So you’ve decided to visit Oaxaca, Mexico? OH MY GOSSSHHH. You’re seriously going to LOVE this green limestone city. I don’t feel like I’d ever truly “been” to Mexico until we went to Oaxaca. Oaxaca, which is known as a cultural hub in Mexico, is a fairly large colonial city in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains. It’s known for its amazing cuisine, beautiful old colonial colorful buildings, vibrant street art, and kind people. Whether you’re looking to relax and sip Mezcal, explore ancient ruins, shop dozens of gorgeous boutiques, or consume as much authentic Mexican food as possible, this Oaxaca itinerary has got you covered! If Oaxaca was on the coast, I seriously would consider moving there, I love it that much.

What to Know Before Visiting Oaxaca

The full name of the city is Oaxaca de Juarez, & is the capital of the Mexican state of Oaxaca.

1. It’s pronounced “wah-hah-kah”, it took me a while to get this one down.
2. Oaxaca is safe, but treat it like anywhere else you visit. Be aware of your surroundings, don’t leave your valuables unattended, don’t walk around looking like you’re flaunting your wealth, and don’t go off with strangers you just met to a place you don’t know. Besides the usual safety precautions, protests are quite common in Oaxaca, so avoid large crowds during protests (not sure why you’d be involved in a Oaxaca protest anyways…)
3. Knowing a bit of Spanish helps! Many people in Oaxaca don’t speak English, so brushing up on your middle school basics can go a long way! It’s not required by any means, we travel all the time to places where we don’t know any of the language (thanks Google Translate!!), but knowing a little will make it you life a bit easier. If nothing else, make sure you can say “thank you”, “please”, “hello”, and “goodbye”, just as a sign of respect.
4. Oaxaca is a very walkable city, so pack good walking shoes! In some places it can be a bit hilly, so be prepared to break a sweat every once in awhile.
5. The weather can change quickly! The days can easily can go from being chilly sweater weather to burning hot sun within an hour or two. I’d wear something light, but bring a jacket with you, that mountain weather can be quite unpredictable.

How to Get to Oaxaca From the Airport

Oaxaca has a great airport, OAX, not too far from the city center. Flights run in & out regularly, and we chose a direct flight from Cancun. Direct flights to/from Cancun with checked bags were around $60 per person each way ($120 round trip). Once you arrive in Oaxaca, you’ll need to find transport to the city center. The most affordable (and comfortable) way is via a collectivo, a kind of shuttle/taxi that leaves once it collects enough passengers. You can get a private collectivo but honestly it’s a waste of money. The shared ones are easy and quick! We paid 85 pesos per person and they dropped us off right at the front of our hostel. We also took a collectivo back to the airport, our hostel arranged it for us on request, and they picked us up on time at our door step.  

Where to Stay in Oaxaca

We stayed at Casa Angel Youth Hostel, and it was one of my favorite hostels to date! The breakfast is awesome, simple but delicious. They have a beautiful rooftop overlooking the city, great private rooms, wifi strong enough to stream shows/movies, and as clean as you could ask for. It’s located right where you want to be, in the Santo Domingo barrio. Despite the name, Casa Angel is not just for Youth! 

If Hostels aren’t your thing, there’s tons of boutique hotels in the area. Focus on staying somewhere between the Santo Domingo Church, and the Zocalo, that’s where the main areas you’ll want to explore are! Hotel Los Amantes has some incredible views & is where JetSetChristina loves to stay. For more luxury hotel recommendations check out her blog post on Oaxaca!

Must Do’s for Your Oaxaca Itinerary

Okay! Now on to the good stuff, how to spend your time in this absolute GEM of a city. To build the best Oaxaca itinerary for your trip, here’s a few key things you can’t miss!

1.   Free Walking Tour of Oaxaca Centro

One of our favorite things to do in a new city is to find a walking tour. They are almost always run by locals, are a great way to get your bearings on a new city, and learn some history along the way. I highly recommend kicking off your Oaxaca itinerary with a free walking tour. We booked ours through Oaxaca Free Walking Tour and it was one of the best we’ve ever done! Free walking tours operate on tips, so make sure to budget accordingly. Plan to tip around $5-$10 USD per person. We also always seem to find the best local food recommendations through our tour guides!

2.   Mercada Sanchez Pascuas

To eat like a true local, head to Mercada Sanchez Pascuas, an indoor food market serving up authentic Oaxacan fare. Exploring the market is an experience in itself, but for a real treat, walk to the back of the market. Just before you reach the exit, to a row of rood & juice stalls on the left. There’s a lady there selling the BEST talmales I’ve ever had, and another selling quesadillas de flor. Make sure to pick up a fresh juice while you’re at it!

3.   Mercada La Cosecha

Mercado La Cosecha is a small organic market serving some of up the freshest food in Oaxaca! From the outside it looks like doors to a cute shop, but once you walk in you’ll be surprised when it opens up into a large beautiful covered terrace surrounded by food vendors on each side! It’s a great place to get some shade, grab a snack, and enjoy a drink (or two). Make sure you catch it at the right time! They are closed Monday and Tuesday, and are only open 9am to 4 or 5pm.

4.   Drinks at Sunset Overlooking the Santo Domingo

There’s so many awesome rooftops in Oaxaca, but one of the best is at Hotel Los Amantes. Drinks are a little pricier here than other places in Oaxaca, but still very affordable and worth it for the views! From the rooftops you can really appreciate how Oaxaca is completely surrounded by mountains on all sides. Get there a tad before sunset, and watch the sky change colors behind the Santo Domingo de Guzman.

5.   Feel Like a Local in The Zocalo

The Zocalo is a large city square adjacent to the towering limestone cathedral. Free from cars, shaded by massive trees and surrounding by beautiful colonial style buildings, it’s the true center piece of the city. It’s littered with cafes, restaurants, souvenir stands, and shoe cleaners. For a truly authentic experience, hang out in the Zocalo around dinner time. Grab a hot chocolate or juice from a nearby street vendor, find a bench or spot on the wall to sit, then just hangout and observe the locals. It feels like everyone in Oaxaca comes here at night to relax after a long day’s work, get their shoes shined, watch their kids play, and enjoy the local musicians. 

6.   DIY a Oaxaca Food Tour

And now my favorite thing on this whole Oaxaca itinerary…because one of the best parts of Oaxaca is, THE FOOD. There’s authentic Mexican food in Oaxaca that you can’t find anywhere else in the country. Don’t come here and expect to find big bowls of guacamole and queso dip (if you ask for queso they will look at you like you’re crazy, speaking from experience). You’ll likely try some things you’ve never heard of before, and you will LOVE them! Here’s some of the must try dishes:

• Tejate
• Chilacayote
• Tamales (Chapil, Rajas, Verde)
• Quesadilla de Flor
• Hot Chocolate
• Tlayudas
• Tacos Costillo
• Cafe de Olla
• Mole Coloradito
• Moletes de Platanos
• Pulque
• Mezcal

7.   Admire the Street Art

Oaxaca is known for their street art (graffiti) and it’s become an important staple of the city. There’s a phrase common in Oaxaca: “lapiztola”, which is a mix of the two Spanish words “lapiz” (pencil) and “pistola” (pistol). I think the word pretty much explains itself, and it’s pretty freaking powerful. One of the best neighborhoods for street art is Barrio Jalatlaco, a long but doable walk from the Zocalo, or a quick taxi ride!

8.   Shop for an Alebrije

Your Oaxaca itinerary wouldn’t be complete without spending time browsing some of the trendy boutiques. This may seem off topic, but have you seen the Disney movie Coco?? If so, you probably know what an Alebrije is. Did you know that the producers of Coco visited Oaxaca to observe the traditional art of making alebrijes and gain inspiration?? I thought that was so cool! Alebrijes are colorful wood carved spirit guides. You can pick up a cute tiny one for about $1, or splurge on an intricate larger piece anywhere up to $1,000+. Bringing one home with you is a great souvenir to remember your trip to Oaxaca! Just wandering the shops & admiring the bright colors is a fun way to spend the afternoon.

9.   Explore the Ruins at Monte Alban

A few days before arriving in Oaxaca, we visited Chichen Itza. While Chichen Itza is impressive in its vastness, we honestly preferred the ruins at Monte Alban. Monte Alban is better preserved, and less visited, making it feel like you just discovered something for the first time. The ruins date back to around 500 BC for this incredible city that was at one point the capital of the Zapotecs. It’s a quick 20 minutes drive up from town. Grab a ticket and explore the ruins, but don’t forget to look out because the views over the surrounding valleys are alone almost worth the trip. In early 2021, the entrance fees were 80 pesos per person. We also paid 110 pesos per person for a shuttle there & back instead of taking taxis. 

10.   BONUS: Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Agua, or “Boiling Water”, is a beautiful landscape of hot springs set high up in the Mountains surrounding Oaxaca. It’s a popular day trip from the City, so it’s pretty easy to find affordable tour companies in the Zocalo. Unfortunately, we were unable to go since it was closed because of Covid-19 while we were there. But I promise I’ll be there on our next trip to Oaxaca!

Have you been to Oaxaca? If so, what are some of your must do’s for a Oaxaca itinerary I missed?! Let me know and I’ll include them on our next trip!