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

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

Oaxaca stole my 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 individuals, meals, mezcal. (I really like this metropolis a lot that we run tours there now!)

Whereas the city could also be small, there’s loads to do right here. Its rising reputation post-COVID has seen an increase in a whole lot of new experiences, excursions, eating places, and artwork galleries. (The recognition is simply not on account of Individuals 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 many first issues I do once I go to a brand new metropolis is take a free strolling tour. They’re one of the best ways to see the primary sights, get launched to the vacation spot and its individuals, 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. Simply make sure that to tip your information on the finish!
 

2. See the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

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

One a part of the complicated turned a museum within the Seventies: the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, which focuses on Oaxacan tradition, with every kind 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 fabricated from gold and jade. It’s by far among the finest 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 Backyard

Additionally situated within the former convent within the Santo Domingo de Guzmán complicated, the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca options 900 species of vegetation from throughout the state, which is without doubt one of the most biodiverse areas of Mexico. Along with the flowers, bushes, and cacti, there are sculptures and artworks too.

Admission is through tour solely. There’s only one English tour accessible per day (supplied at 11am). It fills up shortly, as there are solely 25 spots accessible, so be sure you 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. Simply wander the town

Oaxaca accommodates over 1,200 historic buildings. Top-of-the-line issues to do is stroll round city and take within the historic buildings, colourful murals, cobblestone streets, and exquisite structure. Simply get misplaced. Take your time wandering the enduring landmarks just like the Zócalo (the primary sq., in entrance of the Nationwide Palace), the Baroque Cathedral of Our Girl of the Assumption, the murals of Xochilmilco, and the colours (and murals) of Jalatlaco (which is my favourite neighborhood within the metropolis).
 

5. Discover the markets

Oaxaca is legendary for its markets. My favourite is Mercado 20 de Noviembre, a Nineteenth-century coated market the place you possibly can bask in every kind of scrumptious avenue meals (recent, native produce is offered 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.

Moreover, there’s the famed Abastos market, which is the most important market within the area. Yow will discover all the things right here. It’s enormous. In the event that they produce it on this planet, it’s right here. It’s just a little outdoors the town middle nevertheless it’s definitely worth the trek.
 

6. Find out 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 in contrast to tequila, the guts of the plant is cooked in a pit within the floor earlier than it’s crushed. There are a ton of choices to study 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’ve an insane stage of information and might train you all the things you’ll want to learn about mezcal in addition to introducing you to the households and producers. It’s my favourite mezcal tour within the metropolis.
 

7. Go to Monte Albán

Based 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 historic Zapotec pyramids, tombs, terraces, and canals. It’s tremendous spectacular and takes a couple of hours to see.

This pre-Columbian UNESCO World Heritage Website is situated simply quarter-hour outdoors city. There are common shuttles to and from downtown Oaxaca, or you possibly can visit on a guided tour if you’d like an skilled information to point out you round (it’s one of the best ways to study extra in regards to the website).

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 among the most numerous choices of dishes within the nation. Some common dishes embody:

• Tlayudas: a skinny and crispy corn tortilla topped with refried beans, pork lard, lettuce, avocado, Oaxacan cheese, and your protein of alternative; that is often a nighttime avenue meals snack.
• Memelas: thick grilled corn desserts with black beans, meat, and cheese toppings.
• Mole: a sauce with dozens of substances that varies vastly in preparation (there are seven conventional Oaxacan moles) however typically consists of cacao, a number of sorts of chili peppers, garlic, onion, and different spices; it’s served over rice, meat, and tortillas.
• Tetelas: corn tortillas filled with 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 range, however count on to spend 2,000 MXN. They’re 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 once I take pals there.
 

9. Swim at Hierve el Agua

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

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

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

10. Discover Mitla

This pre-Columbian website was one of many important spiritual and non secular hubs for the indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec individuals. Used as a sacred burial floor connecting the worlds of the residing and the lifeless, Mitla was in-built 850 CE however principally destroyed by the Spanish within the mid-Sixteenth century. Nonetheless, some buildings have been left intact (a few of which date way back to 400 CE), which you’ll discover. It stands out from different Mesoamerican ruins because of the mosaics overlaying the tombs and partitions and is nicely 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. Go to Oaxaca’s artisan cities

The province of Oaxaca is understood for its small folk-art villages, every specializing in numerous handicrafts. Go to one or a couple 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 possibly can even take an alebrije-making workshop in San Martín Tilcajete).

You’ll be able to go to by rental automotive, native buses, or a guided tour that goes to a few villages.
 

13. Attempt a street-stall hamburguesa

The hamburguesa is a scrumptious must-eat quick meals meal. It’s a burger topped with a scorching canine, sliced cheese, Oaxaca cheese, ham, pineapple, lettuce, tomato, and jalapeño. It’s all of the unhealthy meals you might ever need for simply 50 MXN. I do know it’s bizarre to incorporate this as a “should see factor 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 finest 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 toes)! 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 the way to fill your time in my favourite metropolis in Mexico. (And should you don’t wish to plan something however wish to journey with new pals, allow us to information you round Oaxaca on one of our TNN tours!).

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.