This Vibrant Mexican Metropolis Is One of many Greatest Cities within the World for Meals Lovers—Here is Tips on how to Plan a Go to

Oaxaca de Juárez is a vibrant metropolis the place historical Zapotec traditions meet modern creativity. Vacationers usually come for the wealthy delicacies—assume mole, tlayudas, and smoky mezcal—however it’s the heat of its those that makes it unforgettable.

With its ever-expanding foods and drinks scene, Oaxaca de Juárez has rightfully earned its place as one of many world’s premiere culinary locations—a lot in order that it was named the very best metropolis on the earth in Journey + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Greatest Awards and one of many high 5 cities in Mexico in 2025. However the southwestern Mexican metropolis presents extra than simply excellent delicacies. Typically merely known as Oaxaca (to not be confused with the encompassing state of the identical identify), town enchants with its colourful festivals, artisanal markets, and putting structure.

“Oaxaca is the center of Mexico, and we’ve got all of it: 570 municipalities, 8 areas and 14 dialects, all of the micro climates, and virtually the entire components that makes our meals distinctive on the earth. We now have the mountains, we’ve got the ocean—we’ve got all of it,” stated Omar Alonso, a Oaxaca native and proprietor of Stay Oaxaca.

Having all of it means Oaxaca is a metropolis that gives layers of experiences for every kind of vacationers. “It’s a quintessential and magical vacation spot that mixes tradition, nature, and journey, with a year-round spring-like local weather attributable to its idyllic location nestled right into a fertile valley of the Sierra Madre Sur Mountains,” Zachary Rabinor, a T+L A-list advisor and CEO of Journey Mexico, a luxurious journey company that makes a speciality of journeys to Mexico, advised T+L. “It presents a captivating, pedestrian-friendly UNESCO World Heritage Website metropolis middle with spectacular structure, museums, markets, eating places, procuring, and nightlife, whereas the encompassing valleys harbor unimaginable Indigenous villages that preserve century-old artisan traditions, costume, language, tradition, and life.”

Greatest Inns and Resorts

Oaxaca boasts a various array of locations to remain, so there’s one thing for each kind of traveler. Beneath are a couple of T+L favorites.

Casa Santo Origen

Simply quarter-hour from Oaxaca’s historic middle, Casa Santo Origen is a sublime eight-room hideaway tucked into the Sierra Norte foothills. Every suite options artisinal particulars with fashionable comforts. Some rooms even have non-public plunge swimming pools and sweeping valley views. Entre Sombras, the on-site restaurant subsequent to the property’s infinity pool, has Mediterranean-inspired dishes with an area twist.

Quinta Actual Oaxaca

Set in a restored Fifteenth-century convent within the coronary heart of Oaxaca Metropolis, Quinta Actual Oaxaca has arched stone corridors, leafy courtyards, and centuries-old frescoes making a serene backdrop simply steps from town’s cultural landmarks. The 91-room resort presents a pool, refined Oaxacan eating, and the occasional Guelaguetza performances in its chapel-turned-event area.

Casa Silencio

Tucked in to the serene Valley of Xaaga, about an hour away from Oaxaca Metropolis, Casa Silencio is a six-suite design-forward property created by the founders of Mezcal El Silencio. The property blends sustainability with luxurious, as every suite channels pure parts—Agua, Tierra, Fuego—by way of domestically crafted textiles and furnishings. Visitors can tour the on-site distillery, take pleasure in mezcal tastings and open-fire dinners, and take in panoramic views over agave fields and the Sierra Madre.

Flavia Resort

In case you’re on the lookout for a extra excluded getaway, Flavia Resort is nestled within the hills of San Felipe del Agua simply 20 minutes outdoors of downtown. The brutalist constructing has 11 rooms of various sizes and views, however one standout suite is the subterranean bunker room with no home windows. The resort’s on-site restaurant has an infinity pool with sweeping views of the encompassing panorama. It is the right escape for many who wish to be away from the motion and have a quiet ambiance, but additionally stay a brief drive from town middle.

Greatest Issues to Do

Inside Oaxaca, Rabinor recommends setting apart a full day to easily wander and soak within the metropolis’s historic core. “Take your time strolling by way of the market and make sure you strive pan de yema con chocolate,” stated Rabinor. “Discover a spot in one of many many plazas and revel in people-watching, as it is not unusual to witness a colourful calenda (avenue procession) taking place at any time of the week. These processions are a part of the quite a few festivals that remember varied private and communal occasions within the lives of the local people.”

The town additionally presents a wealth of cultural establishments that deepen the expertise. The Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, established in 1831, is a must-visit for these within the area’s Indigenous roots. Its 14 everlasting reveals span millenia, showcasing the whole lot from historical arrowheads to insights into modern native life. Only a quick stroll away, the Oaxaca Textile Museum—set in a superbly restored nineteenth century mansion—shows an array of vibrant weavings and clothes, providing a colourful glimpse into the realm’s artisanal traditions.

Whereas there is no scarcity of issues to do—backyard lovers ought to stroll the Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca; meals fans ought to take a cooking class at La Cocina de Humo; and artwork aficionados will discover inspiration atthe Centro de las Artes de San Agustín—listed here are another standout actions to contemplate when visiting Oaxaca.

Fundacion en Through Excursions

Ebook an training tour by way of non-profit Fundacion en Through Excursions, which promotes accountable tourism. Its funds give interest-free loans, enterprise coaching, and training workshops to feminine entrepreneurs in six Zapotec communities within the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. The bilingual excursions embody round-trip transportation from Oaxaca Metropolis, conventional meal shared in one of many girls’s houses, and neighborhood visits.

“Our applications are primarily funded by way of our Accountable Tourism initiative, which creates significant alternatives for vacationers to have interaction with and immediately assist the ladies in our program,” Izmir Luna, a coordinator with Fundación En Vía, advised T+L. “Each tour we provide is constructed round respect for native tradition, language, and management. When vacationers be a part of a tour, they aren’t solely studying from the ladies entrepreneurs—they’re serving to to fund interest-free loans and academic applications that assist sustainable growth within the area.”

Strolling Meals Tour With Oaxacking

Alonso has been guiding guests by way of the Oaxaca meals scene for 12 years. “Our meals tour is designed to showcase the complete spectrum of Oaxacan delicacies in a approach that feels each immersive and approachable,” says Alonso. The expertise isa four-hour strolling tour that sometimes begins within the morning, although afternoon departures are additionally out there throughout excessive season.

Vacationers meet in a espresso store and make their approach towards the Mercado de Abastos, the largest within the state, making stops alongside the best way at eating places and distributors. The tour ends at a bar the place friends can strive craft cocktails and Mexican wine. “This meals tour was the whole lot I dreamed of and extra,” Luis Luna, an Austin native, advised T+L. “Our information was a legend, the meals was next-level wonderful, the mezcal was all the time flowing, and someway I ended up with new buddies and a full abdomen each 5 minutes.”

For these extra considering spirits, there’s additionally a full-day mezcal tour that dives deep into the center of manufacturing. “This one’s for mezcal lovers or anybody considering studying the whole lot about,” Alonso stated of the journey, which visits two totally different villages to discover each ancestral (distilled in clay pots) and artisanal (distilled in copper) methods.

Mitla and Hierve el Agua

Excessive within the mountain of Oaxaca, Hierve el Agua is an otherworldly website to see and scenic escape from town. The petrified waterfalls have turquoise swimming pools perched on cliff edges. Right here, guests can soak within the heat spring waters whereas having fun with views of the seemingly countless valley. As for the science of how the formation got here into existence: the mineral-rich water spilled over the cliffs leaving a calcium residue that hardened, creating the rock formations. Professional-tip: Head on to Hierve el Agua very first thing within the. morning and make your approach again to town with stops in Mitla and Teotitlán del Valle.

Monte Albán

Rising greater than 1,300 toes above the Oaxaca Valley, Monte Albán is the second-largest ceremonial website in Central America. This historical metropolis presents sweeping views and a glimpse into pre-Columbian life, with its terraced pyramid, carved stone monuments, and sacred plazas which are nonetheless largely intact. Constructed by the Zapotecs—an Indigenous civilization believed to have inhabited the area as early as 500 B.C.E—the positioning is among the most essential archaeological wonders in Mexico. “Monte Albán shouldn’t be solely a treasure of historical historical past, but additionally a UNESCO World Heritage Website that holds important significance in understanding the cultural heritage of Oaxaca and the encompassing area,” Rabinor stated.

Mezcal Experiences

Rooted in Indigenous practices courting again 400 years, mezcal was first distilled by Zapotec and Mixtec communities utilizing clay stills and underground ovens. Rabinor notes that all these actions assist native communities that depend on the business, assist folks “perceive the laborious work and historical past that goes behind producing [mezcal], and let vacationers ‘be taught and admire one of many world’s most advanced spirits.'” As we speak, Oaxaca is the heartland of mezcal manufacturing. Some must-visit spots embody Mezcalería In Situ, El Distilado, Selva, and Puro Burro, however for a deeper dive, do not miss out on popping right into a palenque (farm distilleries).

Go to the Close by Cities

Rabinor recommends not skipping the artisan communities outdoors of city, equivalent to San Martín Tilcajete, San Bartolo Coyotepec, and Teotitlán del Valle. “That is the place expert communities create beautiful artistic endeavors, together with colourful alebrijes (wood collectible figurines), intricate black pottery, and vibrant textiles,” Rabinor stated. (In case you’re trying to create an ideal streamlined day, get a driver or lease a automobile, and pop into Alfosina for lunch, go to San Bartolo Coyotepac for the black pottery, after which make your strategy to San Martín Tilcajete for alebrijes. If the timing aligns, go to Almú Tilcajete for dinner earlier than heading again.)

Greatest Purchasing

Oaxaca is full of small boutique retailers promoting handmade items (assume sandals, luggage, homeware, and different trinkets) for each price range. Alonso’s high procuring spots are Rocinante, Silvia Suarez, Atavío, Cooperativa Acquainted, Huizache, and Casa de las Artesanias. (All gross sales from the latter two go on to the artisans.) For ceramics, you may pop into Barrios García’s TK, TK, or TK.

Seize a bottle of your favourite mezcal or some native beans as a meals memento. For perishable treats, go to Suculenta for salsa macha and jams; and Panadería El Nanchalito, a second-generational bakery with conventional candy breads like conchas, polvorones, and pan de manteca.

Greatest Eating places in Oaxaca

Oaxaca is usually lauded for its meals scene. Some traditional dishes so as to add to your record, Alonso says, are Oaxacan sizzling chocolate or chocolate ice cream from El Rito, memelas with morita peppers and inexperienced tomatillo with an over straightforward egg at Doña Vale; Michelada at La Giralda; Chilaquiles with Birria from Xaok; and Chorizo Taco with inexperienced salsa from Tacos del Carmen.

First time guests ought to contemplate popping into Mercado 20 de Noviembre, a bustling market well-known for distributors that cook dinner your freshly ordered meat proper in entrance of you over open flames. It is a sensory feast and excellent for a first-time customer. And for a vegetarian pleasant choice, head over to Mercado Organico La Cosecha.

• Bakeries: Oaxaca’s pastry scene is blossoming. Bodaega, Boulenc, and Adobe Mestizo. “Surprisingly, the very best croissant I’ve had shortly was in Oaxaca,” Hope Willow, a New York Metropolis-based chef, advised T+L. “Every unassuming bakery supplied an Instagram worthy assortment of each native delicacies and conventional French pastries. I anticipated to be wowed by the tiny meals stands littering the streets, however the baked items have been the spotlight of my trip.”
• Tacos: Hit up Chemita, El Lechoncito de Oro, Tacos Del Carmen, and TK.
• Mezcal Bars: Selva Cocktail Bar; Sabina Sabe; Cuish; Endémico; In Situ Mezcaleria; Mezcaloteca
• Espresso Retailers: Kiyo Cafe; Cafebre; Muss Cafe; Terno; Yegolè Café; Sagrado Filemón; Pan con Madre; and Nono Café.
• Eating places: Alonso advised T+L that his private favorites embody: Xaok; Levadura de Olla; Terraza Istmo; La Cevicheria; Origen; and Tierra del Sol. Different nice eating places embody Alfonsina, Crudo, and Casa Oaxaca.

Greatest Time to Go to

Alonso says there is no “finest time” to go to Oaxaca: “The fantastic thing about it’s within the villages , markets, mezcal distilleries, artwork galleries, eating places, bars, streets, and in all places. We welcome everybody three hundred and sixty five days.” Rabinor echoes that sentiment, including that the very best time to go to Oaxaca is determined by your private preferences for climate, crowds, and cultural occasions.

Although town usually enjoys heat, sunny days year-round, the rain seasons runs from Might by way of September. Throughout this time, you may count on occasional showers and better humidity, however it additionally “presents lush landscapes and fewer guests.” July, for instance, is a very vibrant (and busier) month, because it coincides with Guelaguetza, the Indigenous cultural pageant referred to as Lunes del Cerro or “Mondays on the Hill.”

Early November is one other particularly common time to go to. With the dry season simply starting, the climate is pleasantly delicate and concept for exploring. It additionally marks the celebration of Dia de Muertos, when town and surrounding villages come alive with music, shade, and marigold-decked altars, providing a deeply transferring and joyful glimpse into one in all Mexico’s most cherished traditions.

Tips on how to Get There

One of the simplest ways to go to Oaxaca is by flying into Oaxaca Worldwide Airport (OAX), formally referred to as Aeropuerto Internacional Xoxocotlán. Vacationers from the U.S. can benefit from nonstop service from Los Angeles (LAX) on Volaris, Dallas-Fort Price (DFW) on American Airways, and Houston (IAH) on United Airways. Alternatively, these arriving from different U.S. cities can join by way of Guadalajara (GDL) or Mexico Metropolis (MEX), with onward flights Oaxaca supplied by home provider equivalent to Aeroméxico or Viva Aerobus.

Tips on how to Get Round

Whereas accessing a car could be helpful for visiting websites outdoors town, Oaxaca is fairly walkable and you’ll all the time rent an area automobile service to drive you to farther locations. Cabs are available for securing transportation inside the downtown space, however if you wish to hail through smartphone, obtain DiDi.

To journey to and from the airport, you may take a taxi or bus for those who’re not renting a automobile. The taxi stand on the airport presents fastened charges to totally different components of town relying on whether or not you are reserving a non-public cab or a collectivo.

Native Etiquette and Tradition

• Be conscious that not everybody can be fluent in English and as a visitor in Mexico, contemplate downloading a translation app to bridge the communication hole for those who’re not fluent in Spanish.
• When visiting markets or earlier than photographing distributors, it is best apply to get consent: “Puedo tomar un photograph?” is the best way to ask “Might I take a photograph?”
• As for tipping, Alonso stated 10-15 p.c is normal, whereas noting that its finest to tip in money.