Essential Oaxaca Travel Guide: What to See & Do

Oaxaca de Juárez is one of Mexico’s most distinctive cities. Set in a lively valley, it brings together Indigenous heritage, Spanish colonial history, vibrant art, celebrated cuisine, and long-standing traditions. Pronounced wa-HAH-kah, the city is known for its colorful façades, shaded plazas, music, markets, and relaxed everyday rhythm.

Explore Oaxaca’s Layered History

Oaxaca’s history reaches back to the Mexica, Zapotec, and Mixtec civilizations. After the Spanish conquest, the settlement became a colonial administrative center. Today, this layered past remains visible in the city’s churches, museums, and historic architecture.

The Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is one of Oaxaca’s standout landmarks. It is known for its earthquake-resistant stone construction and richly decorated interior. Nearby, the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures connects the region’s history with archaeological discoveries, while the Ethnobotanical Garden highlights the importance of native plants and local landscapes.

Discover Oaxaca’s Famous Cuisine

Food is central to the Oaxaca experience. The city’s markets offer an ideal introduction to its culinary identity, with ingredients and dishes that reflect local traditions.

At Benito Juárez Market and 20 de Noviembre Market, visitors can find smoky grilled meats, tlayudas, complex mole sauces, and chapulines—seasoned grasshoppers. Mezcal, produced throughout the state, is also deeply woven into local life and can be enjoyed traditionally or in modern cocktails.

Experience Oaxaca’s Streets and Plazas

The Zócalo is Oaxaca’s social heart and an ideal place to experience the city’s atmosphere. Beneath the trees, music, conversation, and street life create a lively setting shaped by everyday local traditions.

Nearby, pedestrian-friendly Macedonio Alcalá Street features galleries, bookstores, textiles, and elegant historic buildings. For a wider view of the region’s ancient civilizations, travelers can visit Monte Albán.

What to See in Oaxaca

For travelers deciding what to see in Oaxaca, the city offers more than a simple checklist of attractions. Its appeal lies in the combination of history, flavor, creativity, architecture, and community. From its colonial churches and museums to its markets, plazas, and cultural traditions, Oaxaca de Juárez offers a rich and memorable city experience.