Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s cultural and culinary hubs. Yet while culture and delicious food are indeed highlights, there is much more to discover and so many awesome things to do in Oaxaca!

There’s lots of fun to be had within the city of Oaxaca itself. The walkable historic city center of Oaxaca boasts beautiful architecture that goes back four centuries, filled with many sights to explore. Art galleries, historic churches, fascinating museums, some of Mexico’s best restaurants, and lively nightlife all await a visit to Oaxaca City.

Fantastic adventures can also be embarked on from this remarkable city to further delve into attractions throughout the entire state of Oaxaca. A wide variety of day trips await visitors, from tasting Mezcal at distilleries to exploring ancient ruins to swimming atop a petrified waterfall!

Oaxaca Mexico Quick Travel Facts:

• Oaxaca Pronunciation: wuh-haw-kah
• Oaxaca City Population: 260,000
• Altitude of Oaxaca: 1,557 meters (5,108 feet)
• Oaxaca Weather: Warm afternoons give way to cool nights. Dry Nov-May. Occasional rains June-Sept.
• Oaxaca Airport: Oaxaca International (OAX) with connections throughout Mexico + LA, Houston, and Dallas. Check routes & prices on Skyscanner.
• UNESCO designation: in 1987 for its Historic Centre and Monte Alban ruins. More here.

We’ve written this detailed travel guide about the best things to do in Oaxaca in an effort to not only highlight some of Oaxaca’s must-do cultural activities but also to expose some of the worthwhile journeys you can seek out from this inviting city in Mexico. So take a look at all the fun things to do in this colorful Mexican city surrounded by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains.

15 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca Mexico

So what to do in Oaxaca? The following suggestions reveal our carefully curated list of the 15 best things to do in Oaxaca City and throughout the state!

We’ve also pinpointed each location mentioned in this Oaxaca travel guide to help get your bearings. Be sure to zoom into the city to further reveal the main attraction locations within Oaxaca’s historic city center. And come back to utilize this customized Google Map once you’re on the ground in Oaxaca.

1) Unwind in Oaxaca’s Zocalo

You can’t possibly take a trip to Oaxaca without visiting the Zocalo. That’s the main square located right in the historic center of town. You’ll inevitably end up here at some point, but it can also be a perfect centrally located place to start getting acquainted with the city. Oaxaca’s Zocalo is always full of local life, but come on a weekend evening and you’ll really see the Zocalo in all of its glory.

To the delight of local children, balloon vendors are never in short supply of their helium-filled products. They also sell a cylinder balloon-like toy that the kiddos absolutely love bouncing up in the air.

Enjoy a sit in the Zocalo itself to soak in the distinctly Oaxacan atmosphere. Perhaps buy a respado (shaved ice) from one of the many street stall vendors who are positioned to help you cool off.

On the southern end of the plaza, head right into the Government Palace. The building is open to the public and features a beautiful mural painting depicting the history of Oaxaca.

Alternatively, consider chilling out at one of the many patio cafes that surround the entire Zocalo. Wherever you choose, be sure to have a few extra pesos on hand to tip the xylophone players who are almost certain to pass by to entertain you with an impromptu performance.

Budget tip: We found that El Importador had the best prices of pitchers of cerveza.

Happy hour on the Zocalo: If you prefer a more intimate atmosphere, skip the patio and instead try to get a balcony table at TR3S 3ISTRO. It can be a little pricey (by Mexico standards), but they offer a nightly two-for-one happy hour on cocktails, beer, and mezcal from 5:00-7:00 pm. Go then to enjoy more economical drinks as you peer down at the lively plaza below.

2) Experience the Culture Museum of Oaxaca

There are a handful of museums around Oaxaca, yet the Culture Museum remains the one that visitors must visit. Even those who don’t particularly enjoy slowly pursuing through museums will likely still find the Oaxaca Museo de las Culturas to be one of the very worthwhile things to do in Oaxaca.

You’ll be able to see one of the museum’s prized highlights. It’s a turquoise encrusted skull that was dug up at a nearby ancient site. That alone is worth the Culture Museum’s modest $70 peso price of admission!

But other than this crazy skull and more cultural exhibits that many find fascinating, the museum grounds themselves are such a scenic place to wander around.

This museum is actually housed in a former monastery, dating back to the 1600s. Even if you don’t look at any of the museum’s displays, it’s quite interesting to simply stroll around the expansive ancient hallways and through the former monastery’s courtyards.

The impressive window views of the surrounding Ethnobotanical Garden may even keep you distracted from the exhibits the museum houses.

Nearby Oaxaca Attraction: If you really enjoy horticulture, consider diving deeper for a tour of the Ethnobotanical Gardens that can be viewed from the Culture Museum. The 2-hour English tours of the garden run Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 11:00 am for $100 pesos. Yet for the casual botanist, the Culture Museum provides some great peeks into the impressive garden, with its wide array of well-manicured cactus.

3) Visit the Templo de Santo Domingo Church and More

Oaxaca has some grand churches and cathedrals that you simply must pop into as you walk around the city’s charming streets. If you were to only explore one church in Oaxaca, make sure that it’s the Templo de Santo Domingo.

The church is an impressive sight from the outside. But be sure to pass through the grand doors of the more than 400-year-old structure, which reveal its intricate interior. Perhaps most notable is how everything is covered in gold. So much gold! Be sure to duck into the elaborate Rosary Chapel that will be on your right, after walking through the main church entrance.

When poking into the Templo de Santo Domingo or any of Oaxaca’s churches, remember to be respectful. It’s recommended to wear pants that cover the knees and a shirt that covers the shoulders. This isn’t taken too strictly in Oaxaca, but it should still be observed as a sign of respect.

More churches in Oaxaca: There seems to be an impressive church just about every couple of blocks in Oaxaca. Two other centrally located churches in Oaxaca that are worth taking a look at are

• Basílica de la Soledad, historic baroque church in Oaxaca centro, and
• Cathedral, grand Cathedral located at the Zocalo. Can’t miss it.

4) Wander Through Oaxaca’s Wonderfully Chaotic Markets

No trip to Oaxaca can be complete without wandering through one of its buzzing local markets. A great place to start your market adventure is just south of the Zocalo, where you’ll discover the joys of two adjacent mercados: Benito Juarez Market and 20 de Noviembre market.

It’s a beautiful scene that must be experienced even for those who have no intentions of shopping.

Here, you can find just about anything from flowers, to toys, to meats, to chocolate, to mezcal, to clothes, to herbs, to local crafts, and of course, women selling plenty of chapulines. That’s fried grasshoppers and they’re sold by the basketful. Try them!

More Markets in Oaxaca

For market food: Pull up a stool at one of the many food stalls at Mercado Democracia and chow down on a local delight. Stop at one of the fondas at this food hall to enjoy a local meal experience. Fonda Florecita, in particular, can be a good choice. Note, this market is also known as Mercado Merced.

 Visit Oaxaca’s largest market: For a real cultural experience, travel about a half hour east of Oaxaca on a Sunday to get to the weekly Tlacolula de Matamoros market. It’s one of the oldest markets in Mesoamerica and one of the largest markets not just in Oaxaca, but this entire region of Mexico. It takes a bit of an effort to reach by either taxi or local bus, but those who really enjoy shopping for local wares will be rewarded for their efforts.

5) Drink Mezcal in Oaxaca 

Oaxaca is world-renown for its deliciously intoxicating mezcal. Mezcal in Oaxaca is typically drunk straight and at room temperature. It’s sipped rather than shot, and to use salt & lime would be an insult.

Sometimes the mezcal is served with sour orange slices and sal de gusano, a powder mixture of salt, spices, and ground up worms that is actually much more palatable than it sounds. Other instance mezcal drinkers may simply receive a small glass of water to cleanse the pallet.

Mezcal is similar to tequila in that it is made from the agave plant, but mezcal is more complex, both in terms of taste and production. Many different types of agave are used for mezcal, whereas tequila is actually a type of mezcal that only uses blue agave. Additionally, mezcal’s underground roasting process gives it that unique smoky flavor it’s often known for.

Where to Drink Mezcal in Oaxaca 

To really get a more intimate understanding of the liquor, journey about 45 minutes outside of Oaxaca city to the village of Matatlan. This is where many of Mexico’s famed mezcal distilleries are located. There are dozens of mezcal factories in this area, several of which will offer a complimentary tour and plentiful tastings of both mezcal and crema de mezcals.

Often, tours that go to Mitla and/or Hierve de Agua (more on those places below) will also stop at one of Matatlan mezcal distilleries. Be sure to inquire about that if booking a day tour to those Oaxaca attractions. Many tours to Hierve de Agua stop at El Rey de Matatlan. We can vouch that they provided some very generous tastings of mezcal after being given a brief tour that showed off their mezcal production process.

If you prefer to try mezcal in Oaxaca city, you can find it at almost any restaurant or bar. Here are a few noteworthy and centrally located places that specialize in mezcal and we can personally recommend from visiting firsthand:

• In Situ – a tasting of three quality local mezcals from the local area (pictured below) will run $200 pesos.
• Los Amantes – tiny mezcal joint near Templo de Santiago.
• La Mezcalerita –larger mezcal bar that also has a great selection of Oaxacan cerveza artesanal (craft beer).

Also, many restaurants in Oaxaca will greet you with a complimentary mezcal. The free mezcal may not be from the best bottle around, but it’ll give you a chance to try the liquor without spending a peso. Tobaziche is one restaurant/bar in Oaxaca who keeps with this practice and it’s a place that we recommend for both food and drinks.

Whether out at the mezcal factories of Matatlan or in an intimate bar back in the city, just be sure to have “drinking mezcal” on your list of things to do in Oaxaca!

6) See the Widest Tree in the World: Arbol del Tule

Have you ever wondered where the world’s widest tree is? Okay, we’ve never really given it much thought either. But it’s located right here just outside of Oaxaca city, in the village of Santa Maria del Tule.

It’s not out in a forest but rather in the town square in front of the village’s pleasant church. They say this world’s widest tree is over 2,000 years old!

The Arbol del Tule is an interesting sight to see, although we wouldn’t recommend making the 20-minute (by car/taxi) trip from Oaxaca solely to see it. Rather, consider stopping by this record-holder on the way to somewhere in that direction, such as the Mitla ruins or the Hierve de Agua petrified waterfall.

7) Take a Swim Atop a Petrified Waterfall: Hierve de Agua

Hierve de Agua is one of the most popular day trips from Oaxaca, and for good reason – it’s a pretty incredible sight! A little more than an hour outside of Oaxaca city, you’ll find one of the only petrified waterfalls in the world. It often received comparisons to Pamukkale in Turkey.

Thousands of years of this mineral-rich water flowing over the sides of this cliff has developed the beautiful white calcium layers that elegantly drape over the side of the steep mountainside.

Hierve de Agua literally translates to “water boils” due to the appearance that the water gives off when coming out of the ground. But the water temps are actually tepid and are perfect for a quick dip. Towards the top of Hierve de Agua, you’ll also find plentiful drink stands to further aid in your refreshment.

From the parking lot atop Hierve de Agua, you’ll need to walk down a path for about 10 minutes to actually reach the petrified waterfall itself. From there, have a look around or go for a swim in one of the pools.

There are bathrooms to change into a bathing suit both at the parking lot and down below at Hierve de Agua itself. Bring some spare change for the bathroom attendant, of course. There’s also a network of hiking trails to explore further and get different vantage points of this natural wonder. Hierve de Agua is another “must” for things to do in Oaxaca.

If You Go: How to Get from Oaxaca to Hierve de Agua

To get from Oaxaca to Hierve de Agua without your own car, you are essentially limited to (1) negotiating with a taxi guide or (2) taking a day tour to the site. You can attempt public transport to Hierve de Agua by way of bus from Oaxaca, but that will only bring you to La Cuchilla near Mitla. Sometimes pick-up trucks go the rest of the way, from that intersection to Hierve de Agua when full, but this is not reliable.

There is a common tour you can find that travels from Oaxaca to Hierve de Agua and includes five different stops in addition to lunch:

1. Arbor del Tule, the world’s widest tree
2. an artisan-weaving in the Zapotec community Teotitlan of the Valley
3. a mezcal distillery in Matatlan
4. the Mitla ruins, and
5. Hierve de Agua.

5-stop Hierve de Agua Tour: This is a great way to pack in many sites all in one day. You can book this exact tour here on Viator. It’s really good value since the tour includes all entrance fees and even includes hotel pick-up & drop-off. It has a vetted track-record of travelers giving 5-star reviews. Check recent reviews, current availability, and up-to-date pricing of this tour.

It’s also possible to book similar tours once in Oaxaca. The prices can be slightly less on the ground, but they don’t include most entrance fees, don’t offer hotel pick-up, and the guide quality and pacing can be a gamble.

3-stop Hierve de Agua Tour: An alternative to the 5-stop tour is this other tour to Hierve de Agua, which skips the Arbor del Tule and Mitla to give you a little more time (a full two hours) to explore the Hierve de Agua petrified waterfall. It’s a bit cheaper too and still visits the weavers and a mezcal distillery. It’s nice to have more time at the petrified waterfall and save some cash, but you’ll be doing it at the tradeoff of missing the Arbor de Tule tree and the Mitla ruins. So just decide what’s important to you. This tour also receives great reviews. Check recent reviews now, current availability for your dates, and pricing of this tour.

8) Marvel at the Ancient Mitla Ruins

It’s amazing to think the Zapotec people inhabited the sacred grounds of Mitla for nearly two and a half millennia! Yet this was home to the ancient civilization from about 900 BC until the Spanish invaded Mexico in the 1500s.

This ancient site of Mitla acted as the religious center for the civilization. Think of it as the Vatican for the Zapotec. Many important ceremonies were carried out here, including gruesome human sacrifices – yikes!

The region has extremely dry air that keeps the remaining structures amazingly preserved. Today you can roam around this former religious center to imagine what life was once like.

If You Go: How to Get From Oaxaca to Mitla

To get from Oaxaca to Mitla, you can find one of the regular buses that run from the Second Class Bus Station in Oaxaca and expect to pay about $40 pesos. Or you can attempt to negotiate a taxi.

A tour to Mitla is much more convenient and prices are inexpensive.

Mitla is also one of the main stops on the “Package 2” day tour we mentioned above that also includes Arbor de Tule, Hierve de Agua, the mezcal factory, and the weavers, which you visit all in one day for those who book this tour.

For a shorter half-day guided excursion to only Mitla and a short stop at Santa Maria Tule (widest tree), check availability and pricing of this other tour which just visits those two sites in a half-day.

9) Climb Up the Incredible Monte Alban Pyramids

Mitla isn’t the only ruins around Oaxaca. Monte Alban is a wildly impressive site that’s even more convenient to the city. We’d vouch that a visit to Monte Alban is the most worthwhile half-day trips from Oaxaca. These well-preserved pyramids sit perched above the city and even offer sweeping views of Oaxaca down below.

Yet it’s the ruins themselves that really impress. Monte Alban is said to be the most important archaeological site of this region.

While Mitla acted at the religious center, Monte Alban was the political center for the Zapotecs. More recently, Monte Alban was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status due to its importance throughout the region. Read the full significance of both Oaxaca’s historic center and Monte Alban’s UNESCO listing right here.

Climbing to the tops of the pyramids not only offers spectacular views of the expansive ruin site, but you can also see all of Oaxaca in the valley down below.

The very orderly set-up of the temples, ball courts, and fields makes Monte Alban one of the most impressive ancient sites in all of Mexico. Don’t miss what we thought was one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in Oaxaca!

How to Get From Oaxaca to Monte Alban

For those comfortable with independent travel, we suggest going from Oaxaca to Monte Alban by bus, which are frequent. You can find the Oaxaca to Monte Alban shuttle bus tickets for sale at a booth in front of a store on the west side of the Zocalo next to the Subway, here. The Oaxaca to Monte Alban bus timetable departs from the Zocalo area starting at 8:30 am and continues hourly until the last bus departs at 3:30 pm. It’s half-hourly on the weekends. The return schedule for the Oaxaca to Monte Alban bus begins at Noon and the last shuttle bus returns from Monte Alban to Oaxaca at 5:00 pm. Oaxaca to Monte Alban bus tickets cost $60 pesos per person for this roundtrip shuttle bus.

If you prefer to have a small guided tour of Monte Alban and the ease of hotel pick-up check out pricing and availability for this 3-hour tour of the famed UNESCO World Heritage Site.