View the Oaxaca City Travel Guide and discover my recommendations for the best time to visit Oaxaca City, where to stay, where to eat, what to eat (from a detailed list of must-try local foods), and what to see and do when you visit. Plus, how to navigate the city using local transportation, managing the currency, language barriers, tipping, safety, and more! 10% of proceeds will go to the Red Cross in Mexico.
What’s Inside the Oaxaca City Travel Guide
Best Places to Eat & Drink
Oaxaca is arguably the culinary capital of Mexico. Inside, you’ll find everything from mercados and family-run comedores to chef-driven tasting menus, along with must-try dishes like tlayudas, mole negro, memelas, tejate, and artisanal mezcal.
Best Experiences & Day Trips
This guide takes you to archaeological sites, natural wonders, Indigenous workshops, and cultural landmarks—from Monte Albán and Hierve el Agua to weaving villages, ceramics studios, and mezcal palenques.
Best Places to Stay
Whether you want a boutique hotel near the Zócalo, a peaceful stay by Parque El Llano, or a luxury retreat on the outskirts, I break down areas and budgets to help you book wisely.
How to Plan & Navigate
Includes transportation tips, safety notes, ethical shopping advice, money exchange, cultural etiquette, and safety information.
Oaxaca City Travel Guide
Complete Oaxaca City Travel Guide
Oaxaca City is one of the most soulful and culturally rich places I’ve ever explored. Every visit feels like stepping into a deeper story—one shaped by ancient traditions, vibrant markets, extraordinary cuisine, and some of the most talented artisans in Mexico. It’s also one of the most meaningful places in the world to experience Día de Muertos, where altars, marigolds, cemeteries, art, and ancestral rituals come together in a way that feels both sacred and deeply moving.
I’ve built meaningful friendships here, learned from local mezcaleros, and shared slow, intentional meals that felt more like ceremony than dining. So this isn’t just a travel guide—it’s a collection of my lived experiences, favorite discoveries, and insights that help you see Oaxaca beyond the surface level.
I return to Oaxaca City often, and each time, it reveals something new—an emerging restaurant helmed by a young chef, a tiny textile studio tucked behind a courtyard, or a rooftop sunset that makes the whole town glow gold. There is something extraordinary about how this city protects its traditions fiercely, including those around death and remembrance, while still inspiring design, art, and modern creativity. I’m excited to share the version of Oaxaca I’ve come to love.
Experience the Best of Oaxaca City with Intention
Each section of this guide is crafted to help you explore with curiosity and respect—from spiritual ruins to mole tastings, market adventures, healing experiences, and artisan villages. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, you’ll discover ways to connect deeply with the culture, history, and people who make Oaxaca unforgettable.
First-Hand Local Knowledge
Everything inside this guide comes from real, on-the-ground experiences, conversations with locals, and countless hours of exploring by foot, colectivo, and moto. These recommendations are curated, tested, and chosen with intention—so you can spend less time researching and more time experiencing.
Travel That Gives Back
I believe travel should honor the people and places we learn from. For that reason, 10% of proceeds from this guide support local makers, education programs, and conservation initiatives in Oaxaca. Your trip matters—and your impact can be a positive one.