23 Things Nobody Tells You Before Visiting Oaxaca

Oaxaca is an easy place to fall in love with, but there’ll be a few WTF moments if you haven’t been given the heads up first.

I’ve been living in Oaxaca for so long that everything just seems ‘normal’ here now. But if you’re coming here for the first time, you’re going to want to know a few of these.

The little things are often what visitors end up asking about. So here are some of the things nobody tells you before visiting Oaxaca.

1. Don’t put toilet paper down the toilet

All over Oaxaca, toilet paper goes in the bin next to the toilet, not down the toilet. Yes, I now have a bin next to my toilet at home!

The plumbing simply isn’t designed for it.

You’ll see a small bin beside the toilet. That’s where the used paper goes.

It can feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly. And yes, this applies to some nicer restaurants and hotels too.

2. You will have to pay to use a public toilet

Public toilets aren’t free in Oaxaca. It’ll cost you $5-10 pesos. Sometimes they’ll give you toilet paper, sometimes they won’t. Prepare accordingly!

At markets, bus stations, tourist attractions and other busy places, you may find someone collecting a few pesos at the entrance.

It’s usually only a small amount, but always keep some coins handy.

The toilets themselves can range from surprisingly clean to… considerably less impressive.

3. Cash is still king

You can use cards in plenty of Oaxaca restaurants, hotels and shops, but don’t assume you can pay for everything with a card.

Small restaurants, market stalls, street food vendors, taxis, colectivos and some smaller businesses will only accept cash.

Keep some pesos in your wallet, preferably in smaller denominations.

👉  Cash or Card in Oaxaca? What Actually Works

4. There is no Uber

If you’re used to opening Uber whenever you need to get somewhere, Oaxaca can be a little different. There is no Uber in Oaxaca.

You can try DiDi, but it can be unreliable, with frequent cancellations and limited coverage in some areas. Instead, you’ll mostly use regular taxis, colectivos and public transport.

The good news is that taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

👉  How to get around Oaxaca City: Public Transport Guide 2026

5. Oaxaca’s sidewalks can be ridiculous

Oaxaca is a very walkable city. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the walking is easy.

Sidewalks can be narrow, uneven, broken or suddenly disappear altogether.

You’ll encounter steps, potholes, parked cars, poles, shop displays, people sitting outside and the occasional obstacle that seems to have appeared specifically to test your balance.

Wear comfortable shoes and watch where you’re walking.

6. Streets are regularly blocked off

Oaxaca has festivals, parades, processions, demonstrations/protests, concerts, political events and other celebrations throughout the year.

This means that entire streets or several blocks will be closed. Expect random detours, especially if you’re driving, in a taxi or on public transport.

This is part of what makes Oaxaca, well… Oaxaca.

7. Google Maps isn’t always gospel

Google Maps is extremely useful here, but don’t assume everything you see on it is 100% current.

Opening hours can be wrong. Businesses close. Businesses move. Restaurants take days off.

If something is particularly important to your plans, check its social media or contact them directly.

This is especially true for smaller independent businesses.

8. Spanish makes life MUCH easier

You can survive in Oaxaca without speaking Spanish.

You will have a much easier time if you know some.

English is spoken in many hotels, tour businesses and restaurants around the tourist centre, but once you venture beyond the obvious tourist areas, Spanish becomes increasingly useful.

You don’t need to be fluent. Knowing basic phrases for taxis, restaurants, directions, prices and shopping will get you a long way.

And Mexicans generally appreciate the effort, even when your Spanish is terrible.

👉 How much Spanish you really need in Oaxaca (with useful phrases)

👉 100 Mexican Slang Words You Need To Know (Swear Words Included)

9. Taxis don’t have one universal price

Two taxis travelling the same route can sometimes quote different prices.

There are no meters and it’s worth knowing roughly what a taxi should cost before getting in, particularly for longer journeys.

Always ask the price first.

👉 Oaxaca City Taxi Prices : What You Should Really Pay (2026)

10. Always decline ATM conversion rate

ATMs will try to convince you to accept their own exchange rate when withdrawing money.

If an ATM offers to convert the transaction into your home currency, you’re generally better off declining the conversion and letting your own bank/card provider handle the exchange.

11. Water pressure can be… interesting

Don’t expect great water pressure everywhere.

Depending on the building and neighbourhood, water pressure can vary considerably.

Homes and hotels use gravity-fed rooftop water tanks.

If you’re staying somewhere and the shower suddenly has the pressure of a garden hose after someone stepped on it, this isn’t necessarily a plumbing emergency.

12. Water shortages happen

Oaxaca has ongoing water-supply issues, and shortages can affect both residents and visitors.

You might occasionally find that the water supply is interrupted or that your accommodation has limited water.

Hotels and AirBnB’s will generally be on top of this, buying extra potable water. But be aware and try to save water at every chance.

👉 Oaxaca Water Shortage: What Visitors Need to Know (2026 Guide)

13. The tap water isn’t for drinking

For most visitors, drinking straight from the tap isn’t recommended.

Bottled and purified water is cheap and widely available, often sold in large containers known as garrafones.

👉 You Can’t Drink the Tap Water in Oaxaca — Here’s What to Do Instead

14. Power cuts happen

Electricity outages aren’t an everyday occurrence, but they do happen.

Sometimes it’s a quick interruption. Other times you may be sitting in the dark wondering whether the entire neighbourhood has lost power or just your apartment.

And if the whole neighbourhood is dark, don’t immediately assume you’ve done something wrong.

15. Earthquakes are part of life

Oaxaca is in a seismically active part of Mexico.

Small tremors aren’t unusual, and larger earthquakes have happened here.

Know where the exits are in your accommodation, follow local instructions and don’t use elevators during an earthquake.

Tip: Download the SkyAlert app for earthquake alerts. In some cases, you may receive a warning before strong shaking reaches your location.

👉 Earthquakes are a part of life in Oaxaca: Fact!

16. Street food isn’t just “food from a street”

One of the best things about Oaxaca is eating from stalls, markets and small roadside businesses.

Look for places that are busy with locals, food that is being cooked fresh and ingredients that aren’t sitting around unnecessarily.

And if a stall has a queue of Oaxacans waiting for food, there’s probably a reason 👌

17. “Provecho” is something you’ll hear constantly

Someone walking past your table might say “¡Provecho!” while you’re eating.

It’s roughly equivalent to wishing you an enjoyable meal.

You can say “gracias” in response.

It’s one of those little pieces of Mexican culture that you’ll hear repeatedly once you start paying attention.

👉 Why Everyone Says “Provecho” in Mexico (And What It Means for Your Trip)

18. Things can be noisy

Oaxaca isn’t always quiet.

Dogs bark. Motorbikes rev. Fireworks go off. Music plays. Church bells ring. People have parties.

And sometimes fireworks are set off at what seems like an objectively unreasonable hour.

If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs.

19. Oaxaca is not always cheap

Mexico has a reputation for being cheap, but Oaxaca has changed considerably.

You can still eat an excellent meal for relatively little money and find inexpensive accommodation and transport.

But popular restaurants, boutique hotels, tours, mezcal experiences and some tourist-focused businesses can be surprisingly expensive.

Don’t arrive assuming everything will cost a fraction of what you’re used to paying at home.

👉 Cost of living in Oaxaca: A full breakdown 2026

20. Oaxaca’s altitude is noticeable to some people

Oaxaca City sits at roughly 1,550 metres (5,100 feet) above sea level.

Most visitors adapt without much trouble, but some people notice that they get out of breath a little more easily during their first day or two.

If you’re arriving from sea level, don’t plan your first afternoon around climbing every staircase in the city.

Take it easy and drink plenty of water.

21. You don’t need to tip everyone — but you will encounter tipping

Tipping is normal in Mexico, particularly in restaurants and for certain services.

But the expectations aren’t identical to those in the US.

Don’t feel that every interaction requires a huge tip.

Check out the full Oaxaca tipping guide here 👉 Tipping in Oaxaca : When and how much to tip?

22. Cars don’t always care that you’re on a pedestrian crossing

Even when you have the right of way, don’t assume every driver will stop.

Sounds silly, but look both ways before crossing, including on streets that appear quiet.

You’ll quickly notice how locals cross roads, and after a while you’ll develop your own Oaxaca traffic instincts.

They’re useful.

23. Oaxaca doesn’t always give you what you expect from a “tourist destination”

This is probably the biggest one.

Oaxaca is a major tourist destination, but it is also a real Mexican city where people live, work, shop, go to school and get on with everyday life.

Things won’t always operate like they do at home.

That’s part of the attraction.

The occasional confusing taxi, closed shop, blocked street, power outage, noisy celebration or toilet without toilet paper isn’t necessarily a problem to be solved.

Sometimes it’s simply part of being in Oaxaca.

Final thoughts

Knowing about the little quirks before you arrive means you’re less likely to be surprised when something doesn’t work exactly as you expected.

Bring some pesos. Learn a little Spanish. Wear comfortable shoes. Don’t put toilet paper down the toilet. And don’t plan your entire day around Google Maps being correct.

The rest you’ll figure out once you get here.

And that’s half the fun of Oaxaca 😊

👉 10 Best Day Trips from Oaxaca City (With And Without A Tour)