Everything You Need To Know For 5 Days in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico

Oaxaca City or Oaxaca de Juárez, is unlike any other city in Mexico. One quick Google search and you will realize that this city is known for it’s incredible food, colourful streets and a strong sense of culture. Ask anyone who’s been to Oaxaca and watch their face light up as they reminisce their time spent there. It’s a place you definitely want to add to your bucket list.

When Is the Best Time to Go to Oaxaca?

Weather

It’s important to know about the weather when visiting Oaxaca as it will most likely have an impact on your stay. Oaxaca has two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season typically runs from May to October. During this time, expect hot and humid weather with frequent showers happening mainly in the afternoon and evenings. The wettest months are typically June and September with high volumes of rainfall. The dry season is from November to April. Expect little to no rain during this period. While this is ideal for not getting rained out of outdoor activities, the deciduous trees drop their leaves during this season to survive until the rain returns. So if you’re looking for lush greenery for photography, go earlier in the dry season than later.

Major Holidays

Depending on your travel style, major holidays will either attract you to the City of Oaxaca or deter you away. If you plan on travelling to Oaxaca de Juárez during a major holiday, plan on booking the trip well in advance and expect paying a premium for hotels and flights.

• Constitution Day – First Monday in February
• Benito Juárez’s Birthday – March 21
• Semana Santa – March/April
• Los Lunes del Cerro – Last two Mondays of July
• Mexican Independence Day, Grito de Dolores – September 16
• Día de los Muertos – November 1–2
• Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – December 12
• Night of the Radishes – December 23

Where To Stay in Oaxaca de Juárez

If it’s your first time in Oaxaca City, you’re going to want to stay in the city centre so it’s easy for you to get around. The city centre is very walkable, and a central location means you are never more than a 20 minute walk from some of the main sites and attractions.

Grana B&B

A true hidden gem, Grana B&B hides behind a nondescript door at the very centre of town. Ring the doorbell and wait for a doorman to warmly welcome you into a a jaw droppingly beautiful inner courtyard. Atmosphere and design blend seamlessly with quintessential touches of Oaxacan culture throughout. A shared kitchen and dining area is stocked with coffee and a variety of teas and snacks, which you can enjoy throughout the day. The inner courtyard provides a welcomed sanctuary of peace – a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of street vendors and parades happening just outside the front door. At night, incense is burned in the inner courtyard, providing another element to delight your senses. There is also a rooftop terrace, the perfect place to unwind with a cocktail (or mocktail) after a long day on your feet exploring the city.

For a full review of our stay at Grana B&B, visit our blog post here.

What To Do in Oaxaca de Juárez

There is so much to see and do in the city centre of Oaxaca alone that it would be hard to fit it all into a week. However, here is my list of top 10 things you need to do and see while in Oaxaca de Juárez.

2. Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

There are a lot of churches in Oaxaca, but none hold a candle to the grandeur that is Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Even if you are not Catholic or religious in any way, Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is well worth a visit. The interior is incredibly opulent and gilded with intricate gold details on nearly every surface of the interior. To put simply, it’s jaw dropping. It’s one of the most sought after churches for weddings in Mexico and it’s easy to see why.

3. Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, Santo Domingo

Attached to the church is the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, an absolute must stop. Upon entering, you are immediately greeted with a stunning inner courtyard – making you realize the architecture of the building is just as historic and significant as many of the artifacts that are held within. It’s easy to get lost in the museum, exploring hidden rooms along long hallways, every now and then getting peaks of the city skyline through open windows.

4. Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca

On the other side of Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and visible from the Museum of Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca is Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca. Truly a millennial plant lovers dream. Convent turned garden, it showcases the best of Oaxacan botany, with cacti and desert loving plants arranged in perfect fashion. I dare you to walk through the columns of perfectly arranged Mexican Fence Post Cactus and not take a dozen pictures.

5. Zocalo de Oaxaca

The epicentre of Oaxaca de Juárez. There is always something happening in the zocalo. You will see a perfect blend of tourists and locals here. While the locals are celebrating, dancing, singing or just relaxing, the tourists are trying to soak it all in, hoping the kinetic energy can last the plane ride home.

6. Markets

Oaxaca de Juárez is known for it’s markets. The most famous being Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juárez. Stepping into these markets really gives you a taste (pun intended) of the local daily life. I’ll admit, I was expecting these markets to be a bit of a tourist trap… however, I was pleasantly surprised with what I discovered inside. Each market is like an explosion of the senses, with clashing colours, smells of spices, meats on the grill, noise and people in every direction. Mercado 20 de Noviembre is better known for food while Mercado Benito Juárez has a more local feel, where locals will do their shopping. It can be very overwhelming just walking in on your own. The best thing to do is either join a tour or hire a local guide.

7. Monte Alban

Monte Albán is an ancient archaeological site perched high above the Oaxaca Valley, once serving as the capital of the Zapotec civilization over 1,500 years ago. Today, it is one of Mexico’s most important ruins, known for its sweeping mountain views, stepped pyramids, and vast ceremonial plazas that reveal the scale of this once-thriving city.

8. Museo Textil de Oaxaca

This little gem is a small museum dedicated to the textiles of the region. It’s completely free so absolutely worth a visit when you’re in the area. It’s quite small, but the art on display is absolutely gorgeous and the building itself provides some interest as well.

9. Shopping

While I normally wouldn’t recommend you spend your time shopping, I do feel like it’s worth it in Oaxaca. There are so many gorgeous boutiques featuring local artisans that you will naturally be pulled in as you wander along the streets. Oaxaca is known for it’s crafts and is the perfect place to pick up incredible pieces of art like hand carved wooden figurines, pottery, woven rugs and locally made clothing. Plus it just feels really good to support local artisans so they can continue doing what they love. A few places that really stood out to me were Andares del Arte Popular, Cooperativa 1050º and Marchanta (which also had a hidden cafe inside).

10. Cooking Class

I know what you’re going to say. You’re constantly being bombarded with ads to sign up for a cooking class in Oaxaca and it looks touristy as f***. I feel you. But after spending some time in Oaxaca, you realize that the food here is unlike anywhere else in Mexico, nay, the world, and it would be kinda cool to learn how they make everything. Especially the mole. I’d like to think a cooking class in Oaxaca would be part teaching you how to cook the food but also teaching you the significance of the food, as it plays such an important role in the fabric of society. While I have not taken a cooking class myself (yet), there are so many classes that look absolutely incredible through Get Your Guide or Airbnb Experiences.

Where To Eat in Oaxaca de Juárez

For a complete list of where to eat and more information on the restaurants, please read our blog post here.

Safety in Oaxaca

One of the first things that came to mind when I started researching this trip was safety. I took a lot of time to research ahead of time and found, for the most part, people said they felt safe walking around the city centre, even as a solo female traveler. However, I did hear of stories of people getting mugged. Most of them blame themselves (I hate victim blaming), stating they were distracted by listening to music, walking on their phone, walking alone at night or acting visibly drunk. So if you’re nervous like me, don’t do any of those things to avoid being a target. I will also add on to that to say don’t wear any flashy jewelry, make sure your bags are zipped and within your eyesight at all times, and most importantly, again, do not walk around at night, especially if you’re drunk or alone. Restaurant staff will be happy to call you a safe taxi to take you home.

The main “scam” to look out for is when taking taxis. Always agree on a price before you get into the car. Taxi fees are very different here than they are back home, and if you get into a cab without agreeing on a price beforehand, and especially as a gringo, you will most likely get scammed. Always ask the front desk of your hotel what they anticipate taxi costs will be, so you can negotiate with your driver in case you think you’re being taken advantage of.

Day Trips from Oaxaca de Juárez

Oaxaca City is an amazing launching off point from some incredible sites within a couple of hours of the city centre. Here are some must see sites you should check out on your trip to Oaxaca, Mexico.

Hierve el Agua

For more information on Hierve el Agua, a complete breakdown of the tour we took to get there and our thoughts on the trip, please visit this blog post here.

Teotitlán del Valle

Mezcal Tasting and Pallenque Tours

Content to Consume to Get Excited For Your Trip

After I book a trip, I love diving into movies filmed in the area and TV shows that focus on the local food scene. I get really excited about trying local cuisine and all the amazing things I can’t get back at home. Here’s a quick list to get excited for your upcoming trip to Oaxaca, Mexico!