Dinner In Oaxaca
Mole negro, tlayudas and mezcal tastings carry the night in Oaxaca, from market comedores to courtyard kitchens.
Best restaurants
Oaxaca Travel Guide
A practical guide to Oaxaca City, high in the Valles Centrales at about 1,550 m. It covers the main sights, 64 bookable tours, day trips into the valleys and the Sierra Norte, and the best times of year to go, with information drawn from primary sources.
One Day In Oaxaca: Zócalo To The Markets
The historic core is compact enough to cover on foot in a single day. Start at the Zócalo, walk north along the Andador Macedonio Alcalá to Santo Domingo de Guzmán, then loop through the Mercado 20 de Noviembre for lunch. A food and market tour rated 4.93 runs about 2.5 hours from $52.52 if you would rather go with a guide.
1Morning
Zócalo
The Zócalo, formally Plaza de la Constitución, is the centre of the historic core and the natural first stop. Shade trees, cafés under the arcades and the cathedral make it a place to sit as much as to see. From here the Andador Macedonio Alcalá runs straight north toward Santo Domingo, so the whole day's route begins at this square. Free GuruWalk tours of the centre start nearby.
2Midday
Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Santo Domingo de Guzmán, at the north end of the Andador Macedonio Alcalá, is the city's most lavish church, its gilded interior a baroque showpiece. Inside the former convent, the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:00; INAH lists the fee at 105 pesos for nationals and 210 for foreign visitors. Walking and history tours of the centre stop here.
3Afternoon
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
The Mercado 20 de Noviembre is the classic lunch stop, a short walk south of the Zócalo. The smoke-filled pasillo de carnes asadas is the draw: pick your meat, take a seat, and order tlayudas and quesillo from the stalls around it. Chapulines and tejate appear at neighbouring vendors. A food tour rated 4.8, from $55.49 for about 3.5 hours, walks visitors through these markets with a local guide.
4Evening
Andador Macedonio Alcalá
The Andador Macedonio Alcalá runs north from the Zócalo toward Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and most first walks in Oaxaca City end up on it. The pedestrian street passes galleries, mezcal shops and courtyard cafés in green cantera stone. Side streets peel off toward Jalatlaco and Xochimilco, two quieter neighbourhoods painted in bold colour.
Things To Do In Oaxaca: The Short List
Beyond the historic centre, the Valles Centrales spread out in three valley arms, each strung with villages known for a single craft: San Bartolo Coyotepec for barro negro pottery, Teotitlán del Valle for wool rugs, San Martín Tilcajete for alebrijes. Monte Albán sits on a flattened ridge to the west, Mitla and Hierve El Agua lie east. This guide sorts all of it into day trips, tastings, workshops and walks, with tours compared side by side.
Monte AlbánZapotec capital above the Valles Centrales, a World Heritage site with pyramids.
Santo Domingo de GuzmánGilded baroque church in the former Dominican convent.
ZócaloThe tree-shaded main square of the historic centre, framed by arcades.
Mercado 20 de NoviembreClassic market hall a few blocks from the Zócalo, filled with food stalls, bread.
Hierve el AguaMineral springs cascading over petrified cliffs east of the city.
MitlaMitla lies about 45 km east of the city and opens daily from 08:00 to 17:00.
Santa María del Tule TreeA very wide Montezuma cypress in the churchyard at Santa María del Tule.
Jardín EtnobotánicoGarden of Oaxacan plants beside Santo Domingo.
Oaxaca Neighbourhoods At A Glance
The centre is walkable end to end, but its barrios each keep a distinct character. The Zócalo anchors the grid, and the Andador Macedonio Alcalá runs north from it to Santo Domingo de Guzmán through the densest stretch of galleries and shops. East of the centro, Jalatlaco is the quieter of the two traditional neighbourhoods, its cobbled streets painted in bold colour, with small mezcalerías and workshops rather than department stores. Xochimilco, north of the aqueduct arches, is the older of the pair, a residential barrio of calm lanes and family-run presses a short walk from the tourist spine. Both make an easy half-day loop on foot, and both are where the city's free walking tours tend to linger longest.
Centro Histórico · Jalatlaco · Xochimilco · Reforma · South Of Centro And The Markets · All Neighbourhoods
12,482 traveller reviewsacross 64 checked tours
From $22.79cheapest paid tour
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly
Oaxaca Tours Worth Booking
The tours listed here number 64 across 10 categories, from $0 free walks to a $300-per-group private day with car and driver visiting master artisans, and every from-price plus review count is listed so you can compare like for like. Valley day trips run 6 to 13 hours and bundle several villages in one loop. Monte Albán options start at $26.04. Mezcal tastings, cooking classes and market tours fill the shorter slots between them.
Showing the three best-reviewed tours to start you off. Pick an answer below and the list rebuilds around you.
- Full Day, 2.5 Hours At Hierve 11 hours from $69.98 ★ 4.9 (1,553 reviews) Check availability
- 12-Hour Loop, Tule To Hierve 12 hours from $60 ★ 4.7 (1,179 reviews) Check availability
- Guided Ruins, 3 To 4 Hours 3 to 4 hours from $30.04 ★ 4.8 (1,059 reviews) Check availability
- Half Day At The Ruins 4 hours from $32.55 ★ 4.65 (699 reviews) Check availability
- 8 Hours, Mezcal Making 8 hours from $59.68 ★ 4.89 (698 reviews) Check availability
- 11-Hour Loop, Rugs And Mezcal 11 hours from $54.26 ★ 4.86 (698 reviews) Check availability
- 10-Hour Tule, Mitla, Mezcal 10 hours from $70.48 ★ 4.72 (498 reviews) Check availability
- All Gastronomy Included, Market Walk 3 hours 30 minutes from $55.49 ★ 4.8 (464 reviews) Check availability
- Grandma's Recipes, 3 Hours 3 hours from $95 ★ 5 (362 reviews) Check availability
- Petrified Falls And Pools 6 hours from $37.98 ★ 4.74 (342 reviews) Check availability
- 7 Hours, Alebrijes And Black Clay 7 hours from $48.83 ★ 4.65 (230 reviews) Check availability
- Traditional Tastings, 2.5 Hours 2.5 hours from $52.52 ★ 4.93 (226 reviews) Check availability
- Vegetarian Class, Market Visit 3.5 hours from $65.11 ★ 4.83 (162 reviews) Check availability
- Food And Markets Walk 2 hours 30 minutes from $65 ★ 4.8 (153 reviews) Check availability
- 5-Hour Traditional Class 5 hours from $81.38 ★ 4.91 (149 reviews) Check availability
- 13-Hour Hike Plus Mezcal 13 hours from $211.06 ★ 4.9 (143 reviews) View tour
- Cuilapam De Guerrero, 8 Hours 8 hours from $37.98 ★ 4.68 (131 reviews) View tour
- Street Art Ride, 4 Hours 4 hours from $77.76 ★ 4.8 (127 reviews) View tour
- Behind-the-Scenes Distillery Access 6 hours from $97.66 ★ 4.87 (120 reviews) View tour
- Budget Fare, 9-Hour Craft Day 9 hours from $26.04 ★ 4.71 (118 reviews) View tour
- 3-Hour Printmaking Session 3 hours from $32.50 ★ 4.89 (104 reviews) View tour
- 8-Hour Essential Loop 8 hours from $42.99 ★ 4.5 (101 reviews) View tour
- Small Group, Half Day Hierve 6 hours from $75.54 ★ 4.9 (99 reviews) View tour
- Small-Group Cacao And Chocolate 1 hour 30 minutes from $108.31 ★ 4.9 (98 reviews) View tour
- Budget Fare, Family Distillery 5 hours from $22.79 ★ 4.81 (97 reviews) View tour
- 2-Hour Art And History Ride 2 hours from $32.22 ★ 4.9 (89 reviews) View tour
- Evening Tour, 14 Tastings 4 hours from $65.19 ★ 4.91 (87 reviews) View tour
- Countryside Agave Fields And Mezcal 5 to 6 hours from $92.15 ★ 4.8 (83 reviews) View tour
- Private Car, Master Artisans 7 hours from $300 ★ 5 (79 reviews) View tour
- Sommelier Mezcal And Mole 1 hour 30 minutes from $80.54 ★ 4.8 (77 reviews) View tour
- Paint With The Jimenez Family 4 hours from $72 ★ 4.8 (74 reviews) View tour
- Street Art Walk Led By Artist 2 hours from $50 ★ 4.9 (71 reviews) View tour
- 2-Hour Historic Center Walk 2 hours from $32.52 ★ 4.88 (66 reviews) View tour
- 8-Hour Crafts Route, Three Towns 8 hours from $36.85 ★ 4.72 (57 reviews) View tour
- Evening Walk, Dinner Included 5 hours from $109.25 ★ 4.32 (53 reviews) View tour
- 2-Hour Walk, Culture And Food 2 hours from $27.77 ★ 4.7 (47 reviews) View tour
- 3-Hour Culture Walk 3 hours from $39 ★ 4.9 (44 reviews) View tour
- 5-Hour Mezcal Experience 5 hours from $99.98 ★ 4.9 (43 reviews) View tour
- Sierra Norte Trails, 5 Hours 5 hours from $61.10 ★ 5 (34 reviews) View tour
- Hierve Half Day, Six Hours 6 hours from $86.81 ★ 5 (30 reviews) View tour
- Private Mole Cooking Class 4 hours 45 minutes from $82.20 ★ 5 (30 reviews) View tour
- Street Food, 14 Tastings, 4 Hours 4 hours from $69 ★ 5 (26 reviews) View tour
- 10-Hour Pueblos Mancomunados Hike 10 hours from $199.96 ★ 5 (21 reviews) View tour
- Budget Bike Ride To El Tule 3 hours from $23.33 ★ 4.9 (20 reviews) View tour
- San Martín Workshop, Pickup 4 hours from $54 ★ 4.5 (19 reviews) View tour
- 3-Hour Park Trek 3 hours from $43.40 ★ 4.67 (18 reviews) View tour
- 60 Kilometers By Gravel Bike 6 hours from $103.09 ★ 4.64 (18 reviews) View tour
- Print Art For Your Home 4 hours from $33.33 ★ 4.9 (17 reviews) View tour
- Organic Mezcal Mixology, 2 Hours 2 hours from $54.26 ★ 4.72 (17 reviews) View tour
- Quesillo And Papermaking, 4.5 Hours 4.5 hours from $40.69 ★ 4.88 (16 reviews) View tour
- Central Valleys Great Loop 5 to 6 hours from $105.53 ★ 4.9 (13 reviews) View tour
- 7 Pairings, Certified Sommelier 1.5 hours from $75.96 ★ 4.69 (13 reviews) View tour
- Private Day, Mitla And Weavers 7 to 9 hours from $277.72 ★ 5 (12 reviews) View tour
- Pantheons, Flowers, Dinner 6 hours from $127.19 ★ 4 (8 reviews) View tour
- 3 Stops, Textiles To Candles 5 hours from $43.40 ★ 4.8 (6 reviews) View tour
- Free Walk, Historic Center 2 hours Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.92 (113 reviews) View tour
- Walk Through Time And Culture 2 hours and 30 minutes Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.98 (332 reviews) View tour
- Free Street Food Walk, Jalatlaco 2 hours and 30 minutes Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.9 (61 reviews) View tour
- Free Walk By Locals 2 hours Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.61 (997 reviews) View tour
- Free Walk, Markets And Art 2 hours Free tour, tip what you like ★ 5 (11 reviews) View tour
- Free Xochimilco Aqueduct Walk 2 hours Free tour, tip what you like ★ 5 (12 reviews) View tour
- Jalatlaco Murals And Workshops 2 hours Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.97 (35 reviews) View tour
- Free History And Secrets Walk 2 hours and 30 minutes Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.58 (97 reviews) View tour
- Free Introduction Walk 2 hours and 30 minutes Free tour, tip what you like ★ 4.62 (26 reviews) View tour
Oaxaca With Kids
Oaxaca works well with children because so much of it is hands-on. A cooking class turns mole and tortillas into a participatory lunch, craft workshops in alebrije painting and pottery let kids make something to take home, and the widest day trips build in stops that break up the drive. The food-and-market tours clock in at 1.5 to 4 hours, short enough for restless legs, and free GuruWalk walks are easy to leave early if needed.
Oaxaca With KidsA family itinerary that keeps walking short and days varied, from markets to open plazas and easy rides out to the villages.
Jardín EtnobotánicoFree guided tours run on weekday mornings, and the paths between cacti, agaves and old quarry stone suit curious kids well.
Cerro del FortínThe hill above the city centre, with walks, viewpoints over the Valles Centrales and the Guelaguetza auditorium on top.
Oaxaca In The Rainy Season
Rain falls mainly between May and October, with the heaviest downpours from June to September, and it usually arrives in the afternoon rather than lasting all day. Plan ruins and Hierve El Agua for the morning, then let a mezcal tasting, a cooking class or a museum fill the wet hours. Even the longest valley day trips carry covered vehicle time between stops. April is the hottest month; November to April stays dry and dusty.
Oaxaca In The RainA rainy-day plan built around market halls, museums and covered patios, so a wet afternoon does not lose the day.
Oaxaca In The Rainy SeasonThe rains run May to October and peak June to September, usually in afternoon downpours rather than all-day drizzle.
Museo de las Culturas de OaxacaInside the Santo Domingo complex, open Tuesday to Saturday, with Mixtec and Zapotec finds from the tombs of Monte Albán.
Oaxaca At Night
Evenings in Oaxaca City centre on the Zócalo and the streets around the Andador Macedonio Alcalá, where the atmosphere shifts rather than shuts down. The 2.5-hour food tour rated 4.93 across 226 reviews runs into the early night and doubles as dinner. Shorter options include a 1.5-hour mezcal tasting at $75.96, enough to learn the categories without overdoing it. Free GuruWalk walks also run evening departures at no fixed price.
Oaxaca At NightWhat the city does after sunset: rooftops, live music and the slow evening life of the streets around the Alcalá.
Rooftop Bars And NightlifeRooftop bars with views over the domes of Santo Domingo, plus mezcalerías and live music for later in the night.
Zócalo After DarkThe Zócalo stays lively after dark, with lit portales, street music and families out for an evening stroll.
Oaxaca For Día De Muertos And Guelaguetza
Two festivals shape the year. Guelaguetza brings dance delegations from across the state each July, and Día de Muertos fills late October and early November with sand carpets (tapetes), altars, marigolds and cemetery visits. Exact programme dates are announced late, so book rooms early and treat tour timings as provisional until confirmed. The tours listed here include two Día de Muertos tours, from $109.25 and $127.19 per guest.
Día De Muertos In OaxacaAltars, sand carpets and cemetery visits at the end of October, in one of the strongest celebrations in Mexico.
Guelaguetza In OaxacaThe July festival of regional dances at the Auditorio Guelaguetza, with free sections alongside ticketed seats.
Noche De RábanosThe 23 December tradition of carved radishes in the Zócalo, when artisans display figures made from vegetables.
Free Things To Do In Oaxaca
The centre gives away plenty. The 9 GuruWalk free walks cover the historic core, and none of them sells a ticket: you pay what you want at the end, at whatever amount feels right. Beyond the walks, the Zócalo, the Andador Macedonio Alcalá and the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán cost nothing to wander, and the quiet lanes of Jalatlaco and Xochimilco reward an unhurried loop with nothing but time.
Jalatlaco Murals And Workshops
5.0 from 35 reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour on GuruWalk
What To Eat And Drink In Oaxaca
Seven kinds of mole, tlayudas the size of a steering wheel, quesillo pulled into threads, tejate poured from painted gourds, and chapulines by the scoop if you are curious. Markets carry most of this at everyday prices, and guided tastings decode it fast: the food and market tour rated 4.93 across 226 reviews runs 2.5 hours from $52.52 per guest. Cooking classes go further, from market stall to full plate.
What To Eat In Oaxaca
Mole, tlayudas, memelas, quesillo and tejate: a short guide to the dishes and drinks that define Oaxacan cooking.
Oaxacan Mole
Several moles carry the state's name, from negro to coloradito, each a long simmer of chiles, spices and sometimes chocolate.
Mezcal In Oaxaca
Agave distilleries, called palenques, sit in the valleys around the city, and tastings in town are easy to arrange.
Dinner In Oaxaca
Mole negro, tlayudas and mezcal tastings carry the night in Oaxaca, from market comedores to courtyard kitchens.
Best restaurants
Oaxaca On The Map
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Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel. Numbers match the list.
- Zócalo de OaxacaThe Zócalo, where most first days start
- Monte AlbánLandmark · 5.6 km from Zócalo
- Santo Domingo de GuzmánLandmark · 610 m from Zócalo
- Museo de las Culturas de OaxacaMuseum · 640 m from Zócalo
- Jardín EtnobotánicoPark or garden · 730 m from Zócalo
- Mercado 20 de NoviembreMarket · 340 m from Zócalo
- Mercado Benito JuárezMarket · 230 m from Zócalo
- Catedral de OaxacaLandmark · 100 m from Zócalo
- Basílica de la SoledadLandmark · 600 m from Zócalo
- Andador Macedonio AlcaláLandmark · 300 m from Zócalo
- Cerro del FortínPark or garden · 2 km from Zócalo
- Museo Textil de OaxacaMuseum · 250 m from Zócalo
- Museo Rufino TamayoMuseum · 340 m from Zócalo
- Oaxaca Street ArtLandmark · 680 m from Zócalo
- El Llano ParkPark or garden · 1 km from Zócalo
- Centro HistóricoNeighbourhood · 680 m from Zócalo
- JalatlacoNeighbourhood · 1.2 km from Zócalo
- XochimilcoNeighbourhood · 1.3 km from Zócalo
- Colonia ReformaNeighbourhood · 2.1 km from Zócalo
- Market and Bus Station DistrictNeighbourhood · 910 m from Zócalo
- Xoxocotlán and Santa Lucía del CaminoNeighbourhood · 3.3 km from Zócalo
Day Trips From Oaxaca: Monte Albán, Mitla, Hierve El Agua And The Craft Villages
Day trips from Oaxaca run in three main directions. East of the city lie the Tule tree, Teotitlán del Valle, Tlacolula, Yagul and Mitla. To the south are Ocotlán and the craft villages of the Valles Centrales, while west and north the road climbs to Monte Albán, Atzompa and the trails of the Sierra Norte.
Monte Albán
Monte Albán
Monte Albán sits on a flattened ridge above the city, the Zapotec capital that ruled these valleys for a thousand years, and shares a single UNESCO World Heritage inscription with the historic centre below. Six archaeology tours cover it, from $26.04 to $48.83 per guest. The half-day tour runs 4 hours and is rated 4.65 across 699 reviews, from $32.55 per guest. Go early, before the April heat lands.
Mitla
Mitla And Tlacolula
East of the city, Tlacolula holds one of the oldest weekly markets in Mesoamerica and Mitla keeps the finest Zapotec stone fretwork anywhere, geometric grecas carved in white. Colectivos run east from the city toward both towns when full, so independent travel is simple if a tour does not suit. The 12-hour valley trip rated 4.7 across 1,179 reviews costs from $60 per guest and pairs Mitla with other valley stops.
Hierve el Agua
Hierve El Agua
Mineral springs cascading over a cliff edge, petrified into what look like frozen waterfalls, with mineral pools at the top. Hierve el Agua is the furthest of the eastern stops and the reason many day trips run 11 or 12 hours. The 6-hour option rated a perfect 5 across 30 reviews costs from $86.81 per guest and skips some valley villages to spend more time at the springs. Bring a swimsuit and a tolerance for switchbacks.
Teotitlán
Teotitlán Del Valle
Teotitlán del Valle weaves wool rugs with dyes made from cochineal, indigo and marigold, a craft practiced here for generations, and workshops demonstrate the whole chain from crushing the insect to the finished weave. Several valley day trips stop in, among them the 11-hour loop with rugs and mezcal, rated 4.86 across 698 reviews and from $54.26 per guest. Santiago Matatlán, the self-styled world capital of mezcal, sits close by if you want to combine wool and agave in one day.
Tilcajete
San Martín Tilcajete
San Martín Tilcajete is the home of alebrijes, fantastical carved animals sanded, primed and painted in dense patterns of tiny brushstrokes, a tradition several local families have carried to international galleries. Workshops let you carve and paint your own figure: the tours listed here include seven craft workshops, from $32.50 per guest for a 3-hour session rated 4.89 across 104 reviews.
Oaxaca Right Now: Weather And Daylight
At the last check, on 19 October, the forecast for Oaxaca was 17°C and overcast. Sunset was at 18:02, so golden hour at the Zócalo began at about 17:02.
- Forecast, Oaxaca centre
- 17°C
- overcast, cloud 100%
- Sunrise and sunset
- 06:20 / 18:02
- 19 October, local time
- Golden hour
- from 17:02
- about an hour before sunset
Weather data from MET Norway (Locationforecast 2.0 and Sunrise 3.0, Norwegian Meteorological Institute), under NLOD 2.0 / CC BY 4.0. A forecast-model value for the grid point at the Zócalo, not a thermometer reading.
When To Visit Oaxaca, Month By Month
The city sits at about 1,550 m in a dry valley, so mornings run cool and afternoons warm to hot, with April the hottest month. The dry season holds from November to April; the rainy season runs May to October and peaks between June and September, usually as afternoon downpours rather than all-day grey. July brings Guelaguetza, late October and early November bring Día de Muertos, and both fill the city, so book rooms and tours well ahead for those weeks.
June is the wettest month in Oaxaca at 188.3 mm, with September (163.6 mm) and August (131.8 mm) behind it, while January, the driest, averages 2.4 mm. The wettest month gets about 78.5 times the rain of the driest.
- Monthly rainfall (mm)
- Mean temperature (°C)
| Month | Mean temp | Mean high | Mean low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.6°C | 28.9°C | 10.3°C | 2.4 mm |
| February | 21.4°C | 31.1°C | 11.6°C | 4.6 mm |
| March | 23.5°C | 33.3°C | 13.6°C | 17.6 mm |
| April | 25.4°C | 34.9°C | 15.8°C | 47.3 mm |
| May | 25.3°C | 33.8°C | 16.7°C | 97.9 mm |
| June | 23.7°C | 30.9°C | 16.7°C | 188.3 mm |
| July | 23°C | 30.1°C | 15.9°C | 118.6 mm |
| August | 23°C | 30°C | 15.9°C | 131.8 mm |
| September | 22.6°C | 29.1°C | 16.1°C | 163.6 mm |
| October | 21.9°C | 29.3°C | 14.5°C | 63.1 mm |
| November | 20.6°C | 29°C | 12.3°C | 9.1 mm |
| December | 20°C | 28.9°C | 11°C | 9 mm |
Data: CONAGUA / Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, Normal Climatológica 1991-2020, station 20079 Oaxaca, CONAGUA / Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, 1991-2020 (Mexican government open data; daylight hours from the Copernicus ERA5 series via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)).
Where To Stay In Oaxaca
The historic centre is compact and walkable, so the real choice is not distance but character. Centro puts you steps from the Zócalo and the restaurants; Jalatlaco trades crowds for painted walls and quiet evenings; Xochimilco is quieter still, a residential pocket beside the aqueduct with a short walk into the thick of things. Most visitors need nothing more than one well-chosen base in any of the three.
Centro Histórico
Sights, Markets And Historic ChurchesStaying in Centro means the Zócalo, Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the whole Andador Macedonio Alcalá are within a few minutes on foot, plus the densest cluster of mezcalerías, markets and dinner tables in the city. The trade-off is noise and higher rates on the streets closest to the plaza. A room one or two blocks off the Andador usually buys quiet without losing the walkability.
- NaNa Vida Hotel OaxacaHotelCheck rates
- Casa ZiñaHotelCheck rates
- Hotel MateriaHotelCheck rates
Jalatlaco
Quiet Streets And Colorful MuralsJalatlaco, one of the city's oldest barrios, sits a short walk east of the centre and lives on cobbled streets lined with brightly painted houses, a small plaza and a growing handful of cafés. Evenings are genuinely quiet here, which makes it a good pick for light sleepers. The walk home from the Zócalo takes a little longer than from Centro, and most people count that as the point.
- Hotel CazomalliHotelCheck rates
- Los Pilares HotelHotelCheck rates
Xochimilco
Local Pace Near The CentroXochimilco, north of Centro around the old aqueduct and the Santo Domingo approach, is the most residential of the three, with homes, small workshops and a handful of guesthouses rather than hotel blocks. The Andador Macedonio Alcalá is an easy stroll away. Choose it when you want a neighborhood rhythm instead of a tourist one, and accept that dinner options thin out within a few blocks.
- Bokatrip XochimilcoGuest houseCheck rates
- Casa Los Arquitos de XochimilcoBed and breakfastCheck rates
Getting To Oaxaca From The Airport And By Bus From Mexico City
Flights land at Xoxocotlán airport, OAX, a short ride south of the centre, and ADO long-distance buses connect the city with Mexico City over a winding mountain route that is an attraction in its own right for travellers with time. Oaxaca runs on UTC-6 year round, with no daylight saving shift. One thing to plan around before you book: this is an inland highland city in the Valles Centrales, so there is no sea, no port and no beach nearby. Puerto Escondido, Mazunte and Huatulco sit on the Pacific coast, hours away by road or a short flight, and belong in the trip plan as a separate extension rather than an afternoon outing.
Oaxaca airport · Mexico City to Oaxaca · ADO bus to Oaxaca · Getting around Oaxaca
Flights to Oaxaca · Mexico City to Oaxaca buses · Oaxaca airport transfer
What Is Oaxaca Famous For?
1
Monte Albán
Monte Albán, above all. The Zapotec city on the ridge shares a UNESCO World Heritage inscription with Oaxaca's historic centre, and its Grand Plaza, ballcourt and carved danzantes figures are the reason it tops the list. After archaeology come the crafts: black pottery from San Bartolo Coyotepec, alebrijes from San Martín Tilcajete, rugs from Teotitlán del Valle. Few mid-size cities pack this much into one valley.
2
Mezcal
Mezcal, distilled from roasted agave, with Santiago Matatlán calling itself the world capital. Seven tastings and distillery trips fill that lane, from a 1.5-hour city tasting at $75.96 per guest to a 5-to-6-hour valley route at $92.15, and the best-rated runs 5 hours at 4.9 across 43 reviews from $99.98. Expect a proper explanation of espadín, tobala and the worm-in-the-bottle myth, which the guides happily dismantle.
3
Oaxacan Mole
Mole negro is the dish most visitors come here to taste, a dark sauce of chillies, chocolate, spices and seeds that takes days to make properly. It is one of several regional moles, and the versions served in family kitchens differ from the restaurant plates downtown. A market walk explains the ingredients one by one, while cooking classes put you at the grinding stone and the stove.
4
Día De Muertos
Día de Muertos fills late October and early November with sand carpets, marigolds, candles and family altars built across the city and the surrounding villages. Comparsas move through neighbourhoods such as Jalatlaco and Xochimilco after dark, drums and brass leading the processions. Guided evening tours during the season explain the altar symbolism while the streets are at their fullest.
5
Guelaguetza
Guelaguetza brings delegations from across the state to dance on Cerro del Fortín each July, in the annual Lunes del Cerro performances. The 2026 edition ran on 20 and 27 July with two shows each day; 2027 dates are not announced yet. The whole city fills with parallel festivals, mezcal fairs and street events in the surrounding weeks.
6
Markets And Crafts
The valleys around the city hold weekly markets and whole villages devoted to a single craft. Tlacolula and Ocotlán host big market days, Teotitlán del Valle weaves rugs with natural dyes, San Bartolo Coyotepec shapes black pottery, and San Martín Tilcajete carves alebrijes. Craft workshops listed here run from $32.50 per guest, and food and market tours start at $52.52 for a guided taste of the stalls.
What Is The Best Time To See Day Of The Dead In Oaxaca?
The festival centres on 31 October to 2 November in Oaxaca City, with cemetery vigils, altars and processions spread across three distinct nights. The 2026 programme has not been announced, but the standing pattern repeats every year.
Is Oaxaca Expensive?
Oaxaca City is a highland valley capital in Mexico where the big fixed costs, INAH archaeology tickets, festival seats and lodging tax, are all published in pesos, and where most of what the city is known for costs little or nothing to see.
What Is Oaxaca Famous For?
Oaxaca City is famous for its UNESCO-listed historic centre, the Monte Albán archaeological site, mole, mezcal, tlayudas and the craft villages of the Valles Centrales. This page reports what primary sources say about each one.
Is Oaxaca Affected By Cartels?
The short answer for Oaxaca City is that government advisories place the state at their second-lowest caution level and impose no travel restrictions on the city itself, while naming specific regions elsewhere in the state. Here is what each advisory actually says.
Which Is Safer, Mexico City Or Oaxaca?
On the published advisory record, Oaxaca City sits at the milder end of what the UK, Canadian and US governments print about Mexico. Here is what those pages actually say, and how the two cities differ for a visitor.
Is Oaxaca Safe For Americans Right Now?
The US State Department lists Oaxaca state at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and places no restrictions on its own staff visiting Oaxaca City or Monte Albán. Here is what each advisory says, and what that means in practice.
Is Queso Oaxaca Vegetarian?
Queso Oaxaca, the stringy white cheese sold in balls across the markets of Oaxaca City, sits in a grey zone for vegetarians. Here is what the cheese is, why the answer depends on the rennet, and how to ask.
What Food Is Oaxaca Famous For?
Oaxaca City, the inland highland capital of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, is famous for mole, tlayudas, quesillo, chapulines, tejate, chocolate and mezcal, and for markets where all of them sit within walking distance of the Zócalo.
What Visitors Say
★★★★★
“Our guide, Antonio, was a great source of information about Monte Albán. It was a beautiful place - wish we had more time to explore.”
Anna, Verified traveller review of Half Day At The Ruins
★★★★★
“The tour was the best we had during our whole stay in Mexico and the guide Kevin made the experience even better. I can honestly recommend this tour.”
Iva, Verified traveller review of 11-Hour Loop, Rugs And Mezcal
★★★★★
“Leon was an excellent guide and David was a smooth and safe driver! We stopped at a bakery, the Tule tree, Hierve el Agua, and a mezcal distillery. Each stop was the perfect amount of time and we arrived back in Oaxaca around 5:30 pm. Highly recommend.”
Ashley, Verified traveller review of 8 Hours, Mezcal Making
★★★★★
“Our tour guide is very knowledgeable, and speaks perfect English as well.”
Tomohiko, Verified traveller review of 10-Hour Tule, Mitla, Mezcal
★★★★★
“It's a beautiful area and the petrified waterfalls are amazing. The hike down and back up was a challenge, but worth it. It is not for those physically unfit. The pools are a cool relief after the hike.”
Gloria, Verified traveller review of Petrified Falls And Pools
★★★★★
“Elizabeth was a great and friendly tour guide! My girlfriend is a vegetarian which she catered for well. Got to try a lot of food we never would have tried otherwise. Would recommend.”
Dan, Verified traveller review of Traditional Tastings, 2.5 Hours
“We had a great time with Andrea. This was an awesome tour where we covered the main things to do and see east of town. Hierve el Agua is beautiful, we had a lot of great mezcal, and learned about Mitla. Highly recommend.”
Jason_E, Verified traveller review of 12-Hour Loop, Tule To Hierve
“We enjoyed incredible food and experienced it as a local while being guided by a Oaxacan resident who taught us a great deal about Oaxacan food and culture. Definitely recommend for food and culture lovers!”
Anaise_B, Verified traveller review of All Gastronomy Included, Market Walk
“From start to finish it was the best! The family is super friendly. The class was educational and the food was yummy. I was worried about bringing 12 year old but they were so inclusive and accommodating. Would do this cooking class again over and over again!”
Viktoriya_D, Verified traveller review of Grandma's Recipes, 3 Hours
“Leida was knowledgeable about family owned Mezcal making from start to the end. Took us to a Great lunch spot. Went out the way to drop me at my stay. I would highly recommend her and this tour to those interested in Mezcal”
Anant_D, Verified traveller review of Countryside Agave Fields And Mezcal
“Super fun way to see the city and beautiful street art murals. Our guide was a sweetheart and I felt safe and relaxed at all times. Very special and a good bargain for a tour with a bike rental. Do it”
Erin_D, Verified traveller review of 2-Hour Art And History Ride
“Sara was an amazing guide, she spoke clearly and knowledgeably about the meaning of the artwork throughout town. She showed us a couple of her pieces as well as several of the more popular ones among Oaxacans. We loved experiencing this aspect of the city.”
Hallie_H, Verified traveller review of Street Art Walk Led By Artist
Verified traveller reviews, reproduced word for word including the reviewer's own wording.