Oaxaca is one of our favorite destinations in Mexico. We had the incredible opportunity to stay here for an entire month in 2024, and we had an amazing time. Whenever someone asks us where they should go on their trip to Mexico, we NEVER fail to mention Oaxaca. But we don’t have to convince you to go. If you’re here reading this, you likely already know how amazing this city is.
But even so… if you’ve never been to Oaxaca before, you’ll want to know how to spend your time here and maximize everything this gorgeous UNESCO Heritage Site city has to offer. So, if you’ve booked your flight to Oaxaca and are looking for the ultimate Oaxaca itinerary, I’ve got you covered. While this Oaxaca itinerary covers 5 days, this itinerary is perfect for trips as short as 3 and 4 days as well. And if you want to spend even more time here, we’ve got plenty more advice below on how else to spend your time in the city and where else you can go in the Oaxaca region.
Beyond what to do for each day of your trip, you’ll even find our expert advice on where to stay, where to eat and drink, as well as our answers to some commonly asked questions.
Ready to plan your trip to Oaxaca?
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Oaxaca Itinerary: Day 1
Take a Free Walking Tour

One of the first things we do when we first arrive at a new destination, specifically a city, is to take a free walking tour. A free walking tour is the perfect way to get to know Oaxaca, walking around the main sites while listening to the tour guide’s facts and tips. We love to use Free Tour to book free walking tours. While you do not need to pay to book the tour, you will need to pay the guide a tip at the end of the tour.
A standard Oaxaca free walking tour will take you around:
- Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
- Teatro Macedonio Alcalá
- Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca
- Amongst other notable tourist attractions in Oaxaca City
Have Lunch at a Market



After a couple of hours walking around with your tour guide, you’re probably ready to eat! Head over to one of Oaxaca’s many markets, grab a seat, and order some classic Oaxacan food. Get ready to jump head-first into the delicious moles and wonderful flavors of Oaxaca. We bet you won’t have ever had food like this!
You honestly can’t go wrong. Feel free to sit at any stall, and the food is guaranteed to be amazing. While you can eat at the more popular Mercado Benito Juarez, if you’d like a calmer atmosphere, check out Mercado De Merced.
Eat whatever you fancy. Some dishes we recommend include:
- Memela
- Enmolada
- Tlayuda
- Empanadas
- Tamales
- Really, any kind of mole dish!
Check Out the Street Art



Oaxaca has some of the most stunning street art we’ve ever seen, and checking out this art is a must when visiting the city. The two best neighborhoods to explore and admire the street art are Jalatlaco and Xochimilco. Walk around, snap some pics, and take in the bohemian vibes of these two barrios.
If you’d like a guide to show you around, feel free to book a street art walking tour. We did this tour of Xochimilco with Rodolfo, and we couldn’t recommend it more! If you want to explore Jalatlaco specifically, book this street art tour.
Marvel at Templo de Santo Domingo

There are a few different standout buildings in Oaxaca City, but for sure one of the standouts is Templo de Santo Domingo. This gorgeous cathedral is absolutely stunning on the outside, but your jaw will drop the moment you step inside. The entire interior is covered in gold and very intricately and ornately designed. And don’t worry; entry is completely free. So, if you didn’t get an opportunity to enter during the walking tour earlier in the day, now’s your chance!
Have a Nice Drink and Meal at a Rooftop Bar



To end the perfect day walking around the city and getting a smooth and easy introduction to the city of Oaxaca, head up to one of our favorite rooftop bars for a nice drink and a meal. This is your chance to try your first mezcal cocktail! There are plenty of rooftop bars scattered throughout the city, with gorgeous views of the city. Try to hit these rooftop bars during sunset for that stunning golden glow on the buildings below.
Here are our rooftop bar recommendations:
- Oaxaca Te Amo
- La Mezcalerita
- La Azotea
After watching the sun go down from your cozy spot on the rooftop, head to your hotel for some well-deserved sleep.
Oaxaca Itinerary: Day 2
Spend the Morning at Monte Alban


After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to head to one of the biggest tourist attractions in Oaxaca, Monte Alban.
There are a few different ways to get to Monte Alban. You can either take a bus or a taxi or go on an organized tour. If you decide to take the bus, you can grab one with Viajes Turisticos Mitla. The bus station is around the corner from the 20 de Noviembre market. A return ticket costs 90 MXN, with buses running every hour.
After a 30-minute journey, you will arrive at Monte Alban, where you will pay an entrance fee of 95 MXN. Here, you’ll see remnants of the Zapotec people. You could easily spend the entire morning here, climbing the pyramids and checking out the palaces and tombs. You’ll even find an ancient ball court here. If you’d like to know exactly what you’re seeing, we recommend booking a tour.
Walk Around Mercado 20 de Noviembre

There are a few different markets to explore in Oaxaca, but the biggest is Mercado 20 de Noviembre. Here, you can immerse yourself in the local culture while you navigate the market and all that the vendors offer. From delicious food and ingredients to trinkets worthy of a unique souvenir, you’ll find everything here! Walk around and stop by the various stalls to see if anything tickles your fancy. If you’re feeling a bit peckish after the morning at Monte Alban, try a memela or drink some tejate! If you’re not market-ed out at this point, we also recommend visiting Mercado Artesanias.
Have Lunch at Smoke Alley

After shopping for an hour or so, it’s time for lunch! You have to head to the iconic Smoke Alley right beside the market. The Smoke Alley, or Pasillo de Humo, is named so thanks to the smoke that covers the entire area. But why’s it so smoky, you ask? Well, that’s due to the blazing hot charcoal fires that heat up the veggies and meats for your pleasure!
Head into the Smoke Alley through the eastern entrance. You should see a big sign that says, “Pasillo de Humo,” marking your entrance to this smoky paradise. The process may seem chaotic, but it’s super simple:
- Choose a vendor – You really can’t go wrong!
- Pick your meat – Beef, pork, chorizo… grab a little bit of everything!
- Pick your sides and drinks – While you can get whatever you want, we recommend getting some grilled onion, avocado, limes, and a salsa of your choice. Grab and pay for a drink of your choice too.
- Get some tortillas – Keep your eye out for the tortilla lady who will be floating around. Grab enough tortillas for your meal and pay the lady directly.
When in doubt, just ask! The staff will be more than happy to assist you.
Eat Chocolate


Besides mole and mezcal, another thing Oaxaca is known for is its chocolate. And who doesn’t like chocolate? While you’ve likely technically tried chocolate as one of the many ingredients in a mole, you still have to taste the real thing. There are a few different spots to try chocolate throughout the city. But if you’d like to have a nice cup of traditional Oaxacan hot chocolate (which is lovely and spiced), a couple of our favorites were Mama Pacha Chocolate and Texier Chocolateria.
Taste Some Mezcal

Don’t stop your food tour with the Smoke Alley and chocolate! You might have already had a little taste of mezcal already if you’ve tried a mezcalita or another mezcal-based cocktail. But now it’s time to dive into the deep end and really get to know this liquor.
Learn all about mezcal by heading to a mezcal bar. There are many high-rated mezcal bars all around the city, so you can have your pick! Most are more than happy to oblige you in teaching you about mezcal. We recommend checking out:
- La Mezcalerita
- Mezcaleria In Situ
- Sabina Sabe
Here’s the great thing: A lot of these mezcal bars also serve delicious food, so don’t forget to order some food as you sip on those mezcals! Otherwise, you’re going to end up with a pounding headache in the morning, which you won’t appreciate as it will be a pretty packed one tomorrow!
Oaxaca Itinerary: Day 3
This is going to be the biggest day of your trip to Oaxaca. On day 3, you’ll wake up bright and early for a tour through the countryside of the Oaxaca region to visit some of the main sites outside of the city. This is a full-day excursion that is best done with a tour. That said, if you prefer not to do an organized tour, you can also rent a car or hire a private driver for the day. We took this full-day organized tour, which we recommend. You should prepare for a VERY long day, but the tour is the best way to make sure you don’t miss any of the main sites in Oaxaca.
The tour also stops for lunch at a buffet with a huge variety of different local dishes. With most tours, you’ll have to pay an additional 180 MXN ($10 USD) as the buffet is not included in the price of the tour.
Visit the Tule Tree



Tule is a small town just outside of Oaxaca. The main reason to visit Tule is to see the famous Montezuma Cyprus tree that holds the record of the “widest tree in the world,” with a circumference of 42 meters (137 feet). The tree is also one of the oldest in the world at more than 2,000 years! It is difficult to describe how crazy this tree is, and it is so amazing to see something that was alive while Monte Alban was the political center of the region!
Check Out Mitla



Mitla is one of the best-preserved Zapotec archeological sites and the most unique ruins we saw during our time in Mexico. The site was an important religious center for the Zapotec and Mixtec people, and many of the important temples are still standing. The most interesting thing about Mitla is the geometric designs of the temple. The walls are covered in intricate stonework and mosaics that are unlike anything we have ever seen. Mitla is not nearly as massive of a complex as Monte Alban, but it is definitely worth a visit as it is completely different than other pre-Colombian ruins in Mexico.
Swim at Hierve el Agua


Hierve el Agua is a large petrified waterfall located around an hour and a half from the city center of Oaxaca. The stone waterfall was formed from calcium deposits in the natural spring water that slowly calcified over thousands of years. There are two formations in the area, one of which is more than 30 meters (98 feet) high. Hierve el Agua is a must-do in Oaxaca, so even if you don’t manage to book a full-day tour, you should still find a way to visit this natural wonder.

You can also go swimming in the spring water, as the locals have built pools overlooking the valley below the formations. But keep in mind that the water is actually pretty cold, despite the fact that “Hierve el Agua” translates to “the water boils.”
Go to a Textile Workshop



Teotitlan Del Valle is a small village outside of Oaxaca, home to a primarily Zapotec population. The village is famous for its beautifully designed textiles and rugs. The locals naturally dye the yarn and weave using manual looms. During our tour of the region, we visited Teotitlan Del Valle and watched a weaving demonstration. The rugs here are incredibly high quality and can take weeks to make, as each rug is made by hand. If you are looking for a unique souvenir to take home from Oaxaca, this is a great option!
Learn How Mezcal Is Made at a Palenque

There are mezcal bars on essentially every corner in Oaxaca city, but if you want to really learn about the process from the plant to the shot glass, you’ll want to head to a palenque. And this is where you’ll wrap up your full-day tour.
Mezcal is made from maguey or agave. It is similar to tequila, but there is much more variety in flavor as tequila is only produced from a single type of maguey, while mezcal can be made from essentially any agave plant. We fell in love with mezcal during our trip to Oaxaca and cannot wait to go back to try more!
Oaxaca Itinerary: Day 4
Take a Cooking Class



Oaxacan food is absolutely delicious, and while you can eat to your heart’s content while in the city, why not learn some recipes to take home with you? There are quite a few cooking classes in Oaxaca, but we HIGHLY recommend booking the farm-to-table experience with Quinta Brava. This cooking class was one of our favorite experiences in the Oaxaca. You’ll learn to cook traditional Oaxacan dishes from local chef Miguel Alvarez. Miguel inspired us to “unlearn” everything we know about cooking and open our minds to the Mexican methods. Quinta Brava is an intimate experience that is perfect for those who want to really learn about Oaxacan cuisine from a local expert.
The half-day cooking tour takes place on a beautiful property where you’ll learn to make tortillas from scratch, mole, empanadas, tetelas, memelas, and more!


We learned some amazing recipes that we still make to this day. It was such a rich experience to make everything by hand from scratch using traditional methods and tools such as a molcajete and a comal.
Participate or Watch a Temazcal Ceremony
A temazcal is an ancient sweat lodge that is used in indigenous ceremonies in Mexico. The ceremony is medicinal and is thought to have healing properties that help to purify the mind and body. During the ceremony, you’ll sit inside a stone or clay igloo-shaped dome, inside of which water is poured over hot volcanic rocks to create steam. A shaman will lead you through the ceremony with chants and may add herbs and various plants to the steam. This is a great way to spend the afternoon after a busy morning cooking and learning.
While we personally did not take part in a temazcal ceremony, we met many who did and said it was an incredibly healing and rejuvenating experience. This is an amazing thing to do if you are interested in indigenous Mesoamerican culture and alternative medicine.
Have Dinner at a Nice Restaurant


Day 4 is going to be one of the best days for foodies like us! You will have already had a really delicious lunch at your cooking class, but now it’s time to see what Oaxacan food looks like elevated.
Oaxaca is a foodie’s paradise, and whether you are looking for affordable street food vendors or elevated restaurants, you can find it all in the city. We recommend trying at least one upscale restaurant during your stay in Oaxaca, as the restaurants here are some of the best we have ever tried. Here are a few of our top recommendations for fancier eateries:
- Crudo
- Sabina Sabe
- Casa Oaxaca
- Los Danzantes
Oaxaca Itinerary: Day 5
Go to the Tlacolula Sunday Market and Shop for Souvenirs

Tlaculula is a relatively small town located around 45 minutes from Oaxaca City. While the town is relatively unassuming during most of the week, it comes alive on Sundays, turning into one of the largest bustling outdoor markets we have ever seen. Tlacolula’s Sunday market is a must-do in Oaxaca (if you are in the city on a Sunday, of course). Not only can you find delicious street food, snacks, and drinks at the market, but it is also the perfect place to buy local handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing, and, honestly, just about everything you can imagine.
The highlight of the market for us was the barbacoa, which is slow-cooked goat meat. You can really only find barbacoa on the weekend in Oaxaca, as the dish needs to stew for up to 12 hours! You can find several vendors selling barbacoa in the indoor portion of the market. Just sit down and ask for consomé, which is barbacoa meat with the soup. Don’t forget to get some fresh tortillas from the tortilla lady!
How to Get to Tlacolula Market
There are a few options for getting to the market: private taxi, colectivo, or bus. We opted for the bus as it was the most affordable option and was pretty easy to navigate. Simply head to the Oaxaca bus station and look for a bus heading to Tlacolua. The bus should only cost 20 MXN ($1 USD).
Colectivos or shared taxis are another option and will only cost around 40 MXN ($2 USD). You can catch a colectivo at the colectivos a Mitla station near the baseball stadium.
Taking a taxi is the easiest option, but it will cost quite a bit more, at around 200 to 400 MXN ($10 to $20 USD).
Visit Small Towns in the Area to Buy Souvenirs

If you are not in Oaxaca on a Sunday, don’t worry. There are several other towns and villages around the city that are worth visiting, so if you have some extra time and are up for some more exploring, we recommend checking out some of the following towns near Oaxaca.
- San Martín Tilcajete: Home to the amazing handmade and colorful alebrijes, traditional intricately painted wooden figurines that make excellent souvenirs.
- Santiago Matatlán: Known as the “mezcal capital of the world.” Enough said!
- San Bartolo Coyotepec: Town famous for making artisan black pottery.
- Santa Maria Aztompa: Village near Oaxaca that specializes in green glazed pottery and ceramics.
- Teotitlan del Valle: This is a beautiful indigenous town that produces textiles and rugs. You’ll likely visit this town on the full-day excursion on day 3, but if you didn’t, feel free to stop by!
Do You Have More Time in Oaxaca?

As mentioned, we spent an entire month in Oaxaca. And honestly, even with the whole month we had here, we never ran out of things to do. If, like us, you like to slow travel, you might wonder what else you can do to fill up your days in Oaxaca. Lucky for you, we’ve got a list of 30 things to do in Oaxaca.
Here are some standout things to do in Oaxaca if you have more time:
- Experience a festival: Oaxaca is THE place to be in Mexico if you want to experience and witness the colorful festivals the country is known for. Some of the most popular and famous festivals you might be lucky enough to watch are Dia de los Muertos and La Guelaguetza. But even if you aren’t around for those specific festivals, we guarantee you will witness proceedings any time of the year.
- Go hiking: Oaxaca has some pretty nice hikes around the area. Most of the best hikes are around an hour from the city, so it makes for a great day trip or half-day trip. Some of the best hikes include Le Cumbre Ixtepeji, San Pablo Cuatro Venados, and El Picacho.
- Take a Spanish class: If you are in Oaxaca for at least a week, why not learn or brush up on your Spanish? We recommend checking out the Spanish Immersion School and the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Oaxaca?
In our opinion, the best time to visit Oaxaca is during the dry season, which runs from October to April. We personally visited in January and February, and the weather was perfectly warm and dry. However, even if you visit during the rainy season, the rain won’t be pouring down all day, allowing you to still explore the city without getting too wet.
If you want to experience the incredible Dia de los Muertos, you should visit Oaxaca between the end of November and early December, but keep in mind that this is the high season to visit this city specifically for this reason!
Is Oaxaca Safe to Visit?
Absolutely! We felt 100% safe during our time in Oaxaca, both day and night. Of course, with any touristy city, we recommend staying vigilant and keeping your belongings close, especially at night, but as a general rule, we felt much safer in Oaxaca than we did in many cities throughout our travels in the USA and Europe.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca

There are many accommodation options in Oaxaca, so you have your pick. If you’re a budget traveler, you’ll find plenty of budget accommodation options, and if you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, you’ll find that, too. Here are some standout accommodation options if you’re looking for a place to stay in Oaxaca:
- Casa Angel Hostel: Budget Option
- Ticuchi Hostal: Budget Option
- Hermoso Departamento en Oaxaca: Mid-Range Option (where we stayed)
- Hotel Casa Acueducto: Mid-Range Option
- AYOOK: High-End Option
- Grana B&B: High-End Option
Best Restaurants in Oaxaca

Oaxaca is one of our favorite places to eat in the world. The region is known as the “culinary capital of Mexico” due to the wide variety of distinctive dishes and flavors. You might be surprised to find that most of the dishes in Oaxaca are completely different from classic Mexican cuisine you’ll find outside of Mexico (tacos, tortas, burritos, etc.). There are many different restaurants in Oaxaca, ranging from humble street food vendors to upscale dining experiences. We ate at a different restaurant almost every day for a month in Oaxaca, and here are some of our top restaurant picks:
- Casa Taviche: Popular bar and restaurant with elevated Oaxacan dishes and creative mezcal cocktails. We highly recommend the aguachile and the cucumber mezcalita!
- Ancestral Cocina Tradicional: This was our top dining experience in Oaxaca. Ancestral Cocina Tradicional is a pretty fancy restaurant that serves many delicious local dishes in a unique way.
- Tlayudas Doña Luchita: Tlayudas are a must-have in Oaxaca. A tlayuda is a large corn tortilla smothered in lard, beans, cheese, onions, and meat of your choice. We tried several different tlayudas in the city, and Tlayudas Doña Luchita was the best we tried.
- Memelas San Augustin: If we had to choose our favorite street food in Oaxaca, it would be memelas. Thick corn tortillas topped with beans, and various toppings, memelas are simple perfection. Memelas San Augustin is a small street food stall with affordable and absolutely delicious memelas.
- Elotes y Esquites Don Paco: You’ll see tons of street food carts around Oaxaca selling corn on the cob (elote) or corn in a cup (esquite), but the tastiest we had was Elotes y Esquites Don Paco. You absolutely have to try the spicy esquites with chicken feet; don’t knock it till you try it!
- Mariscos La Quebrada: If you are craving some seafood in Oaxaca, we recommend heading to Mariscos La Quebrada. They have a large selection of fish (fried and grilled), shrimp, ceviche, and more!
Best Bars in Oaxaca


Of course, when in Oaxaca, you need to explore the bars of the city. After all, while the city is known for its delicious food, it’s also famous for its mezcal. Luckily, there are many amazing bars in Oaxaca. Some of our favorites are:
- In Situ: This is one of our top recommendations for doing a mezcal tasting. The staff here are super knowledgeable and will guide you on your mezcal journey.
- Bar Ilegal: You might already be familiar with Ilegal mezcal, which is fittingly served here, as the guy who created Ilegal also opened this bar! Really cool vibes and live music to enjoy.
- Vino y Vinyl: If you are craving some wine in a relaxed atmosphere, check out Vino y Vinyl. At this bar, you can sip some tasty wine and also choose your own music from a large selection of vinyl records.
- Cantina Salon de La Fama: This is one of the most traditional bars in Oaxaca. You’ll find mostly locals here sipping beers or mezcal and listening to classic Mexican music. The bar is affordable, and the bartenders are super friendly. This is a great place to meet some locals and practice Spanish!
- La Mezcalerita: A nice rooftop bar that serves local Mezcal and local craft beers. The bar is affordable and has a great view of the city center.
Where Else to Go in the Oaxaca Region
Oaxaca is the 5th largest state in Mexico, so it goes without saying that there is a ton to see in the region outside of the main city and surrounding areas. During this trip, we mostly stayed in Oaxaca City and visited nearby towns and villages, but there are plenty more places to go if you want to extend your trip. Here are a few other top-notch destinations in the State of Oaxaca.
- Puerto Escondido: Extremely popular beach city known for lively parties and surfing.
- San Jose del Pacifico: Laid-back hippie town in the high up in the mountains. Great place to relax, hike, and explore the nature of the Oaxaca region.
- Mazunte: A more relaxed, hippie beach town compared to Puerto Escondido. More chilled out, but the beaches in Puerto Escondido are superior.
- Huatulco: Arguably the best beaches in Oaxaca. Best area for snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming and is a relaxing, family-friendly beach destination.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Oaxaca?
We recommend staying AT LEAST 3 days in Oaxaca. But to really get a sense of everything the city has to offer, we would urge you to stay for around 5 days. If you want to get outside of the main city and explore the other destinations in the Oaxaca region, such as the beach and mountain towns, allow yourself even more time.
What is the best month to visit Oaxaca?
Oaxaca has a pretty temperate climate, so you can visit all year round with no issues. While the city and region have suffered from droughts in recent years, if you want to ensure you don’t get any rain, we recommend visiting during the dry months between October and April.
Is it safe to eat street food in Oaxaca?
Yes! In fact, we highly recommend eating street food in Oaxaca. Some of our favorite places to eat in Oaxaca are street food stalls, so don’t knock it till you try it.
Is Oaxaca safe to walk at night?
Absolutely! We never felt unsafe while walking around at night in Oaxaca throughout our entire one-month stay. If you stay outside of the city center, we would be more cautious, but as long as your accommodation is located within the touristic areas, you should be fine.
Enjoy Your Trip to Oaxaca!
You can’t go wrong on your trip to Oaxaca. There’s honestly so much to do, see, eat, and drink in Oaxaca City that you could fill up on activities for up to a couple of weeks! But even if your trip is 3, 4, or 5 days long, with the help of this itinerary, you’ll be able to get a well-rounded trip that scratches the surface of the beauty of Oaxaca. And, who knows? If you really enjoy your trip, why not come back another time? We know we will!