Oaxaca City street view at dusk, Mexico

Things to do in  Oaxaca City

The party isn’t dead

Beneath its beautifully bright facade, Oaxaca City harbors a rather spooky soul. It is the epicenter of Mexico’s annual Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations and was the inspiration for the delightfully dark Pixar movie Coco. But things to do in Oaxaca aren’t just limited to admiring ofrendas (altars) and painting your face skull-style—the state capital is a culinary hot spot that serves up local delicacies against a backdrop of pastel-painted walls, wood-paneled mezcal bars, cactus-lined gardens, and an open-air museum of street art. Plus, it’s within day-tripping distance of the otherworldly Hierve el Agua nature reserve, home to a petrified waterfall and natural hot springs.

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Top 13 attractions in Oaxaca City

#1

Hierve el Agua

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One of just two so-called “petrified waterfalls” in the world, Hierve el Agua—which literally translates to "Water Boils"—is a rock formation with cliff-top pools above it. Visitors can cool off in natural spring waters, which are touted to have healing properties, then hike down to the base of the waterfalls.Hierve el Agua is currently closed to the public as a result of a local land dispute.More
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#2

Monte Albán

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One of the oldest cities in the Americas, Monte Albán—an ancient Zapotec capital—is perhaps the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca and among the largest in Mexico. Head to Monte Albán’s flat mountain top for views of the city, then explore the vast site’s temples, tombs, underground tunnels, and ball court.More
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#3

Tule Tree (Arbol del Tule)

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Estimated to be around 2,000 years old, with a 177-foot (54-meter) circumference, the gnarled Tule Tree (Árbol del Tule) is one of the world’s oldest and widest trees. Once thought to be multiple trees merged together, it's actually a single Montezuma cypress specimen. Visitors can admire the natural wonder both up close and from a distance, as well as explore the pretty church courtyard it calls home.More
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#4

Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden (Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca)

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Designed by Oaxacan artists Francisco Toledo and Luis Zárate, Oaxaca’s Ethnobotanical Garden (Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca) is home to hundreds of plants native to Oaxaca, Mexico’s most biodiverse region. Look out for towering cacti, medicinal plants, and rescued agaves as you learn about the relationship between people, culture, and plants on a guided tour of the truly impressive garden.More
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#5

San Antonio Arrazola

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Situated beneath the Monte Albán archaeological site, the artisan town of San Antonio Arrazola offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Oaxaca. Best known for its fantastical painted wooden figurines called alebrijes—and the street art dotted around town dedicated to them—San Antonio Arrazola is the ideal spot to pick up some souvenirs from your time in Oaxaca.More
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#6

Abastos Market (Central de Abastos)

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One of the oldest and largest markets in Oaxaca—if not the entire country—the fragrant and bustling Abastos Market is a hub of fresh produce, Oaxacan goods, and more. Also known by its official name of the Central de Abastos, this market is the perfect place to pick up Oaxacan snacks and souvenirs, from local pottery to chili-laced candies and freshly made mole.More
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#7

Benito Juarez Market (Mercado Benito Juarez)

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The Benito Juárez Market (Mercado Benito Juárez), which takes up two blocks and is just a short walk from the city center zócalo (square), is one of four markets in close proximity in downtown Oaxaca City. Home to a wide variety of typical foodstuffs and artisanal handicrafts, the market is the ideal spot to browse for souvenirs or just get lost among the stalls.More
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#8

Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church (Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán)

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Marked by holy cloisters, intricate gilt interiors, and a baroque facade, the Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church (Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán) is perhaps the defining landmark of Oaxaca City. Located just off Oaxaca’s “tourist corridor,” Santo Domingo adjoins the Oaxaca Culture Museum and is backed by the scenic Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Gardens, making it a must-visit for any traveler in the city.More
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#9

20 de Noviembre Market (Mercado 20 de Noviembre)

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Replete with fresh produce, grilled meats, fragrant spices, and lots of mole (a spicy sauce), the 20 de Noviembre Market (Mercado 20 de Noviembre) is a must visit for food fans and casual visitors alike in Oaxaca City. Located just outside the city’s central zócalo, the market is also a great place to grab lunch from one of the many fondas and vendors.More
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#10

Cuilapam Convent (Ex Convento de Cuilápam)

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Situated 30 minutes outside of Oaxaca proper, this former Dominican convent in Cuilapam de Guerrero is an impressive complex which includes cloisters and a roofless chapel. Once home to praying monks and the place where former Mexican president Vicente Guerrero was executed, the 16th-century Cuilapam Convent is now a place to enjoy religious murals and sweeping views over the valley below.More
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#11

Benito Juárez Home (Casa de Benito Juárez)

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Once home to former Mexican president Benito Juárez, the Benito Juárez House-Museum (Museo de Sitio Casa de Juárez) is now a modest museum situated in a restored 17th century building. Visitors can learn about the extraordinary life of Mexico’s first indigenous president, marvel over personal artifacts once belonging to Juárez, and observe the bookbinding shop which belonged by the building’s owner, Antonio Salanuevas.More
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#12

Oaxaca Culture Museum (Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca)

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Connected to the Templo de Santo Domingo, the impressive Oaxaca Culture Museum (Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca) is housed in a beautifully restored monastery. Well-curated exhibits featuring crafts, herbal medicines, and local dress transport travelers through the history of Oaxaca, from ancient times to the modern day. A particular highlight is the collection of Mixtec silver, jade, and gold.More
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#13
Casa Crespo

Casa Crespo

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Travelers seeking a true Oaxacan culinary experience will find it at Casa Crespo, a popular restaurant and cooking school that serves up traditional regional cuisine that highlights age-old flavors and market-fresh ingredients. Settle in for an alfresco cocktail on Casa Crespo’s rooftop, enjoy a multi-course meal at the restaurant, or opt for a hands-on cooking class.More

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Top activities in Oaxaca City

Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour
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Hierve el Agua and Teotitlan del Valle Tour from Oaxaca

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Private Day Tour including Artisan Villages of Alebrijes and Black Pottery

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Monte Alban Shuttle

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All about Oaxaca City

When to visit

To fully immerse yourself in Oaxaca City’s greatest claim to fame—the Day of the Dead celebrations—visit at the end of October. The festival generally runs from October 31 until November 6, and the town comes to life with parades, music performances, and candlelit vigils in its graveyards. Just bear in mind that this is (understandably) the busiest tourist season, so accommodations fill up months in advance. You’ll find fewer crowds and still relatively mild temperatures from December through April before the wet season begins in May.

Getting around

Oaxaca is a very walkable city—particularly the rainbow-hued neighborhoods of Jalatlaco and Xochimilco. It has a relatively low crime rate that is ideal for relaxed wanders, provided you take the usual precautions. It’s home to an international airport that welcomes flights from across South America and the United States, plus a bus station that connects you to Mexico City and cities and towns throughout Oaxaca state, such as the popular surf spot of Puerto Escondido.

Traveler tips

You’ll be hard-pushed to find a list of Mexico’s culinary hot spots that doesn’t include Oaxaca, so come hungry. The state is most famous for its mole (a rich sauce that generally combines chillis, chocolate, and nuts, but has endless variations) and tlayudas (open, crispy tortillas layered with beans and meat). Other must-tries include chapulines (deep-fried grasshoppers tossed with chili and salt) and, of course, mezcal, a fiery spirit made from agave harvested from the fields of Oaxaca state. You can find them all in the bustling 20 de Noviembre Market (Mercado 20 de Noviembre).

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Tours
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People Also Ask

What are the must-visit attractions in Oaxaca City?

The must-visit attractions in Oaxaca City include Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church (Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán), a butter-colored Baroque church that serves as the city’s symbol; the Ethnobotanical Garden, home to hundreds of native flora; and Benito Juárez Market (Mercado Benito Juárez), ideal for souvenirs and street food.

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What are the best day trips from Oaxaca City?

The best day trips from Oaxaca City are Hierve el Agua, an elevated nature reserve with a monolithic petrified waterfall; the artisan village of Teotitlán del Valle in the foothills of the Sierra Juárez mountains; and the archaeological site of Monte Alban, a 2,500-year-old former Zapotec city.

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Where can I find the best street food in Oaxaca City?

The best places the find street food in Oaxaca City are Abastos Market (Central de Abastos) and 20 de Noviembre Market (Mercado 20 de Noviembre), both of which sell street food staples such as tlayudas, tacos, and crispy fried chapulines. Benito Juárez Market (Mercado Benito Juárez) also has some stalls but is best for souvenir shopping.

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What festivals are in Oaxaca City throughout the year?

While Dia de los Muertos in November is the most famous, there are plenty of other festivals in Oaxaca City throughout the year. The Mezcal Festival takes place in July, as does Guelaguetza (or La Fiesta Maxima), which celebrates the diversity of each Oaxacan region in the state. The quirkiest is the Night of Radishes in December when locals carve—you guessed it—radishes in the main square.

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What are the best artisan markets in Oaxaca City for traditional crafts and souvenirs?

Just off the main square, Benito Juárez Market (Mercado Benito Juárez) is the best place in Oaxaca City for traditional crafts and souvenirs—it sells woven baskets, trinkets, and coffee and mole powder that make great gifts. For the best market in the region, head to Teotitlán del Valle morning market, famed for its traditional Zapotec textiles and mezcal.

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Are there any cooking classes or culinary experiences in Oaxaca City?

Often called the culinary capital of Mexico, Oaxaca City offers plenty of cooking classes and culinary experiences. You can take food-tasting market tours, evening street food experiences, guided mezcal-tasting sessions, and traditional or vegetarian cooking classes that include shopping for ingredients at a market.

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