Location: Oaxaca
Top Things to do in Oaxaca
What to do and see in Oaxaca, Oaxaca: The Best Things to do
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. Zona Arqueologica de Monte Alban
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,737 reviews
The ruins of this ancient Zapotec capital make up one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Latin America.
Reviewed By zantb003 - Sybertsville, United States
Great site!! Great prehispanic temples and observatory. It’s a part of Oaxaca, Zapotecs. I enjoyed it, of course, we’re into history and archeology. It’s impressive-grand.
2. Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,645 reviews
One of the city's most ornate structures, this church is lavishly endowed with gold.
Reviewed By katybird41 - Eugene, United States
I was approached by a kind man who asked if I wanted a tour as I was heading inside to look around. He spoke several different languages, and was incredibly knowledgeable, reciting the names of the saints depicted, the dates of each stage of building this beautiful church, and the historical significance of the church itself. It was a pleasure to learn more of this history. I am very grateful!
3. Zocalo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,730 reviews
This plaza, ringed with stores and an 18th-century cathedral, is the center of social activity in Oaxaca.
Reviewed By andyww18 - Savelletri, Italy
Plenty going on , lots of restaurants and great people watching . Have a shoe shine and capture some great photo ops
4. Mercado Benito Juarez
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,423 reviews
Visitors to this marketplace are advised to bargain with vendors to get low prices.
Reviewed By andyww18 - Savelletri, Italy
Lots to see , photo and eat and drink . Famous and popular aqua Fresca stall , go down the bbq alley behind the meat section for freshly chosen meat on a bbq with vegetable and sauce choices . Meal for 3 with a beers at around 100 pesos a head and full of smoky buzzing atmosphere Take home dried chillis and herbs
5. Andador de Macedonia Alcala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 661 reviews
One of Oaxaca's crowded main thoroughfares.
Reviewed By 954hollyb - Washington DC, United States
Great street for people watching, eating and shopping, at any time of day. Plenty of fantastic artisan goods plus street food- I definitely recommend the fresh juices with condensed milk.
6. Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,127 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 DBAA
We arrived early for the English speaking tour so the security guard told us to come back about 10 before the tour was to start. When we arrived 15 minutes before the tour, we were quite dismayed to find there were a huge number of English and Spanish speaking people before us, however there was absolutely nothing to worry about as the staff were extremely organized and we were very quickly on our way in a small group with a most excellent guide. The garden is quite fascinating with an interesting assortment of local plants and trees and also because of the history of the location. If you are interested in ethnobotanical gardens and want to learn more about the plant life of the area, the garden is definitely worth a visit or two.
7. Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,224 reviews
Reviewed By carloscV9105BF - San Diego, United States
This place has the best ancient art in Oaxaca and plus some other interesting item regarding Oaxaca's history. Its in a beautiful building with three different courtyards and great views of the Jarding Botanico that surrounds it.
8. Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 349 reviews
Reviewed By thelonious22
Mercado 20 de Noviembre was a busy but fun place to get cheap street food. While it can get overwhelming with every vendor shoving a menu in your face, it was a great place to try lot of Oaxacan snacks like tlayudas (like a Oaxacan version of pizza) and tamales. My favorite was the Pasillo de Carnes Asadas where you can pick the meat to be grilled and eat it on the spot buying the condiments and tortillas separately.
9. Hierve el Agua
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,771 reviews
This Place Is Temporarily Close.
Reviewed By Eyecur2nvs - Jacksonville, United States
Beautiful spot near Oaxaca city. The pools are amazing, but you have to arrive early (we hired a taxi for the day per hour at 220 pesos per hour) so leave Oaxaca city by 8am so you avoid the insane crowds. We hired a local guide for a 1.5hr guided trek to get some great views and gave a tip at the end (700 pesos for 3 of us). Bring your bathing suit and a towel if you want to swim and be sure to wear sunblock bc the sun is very intense at that altitude.
10. Pueblos Mancomunados
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
The Pueblos Mancomunados of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca constitute one of the most outstanding examples of community social organization in Mexico. Their Nature trails integrate a network of more tan 100 kilometers of rural footpaths and country roads suitable for hokers and mountain bikers of all abilities, designed to show its visitors the most relevant aspects of this exceptionally beautiful natural area. This is an intercommunity cooperation initiative which promotes the communities preservation of natural and cultural heritage through the promotion of responsible tourism of high quality, linked to the natural environment, traditions and customs of the pueblos. Please, help us to improve our services and complete our Satifaction Survey (only in spanish, available on our facebook page.Thank you!
Reviewed By kyao16 - San Francisco, United States
We really wanted to visit Pueblos Mancomunados, but we didn't have enough time to stay overnight, and the Expediciones Sierra Norte (ESN) office in Oaxaca was closed on the weekends so we weren't able to buy a tour package. It turns out this all worked out really well for us! TRANSPORTATION: At 9am in Oaxaca, we found a cab to take us to Cuajimoloyas for 1000 pesos (usually around 700 pesos according to our local guide). We knew we were overpaying, but we really needed to get there so we could finish all of our activities before sundown... On the way back, we found a collectivo truck who only charged us 50 pesos per person (usually around 70 pesos per person according to our local guide)! We were lucky to be able to sit in the second row of the inside of the truck with one other lady, so the ride was very comfortable. ACTIVITIES: We got to the tourist office in Cuajimoloyas, which is where you organize all activities. --ZIPLINING (2 hours total for 1km zipline): Costs 240 pesos per person, unless you band together a group of 10+ people in which case it's discounted to 200 pesos per person. Some domestic tourists asked us to join their group in order to get a cheaper price, and it was win-win for everybody and you make new friends! They give you a bag of equipment that you take on a steep hike up to the ziplining spot. As fit mid-20-year-olds, my husband and I didn't have much trouble trekking up to the spot, but others in our group did. Then once at the top, we watched another group get strapped in and zipline one at a time before we got strapped in. When you zipline, you can either sit or fly "airplane style" where you are strapped around the middle and "lie down" in the air like you're hanggliding. The 1km ziplining itself is scary only for the first few seconds, then really fun! After your whole group lands, then you walk back to the tourist office together. --HIKING (3 hour Cañon de Coyote): Only do this if you hire a local tour guide from the tourist office. Not only would the hike have been impossible to follow as there are almost no signs, but it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. For us, the best part of our entire Oaxaca trip was the hike with our local guide, Hector, a local currently studying in Oaxaca City who spoke some English while we spoke some Spanish. Hector explained the local use and significance of many flowers, herbs, and historical places along the hike, and we asked him many questions ranging from farms we saw to local traditions, which he answered patiently even though there was some language barrier. We ended up learning a ton about their culture with a beautiful visual backdrop, plus there were some fun parts (e.g., rock scrambling, short climbing section aided by rope), and I would recommend this to any adults! WEATHER: Our guide told us the best weather is in the winter, as it rains in much of the rest of the year (May-November). We went in late December, and it was about 70-75 degrees and very sunny during the day. I've heard nighttime is much colder.
