The 15 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca (Updated 2023)

Posted: 6/5/2023 | June fifth, 2023

Oaxaca stole my coronary heart. I used to be enamored by this colourful and vibrant metropolis from the second I stepped foot on its cobblestoned streets. It has all of it: historical past, tradition, pleasant folks, meals, mezcal. (I really like this metropolis a lot that we run excursions there now!)

While the city could also be small, there’s loads to do right here. Its rising recognition post-COVID has seen an increase in a number of new experiences, excursions, eating places, and artwork galleries. (The recognition is simply not as a consequence of Americans and Europeans both. Mexicans additionally come right here in droves!).

With a lot extra to do now, right here is my checklist of all the most effective issues to see and do in Oaxaca:

1. Take a strolling tour

One of the primary issues I do after I go to a brand new metropolis is take a free strolling tour. They’re the easiest way to see the primary sights, get launched to the vacation spot and its folks, and join with an area information who can reply all of your questions. My favourite firm is Oaxaca Free Walking Tour. They provide free every day excursions showcasing the primary sights. Just ensure to tip your information on the finish!
 

2. See the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

With authentic development relationship again to the mid-Sixteenth century, this Dominican church and monastery was additionally used as a navy constructing throughout Mexico’s revolutionary conflict (1910–20). The inside is extremely ornate, with intricate carvings on the partitions, and it nonetheless holds companies immediately (so gown respectfully when visiting).

One a part of the advanced turned a museum within the Nineteen Seventies: the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, which focuses on Oaxacan tradition, with all types of non secular and pre-Columbian artifacts in its assortment. The “Treasures of Monte Albán” exhibition showcases over 400 relics from a Mixtec tomb that is without doubt one of the most necessary burial websites in Mesoamerica, together with a cranium coated in turquoise, carved bone objects, weaving instruments, and jewellery product of gold and jade. It is by far among the best issues to do within the metropolis. You’ll want a few hours to see all of it.

C. Macedonio Alcalá S/N, +52 951 516 3720. The Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca is open Tuesday-Friday 10am-3pm. Admission to the church is free, whereas the museum is 85 MXN.
 

3. Stroll by means of the Botanical Garden

Also situated within the former convent within the Santo Domingo de Guzmán advanced, the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca options 900 species of crops from throughout the state, which is without doubt one of the most biodiverse areas of Mexico. In addition to the flowers, timber, and cacti, there are sculptures and artistic endeavors too.

Admission is by way of tour solely. There’s only one English tour out there per day (provided at 11am). It fills up rapidly, as there are solely 25 spots out there, so you should definitely arrive early as it’s first come, first served.

Reforma Sur, Ruta Independencia, +52 951 516 5325. jardinoaxaca.mx. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-3:30pm. Admission is by guided tour solely. Admission (together with the tour) is 50 MXN for Spanish excursions and 100 MXN for excursions in English.
 

4. Just wander the town

Oaxaca comprises over 1,200 historic buildings. One of the most effective issues to do is stroll round city and take within the historic buildings, colourful murals, cobblestone streets, and delightful structure. Just get misplaced. Take your time wandering the long-lasting landmarks just like the Zócalo (the primary sq., in entrance of the National Palace), the Baroque Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the murals of Xochilmilco, and the colours (and murals) of Jalatlaco (which is my favourite neighborhood within the metropolis).
 

5. Explore the markets

Oaxaca is legendary for its markets. My favourite is Mercado 20 de Noviembre, a Nineteenth-century coated market the place you may take pleasure in all types of scrumptious avenue meals (recent, native produce is bought right here too). Named after the beginning date of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, it has remained one in all Oaxaca’s culinary and cultural hubs for over 100 years. I really like coming right here to wander and people-watch. It’s open every day from 7am-9pm.

I additionally love close by Mercado Benito Juárez with its meals stalls and outlets.

Additionally, there may be the famed Abastos market, which is the most important market within the area. You can discover all the pieces right here. It’s large. If they produce it on the earth, it’s right here. It’s a bit of outdoors the town middle nevertheless it’s definitely worth the trek.
 

6. Learn about mezcal

Oaxaca is the birthplace of mezcal and greater than 70% of Mexico’s manufacturing occurs right here. Like tequila, mezcal is a spirit distilled from agave, however not like tequila, the center of the plant is cooked in a pit within the floor earlier than it’s crushed. There are a ton of choices to find out about mezcal if you are right here. For bars, my private favorites are Los Amantes Mezcalería, Mezcalogia, Tres Hermanas, Mezcalería In Situ, and Comere.

For excursions, take Rambling Spirits. This tour firm was based by two journalists who’ve developed deep roots with the native mezcal producers and can take you to locations the extra industrial excursions gained’t. They have an insane degree of information and might train you all the pieces you have to find out about mezcal in addition to introducing you to the households and producers. It’s my favourite mezcal tour within the metropolis.
 

7. Visit Monte Albán

Founded within the sixth century BCE, Monte Albán was one of many earliest Mesoamerican cities and an necessary sociopolitical and financial middle for nearly a thousand years. Get context for the remainder of your go to by stopping in on the museum first, after which persevering with on to wander the sprawling venue, which is stuffed with historical Zapotec pyramids, tombs, terraces, and canals. It is tremendous spectacular and takes a number of hours to see.

This pre-Columbian UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated simply quarter-hour outdoors city. There are common shuttles to and from downtown Oaxaca, or you may go to on a guided tour if you need an knowledgeable information to indicate you round (it’s the easiest way to study extra in regards to the web site).

Ignacio Bernal S/N, San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, 01 951 513 3346. inah.gob.mx/zonas/94-zona-arqueologica-de-monte-alban. Open every day 10am-4pm. Admission is 90 MXN.
 

8. Take a meals tour

Oaxaca is a middle for Mexican gastronomy, with a number of the most various choices of dishes within the nation. Some fashionable dishes embody:

• Tlayudas: a skinny and crispy corn tortilla topped with refried beans, pork lard, lettuce, avocado, Oaxacan cheese, and your protein of selection; that is often a nighttime avenue meals snack.
• Memelas: thick grilled corn muffins with black beans, meat, and cheese toppings.
• Mole: a sauce with dozens of components that varies significantly in preparation (there are seven conventional Oaxacan moles) however typically consists of cacao, a number of kinds of chili peppers, garlic, onion, and different spices; it’s served over rice, meat, and tortillas.
• Tetelas: corn tortillas full of black or refried beans, cheese, and cream.

I extremely suggest exploring Oaxaca’s native meals scene with a guided meals tour. Oaxaca Eats runs a number of excursions. You’ll get to pattern 20+ dishes. Tour costs fluctuate, however anticipate to spend 2,000 MXN. They are an area owned firm that I feel runs the most effective excursions within the metropolis. I take advantage of them for all my group excursions and after I take buddies there.
 

9. Swim at Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Agua is without doubt one of the most lovely pure websites within the nation. These calcified waterfalls have been created over millennia as water from pure springs cascades over the aspect of cliffs. Similarly to how stalactites type in caves, the minerals from the water create vivid white rock formations that appear like frozen water.

In addition to admiring and snapping photographs of the cliffs, there are additionally hikes across the falls you may take too (it’s fairly steep so that you’ll wish to be in good bodily form for them). Bring your bathing go well with too as you may swim within the swimming pools on high.

+52 951 502 1200. Open every day 7am-6:30pm. Admission is 50 MXN.
 

10. Explore Mitla

This pre-Columbian web site was one of many predominant non secular and religious hubs for the indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec folks. Used as a sacred burial floor connecting the worlds of the residing and the useless, Mitla was in-built 850 CE however principally destroyed by the Spanish within the mid-Sixteenth century. However, some buildings have been left intact (a few of which date way back to 400 CE), which you’ll be able to discover. It stands out from different Mesoamerican ruins because of the mosaics masking the tombs and partitions and is properly price a go to.

+52 951 568 0316. lugares.inah.gob.mx/es/zonas-arqueologicas/zonas/1764-mitla.html?lugar_id=1764. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-2pm. Admission is 90 MXN, whereas skip-the-line tickets (which I extremely suggest!) are 160 MXN.
 

11. Visit Oaxaca’s artisan cities

The province of Oaxaca is understood for its small folk-art villages, every specializing in numerous handicrafts. Visit one or a number of to fulfill the artisans, see how conventional items are made, and produce again a memento. Teotitlán del Valle is understood for its textiles, San Bartolo Coyotepec for black pottery, and San Martín Tilcajete and San Antonio Arrazola for alebrijes (brightly coloured, fantastical animal sculptures — you may even take an alebrije-making workshop in San Martín Tilcajete).

You can go to by rental automotive, native buses, or a guided tour that goes to a couple villages.
 

13. Try a street-stall hamburguesa

The hamburguesa is a scrumptious must-eat quick meals meal. It’s a burger topped with a sizzling canine, sliced cheese, Oaxaca cheese, ham, pineapple, lettuce, tomato, and jalapeño. It’s all of the unhealthy meals you would ever need for simply 50 MXN. I do know it’s bizarre to incorporate this as a “must see thing to do” however belief me, you’ll need one. And it’s not made for Gringos and vacationers both. Locals devour these. You’ll see stalls throughout city however Cangreburguer sells among the best for my part.
 

14. See the world’s widest tree

The world’s widest tree is situated within the city of Santa María del Tule, simply 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the middle of Oaxaca. Estimated to be 1,500–3,000 years previous, this Montezuma cypress (Mexico’s nationwide tree) has a diameter of about 14 meters (46 ft)! It’s an impressive sight to behold, however because it doesn’t take very lengthy to see, it’s good to mix it with different actions, such a full-day guided tour that additionally takes you to Mitla and Hierve del Agua.
 

From distinctive and scrumptious meals and drinks to historical past and tradition stretching again millennia, there’s no scarcity of how to fill your time in my favourite metropolis in Mexico. (And if you happen to don’t wish to plan something however wish to journey with new buddies, allow us to information you round Oaxaca on one in all our TNN excursions!).

Oaxaca is a magical place and this checklist of actions will preserve you busy whereas tapping you into the native tradition. I believe, like me, you’ll find yourself falling in love with it too.