Things to do in Oaxaca: history, flavors, and routes to explore the city

The many things to do in Oaxaca are rooted in its streets, kitchens, markets, and nearby communities. Its historic center preserves colonial buildings and public spaces that remain part of everyday life, while the surrounding area is home to archaeological sites, artisan workshops, and landscapes that reveal the state’s diversity. A trip here can take you through history, food, nature, and traditions that remain active today.

With Volaris, your journey can begin aboard one of its flights to Oaxaca and continue, just a few hours later, beneath the arcades of the Zócalo or in front of the Santo Domingo church. Oaxaca City also provides a practical base for exploring the Central Valleys and planning itineraries of different lengths.

The heart of the city: Oaxaca’s historic center

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic center is home to some of the most important cultural and architectural Oaxaca attractions. Its walkable streets make it easy to alternate between churches, museums, galleries, and public spaces.

Places worth including in your visit are:

• Oaxaca Zócalo: one of the city’s main gathering places. It is surrounded by arcades, restaurants, and historic buildings and regularly hosts cultural activities.

• Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán: known for its Baroque architecture and ornate interior. The former convent is part of one of Oaxaca’s most significant historical complexes.

• Macedonio Alcalá tourist walkway: this pedestrian street connects the Zócalo area with Santo Domingo. Along the way, you will find art galleries, craft stores, cafés, and restored historic houses.

• Ethnobotanical Garden of Oaxaca: home to plant species from different parts of the state. Its tours explain the relationship between local plants, the land, and Oaxaca’s cultures.

  
  

Walking through this area also reveals iron balconies, interior courtyards, green quarry stone façades, and contemporary murals. Leave some time to step away from the main streets and visit independent bookstores, workshops, and smaller cultural spaces.

Traditional markets: food and everyday life

Oaxaca’s markets bring together ingredients, prepared dishes, textiles, kitchenware, and crafts. More than places to shop, they show the importance of corn, cacao, chiles, and other products in the region’s culinary traditions.

Two of the best-known markets are:

• Benito Juárez Market: its stalls sell quesillo, chocolate, mole, bread, mezcal, textiles, traditional clothing, alebrijes, and other products made throughout the state.

• 20 de Noviembre Market: this market specializes in prepared food. Its well-known Pasillo de Humo, or Smoke Alley, is lined with stalls grilling tasajo, cecina, and chorizo, usually served with tortillas, onions, chiles, and salsa.

Take your time walking through both markets, compare products, and ask vendors about preparation methods. If you plan to bring home mezcal, chocolate, or mole, make sure the packaging is suitable for travel.

Archaeological sites and natural wonders

Oaxaca City is a convenient base for day trips around the Central Valleys. Some destinations are only a short distance away, while others require setting aside most of the day.

Monte Albán: the ancient Zapotec capital

Monte Albán was one of the most important cities in Mesoamerica and the principal capital of the Zapotec civilization. Its development began around 500 BC on a mountaintop overlooking much of the Oaxaca Valley.

The archaeological site preserves plazas, ceremonial platforms, tombs, carved stone monuments, and a ball court. The Great Plaza offers a clear view of the city’s urban planning, while its inscriptions and reliefs provide information about its political and ceremonial organization.

Hierve el Agua: mineral formations in the mountains

Hierve el Agua is located approximately 70 kilometers from Oaxaca City. Its formations developed as mineral-rich water flowed over the cliffs, leaving deposits that accumulated over time.

The area has natural pools, walking trails, and viewpoints overlooking the mountains. Because access and operating conditions can change, confirm that the site is open and review transportation options before leaving the city.

You can reach Hierve el Agua through an organized excursion, public transportation, or a private vehicle. If you decide to drive, keep in mind that part of the road crosses mountainous terrain and allow enough time to return before dark.

The Tree of Tule: a monumental Montezuma cypress

The Tree of Tule is located in Santa María del Tule, a short distance from Oaxaca City. This Montezuma cypress is known for the remarkable diameter of its trunk and an estimated age of nearly two thousand years.

The visit can be included in a longer route to other Central Valley destinations, such as Teotitlán del Valle, Mitla, or Hierve el Agua. Although it is a relatively short stop, it provides insight into the tree’s cultural importance to the local community.

Oaxaca cuisine: dishes that tell a story

Oaxaca food stands out for its range of ingredients, techniques, and recipes preserved across the state’s different regions. During your trip, consider trying:

• Moles: the best-known varieties include mole negro, rojo, amarillo, verde, coloradito, chichilo, and manchamanteles. The ingredients and preparation vary according to the region and each family recipe.

• Tlayudas: large corn tortillas that may be topped with seasoned pork drippings, as well as beans, Oaxacan string cheese, vegetables, and meat.

• Memelas: thick corn tortillas cooked on a comal and generally served with beans, cheese, and salsa.

• Chapulines: grasshoppers commonly prepared with garlic, chile, salt, and lime. They are eaten as a snack or added to different dishes.

• Oaxacan drinking chocolate: made with cacao and sugar, sometimes with cinnamon or almonds. It can be prepared with water or milk and served with pan de yema, a traditional egg-yolk bread.

• Mezcal: this agave spirit is produced in communities throughout the state. A responsible tasting can help you identify differences among agave varieties, production methods, and growing regions.

To learn how mezcal is produced, visit a palenque outside the city. Producers can explain each stage, including cooking the agave, crushing it, fermentation, and distillation. If you are driving, avoid drinking alcohol and consider arranging transportation instead.

Festivals and crafts: traditions that remain active

The Guelaguetza brings together delegations from Oaxaca’s different regions to present dances, music, traditional clothing, and community expressions. Although the Lunes del Cerro performances are the main events, July also brings convites, calendas, fairs, and cultural activities to the capital and surrounding municipalities.

Visiting artisan workshops gives you an opportunity to speak with local craftspeople, understand how much time is required to make each item, and purchase pieces directly from their communities.

• Alebrijes: hand-carved and hand-painted figures made primarily in communities such as San Martín Tilcajete and San Antonio Arrazola.

• Black pottery: pieces from San Bartolo Coyotepec, recognizable by their polished finish and decorative designs.

• Wool textiles: rugs, table runners, and other woven pieces made in communities such as Teotitlán del Valle, where pedal looms and natural dyes are still used.

• Embroidery: clothing and textiles whose techniques, colors, and motifs vary among the state’s different regions.

  
  

Frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Oaxaca

How can travelers get around Oaxaca City?

The historic center is easy to explore on foot because many of its attractions are within walking distance. For longer trips, you can use taxis or app-based transportation services. To visit Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, or artisan towns, the main options are booking an organized excursion, using public transportation, or renting a vehicle.

What is the best time to visit Oaxaca?

The dry season runs from November through April, bringing sunny days, cooler nights, and more visitors during holiday periods. July also attracts large crowds for the Guelaguetza, while October and November are popular because of Day of the Dead celebrations.

If you prefer fewer visitors, May, June, and September can be good alternatives, although afternoon rain is common during these months.

How many days are needed to explore Oaxaca?

When deciding what to do in Oaxaca, a four- or five-day stay provides enough time to explore the historic center, visit the markets, see Monte Albán, and dedicate a day to Hierve el Agua or nearby artisan towns.

If you want to include several mezcal routes, visit more communities, or continue to the Oaxacan coast, consider staying for a full week or dividing the trip into two stages.

Discover Oaxaca at your own pace

Oaxaca offers enough experiences to build very different itineraries. You can devote one day to its historic heritage, another to its markets and cuisine, and reserve full days for archaeological sites, artisan communities, or the landscapes of the Central Valleys.

Explore Volaris travel options and arrange your summer flights or choose the season that best suits your plans. Leaving some free time between activities is one of the best ways to enjoy the things to do in Oaxaca, since a conversation, workshop, or meal may take your trip in an unexpected direction.