 

If you’d like to see our Oaxaca adventures then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here. You can also check out our Mexico Playlist for more adventures.

Introducing the City of Oaxaca, Mexico

Located in the Oaxaca Valley at 1,550m above sea level is the culinary capital of Mexico: Oaxaca City. Officially designated as a city in 1529, Oaxaca is the capital city of the state of Oaxaca. Below are some interesting facts about both the state and the city:

• The name Oaxaca comes from the Aztec’s Nahuatl language and it means ‘at the top of the guaje tree’.
• Two of Mexico’s famous presidents, Porfirio Díaz and Benito Juárez, are from Oaxaca. You’ll notice a lot of references to Benito Juarez. For example, the city’s official name is Oaxaca de Juarez which was added in 1872 in honour of the president.
• Other than being considered the food capital of Mexico, Oaxaca is often referred to as the ‘Land of the Seven Moles’. Mole is a traditional sauce that contains fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and other spices. Each state in Oaxaca produces a different variation of the mole, hence the name.
• Oaxaca is also home to the famous spirit called Mezcal.
• Since 1987 both the city and Monte Alban archaeological site have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Oaxaca is well-known for its rich artisanal culture. Unique handicrafts are made in the surrounding towns and villages.
• There are several different indigenous groups in Oaxaca making the state one of the most diverse in Mexico.
• Oaxaca state is also home to the world famous surf beach called Playa Zicatela in Puerto Escondido.
• If you visit Oaxaca at the end of July, you can enjoy the celebration of Guelaguetza. It is an annual indigenous cultural event where dancers from all regions of Oaxaca come together to celebrate their music, dance, food, and traditions.

How to Get to Oaxaca City, Mexico

By Plane: Oaxaca has an airport which is located just to the south of the city centre. Flights mainly go between Mexico City, but there are flights to and from other cities too such as Huatulco, Cancún and Guadalajara. In addition you can fly direct to a few USA cities like Dallas, Houston and LA. 

By Car: You can rent a car and drive to Oaxaca City. Bear in mind that the distances are pretty far between the main cities in Mexico. For example, expect to drive at least 7 hours from Mexico City to reach Oaxaca. Before you rent a car, I would do more research about driving in Mexico.

By Bus: A cost effective and also more environmentally friendly option is to take a bus to Oaxaca. Depending on where you’re coming from there are different companies that offer services to the city of Oaxaca. For example, if you’re coming from Mexico City you can use the ADO bus company. The journey would take around 7 hours and the ticket would cost around 700MXN. 

Click here to check out other bus companies and learn more about bus travel in Mexico. 

Where to Stay in Oaxaca City, Mexico

I recommend staying close to Centro Historico since most points of interest are located in this area. You can also consider Jalatlaco which is just to the east of Centro Historico. For reference we stayed in this neighbourhood and it was quick and easy to walk into the city centre.

Oaxaca is such a walkable city and you can reach most of the tourist attractions on foot if you stay in either of the above neighbourhoods.

10 Things to do in Oaxaca City, Mexico

There is plenty to do and see in and around the city of Oaxaca. Therefore, I suggest spending as long as you can in the city. However, I appreciate that not everybody will have that much free time. For this reason, I think allowing a minimum of 1.5 days in the city itself will be just enough to see a lot and eat a lot. If you’d like to take a few day trips then you’ll need a minimum of 3 days in Oaxaca.

1. Walk Around Zocalo in Oaxaca’s Historic Centre

One of the first things you should do in Oaxaca City is to walk around the central part of the city. The ‘Town Square’ is known as the Zocalo which is a perfect place to get a feel for the city and also do some sightseeing.

In many Spanish colonial cities the main squares are located in the centre of both religious and non-religious power. The buildings that hold these kinds of powers are normally a cathedral, a government building and a court. 

Many famous landmarks are located around the Zocalo such as the Oaxaca Cathedral and the Government’s Palace but there are also some must visit museums, plenty of restaurants and vendors in the area as well.

2. Visit at Least One of the Many Museums in Oaxaca

There are quite a few museums in Oaxaca, so you’ll definitely find something you’re interested in. Most of them are  located within the Historic Centre so you can visit as many as you wish:

• Museum of Cultures (Best museum for the history and culture of the region)
• Textile Museum (Contains a range of garments and other textiles from indigenous cultures)
• Voces de Copal (Houses crafts and sculptures)
• Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art (Houses a large collection of pre-Hispanic art)
• Alvarez Bravo Photography Centre (Photography exhibit)
• La Mano Magica (Houses textiles and folk art)

Entry Fees: Admission to these museums is varied.

Top Tip – Many museums in Oaxaca will likely be closed on Mondays so time your visit on another day.

3. Visit Some of the Most Beautiful Churches in Oaxaca

Oaxaca has many beautiful churches and many date back to the 16th century. Whilst Santo Domingo Church and the Oaxaca Cathedral are the two most visited churches in the city, I think it’s worth adding a few more to your itinerary.

• Santo Domingo Church is a 16th century Baroque-style Catholic church. It’s the biggest, most spectacular and definitely most visited church in Oaxaca.
• Oaxaca Cathedral is located in the centre of Oaxaca, just north of the Zocalo. Construction on the cathedral began in 1535, with the same design as Mexico City’s Cathedral. However, due to earthquake damage, the building has undergone further construction since.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude (La Soledad) is a beautiful 17th century church just a few blocks away from the Zocalo. It’s home to a statute of the ‘Virgin of Solitude’ which is Oaxaca’s saint. 
• Our Lady of Mercy Church (La Merced) was built in either the 16th or 17th century. The church and convent have a mixed style and a very colourful history.
• San Felipe Neri Church is an eighteenth century church, again just a few blocks away from the Zocalo. It was built in the classic baroque style. It’s also the place where the ex-president Benito Juarez got married.
• San Matias Church is located in the Jalatlaco district so you can’t miss it when checking out some of the murals in the neighbourhood.

4. Enjoy Some Greenery in Oaxaca’s Botanical Garden

Located next to Santo Domingo Church is Oaxaca’s Botanic Garden called Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca. The 2.3-acre garden is home to a collection of hundreds of plants that are all native to the state of Oaxaca.

Did you know? – Up until about two decades ago the Mexican military used the land as a home base. After they moved out the government wanted to build a luxury hotel there, but many protested against it and suggested using the place to celebrate the high number of flora found in the state. As a nature lover I cannot be happier that they decided against erecting a luxury hotel.

Entry Fee – 100MXN per person. You must go with a guided tour. Although Spanish tours are more frequent, English tours are also available at 11AM every Tuesday and Thursday. 

5. Admire Panoramic Views of Oaxaca City

If you love a good city view then definitely head towards Auditorio Guelaguetza. The viewpoint is called Oaxaca Desde el Mirador del Cerro del Fortin on the map. From this point you can really appreciate the scale and the beauty of the city.

You can take a taxi up there, but it’s not super far to walk from the centre either. Bear in mind that you’ll have to walk up a set of stairs to reach the viewpoint though. 

Top Tip – You can also enjoy stunning views of Oaxaca from Monte Alban Archaeological Site.  

6. Walk Along Calle Macedonio Alcala

Also referred to as the ‘Tourist Walkway’, Calle Macedonio Alcala is one of the main streets in Oaxaca City. They closed vehicle access back in 1985 so since then people have been able to walk around freely, enjoying the countless historical buildings, shops, cafés and restaurants.

It’s a very vibrant and colourful stretch of road connecting all the main attractions within the Historic Centre and beyond. Don’t skip walking along it.

7. Enjoy the Street Art and Colourful Buildings Everywhere

Oaxaca is such a colourful and vibrant city which is probably why we completely fell in love with it. No matter which street you walk on there will be colourful buildings everywhere. The city is also home to some incredible street art and murals that aren’t just decorative, but tell important stories.

Whilst you can find colourful buildings everywhere you go, you won’t find much street art within the Historic Centre, since the buildings are protected in that area.

Therefore, to find the best street art and murals head to Jalatlaco district just east of the centre and Xochimilco neighbourhood to the north of the historic centre. Here, the walls will be covered with the most beautiful murals wherever you turn.

I highly recommend taking your time in the area, grab a coffee, wonder around or just sit somewhere and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

If you’d love to learn about the meaning behind some of the murals and their artists then I highly recommend booking a street art tour.

8. Visit the Markets in Oaxaca

One of my ultimate favourite things to do in a new city is immersing myself in the sounds and smells of a market. Now you definitely won’t be short on markets to visit in Oaxaca City. Below is a list of markets you should consider checking out during your stay in the city:

• November 20th Market is probably the best market to find typical Oaxacan food.
• Benito Juarez Market is another must visit indoor market with plenty of food options and shops.
• Central de Abastos is a massive market packed with fresh produce, food stalls and shops. You can find the famous Dona Vale stand here to try memelas amongst other Oaxacan delicacies. 
• Mercado de la Merced is a much smaller market that’s popular for its traditional Mexican food. 
• Oaxacan Artisan Market is a great one to see local arts, textiles and clothing. The perfect place to find some souvenirs. 

9. Eat, Eat and Eat Some More

After watching the Oaxaca Street Food episode of the popular Netflix show called Street Food: Latin America, we knew that we had to eat our way through Oaxaca. The city is home to many unique Mexican foods that you won’t find anywhere else in the country. For this reason I highly encourage you to take advantage of the offers and try as many dishes as you possibly can.

What to eat in Oaxaca:

• Moles are traditional sauces that contain fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and other spices. Each state in Oaxaca produces a different variation of the mole, hence it’s often referred to as the ‘Land of the Seven Moles’.
• Tlayudas are giant, crunchy corn tortillas filled with beans, lettuce, spicy sauce, your choice of meat and Oaxacan stringy cheese. You can always make it vegetarian too.
• Memelas are simple open corn tortillas smeared with ground beans and topped with cheese and some spicy sauce if you like it hot! Simple food but really fresh and delicious.
• Tetelas are effectively folded memelas filled with beans and cheese.
• Tamales are a mixture of corn or rice, meat and vegetables cooked in a banana or corn leaf. You can also get sweet, fruit flavoured tamales as well.

If you really love food then why not go on a street food tour or book in for a cooking class.

Places to eat in Oaxaca:

• Mercado 20 de Noviembre (Best street food)
• Tlayudas El Negro (Best Tlayudas, Vegetarian option is available too)
• Itanoni (Great local dishes like Tetelas and Tamales)
• Dona Vale in the Central de Abastos market (Delicious memelas)

10. Don’t Forget About Trying Some Drinks Either

The city of Oaxaca is also home to many unique drinks you have to try during your stay. Whether you prefer alcoholic drinks, sweet drinks or something entirely unique Oaxaca has got you covered.

Drinks to try in Oaxaca:

• Oaxaca is home to Mezcal which is a spirit made from various types of agave. Don’t confuse it with Tequila, which is a type of mezcal but can only be made from the blue agave plant. Basically, all tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas. Mezcal is also supposed to be drunk slowly accompanied by different types of salts and citrus fruits. 
• Tejate is a unique corn-based drink made only in the Oaxaca area. Often called ‘the drink of the Gods’, it is a mixture of corn, cocoa, mamey bone and cocoa rosita, a white edible flower that grows on the local Rosital tree.
• Champurrado (Atole de Chocolate) is the chocolate version of atole, a hot Mexican drink that is made with water, Mexican chocolate, masa or corn flour, cinnamon and piloncillo.
• Café de Olla is a delicately spiced coffee drink that’s prepared in a clay pot over a wood fire with a mixture of ground coffee beans, anise, cinnamon, panela, cloves, and pepper. Although you can drink Café de Olla pretty much everywhere in Mexico you can just never have enough.

Where to find these drinks in Oaxaca:

• La Casa del Mezcal (Best place to try Mezcal)
• La Flor de Huayapam at Mercado Benito Juarez (Best place to try tejate drink)
• Fonda Florecita in the Mercado de la Merced (Good chocolate atole)

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Oaxaca City, Mexico

We felt like there was so many amazing things to do in Oaxaca City and never for a minute felt bored. Without doubt it became our favourite city we visited during our 2.5 months in Mexico. We loved just how colourful and vibrant the entire city was. After eating our way through the city we can totally appreciate why they call it the culinary capital of Mexico. We would definitely return to the city in a heartbeat.

Have you ever been to Oaxaca City before? If so, how much of the city did you manage to explore? If not, would you visit this beautiful and vibrant city? Let me know in the comments below.