Oaxaca City
Your complete guide to Mexico’s most extraordinary city — from someone who has lived here for over a decade.
Oaxaca City is a UNESCO World Heritage site sitting at 1,550 meters in the mountains of southern Mexico. It has ancient Zapotec ruins, world-class food, mezcal culture, extraordinary street art, and a calendar of festivals that draws visitors from around the world. These are the posts that cover it properly.
Start Here
New to Oaxaca City? These three posts are your foundation.
Day Trips from Oaxaca City
Some of the best experiences near Oaxaca City require leaving it. These are the day trips worth planning around.
Culture & Festivals
Oaxaca’s calendar is extraordinary. These are the events worth planning your trip around.
The Guelaguetza – Mexico’s most important indigenous cultural festival — everything you need to experience it properly.
Day of the Dead – Candlelit cemeteries, brass bands at sunrise, and marigolds everywhere — the most extraordinary celebration in Mexico.
Practical Guides
Everything you need to navigate Oaxaca City like a local.
- Where to Stay in Oaxaca City – The honest neighbourhood guide — what each area actually feels like
- Oaxaca City’s Top Markets – The complete guide to every market worth visiting
- Tipping in Oaxaca – When and how much to Tip
- How to Get Around Oaxaca City – Taxis, buses, BinniBus — everything explained
- Oaxaca City Cooking Classes – The best hands-on food experiences in the city
- 5 Best Places to Buy Souvenirs – Where to shop without getting the tourist price
