My 10 Favorite Things to do in Oaxaca City Mexico (and What I Skipped)

You can easily search for and find a comprehensive list of every single thing there is to do in Oaxaca City. But here, I’m sharing only the top 10 highlights from my own solo trip there in 2023. Plus, the few ‘must-dos’ I actually skipped and why.

Top 10 Things to do in Oaxaca City Mexico Based on My Personal Experience

I had an amazing time in Oaxaca City and as you plan your own itinerary, these are my top suggestions for what you should add to it:

1. A traditional cooking class

Did you know that Oaxaca City is the Food Capital of Mexico? Indulging in the foodie scene here is a must.

A woman in a pink apron presses a yellow tortilla on a blue tortilla press during a hands-on cooking class, with white and blue papel picado banners hanging above in a shaded open-air setting. — Using the tortilla press at a cooking class in Oaxaca City

This is not the kind of place where you mostly prepare your own meals at your accommodation or rely on grocery store snacks.

This is a place where you not only order great food, but learn how to make it. One of the best experiences I had in Oaxaca City was taking a traditional cooking class.

There are plenty to choose from, so choose the one that works best for your schedule and dietary preferences.

When you get to hands-on engage with the culinary scene through local traditions, you tap into a unique way of learning about the culture you’ve entered.

A group of people standing around a table preparing food

In the class I took, we started with a breakfast of memelas before using stone mortar and pestle sets (molcajete) to make our own salsa.

We took turns pressing out tortillas, placing our hand-wrapped tamales in a deep pot while practicing a traditional blessing, and getting on our knees to grind the spices for mole sauce on a metate.

Through laughter with new friends, we got a taste of the effort and dedication that go into these traditional cooking methods of Oaxaca CIty.

Book a traditional Oaxaca Cooking Class

2. Trying different foods

Of course, while you’re in the “Land of the Seven Moles” you should also taste as many of them as you can! Along with other great, local fare.

A plate of grilled meat served on a large grilled cactus paddle sits beside fresh lettuce, a radish, and small cups of salsa. The meal is placed on a vibrant floral tablecloth with colorful Mexican-inspired patterns.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you could seek out meals highlighting each of the 7 different mole sauces over the course of your trip. Or, to keep it a bit simple while ensuring you get to try them all, join a mole tasting experience.

Another food to try while you’re in Oaxaca City is the local quesadilla, which is different from the typical quesadilla you’ve likely had in other places. Also be on the lookout for tlayudas, a popular street food.

A hand holds a small jar labeled "La Tradición Sal de Chapulín," a seasoning made with ground grasshoppers. Additional spice jars are softly blurred in the background on a wooden display shelf.

Even the tacos in Oaxaca City are a bit different from the norm. On my first evening there, I joined a taco tour with a local guide who took us to try 3 different varieties at different stands around the city.

Although looking back, I would have booked this food tour instead for a more comprehensive tasting of local foods along with more of a city tour.

Eat like a local on an Oaxaca Cultural Food Tour

3. Hierve el Agua day tour

There are only two petrified waterfalls in the world and one of them is in Oaxaca (the other is in Turkey).

calcified waterfall seen on a Hierve el Agua Oaxaca tour

Rather than trying to rent a car to visit, I booked a day trip led by local guides.

There are lots of options for booking a day trip to Hierve el Agua and they all include slightly different stops / itineraries.

But if I were to go back, I would book this exact one again with Berto and Lupita.

A young couple local to Oaxaca City, Berto and Lupita not only put together the perfect day trip itinerary. They’re also the perfect hosts.

Our day began with a thoughtful surprise bag for each of us in the car on the way out to Hierve el Agua.

woman at the rim of a pool at Hierve el Agua with mountains in the background

Once there, Berto enlisted one of the local guides to tell us more about the natural phenomenon before we were led on a hike. They offered us two different paths, with different difficulty levels, to accommodate everyone.

Then, we got to swim! Bring your swimsuit because it was such a cool opportunity. Through this tour, we also arrived early enough to beat out any major crowds.

After our visit to Hierve el Agua we went to a local market in a nearby small town for an amazing lunch, before stopping at a local crafts workshop where we learned about using natural fibers to make rugs, etc.

Long skeins of hand-dyed yarn hang in neat rows, displaying a gradient of deep purples, reds, oranges, and golden browns. The colorful fibers dry against a rustic white wooden wall.

I regret not buying anything from the shop we stopped at, but I was only traveling with a carry-on backpack this trip!

The day included one final stop at the legendary Tule tree, with the chance to try a uniquely flavored ice cream before heading back to Oaxaca City.

Check availability for your travel dates: Hierve el Agua day trip

4. Sacred mezcal distillery visit

Mezcal is such a core part of Oaxaca’s local culture and industry that, even as a non-mezcal drinker, I knew the value of learning more about it.

A towering flowering agave rises above a dry, mountainous landscape while two people wearing wide-brimmed hats stand nearby for scale. Rolling hills and a clear blue sky emphasize the dramatic height of the blooming plant.

If you care about learning how local people make a living, supporting multi-generational businesses and booking tours with ethical operators then you should absolutely participate in this sacred mezcal experience while in Oaxaca City.

The tour guide picks you up in central Oaxaca City before driving you out to a local distillery. There, we met a farmer and his young son who will one day take over the family business.

We learned about mezcal production, “met” the different agave plants in his fields, enjoyed a very simple and hearty meal together and had the option for mezcal tastings along the way.

A person crouches beside a newly planted agave while another uses a long tool to dig and pack the soil in a dry hillside landscape. Small plant markers dot the ground, suggesting a community planting or restoration project.

Most special of all, we each got to plant a baby agave plant in the field! Even if you don’t drink mezcal (or don’t drink at all) I think it would be a big miss to visit Oaxaca City without visiting a mezcal distillery.

Book the Sacred Mezcal Experience in Oaxaca

5. Rooftop coffee shop

I love a good coffee shop and I love a good view, so one slow morning I took myself to the rooftop at Cafe Boca del Monte.

I brought my journal, laptop and Kindle and spent a couple hours there enjoying coffee and brunch while I tinkered against a gorgeous backdrop.

Later in my trip, I also enjoyed a great rooftop brunch at Restaurant Tierre del Sol.

Colorful buildings line a cobblestone street in Oaxaca at sunset, with yellow trees and a rooftop restaurant glowing under string lights as the sun sets behind the hills.

One evening, a new friend who I’d met on the Hierve el Agua day trip and I got dinner at the rooftop restaurant: Terraza Los Amantes.

My point is, get up above the city and you won’t be disappointed.

6. Jalatlaco murals

One of the things I was most excited to do leading up to my trip to Oaxaca City was taking in the street art around the Jalatlaco neighborhood.

Rows of colorful papel picado banners stretch across a quiet cobblestone street lined with brightly painted buildings and murals. Bare tree branches frame the top of the scene, creating a festive atmosphere at sunset.

It did not disappoint, (although my companion, who I met off an app did, but that’s irrelevant here).

I started the day early, making the 15ish minute walk from where I was staying over into the much more colorful neighborhood of Jlatlaco. I stopped for a takeaway iced coffee from COCUCHE Café Oaxaqueño.

Then, took my time wandering aimlessly through all the different side streets. The walls along street after street here were covered with vibrant murals. There is so much to see and it’s such a pleasant way to spend an hour or two.

If you want to take it up a notch and actually learn about all of the symbolism behind the art you’ll see then definitely book a street art tour guided by a local artist.

This tour will take you to two of Oaxaca City’s artsiest neighborhoods (instead of just the one) with an expert guide.

I really wanted to move at my own pace, but when I visit Oaxaca again I’ll likely do the expert-led tour so I can learn about the significance of all this beauty!

Check out this street art tour with a local artist

7. Walking around the city center

how to get from oaxaca airport to oaxaca city

I didn’t spend much time in the centro of Oaxaca City. I intentionally made sure to book my accommodations away from the most central neighborhood because I really need quiet when I sleep.

But it was only about a 15-minute walk from where I was staying, and was definitely worth walking around.

Not only to see key landmarks like the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, but also to experience the liveliness around the main local square.

I saw children running around while adults sat on benches, balloon artists and other colorful vendors dotted the plaza and loud music played in the background.

Walking away from the central plaza, you’ll see streets lined with colorful buildings. Enter any one and you’ll be in a clothing or souvenir shop. This entire area is great for a mix of shopping and people watching.

And even as a place to recharge your energy if you happen to be solo traveling in Oaxaca like I was.

8. Street parade

I have a lot of favorite memories from this particular trip but one that stands out the most is the random wedding street parade we encountered!

While exploring the centro, all of a sudden there were larger than life-sized puppets twirling and dancing through the streets, followed by throngs of dancing people.

A lively parade moves through a cobblestone street in Oaxaca, featuring towering papier-mâché giant puppets, performers in traditional costumes, and participants carrying oversized white festival lanterns decorated with colorful pennant flags. Crowds line the street beneath dramatic evening clouds, creating a festive atmosphere during a local cultural celebration.

We quickly realized this was a wedding processional, taking a lap on their way to the Church! The energy was contagious and I’d never seen anything quite like this.

For a smaller city, they sure know how to party. I’d love to go back one day for their Dia de los Muertos Celebration in particular.

From what I can tell, processionals like this one are quite common in the city so keep an eye out when you’re in the city center.

Even better, look up to see whether any planned celebrations overlap with your travel dates so you can make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.

I got lucky with the impromptu run-in, but it never hurts to do some planning to make your own luck!

9. Temazcal ceremony

Probably the most unique experience I had in Oaxaca City (or even across my travels) was a Temazcal ceremony. I booked mine as a private experience through a local yoga studio, Agua Mariana.

I was staying nearby and got a good feeling from the owner here, which held up throughout my experience.

I went into this not really knowing what to expect and, while I’m glad I did it, I don’t know if I’d do it again. My experience itself was very positive, but I think I’m not at a place to fully benefit from this.

Essentially, it’s a spiritual sweat lodge experience and you’re meant to release a lot of the stressors or emotions you’ve been carrying around. And well, I struggled to do so.

Afterward, the kind woman sat and talked with me about it and aimed to support me a bit extra to release. What I did love about this was it was followed by an amazing massage.

Overall, I’m glad I gave this a try! If you’re into healing and wellness practices from different cultures then this is a worthwhile experience to add to your Oaxaca itinerary.

10. Shopping and exploring the markets

A colorful traditional Oaxacan muñeca wearing a vibrant embroidered dress hangs beneath an arched doorway inside a shop. Through the open entrance, a yellow taxi and colorful colonial buildings are visible across the street.

Toward the end of my trip, I did a bit of shopping with the same friend mentioned earlier. She wanted to hunt for souvenirs and I accompanied her, not really looking for much myself.

But if you’re on the hunt for souvenirs you’ll find some great ones around centro. Everything from handcrafted toys and clothes to spices and mole pastes that belong in your kitchen.

What I Skipped and Why

There are some things I did NOT do in Oaxaca City, that most visitors treat as musts. Here’s why:

Monte Alban and Mitla

These two significant archaeological sites are on almost every Oaxaca itinerary. I do believe they belong there. But with limited time and energy, I chose to prioritize the other day trips mentioned above over these.

Especially because I’d previously visited Mayan ruins and wanted to branch out on this trip.

All it means for me is that the next time I’m in Oaxaca City, these archaeological day tours will be the ones I prioritize.

Puerto Escondido

Especially as a sometimes digital nomad, it’s a bit unusual that I went all the way to Oaxaca and skipped Puerto Escondido entirely. It’s where most digital nomads gather.

But I’m much more of a city person than a beachy one, and was much more excited at the prospect of 2 full weeks in Oaxaca City than factoring in a commute to include Puerto Escondido.

Trying to make it to every food market

Oaxaca City has several popular food markets, and I barely scratched the surface. This is partly because they were not all convenient to get to from where I was staying.

Also, as a solo female traveler I didn’t relish the idea of multiple solo trips to bustling markets where I wouldn’t have all my bearings.

Fresh tortillas cook on a large flat-top griddle inside a bustling market food stall. Several finished tortillas are stacked nearby while the colorful kitchen and seating area are visible in the background.

There are plenty of great restaurants, markets and food carts all around the city. Plus, I had a great, authentic experience at the market that my Hierve el Agua day trip brought me to.

Beyond that, while I was curious about the other markets I didn’t feel the need to go out of my way for them.

But if you do, I strongly recommend booking a guided food tour with a local guide to take you to the best of the best stalls within them.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to do in Oaxaca City

Part of having a great travel experience is being able to discern which of the ‘must-dos’ fit your travel personality and which you can deprioritize.

This has been my list of which things to do in Oaxaca City I actually enjoyed. Your itinerary may look pretty different, and that’s okay! But I hope this inspires you to have an amazing time in Oaxaca City.

And once you’re done there, you can head to Mexico City like I did!