Oaxaca

Colonial Charm and Rich Traditions

Oaxaca stands out as a vibrant city in southern Mexico known for its rich indigenous culture and historic architecture. The streets display colorful buildings, many painted in bright hues with traditional designs. Local markets sell handmade crafts such as woven textiles and pottery made using centuries-old methods. Food plays a central role here, especially mole sauces and tlayudas served at family-run eateries. Oaxaca’s surrounding hills hold ancient ruins and natural springs, inviting visitors to explore beyond the city center while experiencing authentic Mexican traditions daily.

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City in Mexico

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.5

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	6

Read details

3/5

English is fairly common in tourist areas, particularly in hotels, restaurants, and during guided tours. However, learning a few Spanish phrases can enhance your experience.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Oaxaca Summary

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Outstanding for food and cultural traditions. Explore colorful markets, visit historic churches, try famous regional dishes and discover nearby archaeological sites.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Local cuisine

Street food

Historic sites

Guided tours

Markets

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

Mexico – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	127 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Mexican Peso (MXN) £1 ≈ MX$24.81
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in urban areas. Major cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara accept credit cards and mobile payments, but cash is still the preferred payment method in many places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Mexico. In restaurants, leave 10-15% for good service. Taxi fares should be rounded up. Small tips are appreciated by hotel staff and service workers.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not allowed in most areas, though it is permitted in some tourist zones and beaches. Be cautious about local laws regarding alcohol consumption in public spaces.
Public smoking:	Smoking is allowed in designated areas in public spaces, but most indoor places such as restaurants and shops have non-smoking policies.

Independence Day (16 September)	Major national celebration with parades and festivities
Day of the Dead (1–2 November)	Traditional celebrations honouring deceased loved ones

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Didi, Cabify
Other:	Mexico offers rich cultural experiences, beautiful beaches, and diverse landscapes. Travellers should take standard safety precautions and be mindful of their surroundings.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Oaxaca, Mexico

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Jan

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Feb

☀️

Mar

☀️

Apr

🌦️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

⛈️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - April, Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	May, July
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Day of the Dead 31 October to November 2: very crowded, accommodation books out months ahead

Guelaguetza dance festival on two Mondays in late July: hotels fill early

Pacific coast (Puerto Escondido, Huatulco) is hot year-round, best November to April, hurricane season June to November

Don't miss

🏛️ Explore the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán
⛪ Marvel at the Baroque Templo de Santo Domingo
🌿 Relax in the colorful Oaxaca Botanical Garden
🌳 Visit the giant El Árbol del Tule, ancient cypress tree
💧 Soak in mineral pools at Hierve el Agua
🛍️ Stroll through vibrant Oaxaca markets for crafts

You've been here?

Why travel to Oaxaca?

Oaxaca is a dream for culture lovers and foodies. You can explore ancient ruins, stroll through bustling markets and indulge in rich moles and mezcal. The city also hosts some of Mexico’s most vibrant festivals, like Day of the Dead and Guelaguetza. However, be prepared for occasional political protests, which might disrupt public transportation.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
2 Museo de las culturas de Oaxaca
3 Monte Albán
4 Zócalo
5 Centro de las Artes de San Agustín (CASA)

🎡Places for activities

1 Teotitlán del Valle
2 Monte Albán

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Hierve El Agua
2 El Tule

🛍️Shopping

1 Mercado Benito Juárez
2 November 20th Market
3 Casa de las Artesanías de Oaxaca
4 Plaza de la Danza

🎈Events

Guelaguetza Festival
Day of the Dead Celebrations
Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes)
Oaxaca Film Festival
Oaxaca Chocolate Festival
Mezcal Festival
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Oaxaca Book Fair
Oaxaca Cultural Festival
International Contemporary Art Festival

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Visit Monte Albán ruins early morning for fewer crowds.
Sample mezcal at local markets and family-run distilleries to understand regional varieties and production.
Explore Zócalo square and Santo Domingo Church; try street food like tlayudas from nearby vendors.
Join Day of the Dead celebrations in October/November for vibrant altars, parades and indigenous traditions citywide.

How to travel to Oaxaca

The city is served by Xoxocotlán International Airport (OAX), with direct flights from Mexico City and other major hubs. Buses from cities like Mexico City, Puebla and San Cristóbal de las Casas are also popular options.

Access summary

From Oaxaca Airport (OAX): Taxi or shuttle, typically 15–30 minutes.
From Mexico City: Direct buses about 6–7 hours, several daily departures.
From Mexico City: Direct flights to Oaxaca, roughly 1–1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Oaxaca

Oaxaca offers a range of accommodations from charming boutique hotels to budget-friendly hostels. Staying near the historic center offers the best access to attractions, dining and vibrant street life.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Boutique Parador San Miguel Oaxaca

9.4

Hotel Oaxaca Real

9.3

Hotel Victoria Oaxaca

7.9

City Centro by Marriott Oaxaca

8.5

Hotel Boutique Naura Centro

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Oaxaca

Oaxaca is easy to explore on foot, especially the historic center. Taxis and colectivos (shared vans) are affordable. Buses connect to nearby towns and sights. Avoid driving unless you're experienced with local roads and traffic.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-51 %

Daily expenses in Oaxaca are around 51% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-1 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to MXN) is 1% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£35	£75	£207
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£17	£31	£86
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£6	£31

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£5.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£6.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.44
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£20
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.05

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.40
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£18
🤧 Cold medication	£3
💇 Basic haircut	£4.70

Safety information overview

General safety

Oaxaca is generally safe for tourists. However, avoid political demonstrations and keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded markets and during festivals.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Oaxaca are good, with both public and private clinics available. Drink only bottled or purified water, as tap water is not safe for consumption.

Accessibility

Historic streets can be uneven and not all attractions are wheelchair accessible. Some museums and larger hotels offer good accessibility, but public transportation might be challenging.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water and avoid ice in street beverages unless you know the source is safe.