Last updated on July 28th, 2026
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Getting ready to visit Oaxaca? This Oaxaca City guide has everything you need to plan your trip with ease to this beautiful Mexican destination.
The charming Oaxacan capital has been climbing the list of top destinations to visit in Mexico for foreigners and locals alike. Seriously, every time there’s a holiday break in Mexico, I see half of my friends on Instagram fleeing to the quaint, colorful streets of Oaxaca City, and now I get why.
Oaxaca City is the Mexican destination of dreams.
It’s small enough for a long weekend—3 days in Oaxaca covers all the essentials—and multifaceted enough to keep even the most curious traveler entertained for days, if you wish to stay longer.
Whether it’s for its world-renowned local cuisine, its rich prehispanic history, the city’s undeniable artistic character, or its one-of-a-kind natural wonders, there are plenty of reasons why Oaxaca is worth visiting. And also why everyone I know who has ever been to Oaxaca City immediately falls in love with it—me included.
So to help you fall in love with this charming Mexican town like the rest of us, here’s a complete Oaxaca City guide, featuring everything from travel planning tips to the best things to do in Oaxaca City, where to eat, drink coffee, cute shops to visit, and more.
Let’s get started!
Oaxaca City Guide: Travel Tips, Food and Best Things to Do
Why visit Oaxaca City?
First things first, is Oaxaca worth visiting? I think that by now we have established that I’m a fan, so the answer is: absolutely!
Oaxaca City has a lot to offer for all kinds of travelers, such as some of the best Mexican food—that even I, as a born and raised Mexican, have ever tasted—delicious locally grown coffee, charming neighborhoods, lush nature just outside the city, rich history, and a sense of native culture you don’t get to feel in bigger Mexican destinations.
Luckily, Oaxaca City is still a generally underrated Mexican destination, which has allowed the city to keep its small-town charm and local feel, as well as keep prices low, making it one of the cheapest Mexican destinations to visit.
Things to know before visiting Oaxaca City
How many days in Oaxaca do I need?
To explore Oaxaca City, you could take two to three days to get a good feeling of the City Center, explore the main attractions at a leisurely pace, and even fit in a day trip.
However, for a more comprehensive trip with two-day trips included, I would recommend four to five days in Oaxaca City to get the chance to see other highlights outside of the city, such as Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, or the Mitla archeological site.
How expensive is Oaxaca City?
Oaxaca City is definitely one of the cheapest Mexican vacation spots, with food prices lower than other popular Mexican destinations.
Here, you can have a whole meal for under 5 dollars at a local food market. For a mid-range option, you can visit a trendy restaurant with modern takes on traditional dishes, but even then, that would not cost more than 40 dollars for two people.
To give you another idea, on my first morning there, I visited a trendy-looking coffee shop and had a latte and a smoothie bowl made with local fruits for around 7 dollars.
So, yes, it’s pretty affordable!
The city is small and walkable, so you would normally not spend anything on transportation, except for the transportation to and from the Oaxaca City airport.
If anything, where you would spend a bit more money would be on tours and souvenirs.
The tours I did ranged from 30-40 dollars, and the most expensive souvenir I got in Oaxaca was a gorgeous handwoven wool rug for around 100 dollars—but that was an exception to my generally low-budget trip.
So if you’re a traveler on a budget but don’t want to compromise on the quality of your trip, Oaxaca City is the perfect destination.
The food is incredible and super affordable, and even if you’re not on the tightest budget, all that extra money that you save on food can very easily go into more souvenirs. Win-win!
Is Oaxaca City safe?
Yes, Oaxaca City is quite safe for local and foreign visitors.
However, as with any other city in the world, common sense and some level of street smarts will get you a long way.
Avoid walking too late at night in dark streets, keep your wallet close to you, keep your phone in the front pocket, look both ways before crossing, stay mostly within the center of the city where streets are well lit, and you will be fine—but again, this applies everywhere.
I traveled here with my mom, and both felt very comfortable and safe during our stay in Oaxaca City.
Do people speak English in Oaxaca City?
As with any other Mexican destination, you’ll probably find that younger people at trendy establishments, like bars and coffee shops, will speak some level of English.
But for the most part, Oaxaca City has a very local environment, meaning that the average person here will not speak any English; for that reason, it would be helpful to know some basic Spanish phrases to get by.
Before you panic, please remember that we Mexicans are very warm and welcoming and are always excited to receive people who want to experience our culture.
So surely, there will always be someone close by ready to try to guess what you need with signs and gestures.
Getting around Oaxaca City
Does Uber work in Oaxaca City?
The answer is, kind of…
The Uber app exists in Mexico, of course, and will adapt to Oaxaca’s way of operating once you open the app in the city; however, it might look a little funny.
Basically, the Uber app works in collaboration with the local taxis. When you request a driver, the app will call a taxi for you, which might take a little longer than usual since not all taxi drivers are registered with Uber.
Luckily, if you’re staying in Oaxaca City Center, you would rarely need an Uber, unless you are trying to drive somewhere out of the city, where Uber doesn’t work at all. In that case, you’ll have to ask your hotel to call you a good old taxi.
If you want to get out of the city for a day trip, the easiest thing to do is to book a tour through an agency, so you don’t have to worry about transportation—most tours pick you up and drop you off back at your hotel door.
Getting from Oaxaca City airport to the city
Well, well, if Uber doesn’t work outside of the city center, how does one get from the airport into Oaxaca City?
Uber might not be available here, but there’s something better—okay, maybe not better, but definitely cheaper—the “transporte colectivo” option at the Oaxaca City airport.
The “transporte colectivo” is a community shuttle that will take you from the airport into the city center for the very reasonable fixed price of 105 pesos, around 5 dollars.
It’s safe, clean, and it drops you off right at your hotel door.
When you arrive at the Oaxaca City airport and get out of the baggage area, keep an eye out for the stand shown in the picture below.
Once there, share with them the name of your hotel; you’ll pay—card payment is accepted—and they will indicate in which line you need to stand to get into the van according to the route the driver is already following.
Cheap, simple, and efficient.
Should I carry cash in Oaxaca City?
Oaxaca City is still very untouched by mass tourism, which allows the prices to remain very low for the local population to live their day-to-day lives.
For that reason, the best way to get around is to take out enough cash in the local currency—the Mexican peso.
The price of things will seem very low, so charging just a few dollars to your card here and there might be annoying (and expensive).
Also, some establishments will not accept card payments, plus you’ll have many interactions with street vendors, whether it’s for a snack or a souvenir, so having cash on hand will make everything easier.
Can you drink tap water in Oaxaca City?
The answer is nope.
You should not drink water from the tap in Oaxaca City; instead, buy some water bottles from OXXO, our most common corner store, which are everywhere.
Where to stay in Oaxaca City
Because of the lack of Uber accessibility in the outer areas of the city, Oaxaca City Center is the best place to stay to be able to easily move around and explore at all times of the day.
When looking for a hotel in Oaxaca City, aim for hotels closer to the Church of Santo Domingo and Zócalo since these areas are well-lit at night and have a police station close by.
⭐️My hotel pick: If you’re looking for a cute boutique hotel in Oaxaca City, I would highly recommend Hotel AYOOK, located at the edge of the Historic Center.
The rooms are beautiful, with modern Mexican minimalist design, and the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had—even my Mexican mother was impressed by their chilaquiles!
Best things to do in Oaxaca City
Now that we have covered all the travel basics in this Oaxaca City guide, let’s get down to planning. What do you do once you arrive at your destination?
8 best things to do in Oaxaca City:
- Historic Center of Oaxaca City: Exploring the colorful streets of the city center is a must.
- Church and convent of Santo Domingo: Oaxaca City’s iconic green cantera church.
- Andador Turístico: Main pedestrian corridor in the city center lined with cute shops, cafes, and restaurants.
- Mezcal and mole tasting: Can’t go to Oaxaca and not taste all the great food and drinks.
- Mercado Benito Juárez: Traditional food market, perfect for trying local dishes.
- Jardín etnobotánico de Oaxaca: Beautiful botanical garden showcasing native species. Can only visit with a guided tour.
- Mercado de Artesanías: Beautiful artisanal market, perfect for souvenir shopping.
- Barrio de Jalatlalco: The most colorful neighborhood in Oaxaca City, and in the world, probably.
Best day trips from Oaxaca City
- Hierve el Agua: One of two sites in the world with petrified waterfalls.
- Mitla archeological site: Impressive Zapotec ceremonial site.
- Monte Albán: Remains of one of the most important Mesoamerican cities and the Zapotec capital.
- Teotitlán del Valle: A small village that is known for its production of handwoven wool rugs.
The best way to visit any of these is by booking guided tours with transportation included. I normally use Get Your Guide for all my tour-booking needs.
Where to eat in Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City is one of the best places to visit in Mexico for foodies, with some of the most delicious food in the country, locally grown coffee, and unique local spirits.
Here are some of my favorite places I discovered during my trip to Oaxaca.
Coffee shops in Oaxaca City:
- Café Brújula: Local specialty coffee shop with a few locations around the city.
- Oaxaca en una taza: Known for their Oaxacan hot chocolate and pastries.
- Gudelia Arte Café Boutique: Coffee shop reuniting the old school Oaxacan way of making coffee with modern techniques.
Breakfast & brunch:
- Muss Café: Trendy cafe in a hotel, offering unique fruit bowls, egg dishes, and great coffee
- Boulenc: Upscale quality brunch at great prices in an airy cafe, a must-visit in Oaxaca. Everything was amazing!
Lunch & dinner:
- Zandunga Sabor Istmeño Centro: Beautifully designed restaurant with a modern take on local cuisine. Food was amazing!
- Tacos Roy: The tacos al pastor with the most delicious tortillas I’ve ever had!—Oaxaca is known for its corn.
- Restaurante el Andariego: Traditional dishes served inside a hotel; it got recommended to me by locals.
- Mercado Benito Juárez: An indoor market with lots of food stands frequented by locals. I had one of my best meals here for under 5 dollars.
Bars:
- Mezcalogia: Cozy mezcal bar, offering mostly straight mezcal and a few mezcal-based cocktails.
- La Mezcaloteca: Terrace bar offering a variety of cocktails and beers, a great spot for a good weather day.
- Salón de La Fama: Unpretentious corner bar with a very local feel.
Where to shop in Oaxaca City:
- Marías arte y diseño: A boutique shop filled with tons of local brands, from ceramics to linen clothing, to books and postcards. I got a few cute mezcaleros here.
- Antiga by Vianney Mendez: A curated shop with some great made-in-Mexico clothing brands. I really had to stop myself from buying all the hand-embroidered cover-ups.
- Once in Oaxaca art studio: A charming art studio in the vibrant Barrio Jalatlalco, offering hand-drawn postcards of local sights—the perfect souvenir.
Final thoughts on Oaxaca City guide
After many years of having this unique Mexican destination on my travel bucket list, I’m so happy I finally made it to the vibrant Oaxaca City.
And as a Mexican, I’m honestly ashamed it took me this long!
But after having now experienced its charming, colorful streets, incredibly delicious food, and shockingly affordable prices, I cannot wait to go back for round two at some point.
So, I hope this Oaxaca City guide answers all of the questions you might have about planning a trip to this gorgeous city, and I truly hope you end up loving this city as much as I do!
Are there any points that I am missing in this post? Please let me know in the comments, and I will gladly add them to this guide.
Save this Oaxaca City guide for later!
Your future self will thank you.