Oaxaca City is the capital of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, which is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in Mexico. It feels really safe, and authentically Mexcian. It’s not too big, and feels super safe, and is so beautiful to explore. It is a beautiful city and I could have stayed there for weeks. Its also a bit cooler there than the coast, considering how high up in the mountains it is, so it’s warm during the day but gets cold at night! It is a city that is built for the people who live there rather than for tourists, which makes it a really great spot to visit on a budget. This blog post will go through how to get there, where to stay, where to eat and drink and what to do in Oaxaca!
How to Get to Oaxaca City
FLY
You can fly into Oaxaca from pretty much every airport in Mexico. Check out aviasales or KIWI.COM for the best deal. Most flights are under €100.
BUS
If you’re coming from not too far away, a bus is a great way to get to and from Oaxaca. The best company to use is ADO. The bus from Mexico city is about 7 hours and costs about €27, so it’s not very cheap but it is comfortable. We left at around 3:30pm and got in at 11:30pm. You can also get the bus from San Cristobal de Las Casas and Puerto Escondido, which are both usually overnight busses and go on super windy mountainous roads.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca
I always recommend booking with BOOKING.COM when backpacking, because they have no deposits and do free cancellation, which gives you the extra flexibility you need.
IGUANA HOSTEL: Iguana hostel was amazing value for money – 180 pesos (€8) for a dorm, with an amazing free breakfast every morning. We made great friends here, it’s super sociable, and has a rooftop terrace you can do yoga on with a co-working space. They do a great happy hour with 2 cocktails for 60 pesos (€2.5) every day. My one recommendation is to ask for some free earplugs at the reception because the dorms can be really noisy. (€)
CASA ANGEL: We didn’t stay here as it was a little more expensive (only a few euro a night) but it came highly recommended. It has great reviews, pod-style beds, and offers lots of activities. (€€).
How to Get Around
WALK AROUND
I felt safer walking around Oaxaca than I did in any other Mexican city. There are lots of other tourists around and it is not too big, so you can walk pretty much everywhere you need.
TAXIS
Taxis in Oaxaca are distinctly labeled and pretty cheap. There’s no Uber but you can use the Uber app to hail local taxis. Most Taxis cost around 50 pesos (€2).
COLLECTIVOS
The cheapest way to get around Oaxaca is by collectivos. There is no way to look up online where to get them from so you will need to ask in your hostel, but you can get them to all the important sights like Monte Alban and Hierve el Agua.
RENT A CAR
The option to rent a car around Mexico for a road trip is a great one. A warning though that Oaxaca is extremely mountainous and the roads around it can be quite steep and windy.
Check out prices at Rentacar.com.
Where to Eat in Oaxaca
MERCADO 20 DE NOVIEMBRE: Huge big food market – we got a tlyauda (Oaxacan Pizza) for 60 pesos each(€2.5) and they were amazing. We also got ‘chile rellenos’ (stuffed chillis.) If you eat meat there’s a big barbeque section where you choose your meat and they cook it up for you.
BOULENC: A bakery that does HUGE, delicious sandwiches all for under 100 pesos (€4) on amazing crusty bread. We went twice they were so good.
ANY OF THE BUFFETS: There’s one right across the road from Iguana Hostel, and loads scattered around the city. Most of them are all you can eat for 60 pesos (€2.5) and you can add extras like quesadillas or tacos for 15 pesos each.
CASA OAXACA: This is definitely not a budget-friendly option (a main will set you back about €25 or 600 pesos) but it is highly regarded as one of the best restaurants in Mexico. You need to make a reservation to get in here.
Where to Drink in Oaxaca
TXALAPARTA BAR: Downstairs is classic Mexican music and dancing, and upstairs is more a mix of reggaeton and pop. The terrace is really cool and it stays open late. We went on the weekend and there was a huge queue so go early!
Things to do in Oaxaca
EXPLORE THE ZICOLA
The Zicola is the main square. On the weekend there it is full of stands selling all sorts of clothes and souvenirs, and there is always a great buzz around the place. It
HIERVE EL AGUA
These incredible water formations that look like waterfalls are a must see on your trip to Oaxaca. It can be a little difficult to get to which is why I wrote a blog post going into detail about our trip there!
BLOG POST ON HOW TO GET TO HIERVE EL AGUA
MERCADO 20 DE NOVIEMBRE
Huge big food, leather, clothes and more markets that are so much fun to explore and the food there is amazing!
FREE WALKING TOUR
This was organised by our hostel and went at 4pm every day. It lasts about 2 hours and you just pay in tips at the end. Ask your hostel or hotel for more details regarding this!
MONTE ALBAN RUINS
The bus to these only runs until 11am because of covid, so make sure you leave early! These ruins are about 5km from Oaxaca City and are home to one of the oldest known cities of Mesoamerica.
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