The Ultimate Guide to Oaxaca, Mexico – Traveling with Aga

If you're planning a trip to Oaxaca, this guide is for you. Here are top things to do in Oaxaca and best day trips to take from the city.

Welcome to Oaxaca City, one of my absolute favorite places in Mexico. Located in the state of the same name, Oaxaca is filled with incredible culture, history, nature, amazing food and mezcal scene. It’s a city that seems to be always celebrating something, with the biggest festivities being Guelaguetza and Dia de Muertos. Between all the things to do in Oaxaca and day trips you can take, you can easily fill a one-week itinerary with activities.

Oaxaca is very picturesque, full of colorful colonial buildings, cobble stone streets, insane street art and beautiful views around. The city along with the archeological site of Monte Albán was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Out of 68 indigenous communities in Mexico, 16 of them are in Oaxaca, which tells you how culturally rich and diverse the state is. When you visit Oaxaca and especially when you get out of the city, you’ll see that a lot of the traditions are still very much alive.

For sightseeing, Oaxaca is a perfect size city. It’s big enough, where there are enough things to do to keep you busy for a few days, but it’s not overwhelming and you can walk pretty much everywhere.

If you’re thinking of visiting this incredible city and are wondering what to do in Oaxaca, this guide is for you. I put it together after two weeklong trips, that allowed me to explore the city in depth and take several day trips outside of it. The end result is this Oaxaca guide, that includes all the top things to do, best day trips as well as my favorite Oaxaca restaurants and tips on where to stay.