Things to Do in Oaxaca
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Oaxaca. Serious food city, try the mole, whatever mood you're in, one of Mexico's most significant culinary regions, sitting near an ancient Zapotec city built atop a deliberately levelled mountain, and home to one of the country's most genuinely moving Day of the Dead celebrations. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Oaxaca: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the day trip. Four main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Oaxacan Mole
Oaxaca is renowned for its diversity of mole sauces, a complex sauce made from dozens of ingredients, some versions include chocolate, chillies, and dozens of other ingredients, a genuinely serious culinary tradition, Oaxaca is sometimes called the 'land of seven moles', each with distinct colours, ingredients, and flavour profiles, worth trying several different varieties to appreciate the full range.
Mercado 20 de Noviembre, a genuinely excellent food market, is worth a proper meal stop, several stalls specialising in different moles and regional specialties, a good way to sample a range in one visit.
Best time Lunch or dinner
Address Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Oaxaca
Monte Alban
Oaxaca's historic centre sits near the major ancient Zapotec archaeological site of Monte Alban, an entire ancient city built atop a levelled mountain, a genuinely staggering feat of ancient engineering, the Zapotec civilisation deliberately flattened a mountaintop to build this ceremonial and political centre, one of the earliest and most significant cities in ancient Mesoamerica.
It's a genuinely worthwhile half-day trip, sweeping views over the Oaxaca valley from the site itself, worth combining with a visit to one of the region's traditional weaving or mezcal-producing villages nearby if you have extra time.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am–5pm
Getting there About 30 minutes from central Oaxaca
Dia de los Muertos
Oaxaca hosts one of Mexico's most famous celebrations of Dia de los Muertos, elaborate altars, marigolds everywhere, genuinely moving atmosphere, a significant, deeply meaningful celebration honouring deceased loved ones, held each year around November 1st and 2nd, cemeteries filled with candlelight, family gatherings, and elaborate ofrendas (altars) built to welcome back the spirits of the departed.
If your visit lines up with this period, worth engaging respectfully, this is a genuine, deeply personal tradition for local families, not purely a tourist spectacle, though visitors are generally welcomed to observe and participate in public celebrations with appropriate respect.
Best time October 31st through November 2nd
Mezcal & Textile Traditions
Oaxaca is genuinely the heart of Mexico's mezcal production, a distinct agave spirit with real regional variation and tradition, worth a proper tasting tour to one of the smaller, artisanal palenques (distilleries) outside the city, a different, more traditional experience from mass-produced tequila.
The region is also known for traditional textile weaving, particularly in nearby villages like Teotitlan del Valle, worth a visit if you want to see traditional dyeing and weaving techniques directly, and to buy genuine handwoven goods from the artisans themselves.
Getting there Teotitlan del Valle about 30 minutes from Oaxaca
Best time to visit Oaxaca
October through April gives the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking and day-tripping this list involves, and it captures Dia de los Muertos if the dates align.
The wet season (roughly May through September) brings heavier rain, still workable if you plan around it, though the drier months are genuinely more pleasant for the amount of outdoor sightseeing here.
Getting around Oaxaca
Oaxaca's historic centre is genuinely walkable, and taxis are the practical way to reach Monte Alban and the surrounding villages, worth arranging through a reputable operator or your accommodation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Oaxaca worth visiting?
- Yes, unquestionably, genuinely one of Mexico's most significant culinary regions, and Monte Alban and the Dia de los Muertos celebrations add real historical and cultural depth beyond the food.
- How many days do you need in Oaxaca?
- Four days covers the historic centre, Monte Alban, and a mezcal or textile village day trip comfortably.
- Is Oaxaca expensive?
- No, genuinely affordable, food, markets, and local transport all remain cheap by international standards.
- What is Oaxaca famous for?
- Its diverse mole sauces, sometimes called the 'land of seven moles', Monte Alban, an ancient Zapotec city built atop a levelled mountain, and one of Mexico's most significant Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
