Mexico

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Oaxaca de Juárez

Colonial streets, Zapotec ruins, deep flavors

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Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec
Currency: MXN
Time zone: UTC-6
Country: Mexico

Photo: Charles Gadbois, CC BY-SA 3.0

Oaxaca de Juárez is a highland colonial city in southern Mexico, known for green-stone architecture, Zapotec and Mixtec heritage, and one of the country's richest food scenes. People come for the UNESCO-listed historic center, the ruins of Monte Albán, markets, crafts villages and the Guelaguetza festival.

Largest cities

Mexico City
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Puebla
Tijuana

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Mexico
Capital: Mexico City
City population: 300,050
Population of Mexico: 132.3M
Country area: 1,972,550 km²
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN) · 1 USD ≈ 18.41 MXN
Time zone: UTC-6
Calling code: +52
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 1,552 m
Plugs: A / B · 127V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	26°	28°	31°	31°	31°	26°	25°	25°	25°	25°	26°	26°
Low	11°	11°	14°	15°	16°	15°	14°	14°	15°	14°	12°	11°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$29
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$80
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$205

Plan a trip to Oaxaca de Juárez

Top things to do

Free
Zócalo and Portales
Walk the Plaza de la Constitución with its bandstand, green-stone fountains and arcades, then sit under the Portales for a drink and people-watching; best in the late afternoon and evening.
- Half day
- Zócalo and Historic Center
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Benito Juárez Market
Browse the city's main market next to the Government Palace for cheese, chapulines, chocolate and textiles; go before noon for the fullest stalls.
- Half day
- Zócalo and Historic Center
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $5
Santo Domingo Church and Cultural Center
See the 16th–17th-century church and former monastery, now the Centro Cultural Santo Domingo with its Oaxaca history rooms; the gold interior is the highlight.
- Half day
- Santo Domingo and Andador Macedonio Alcalá
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Andador Macedonio Alcalá
Follow the pedestrian street paved in green cantera between the Zócalo and Santo Domingo, passing MACO contemporary art museum and Plazuela Labastida; liveliest after dark.
- Half day
- Santo Domingo and Andador Macedonio Alcalá
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $3
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MACO)
Small contemporary art museum in a colonial house on the Alcalá corridor, with rotating shows by Mexican artists; closed Mondays.
- Half day
- Santo Domingo and Andador Macedonio Alcalá
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday
Free
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Baroque church four blocks west of the cathedral, with a carved reddish-stone facade and the city's patron image; a quiet stop on the way to the markets.
- Half day
- Zócalo and Historic Center
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $6
Monte Albán
Zapotec hilltop city and UNESCO site with plazas, tombs and valley views, about 20–30 minutes from town; go early to beat heat and tour buses.
- Full day
- Central Valleys (Monte Albán, Mitla, craft villages)
- Good for kids
≈ $8
Mitla and craft villages
Day trip east to the Mixtec ruins of Mitla with their geometric mosaics, plus stops at Teotitlán del Valle for rugs or San Bartolo Coyotepec for black pottery.
- Full day
- Central Valleys (Monte Albán, Mitla, craft villages)
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

British citizens and many other nationalities can visit Mexico as tourists without a visa, receiving a stamp on arrival that states the allowed length of stay. You may be asked to show a return ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds. Entry rules depend on nationality; check the official Mexican immigration site or your nearest Mexican embassy before travel.

Official website

From the airport

Most visitors fly into Oaxaca International Airport (OAX), about 8 km south of the center; a taxi into town takes roughly 20–30 minutes. Some arrive by long-distance bus from Mexico City or Puebla, with the ADO terminal a short taxi ride from the historic center.

Getting around

The historic center and nearby neighborhoods are best walked; for longer hops use short, cheap taxis or app-based rides, and colectivos or tours for outlying ruins and craft villages.

Local tips

Altitude is about 1,555 m, so take the first day easy and drink plenty of water.
Nights are cool year-round — bring a light jacket even in the warm months.
Carry small cash for markets, mezcalerías and village buses; cards are accepted in most mid-range and upscale places.
June to October is the rainy season, with heavy afternoon showers; mornings are usually clearer for ruins and day trips.

Areas worth knowing

Zócalo and Historic Center
Jalatlaco
San Felipe del Agua
Santo Domingo and Andador Macedonio Alcalá
Central Valleys (Monte Albán, Mitla, craft villages)

Official travel advice

The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on October 9, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.

Read the advice on GOV.UK