Mexico · July 2025
Overview
Oaxaca is colourful, calm and full of flavour. The colonial centre is made of green stone, the streets are lined with galleries and mezcal bars, and the markets smell of chocolate and grilled meat. It is the food capital of Mexico for many people, and the culture of its Indigenous communities is everywhere: in the textiles, the festivals and the language.
The Zapotecs built Monte Albán on a mountaintop around 500 BC; it was one of the first cities in Mesoamerica. Later the Mixtecs and then the Aztecs dominated the valley. The Spanish founded the city in 1529 and gave it city status in 1532. Two of Mexico's most important presidents came from Oaxaca: Benito Juárez (Zapotec, born in 1806) and Porfirio Díaz. The historic centre and Monte Albán became a UNESCO site in 1987.
How long to stay: 3 to 5 days.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Location
Southern Mexico, in a valley of the Sierra Madre del Sur, about 6.5 hours by bus south of Mexico City. The Pacific coast (Puerto Escondido, Mazunte) is 5 to 6 hours away by road.
Budget
Per person, per day.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | MXN 300–500 ($17–28) | MXN 1,200–2,200 ($67–122) | MXN 4,000+ ($222+) |
| Food | MXN 250–450 ($14–25) | MXN 700–1,100 ($39–61) | MXN 1,800+ ($100+) |
| Tours | MXN 100–300 | MXN 500–1,000 | MXN 2,000+ |
| Daily total | MXN 650–1,250 ($36–69) | MXN 2,400–4,300 ($133–239) | MXN 7,800+ ($433+) |
Things to Do
The most beautiful church in Oaxaca, built by Dominican friars from the 1570s, with an interior covered in gilded stucco. The former monastery next door is the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures, which holds the gold treasure of Tomb 7 at Monte Albán. Behind it is the ethnobotanical garden.
Price: church free; museum about MXN 100–210 · Time needed: 2 to 3 hours.
The central square, with the cathedral, is lively day and night. Two blocks south, the 20 de Noviembre market has the famous "pasillo de humo" (smoke hall), where you choose raw meat and they grill it for you. Next door, the Benito Juárez market sells chocolate, chapulines (grasshoppers) and cheese.
Price: free; a grilled meat meal about MXN 150–250.
The ancient Zapotec capital on a flattened mountaintop 400 m above the valley, with a huge plaza, pyramids, a ball court and the "Danzantes" carvings.
Price: MXN 210 for foreigners in 2026 · Getting there: shuttle bus from the centre, about 30 minutes · Tip: go early; there is little shade.
A Montezuma cypress in Santa María del Tule estimated to be about 2,000 years old, with one of the widest trunks of any tree in the world (about 14 m across).
Price: small fee · Getting there: 20 minutes east.
A Zapotec religious centre known for its geometric stone mosaics, made without mortar.
Price: about MXN 100–150.
Mineral springs that have created "petrified waterfalls" on a cliff, with natural pools and mountain views.
Price: small community fee · Tip: keep in mind that it sometimes closes because of local disputes; check before you go.
The "world capital of mezcal", where families roast agave in underground pits and distil it in copper or clay. Visit a palenque (distillery) for a tasting.
Price: tastings often free or small fee.
Oaxaca is known as the land of the seven moles (negro, rojo, coloradito, amarillo, verde, chichilo and manchamanteles). Try a tlayuda, a big crispy tortilla with beans, quesillo cheese and meat. Take a cooking class to learn how mole is made.
Price: cooking classes about MXN 1,200–2,000.
For Day of the Dead (31 October to 2 November) the city fills with altars, marigolds, parades and candlelit cemeteries. The Guelaguetza in July is a big festival of dances from the eight regions of Oaxaca.
Tip: book accommodation months ahead.
Transit Tips
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Airport: the official airport shuttle or taxi to the centre (about 20 minutes).
By bus: ADO from Mexico City (about 6.5 hours, overnight buses available) and Puebla.
Walking: the centre is compact.
Taxis: agree the price before getting in; DiDi and Uber coverage is limited.
Colectivos and tours: for Tule, Mitla, Hierve el Agua and Matatlán; a combined day tour is easiest.
Keep in mind that Oaxaca is at 1,555 m: hot during the day and cool at night, especially from November to February.
Helpful Words
A few basics in Spanish can make everyday conversations much easier.
Where to Stay
Plan & Book
Explore accommodation options and open hotel details directly from the map.
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