23 Nov Travel Guide to Oaxaca City by a Solo Traveler
Ask anyone, tourists or locals alike, where is the best place to visit in Mexico? Chances are high they’ll say the state of Oaxaca. It’s the most ethnically diverse states in Mexico which means a variety of cultures contribute to the traditions, the food, and more. As a tourist there’s loads to do in Oaxaca state: you can experience the culturally rich capital, escape to the wilderness such as San Jose del Pacifico to try magic shrooms, or enjoy the beautiful coastline like in Puerto Escondido.
When traveling though Oaxaca state, you’ll likely begin in Oaxaca City otherwise known as Oaxaca de Juárez. But more than a stopover, this city is a must-visit.
The birthplace of mole and mezcal, Oaxaca is the gastronomical capital of Mexico where you can try creations well-beyond tacos both in local markets and in 5 star restaurants and then finish with a stunning cocktail at a rooftop bar.
In Oaxaca, you can safely explore the aloe decorated cobble stoned streets, and find a mix of local markets, stylish shops, and historical architecture with modern twists. There’s also a number of day trips to mezcal tastings, textile towns, and cliffside mineral pools.
Sold yet? Here’s everything you need to know for your visit:
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Solo travel In Oaxaca City
Before jumping in to this guide, I want to offer my perspective on visiting Oaxaca as a solo female traveler myself. This way if you also travel alone, you can better have an idea of what to expect.
First, Oaxaca is a great place for solo travelers. Not only is it safe, but it’s also very easy to explore on your own. Additionally, because the city attracts so many international tourists and nomads, it’s not difficult to meet other travelers to share experiences.
As a solo traveler myself, I stayed in Oaxaca for nearly two weeks and felt at home here. I met tons of friends to explore the city with as well as future travels. Because most people use Oaxaca City as a stopover before moving on to the coast or elsewhere, it’s the perfect place to make connections for upcoming destinations.
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How to get to Oaxaca City
Getting to Oaxaca City is relatively easy and there are a few options:
If you’re traveling to Oaxaca from outside of Mexico, you can fly into Xoxocotlán International Airport which is 25 minutes driving from the city center. Read more below about how to get to the center.
If you’re traveling to Oaxaca domestically from within Mexico, you can also fly to Xoxocotlán International Airport or take a bus.
Buses in Mexico are most easily booked and cheapest on BusBud. You can choose between a few companies and compare prices on the platform, but my most preferred bus companies are typically ADO and Primera Plus.
To reach your final destination, most bus stations will be a short taxi ride or walk away from the Centro.
If you’re flying to Oaxaca either domestically or internationally, from the airport, to get to Oaxaca city you must take a shared taxi. After collecting any luggage, head to the arrivals exit and go up to the only counter labeled “TAXI.” Tell them where the place you’re staying is located (best to have the address ready on your phone either in your notes or as a screenshot) and they’ll check which zone it falls into.
Depending on the zone, you’ll pay a certain fee – anywhere in the Centro should be 100 pesos or so – and then you’ll be given a receipt. Take this outside to where the vans are and hand it to the drivers who will assign you a van with other passengers going to the same area. After waiting your turn for your stop, the driver will drop you off directly at your accommodation. It’s that simple!
How to get Around in Oaxaca
Overall, Oaxaca is a very walkable city, otherwise there are public buses and taxis (no Uber here). To navigate using the public transport, I recommend talking to your accommodation hosts or using Google Maps.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca
Staying anywhere in the historic center of Oaxaca is the most ideal. You’ll be close to all the action and almost everything I mention will be in walking distance.
What to expect from accommodation prices: Hostels in Oaxaca range from about $7-20 per night. Airbnb as always really depends; you can find some for as low as $18 a night and many for much more. On average, there’s some great finds for $25-50 a night.
My most recommended hostel: Casa Angel. This is where I stayed for my first week and the vibes were immaculate. I met some amazing people, partook in many fun and free activities, breakfast is included and the staff is great. I highly recommend it! Dorm beds are $16-20 a night. Check availability for Casa Angel here.
Best hostel for digital nomads: Selina. I stayed here for my second week in Oaxaca because I needed to focus on work. It was much quieter and less social than Casa Angel but the wifi was great and I really liked the co-working space. Dorm beds are $18-25 a night. This is pricier than most hostels which is why I really only recommend it to those who are working and traveling. Check availability for Selina here.
All female guesthouse: I didn’t stay here but as a solo female traveler it did draw my attention on Airbnb. This would be a great stay if you’re looking for a community of women and want your privacy in a comfortable room.
THINGS TO DO IN OAXACA CITY
1. Visit Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Santo Domingo Church)
Located in the heart of Oaxaca, Santo Domingo looks like a pretty basic church as far as they go in Mexico (although I LOVE the agave plants displayed in front). However, when you enter inside, you’ll be surprised to see intricate decorations including more than 60,000 plates of gold.
2. Take a walking tour
Participating in a walking tour is always one of the best ways to spend your early days in a new city. I took my free walking tour through Casa Angel, the hostel where I stayed and not only did I learn so much about the history and culture, but also grasped the layout of the city, tried multiple kinds of food, and pinned tons of locations to return to later. I even met friends to hang out with later! The tour really made all the difference during my stay in Oaxaca.
If you’re not staying at Casa Angel, you can also take other free walking tours available such as this one.
3. Explore the Botanical Garden
While in Oaxaca, I never visited Jardin Ethnobotanico de Oaxaca, and I really regret it. This 2.3 acre garden is adjacent to Santo Domingo and a picturesque park full of cacti – the perfect place for your next Instagram photo.
4. Eat!
This is my favorite thing to do in Oaxaca. I’ll get into the list of a few places I really enjoyed below, but my biggest piece of advice would be to go for street food, local markets, and try everything – especially the mole!
5. Take a cooking class
Forget just trying food, why not learn how to make it too. They call it Oaxacan gastronomy and it’s a renowned art. When taking a cooking class, you’ll learn all about local ingredients and hopefully have some new recipes to take home with you.
Cooking classes are available through Get Your Guide or Airbnb experiences.
6. View the city from the Cerro del Fortin viewpoint
Make your way uphill to the stadium where you can take in a panoramic view of Oaxaca city. Be sure to bring some water, it’s not too long of a walk up, but it was enough to take my breath away 😅
7. Experience local markets
If you’re looking for a culture kick, stroll through one or many colorful local markets in Oaxaca city. Markets are full of assortments from spices and meat, to leather shoes and textiles, to artisanal products perfect as souvenirs. Don’t forget to be a little adventurous too and try some local snacks and fruits – my favorite part!
There are many markets in Oaxaca, the most noteworthy in the city for tourists are Mercado Benito Juárez, Mercado 20 de Noviembre, and the Tlacolula Sunday Market. The Tlacolula market is especially famous but unfortunately 45 minutes outside of Oaxaca City. If you want an easy way to visit, consider taking a tour.
8. Try memelas at Doña Vale’s food stall
If you’re as big a fan of local food around the world as I am, you’ve probably seen Netflix’s special ‘Street Food.’ In the Latin America season, there’s a whole episode dedicated to Oaxaca, Mexico and one of the featured chefs is the renowned Doña Vale famous for her memalas – thicker, fried tortillas topped with different salsas and Oaxacan cheese.
After visiting her food stall, I can confirm that the show was not overhyping her “simple” snack. So if you’re ready to have your mind blown by her genius recipes, head over to Mercado de Abastos where you can find her kitchen.
9. Wander the streets and plazas
Beyond the free walking tour, I also encourage you to explore the city on your own. Relish in your free time and take the opportunity to admire places you like and capture photographs. I recommend wandering where feels right, but definitely don’t miss the Centro Historico Plaza.
10. Indulge yourself at Mezcalerias and rooftop bars
If you aren’t aware yet, Oaxaca is home to mezcal, a popular alcoholic drink that comes from agave. Many would argue it’s much better than tequila, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.
In the city you can find this smokey drink almost anywhere but a popular place for cocktails and tasting is La Mezcalerita. There are also a number of rooftop bars throughout the center. Most are prone to overpriced cocktails, but their ambiance is worth it for at least a one time experience. Los Amantes Mezcaleria and Grupo Amantes Boutique hotel both offer delicious cocktails and stunning views of Santo Domingo Church.
Try a Mezcal Mixology experience in Oaxaca
11. Rent a bike and take a trip to Árbol del Tule
Árbol del Tule or The Tree of Tule is known to be the stoutest tree in the world – its thick trunk has a circumference of 42 meters! The tree is located 20 minute drive from the center of Oaxaca city, so you might as well make a fun trip out of it. Instead of merely reaching your destination by taxi, rent some bikes and take in the scenery along the way.
Bicycles can be rented at a few places such as Bicibella Oaxaca and Pedro Martinez Oaxaca. You can also book an Airbnb experience.
places to eat in oaxaca
Oaxaca de Juárez is full of impecable food. There’s so many places to try, I absolutely recommend doing some exploring of your own. However, a few that I enjoyed that are worth checking out were:
Mercado Orgánico la Cosecha – A small organic market of several different vendors serving a variety of traditional food. Out of everywhere in Oaxaca city, I probably ate here the most and highly recommend it!
Boulenc – If you’re looking for some delicious sandwiches, salads or pizza then this is the place for you. They also have vegan and vegetarian options.
Magnolia Rooftop – incredible burgers with a view of Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
La Popular – A delicious restaurant serving traditional food at affordable prices.
El Escapulario – A cozy, homey restaurant with delicious mole and tlayudas.
El Escapulario – A cozy, homey restaurant with delicious mole and tlayudas.
DAY trips & WEEKEND TRIPS FROM OAXACA CITY
1. Sierra Norte
Some key info: Sierra Norte is perfect for hiking and giving back to the local community. It’s 2 hours outside of Oaxaca city. Tours are available on Viator and at many hostels/hotels in Oaxaca city.
2. Hierve Agua
Some key info: Hierve Agua is such a unique location with hot springs and rock formations that resemble a cascading waterfall. It’s 1.5 hours outside of Oaxaca City. Many tours are available online, some hostels/hotels in Oaxaca City may offer them, or you can go on your own.
Some tours to Heirve Agua:
3. San Jose del Pacifico
Some key info: San Jose del Pacifico is a small town in the mountain known for its magic shrooms and views above the clouds. It’s about a 3 hours bus ride from Oaxaca City. You can take a bus here and stay overnight or take a day trip.
4. Teotitlan del Valle
Some key info: Teotitlan del Valle is the textile town of Oaxaca where you can learn how Mexico’s vibrant pieces are created. It’s about 45 minutes from Oaxaca City so you can take a day tour here or go on your own by taxi.
5. Santiago Matalan
Some key info: Santiago Matlan is the World Capital of Mezcal! It’s about an hour outside of Oaxaca City so you can either take a tour or get a taxi there and walk through the town doing taste testing on your own.
6. Monte Alaban ruins
Some key info: Zona Arqueológica de Monte Albán are ancient ruins from 500 B.C. They are about 30 minutes outside of Oaxaca City and can be visited either in a tour or on your own. To go on your own, you can take a taxi or a bus and then pay the 70 pesos entrance fee. Tours are available online on Viator and GetYourGuide
7. Mercado de Tlacolula
Some key info: A Sunday market, one of the oldest in Oaxaca and a culture hub of many indegenous communities. It is 45 minutes outside of Oaxaca City and can be reached by bus, taxi or through a tour.
final thoughts & recommend time to stay
Oaxaca city is a destination of its own – one that shouldn’t be missed. You could spend 3 days here, but also easily spend a week (or if you’re like me 2 weeks!).
But however much time you have, come with an empty belly, a ready camera, and an open heart to the Oaxacan spirit that is sure to enchant you.
More Resources for Your Trip to Mexico
Planning your own trip? Here’s some resources I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Mexico along with some recommendations:
Hostels
If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Below are some of my recommendations, click to search for availability!
- Mexico City: Casa Pepe
- Tulum: Che Tulum Hostel & Bar OR Mayan Monkey
- Valladolid: Hostel La Candelaria
- San Cristobal: Posada del Abuelito OR Puerto Vieja
- Puerto Escondido: Hostal Akumal La Punta
- Oaxaca City: Casa Angel
- Guanajuato: Corral d Comedias Hostel
- Guadalajara: Hostel Hospedarte Guadalajara Centro
- Cabo San Lucas: Mayan Monkey
Hotels
Booking.com is the way to go when search for hotels in Mexico because they typically offer free cancellation with plenty of affordable to more luxurious stays.
Flights
Flights to Mexico are typically cheapest to Mexico City, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey and San Jose del Cabo. Domestic flights within Mexico also tend to be pretty affordable especially if traveling light. To find the best deal & prices I recommend using Skyscanner.
BUSES
The easiest way to search for and book buses in Mexico is with BusBud where you can easily compare options and use a platform in English. Check it out here. My most used and favorite bus companies tended to be ADO (and their partner OCC) and Primera Plus.
Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip to make sure you’re covered in unexpected situations. My go to is always WorldNomads which has a generous coverage and is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here. However if you’re looking for a cheaper option for only travel medical emergency insurance, I suggest Safety Wing.
Tours & Experiences
There’s a lot of free thing to do in Mexico or experiences you can do on your own. I always recommend checking blog posts for inspiration. If you’re interested in tours though like visiting Chichén Itzá, taking a hot air balloon over Teotihuacan, snorkeling in Cancun, and more then I suggest checking on GetYourGuide & Viator. Airbnb Experiences also offer some options.
Know Before You Go
Check out my Mexico Destination Page here for information on visas, health requirements, currency, outlets, and more.
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