Location: Oaxaca
Top Things to do in Oaxaca
- 1. Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman
- 2. Monte Alban
- 3. Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art
- 4. Amate Books
- 5. Andador de Macedonia Alcala
- 6. Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
- 7. Museo de Filatelia de Oaxaca, A.C.
- 8. Mercado 20 de Noviembre
- 9. Ethnobotanical Garden
- 10. Benito Juarez Market (Mercado de Benito Juarez)
Top 10 Things to do in Oaxaca, Mexico
Easygoing and vibrant, Oaxaca offers the best of southern Mexican charm, pairing lively festivals and entertainment with fantastic cuisine and unique cultural attractions. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oaxaca is home to the spectacular Macedonio Alcala Theater and a short drive from the inspiring rock formations at Hierve el Aqua.
Restaurants in Oaxaca
1. Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
One of the city's most ornate structures, this church is lavishly endowed with gold.
Reviewed By chewat - Robertson
This is a really breathtaking church inside with particularly fabulous ceilings. Just be warned that on Saturday it is wall to wall weddings which makes getting inside a lottery but the wedding and the celebrations outside after are an amazing experience of vibrancy, colour and noise - some even include fireworks!
2. Monte Alban
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
The ruins of this ancient Zapotec capital make up one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Latin America.
Reviewed By Alanfb - Rogers, Arkansas
In my opinion, our trip to Oaxaca would not have been complete without the short trip to Monte Alban! (Along with Black Pottery, Mezcal, Wood carving/intricate painting tours and a trip to the Market in Ocotlan!)
3. Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Hispanic Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 409 reviews
This museum contains a varied collection of pre-Columbian art donated by Rufino Tamayo, one of Mexico's most famous modern artists.
Reviewed By Katharyn R - Toronto, Canada
The Rufino Tamayo Museum represents this great Oaxacan artist’s personal collection, selected more for beauty than for archeological values. It is unchanging and yet for me, always surprisingly fresh. I have been many rimes and I am sure I will return again and again, because these sculptures are eternally beautiful.
4. Amate Books
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 250 reviews
Amate Books specializes in books in English on Mexico. Carrying thousands of books on art, history, culture, cooking, and much more. Frommer's Guide states, "This shop has perhaps the best selection anywhere of books in English about Mexico." We also carry bestsellers, magazines, and postcards. Also stop by to experience our rotating folk art collection.
Reviewed By KatWA_10 - Vancouver, WA
Amate Books is a fantastic bookstore with delightful staff. This is the perfect place to pick up books about Mexico and Oaxaca in particular. I was delighted to find and purchase a copy of Oaxaca Stories in Cloth by Eric Sebastian Mindling. They even made a terrific recommendation for lunch. Don't miss this shop!
5. Andador de Macedonia Alcala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 511 reviews
One of Oaxaca's crowded main thoroughfares.
Reviewed By Missiondurga - Berkeley, California
Alcalá is the pedestrian street lined with beautiful colonial buildings linking the Zocalo to the Plaza of Santo Domingo. It can be very crowded at holidays and weekends, but is the essential tourist route that must be traversed. Mexican families stroll 5 abreast walking at a snail’s pace as they move along the corridor. Cafes, galleries and other businesses line the street and are also worth a look in. It’s best not to rush, but rather to slow down and enjoy the Mexican pace and charm of life.
6. Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 946 reviews
Reviewed By Zzardvark
There are a number of reasons to go to this great museum. The building is the wonderfully restored convent of the church next door. It’s gigantic and beautiful on the inside. The restored library is one of the most important in the country and lovely to see. The museum houses many of the treasures from Monte Alban and other archeological sites in the area. It’s great to visit here first and then go to Monte Alban. Finally, you get some of the best and most beautiful views of the Botanical Garden from the upstairs patios of this building. The museum also has a large gift shop in which you can purchase English language guidebooks to the area.
This is a great place to orient yourself about what you’ll be seeing as you wander Oaxaca.
7. Museo de Filatelia de Oaxaca, A.C.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 224 reviews
Reviewed By Megan W
This is a stamp museum. They have an amazing way of displaying some of their themed stamps. The rest are protected in a library area. There is a small coffee area and outdoor Seating.
8. Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By MikeFinger - Warsaw, Poland
This is the place you have to check when you visit Oaxaca. The atmosphere is unique - especially in barbecue meat (carnes asados) alley. We go there every time we go to Oaxaca and every time we try something new. Prices are OK. You can go there for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Of course you will find there regular stands with food and spices but also some other stuff to buy. Definitely recommend it.
9. Ethnobotanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 816 reviews
The Ethnobotanical Garden of Oaxaca exhibits hundreds of live plant species, all native to Oaxaca. Planting began in 1998 with plants coming from different regions in the state of Oaxaca; such as arid, humid, low tropical and high mountainous temperate zones. The garden represents the broad diversity of geological formations, types of vegetation and climates that characterize Oaxaca.
Reviewed By tennismaine - Boston
We were very lucky to have the garden's creator conduct our tour (in English). It was a most memorable experience, listening to his presenting the evolution of the garden's history, in addition to the information about the garden's many components.
We arrived 20 minutes early with many people ahead of us. People were asked to volunteer to take pictures only for one hour with no tour with a discounted price which some elected to do. If they hadn't, some of us would have been excluded from the tour so if you really want to go, it would be best (at least on Saturday) to arrive even earlier than we did.
Also check the web site as well as possibly contacting the museum to confirm the days and times of tours given in English.
10. Benito Juarez Market (Mercado de Benito Juarez)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Visitors to this marketplace are advised to bargain with vendors to get low prices.
Reviewed By Michael L - Holon, Israel
We get to this market in evening with our guide, there are stalls with food ,vegetables fruits, meat and on same place will make you grilled dish. Some sellers offer typical Mexican dish fried grasshoppers and some other insects. There are also shops with clothes,and liqueurs like mezcal. And factory for chocolates from cacao beans,and of course famous Oaxaca mole.
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