Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca

Three to four days for the city's food and markets plus valley day trips to ruins, weavers and mezcal. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Oaxaca with friends Browse 10 places

Places: 10
Curated routes: 1
Best season: Oct – Apr
Warmest month: April
Coolest month: November
Wettest month: September

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Oaxaca

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around across Centro, Monte Albán and Santa María del Tule.

Photo: The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5
See
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Gilded baroque church with the Museo de las Culturas in the former convent.
- Centro
- Free
- 1.5 hr
- Morning
Photo: nsaum75 !Dígame¡‎ · CC BY-SA 3.0
See
Monte Albán
Zapotec capital on a flattened hilltop with plazas, ballcourt and valley views.
- Monte Albán
- $
- 3 hr
- Morning
Photo: Nsaum75 · CC BY-SA 3.0
See
Árbol del Tule
Ancient cypress in Santa María del Tule with one of the widest trunks in the world.
- Santa María del Tule
- $
- 30 min
- Morning
Photo: Uploaded into English Wikipedia by en:User:Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 2.0
See
Mitla
Zapotec site with intricate geometric stone mosaics.
- Mitla
- $
- 75 min
- Late morning

Outdoors

2 outdoor spots for fresh air across Centro and Sierra.

Photo: Peter Fraser · Google
Outdoors
Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
Cactus and native plant garden behind Santo Domingo, visited only by guided tour.
Tip Check tour times in English at the gate.
- Centro
- $
- 2 hr
- Morning
Photo: שירה קרישר · Google
Outdoors
Hierve el Agua
Mineral springs and petrified waterfall cliffs in the mountains east of the city.
Tip Access can close during local disputes; check before going.
- Sierra
- $
- 2.5 hr
- Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Oaxaca in Centro.

Photo: Brayan Gómez Valencia · Google
Eat
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Market with the smoky Pasillo de Humo, where you pick raw meats to grill on the spot.
Tip Order tasajo and chorizo with tortillas and onions.
- Centro
- $
- 60 min
- Lunch
Photo: Casa Oaxaca el Restaurante · Google
Eat
Casa Oaxaca
Chef Alejandro Ruiz's restaurant with a rooftop terrace facing Santo Domingo.
Tip Reserve the terrace for sunset.
- Centro
- $$$
- 2 hr
- Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Oaxaca in Centro.

Photo: Mezcalería In Situ · Google
Drink
In Situ Mezcalería
Mezcal bar with hundreds of bottles, many from small producers.
Tip Ask for a guided flight of wild agave mezcals.
- Centro
- $$
- 75 min
- Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Teotitlán del Valle.

Photo: Gibrán Aquino · CC BY 2.5
Shop
Teotitlán del Valle
Zapotec weaving village where families dye wool rugs with natural pigments.
- Teotitlán del Valle
- $$
- 2 hr
- Weekday

How to fit Oaxaca into a trip

Oaxaca is stop 3 of 3 on our Mexico City to Oaxaca route. Follow it as-is or lift Oaxaca into your own plan.

Stop 3 of 3
Mexico City to Oaxaca
Tacos, mezcal, murals & mole
Trip length
8 days
Best season
Oct – Apr
Pace
easy
- Before: Puebla
See the full itinerary

Getting here and onward

Puebla to OaxacaPuebla is about 269 km / 167 mi away in a straight line

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Oaxaca month by month

Average daily highs run from 23°C / 73°F in November to 31°C / 88°F in April. September is the wettest month, with about 203 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Oaxaca weather and the best time to visit →

Near Oaxaca

2 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Oaxaca questions, answered

How many days do you need in Oaxaca?

Our route notes suggest 3–4 days in Oaxaca. On our Mexico City to Oaxaca route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 17 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Oaxaca best known for?

Three to four days for the city's food and markets plus valley day trips to ruins, weavers and mezcal. Standouts on our list: Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Gilded baroque church with the Museo de las Culturas in the former convent); Monte Albán (Zapotec capital on a flattened hilltop with plazas, ballcourt and valley views); Árbol del Tule (Ancient cypress in Santa María del Tule with one of the widest trunks in the world).

When is the best time to visit Oaxaca?

Our Mexico City to Oaxaca route is best Oct – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in April (31°C / 88°F), the coolest in November (23°C / 73°F) and the most rain in September (about 203 mm).

What are the best things to do in Oaxaca?

Start with Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca, Monte Albán, Árbol del Tule and Mitla. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Oaxaca?

Our picks: Mercado 20 de Noviembre (Centro); Casa Oaxaca (Centro). Order tasajo and chorizo with tortillas and onions (Mercado 20 de Noviembre).

What is near Oaxaca?

The closest destinations in our guides are Puebla (about 269 km / 167 mi) and Mexico City (about 365 km / 227 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Oaxaca with your crew

Open the Mexico City to Oaxaca route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Oaxaca

Things to do in Oaxaca

See

Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

Monte Albán

Árbol del Tule

Mitla

Outdoors

Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca

Hierve el Agua

Eat

Mercado 20 de Noviembre

Casa Oaxaca