Oaxaca City has been chosen by travel experts and the staff of the acclaimed Travel+Leisure magazine as the number one 1 best city in the world. That´s a big claim for a city many of us never have heard of. We needed to find out for ourselves if that is even remotely true. Spoiler-alert; they were right!
Things to do in Oaxaca City is a common search for travelers interesting in this amazing city, and after spending five whole weeks in Oaxaca, we can safely say we know a thing or two.. or ten, about what to see, what to do, and what to eat. Let´s dive into this top 10 list!
But first, some interesting details
Before we enter a new bucket list location, we always check some stats, details, and facts (like on the Oaxaca Wikipedia page). We found out beforehand and while in town about Oaxaca that;
- You pronounce Oaxaca like Wa-Ha-Ka
- It has about 275.000 inhabitants
- The beautiful city enter is a Unesco Heritage site
- The weather is year-round excellent
- 95% speak no English at all, so learn some Spanish!
- Oaxaca is at an elevation of 5000ft / 1500m
- Wednesday is their rest day, not Sunday
- The original name was Huaxyacac
- The local and national hero is Benito Juarez
First impressions count
Your first impressions of Oaxaca will be quite mindblowing. The beautiful colored houses, the colonial architecture, the bustling streets, the vendors on every street corner, the lovely cobblestone streets, the rusty old Volkswagen Beetles, the rows of cacti, the fascinating street art, and the colorful flags fluttering above the streets… it´s all a lot to take it. We recommend you to stay at least 10 days in Oaxaca because there is just so much to see, do, and eat.
Alright, enough details, let´s dive into the top 10 list and see what´s so special about Oaxaca City!
1) Wandering down the colorful streets of Oaxaca City
There are two main attractions in Oaxaca – and by attractions, I don´t mean a Burj Khalifa or Eiffel tower – and those are the colorful, wild, and very atmospheric streets, and the food! More about food in the second suggestion, we need to talk about these wonderful streets.
Just wandering down these authentic streets is a thing in itself. The atmosphere, the vibe, the rundown Mexican esthetic. It´s all a feast for the eyes. The whole city is also surrounded by looming mountains in the far distance, which makes up for a beautiful background in an already very atmospheric city.
You will need more eyes to see everything you will encounter in these bustling streets,… or just more days!
Authentic and so typical Oaxaca
We loved just walking down these blocks every day and find ourselves constantly amazed at what we were seeing. And what's so funny about Oaxaca; you quite regularly have the notion that you´ve never been in this street, although you have walked through it many times. This is because the shops, vendors, restaurants, cafes, street carts, mini-marts, and boutique stores keep changing. They all have different days and times of operating, so you will constantly be looking around at what´s new in the street you´ve been on multiple times.
And there are no western things to be found anywhere. No Zara, McDonald's, H&M, etc. It´s truly Mexican here, and that´s a very good thing for a change because Mexico, its inhabitants, and its rich culture have been absolutely amazing.
Must-sees while in downtown Oaxaca
This might be my most important tip: stay mainly around and on the northside of the Zocalo, because this is where the magic of Oaxaca can be found.
You will find these great must-sees there:
- The Santo Domingo Church:
A beautiful colonial church in the center of the city. The area surrounding this church is soooo nice! This is the place to be in Oaxaca.
- The Zocalo:
This is the main square with many cool shops, vendors, and fancy restaurants and terraces.
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre:
The local food court market, a bit hysterical, but you can get a lot of affordable traditional Oaxacan dishes here.
- Benito Juarez Market:
Stuff, stuff, stuff, and more stuff! Tourist stuff, local stuff, cell phone stuff, local food ingredient, and so on and so on.
- Mercado de Abostas:
This was the biggest market we´ve ever seen. This is where the local buy their ingredients, fruits, vegetables, dinner, clothes, and so on.
- The nicest streets and areas:
Barrio de Jalatco, Calle 5 de Mayo (north-east of Zocalo), Zocalo, Reforma Street, and just simply walk around and get lost. There are so many nice little streets, alleys, and cute areas. Enjoy the hikes!
We shot 500+ quality shots in total, Oaxaca is that pretty!
2) Eat your way through Oaxaca
Losing weight in Oaxaca, that´s funny. You can forget about that amigo! And staying on weight is just plain impossible; the food is just too tasty, too affordable, and quality food can be found on every corner. We eat our way through Oaxaca (twice a day we ate out!) and gained a solid 4-5 pounds each. But we have no regrets, Oaxaca is just such a culinary highlight and you shouldn´t hold back. D
Oaxaca has been named also the number 1 best city for food according to the expert panel of Travel+Leisure. So it´s not only the best city in the world, but it´s also a heaven for foodies. This combination is just a feast (for your eyes and your tongue!) for travelers who love diving into exciting cultures and enticing kitchens. And did we mention to you it´s all so incredibly affordable?! The prices here are just mindblowing for us westerners. Eating out twice a day was probably just as cheap as buying groceries and cooking it ourselves.
Dedicated articles
Call us crazy, but we went to more than 35+ restaurants, street carts, cafes, and rooftops. We loved wining and dining around Oaxaca so much, that we made an extensive Oaxaca list on Google Maps, with notes of every place, to keep up with all the excellent recommendations. From these weeks of eating around town, we even wrote four dedicated articles about all the delicious food in Oaxaca, check 'em out!
► What to eat and drink, when in Oaxaca
► The 10 best places to eat in Oaxaca City, Mexico (coming soon!)
► The best cafes for coffee and digital nomad work (coming soon!)
► (the 4th one in the next tip!)
The big downside of eating it all in Oaxaca; you will get spoiled fast by the quality and the tastiness of the food. Your own dishes at home will be hardly as tasty as the Oaxacan meals you´ve enjoyed here…
Want to fall in love with Oaxacan food as well? Find affordable plane tickets here!
3) Mole, mole, mole (!)
The best thing you can eat in Oaxaca is, by far, their own homemade mole (you pronounce it as moo-ley by the way). Mole is a thick, rich, tasty, yummy sauce, made from a mix of 25-30 different ingredients, mixed to perfection by Mexican gods. Oke, not gods, but these culinary wizards (mostly sweet little old ladies!) are brilliant in creating one of the best tasting sauces in the world.
We fell in love with mole, and had at least 7-8 mole dishes in 5 weeks, per person. We even wrote a love letter to mole!
► Mexican mole in Oaxaca: a love story (that will fill your hear… belly!)
Also, check out our other Mexico adventures and tips:
► Travel Guide: The Yucatan Peninsula (Top 10 Things to Do)
► Top 10 Things to do in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
► Top 10 Things to do in Holbox, Mexico
► Top 10 Things to do in Cancun, Mexico
► 5 Things we did NOT like about Tulum, Mexico
4) The former Zapotec HQ: Monte Alban
Monte Alban was the old city of the Zapotec Indians. And one of the first major cities in Mexico! Today, Monte Alban is a beautiful and interesting archaeological site, and perfect for a half-day visit from Oaxaca City. Monte Alban is the most important and most popular archaeological site of Oaxaca. The site is located just outside a 20-minute ride from the city center of Oaxaca. It lies on a hill southwest of the city, towering 500 meters above Oaxaca.
It a perfect trip whenever you are in the region. We´ll tell you everything you need to know in this guide.
► Monte Alban: the archaeological site of the Zapotecs – A practical visitors guide
5) Mezcal, mezcal, mezcal
Oaxaca is the home of mezcal, the big brother of tequila. Similar to tequila, but with a stronger taste, you can have your way with this fun drink. And you can get plenty of mezcal all over Oaxaca City. There are even special bars and stores designated to help you get drunk from mezcal. These bars are called mezcalerias by the way.
We don´t really fancy strong drinks. An occasional beer or cocktail is fine, but sipping mezcal is not something we personally like. But who cares what we think! You (could) love mezcal!
A big tip if you are into mezcal; go on a tour to a mezcal farm and check out how they make the mezcal with your own eyes. And of course, have a tasting there! 😉
Check our Instagram Stories from Oaxaca to see more scenes of this magical city
6) The Botanical garden: Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
At the time when we were in Oaxaca City, it was March of 2021, so there were some nonsensical Covid-regulations going on. The Jardín Etnobotánico was closed at that time, which sucked big time, because you can shoot some awesome pictures here. The various cacti here are so photogenic and pretty!
Be sure to go to Jardín Etnobotánico (official site here) whenever you are in town because this is one of the top attractions. Bring your camera and your favorite model along! 😉
7) Hierve Agua
One of the most impressive must-see hotspots in the state of Oaxaca, is a very special waterfall named Hierve Agua. Sadly for us at the time, Hierve Agua was also closed when we were in Oaxaca, but this amazing ´frozen´ waterfall is a sight to behold (more pictures here). This unique natural phenomenon is a must-see when you are in the state or in the city. I mean, just look at that!
Hierve Agua is about +- 1.5 hour drive from the city center.
The most essential must-have for your next trip: the right Travel Insurance!
8) The rooftops
There are quite a couple of nice rooftops in Oaxaca. You can wine and dine here, or just get yourself a cocktail or any kind of drink and enjoy the cool vibes and pretty epic vistas from downtown Oaxaca.
These are our favorites, and can all be found coincidentally in the same street, the Calle de Ignacio Allende;
- Pitonia: The best rooftop in town, enjoy the vibes!
- Mezzaluna: atmospheric Italian restaurant with excellent pizzas and wine
- Hotel Amantes rooftop: pricy, classy, and nice
We did not like these rooftops: Los Andantes (great view of the church, but weird staff), and Praga (weird seats, and not the best view), and Guns&Beer (too wild for our taste).
Pro-tip: Go to a rooftop right before sunset, get yourself a well-deserved drink, and enjoy the beautiful colors of the sky turn.
9) Cooking classes and more tours
Sure, eating out is great and easy, but wouldn´t it be amazing that you could cook diner like the Oaxacans? A cooking class is a definite must for all foodies who want to bring these culinary dishes into their own kitchen at home. How great would it be to make mole for your family that will probably never get the chance to taste mole in Mexico?
Cooking classes, walking tours, mezcal tours, and everything in between can be booked with GetYourGuide. They always make sure you have an English-speaking guide.
10) But wait, there´s more!
These 9 options mentioned above are our favorite things to do and see in Oaxaca City, but there´s so much more. Get your notebook out kids!
Reforma) The more hip neighborhood north of Oaxaca is called Reforma, and you will find all sorts of cool bars and restaurants here. And even a Starbucks!
Museums and galleries) There is a lively art culture in Oaxaca, with many little hidden gems all over town. The colorful Frida Kahlo Galerie is a must-see. That troubled lady has a fascinating backstory and created some remarkable works of art.
MacroPlaza) Looking for some western shops? then MacroPlaza is the place to be. You will find Wal-Mart, RadioShack, and all sorts of western stores here. This uninspiring but practical mall is about 15 minutes from the city center.
Mitla) Are you into mysterious ruins? Then Mitla is a sure visit. These ancient ruins were built a long long time ago by the Zapotec Indians, and the whole area is still quite intact.
Árbol del Tule) There is this tree near Oaxaca City, in the town of Santa Maria del Tule, and it´s gigantic. I mean, like, really really gigantic! There is not much to do in this little town where this tree is located, but it´s worth the 15-minute ride when you have a moment left in your travel agenda.
And there were even three things we didn´t like about Oaxaca. Yes, you read that right, there are some noticeable downsides to this lovely city. But those are just observations and improvements to make Oaxaca an even more memorable town to visit. We are definitely coming back one time in the near future. The mole just doesn't taste right in other places… 😉
Did we inspire you with this extensive top 10 listicle? Bueno! Let´s book a flight and hotel here, and turn dreams into memories!
Disfruta amigo!
Check our Instagram Stories from Oaxaca to see more scenes of this magical city
More Oaxaca articles:
► Mexican mole in Oaxaca: a love story (that will fill your hear… belly!)
► The 7 best accommodations in Oaxaca City, Mexico
► 3 things we didn´t like about Oaxaca City
► What to eat and drink, when in Oaxaca
► The best coffee shops and digital nomad work spots in Oaxaca
Travel Inspiration: Traveling through Mexico; tips for public transport, rental cars and domestic flights
