The 28 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: Top Highlights, Unique Experiences, & Day Trips

If you are looking for the best things to do in Oaxaca City, you are in for a treat. Known as the cultural capital of southern Mexico, Oaxaca is bursting with history, color, and flavor at every turn. From lively plazas filled with street performers to centuries-old churches and colorful neighborhoods, this city is as vibrant as it is welcoming.

Oaxaca is also one of the top foodie destinations in Mexico. Between the bustling markets, mezcal tastings, and famous mole workshops, every meal becomes an adventure. Add to that world-class museums, traditional craft villages, and unforgettable festivals like Día de los Muertos, and you’ll quickly see why so many travelers fall in love with this destination.

Whether you want to explore its cultural heritage, dive into its food scene, or simply soak up the atmosphere of its charming streets, Oaxaca City offers experiences that suit every type of traveler.

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: An Intro to Oaxaca, Mexico

Before diving into all of the best things to do in Oaxaca city, let's talk a bit about what Oaxaca city is like, where it's located, and how long you should plan your stay for.

 What is Oaxaca Best Known For?

Oaxaca is one of the most colorful places to visit in Mexico, and is home to stunning gardens, vibrant murals, and cute cafes. It's known for having one of the most unique cuisines in the country, and it also stands out for its extravagant holiday celebrations, particularly during Dia de los Muertos.

Oaxaca city is also the gateway to some incredible archaeological sites, tons of mezcal fields, and some stunning natural landscapes, making it a well-rounded destination for a variety of travel types.

 Where is Oaxaca City in Oaxaca?

Oaxaca is both a city and state in Mexico, and it can be confusing when trying to explore the best of the area. The city of Oaxaca is technically called "Oaxaca de Juarez", which is the capital of Oaxaca state, and is the best base to have for visiting this beautiful state for the first time. 

It's the center of culture, history, and cuisine, making it a popular destination for both tourists and digital nomads. 

 Is Oaxaca City Worth Visiting?

The city of Oaxaca is absolutely worth visiting! It's actually one of our favorite places in all of Mexico, and there are plenty of reasons to visit Oaxaca, despite its *not so convenient* location.

Whether you're interested in history, food, nature, or art, Oaxaca de Juarez truly delivers and makes it worth a visit for any type of traveler! It's also one of the best places to visit in October, as it's a popular destination for celebrating Day of the Dead.

 How Many Days in Oaxaca City is Enough?

You can certainly experience the best things to do in Oaxaca city in a weekend, but we'd recommend at least 3-5 days. There are so many fun and unique activities to enjoy, as well as some excellent day trips. If you're working while traveling, then we'd recommend actually staying a full week or two!

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City

Now that you know a bit about Oaxaca, let's start exploring all of the great things to do in Oaxaca City!

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: Top Sites

If you're visiting Oaxaca for the first time, then you'll want to make sure you hit the top tourist spots! Here are the best things to see in Oaxaca city for first-timers.

 Go on a Free Walking Tour

One of the best ways to learn about a new city is by taking a free walking tour. Local guides bring you around the top tourist spots and you'll learn about the history and culture that make Oaxaca stand out from other top travel destinations in Mexico.

It's also a great way to get the best restaurant location, see hidden gems, and meet other like-minded travelers. Don't forget to tip, and bring some comfy shoes!

Visit Santo Domingo Church

The Church of Santo Domingo is one of the most beautiful churches in Oaxaca, and is one of the top sites in the city. You can visit inside Monday-Saturday from 9:30 am to 1 pm, and then again between the hours of 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

 Roam Around Zocalo

The Zócalo, or main square, is the heart of Oaxaca de Juaraz and a must on your list of things to do in Oaxaca City. This lively plaza is surrounded by colonial buildings, cafes, and restaurants where you can sit with a coffee and watch the world go by. 

Street performers and vendors keep the atmosphere buzzing day and night, making it the perfect starting point for exploring the city.

If you visit in the evening, the Zócalo comes alive with live music, local families strolling, and food stalls serving up Oaxacan street snacks. It is both a cultural hub and a social meeting point, offering a true taste of local life in the city center.

Explore the Oaxaca Botanical Gardens

The Ethnobotanical Garden in Oaxaca is not your typical garden. It is a beautifully curated space that showcases the region’s native plants and explains their cultural and medicinal importance. Set in the grounds of a former monastery, the garden blends history, ecology, and local traditions.

Guided tours are the only way to enter, but they are absolutely worth it. You will learn about the agave plants used for mezcal, see cacti towering over ancient stone walls, and discover how Oaxacans have used plants for centuries.

Check Out the Museums

Oaxaca is rich in history and culture, and there are plenty of great museums which will give you a better understanding of the cities roots. Here are a few that you can check out while in town:

• Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca: Located in the former Santo Domingo Monastery, this museum houses treasures from Monte Albán and offers an in-depth look at Oaxaca’s history.
• Museo Rufino Tamayo: A private collection of pre-Columbian art curated by the famous Oaxacan painter Rufino Tamayo.
• Museo Textil de Oaxaca: Showcases the region’s rich textile traditions with rotating exhibits of weaving and embroidery.
• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (MACO): Highlights contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican artists in a colonial-era building.
• Museo Belber Jiménez: Features jewelry, folk art, and textiles collected by the Belber Jiménez family.
• Museo de Filatelia de Oaxaca (MUFI): A quirky museum dedicated to stamps, with exhibits from Mexico and around the world.
• Museo Infantil de Oaxaca (MIO): A family-friendly museum designed for children, with interactive exhibits and workshops.

 Photograph the Colorful Neighborhoods

Oaxaca’s streets are a photographer’s dream, with their pastel facades, colonial architecture, and bursts of street art. Neighborhoods such as Jalatlaco and Xochimilco stand out for their cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and murals that make the city so vibrant and cheerful.

Take your time wandering with your camera in hand or simply enjoy the stroll. These areas are quieter than the Zócalo, and are perfect to photograph in the earl mornings.

 Bonus: You can actually join a guided tour with one of the city's artists! This is a great way to see the best murals and learn about the significance each one holds.

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: Cultural Experiences

Now that you've seen to the top highlights of Oaxaca, here are some activities that will allow you to appreciate the local culture of the city.

 Shop at the Artisan Markets

Oaxaca is world-famous for its artisan traditions, and the city’s bustling markets are the best place to experience them firsthand. From intricately woven textiles to hand-crafted jewelry, the craftsmanship here is truly impressive and worth supporting. 

Mercado Benito Juárez and Mercado 20 de Noviembre are among the most popular markets, but there are also some great artisan markets during special events and celebrations. Browsing these stalls is one of the most unique things to do in Oaxaca if you want to bring home a piece of local culture.

Watch a Performance at the Macedonio Alcala Theater

This stunning neoclassical theater, dating back to the early 1900's, is not only an architectural gem but also a cultural hub in Oaxaca City. Visitors can catch concerts, ballets, and traditional performances in a stunning setting. Even if you do not attend a show, stepping inside to admire the grand interior is worth it.

Experience Dia de los Muertos

Oaxaca is one of the most famous destinations in Mexico for celebrating Día de los Muertos. During late October and early November, the city comes alive with colorful altars, lively parades, and candlelit cemeteries filled with music and offerings. 

Experiencing this celebration is one of the most awesome things to add to your bucket list, and an absolute must-experience if you're thinking about visiting Oaxaca in the fall.

Experience a Day of the Dead Altar Workshop

As we just mentioned, Día de los Muertos is one of the most iconic traditions in Oaxaca, and one of the best things to do in Oaxaca City if you're visiting in October is to learn about it through a hands-on altar workshop.

Locals will guide you through the symbolism of each element, from marigolds to candles to offerings of food and drink. By helping to build an altar, you gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual connection families maintain with their ancestors and leave with a truly meaningful cultural experience.

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: Food & Drink

Oaxaca is known for having a fantastic food scene, so these food and drink related activities will have you eating and drinking your way around the city in the best way possible.

Tour the Markets

Food lovers will find Oaxaca’s markets a paradise of flavors, and whether you're going on your own or with a local, it's a super fun and exciting experience with an explosion of flavors.

A guided food tour will take you through stalls selling tlayudas, tamales, fresh tortillas, and local cheeses. Sampling your way through these markets is one of the tastiest ways to discover this region, and certainly one of the best things to do in Oaxaca city for an immersive culinary experience.

Do a Oaxacan Mole Workshop

Oaxaca is the land of mole, with seven distinct varieties of this complex sauce. Not only is it a must-try, but taking a cooking workshop will teach you about the different ingredients and techniques behind this iconic dish.

Learn Some Salsa Cooking

From smoky chile de árbol salsas to tangy tomatillo blends, Oaxaca has a rich salsa-making tradition. Joining a class is a fun way to experiment with spice levels while learning about local produce and cooking methods.

Try a Coffee Tasting

Oaxaca’s highlands produce some of Mexico’s finest coffee, and tasting tours in the city allow you to explore its unique flavors. In this coffee tasting tour you'll learn about three different brewing methods, while sampling brews from different areas.

Join a Mezcal Tour

No trip to Oaxaca is complete without sampling its most famous spirit. A mezcal tour takes you to palenques (mezcal distilleries) to learn how it is made, from agave roasting to distilling. 

Of course, tastings are part of the experience, and each mezcal has its own distinctive flavor, making this one of the most unique and fun things to do in Oaxaca's outskirts.

Hop on the Mezcal Bus

If you prefer a more social experience, the Mezcal Bus is a fun and lively way to explore Oaxaca’s mezcal scene. The ride includes stops at local bars and palenques, making it a unique way to meet other travelers and locals while tasting different mezcals!

Play Around at a Mixology Workshop

Oaxaca’s cocktail culture is growing, with many bartenders using mezcal as a base for creative drinks. Joining a mixology workshop will teach you how to craft cocktails with local ingredients and flavors.

Dive into a Chocolate Workshop

Chocolate has deep roots in Oaxacan culture, going back to the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations. A chocolate workshop is a fun way to learn about chocolate, grind cacao beans, make traditional drinks, and taste artisanal chocolate.

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: Arts & Crafts

There is so much creativity and love in the art scene of Oaxaca, and admiring the arts and crafts made by locals or immersing yourself in classes are some of the best cultural activities in Oaxaca city to experience.

Discover the Art Galleries

Oaxaca is home to a vibrant art scene, with numerous galleries showcasing both contemporary and traditional works. From modern installations to indigenous-inspired paintings, visiting these galleries is a great way to see how Oaxaca’s creative spirit continues to thrive.

Explore the Street Art

The streets of Oaxaca are like an open-air gallery, with colorful murals and political graffiti covering walls across the city. Many pieces highlight local identity, culture, and social movements. 

Walking through neighborhoods like Jalatlaco or Xochimilco to admire the street art is one of the best things to do in Oaxaca city for photographers and culture lovers alike.

Try a Quesillo & Paper-making Tour

Oaxaca is known for its quesillo, the stretchy cheese often used in tlayudas and other local dishes. Some tours combine a stop at a quesillo workshop with a visit to traditional paper-making studios, where artisans create beautiful sheets from agave fibers and other natural materials. 

This blend of food and craft makes for one of the most unique things to do in Oaxaca city, offering a deeper look into everyday traditions.

Join a Pottery Workshop

Pottery has been part of Oaxacan culture for centuries, with local artisans producing everything from rustic kitchenware to intricate decorative pieces. 

In San Bartolo Coyotepec, you can try your hand at making barro negro, the region’s iconic black clay pottery. A hands-on workshop not only teaches you the techniques but also connects you to an ancient tradition that continues to thrive today.

Learn Zapotec Weaving

The Zapotec people of Oaxaca are masters of weaving, known for their richly colored rugs and textiles made with natural dyes. 

Visiting villages like Teotitlán del Valle allows you to see the entire process, from dyeing wool with insects to weaving intricate patterns on traditional looms. We also found a fun tour that includes mezcal, alebrijes, and Zapotec weaving all in one!

Participating in a weaving workshop is one of the most authentic and unique things to do in Oaxaca, and it gives you a true appreciation for the artistry behind these textiles.

Check Out an Art Printing Workshop

Oaxaca has a strong printmaking tradition, and local workshops often open their doors to visitors who want to learn the basics. From linocuts to woodblock printing, you can experiment with different techniques and even create your own artwork to take home.

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The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City: Day Trips

There are so many great things to do in Oaxaca city, but there are also some truly incredible day trips you need to save time for. Here are the absolute must-do day trips from Oaxaca to consider:

Hierve el Agua

If you have time for just one day trip, make it Hierve el Agua! The petrified cascade is an absolute wonder of Mexico, and is under an hour and a half from the city of Oaxaca.

You could easily spend several hours there, or stay the night if you please! If you're looking to swim and hike, the early morning is best, but if you're a photographer, then don't miss staying a night for some astrophotography and sunrise to capture the golden light without anyone around.

We have a full guide for how to visit Hierve el Agua and everything you need to know while there.

Mitla

Mitla is another excellent day trip from Oaxaca city, which is just under an hour from the center. It's actually on the way to Hierve el Agua, meaning you can actually do a two-in-one day trip.

The town is one of the most important archaeological zones in the state, and also has a craft market and plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy.

Tree of Tule

Just 20 minutes outside the city of Oaxaca lies the widest tree in the world! The small town of Tule is home to the tree, a cute church, gardens, and plenty of artisan shops to explore making it an easy and fun escape from the city.

Monte Alban

Another one of the best things to do outside Oaxaca city is Monte Alban, a large pre-columbian archaeological site known for its architecture and ancient carvings.

It's just 20 minutes from the city, and gives visitors insight to the important cultural and social exchange with the powers of Teotihuacan near Mexico City.

The Best Things to Do in Oaxaca: Final Thoughts & What's Next

Oaxaca is a fascinating area of Mexico and has so much to offer! Whether you're wandering the colorful streets, visiting to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or exploring some of the incredible sites outside the city, there are so many reasons to visit Oaxaca city and state!

We'd recommend spending at least 2-3 days to see the city itself, and another few days to experience the day trips like Hierve el Agua, Tree of Tule, and Mitla. After that, we'd recommend heading to the beach towns of Oaxaca state for some relaxation.

 What's Next?

Now that you know the best things to do in Oaxaca, Mexico you're probably wondering more about what it's like traveling there! We have over 50 Mexico travel guides, with several of them pertaining to Oaxaca and general info about visiting the country.

Here are some of the other guides that will help you while visiting Oaxaca:

11 Reasons to Travel to Oaxaca, Mexico (and 2 bonus!)

The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca, Mexico

Mitla, Oaxaca Travel Guide: Your Guide to Exploring the Ancient Zapotec Capital

 Visiting Arbol del Tule, Oaxaca: Discover the World's Widest Tree

 Visiting Hierve el Agua: A Complete Guide to Mexico's Natural Wonder

 More Than Tacos: 33 Foods in Mexico You Have to Try

 Bucket List Experiences in Mexico: 20 Adventures You Can't Miss

26 Hidden Gems in Mexico: Discover the Country's Best Kept Secrets

 The 20 Most Instagrammable Places in Mexico for a Wonderfully Colorful Feed

 18 Things We Learned Traveling Through Mexico

 14 Cool Places in Mexico That Will Make You Feel Like You're in Europe

 Top Destinations in Mexico For Travelers: Unmissable Places to Visit

 55 Places That Will Make You Want to Visit Mexico

 Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Mexico

 Everything You Need to Know to Travel to Mexico Right Now

...and more coming each week!

So are you ready to experience all of the incredible things to do in Oaxaca City, Mexico? This is one of our favorite cities in the country, and we're sure you're going to fall in love with it just as much as we have throughout the years.

Looking to learn more about visiting Oaxaca? We have a few more Oaxaca travel guides coming up, and over 50 other Mexico travel guides in total! Make sure to sign up for our newsletter, where we share our most recent articles, exclusive tips, and special discounts on the Scratch Your Mapa Shop.

Ready to plan the most incredible trip to Oaxaca? Well, with Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning you can get a custom-made itinerary to fit all of your travel needs! Take a look at some of the travel planning packages we offer, or simply email us to set up your free consultation.

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