Why Oaxaca City Should Be Your Next Mexico Destination

There are places you visit and places that linger with you long after you've returned home. Oaxaca City is firmly in the latter category—a destination I found myself dreaming about for months after leaving, already planning my return before I'd even unpacked.

A City Made for Wandering

What makes Oaxaca truly special is how effortlessly walkable it is. The historic center unfolds like a living museum, with colonial architecture painted in vibrant yellows, pinks, and terracottas lining cobblestone streets. Every corner reveals something new: a hidden courtyard, a family-run mezcaleria, an artist's studio tucked behind a weathered wooden door.

Unlike destinations where you're constantly consulting maps and hailing rides, Oaxaca rewards aimless wandering. The zócalo (main plaza) serves as your anchor point, and from there, everything radiates outward in a digestible, human-scaled grid. We'd set out each morning with loose plans that inevitably dissolved into serendipitous discoveries—exactly the kind of travel I love most.

Beyond the City Limits

While Oaxaca City itself could easily occupy a week, the surrounding region offers incredible day trip opportunities that add wonderful variety to your itinerary. The ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán sit perched on a hilltop just outside the city, offering sweeping valley views and a glimpse into pre-Columbian history. The petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua make for a spectacular natural excursion, and the artisan villages—each specializing in different crafts, from black pottery in San Bartolo Coyotepec to woven textiles in Teotitlán del Valle—are endlessly fascinating.

Mezcal: More Than Just a Spirit

If you think mezcal is just tequila's smoky cousin, Oaxaca will change your mind entirely. This is mezcal's spiritual homeland, where the spirit is treated with the reverence of fine wine. We spent an afternoon at [I'll add the specific mezcaleria here], learning about the traditional production methods, the different agave varieties, and the regional variations that make each bottle unique.

The tastings aren't just about drinking—they're cultural education. You'll understand why locals sip mezcal slowly, often with orange slices and sal de gusano (chili-lime-agave worm salt), treating it as an accompaniment to conversation rather than a quick buzz.

A Food Lover's Paradise

Oaxacan cuisine deserves its own love letter. This is a city where even a simple breakfast becomes an event, where seven varieties of mole aren't just a claim to fame but a daily reality, where markets overflow with ingredients you've never seen before and street food rivals the finest restaurants.

The food scene balances traditional cooking methods—some recipes unchanged for generations—with a growing contemporary culinary movement. You can eat incredibly well at every price point, from market stalls serving tlayudas (think of them as Oaxacan pizzas on giant tortillas) to refined dining rooms reimagining regional classics.

Boutique Stays with Character

Oaxaca has mastered the boutique hotel experience. Converted colonial mansions, family-run guesthouses with interior courtyards, design-forward properties that respect the city's architectural heritage while offering modern comfort—you'll find lodging options that become part of the experience rather than just a place to sleep.

Grana B&B
Hotel Escondido

What these properties share is a sense of place. The staff knows the city intimately and offers recommendations that feel personal rather than rehearsed. The rooftop terraces invite evening mezcal sipping. The courtyards provide peaceful escapes from the vibrant street life just beyond the door.

Shopping with Soul

This isn't a city of generic souvenir shops. Oaxaca's shopping scene centers on genuine artisan crafts, from intricately carved alebrijes (fantastical wooden creatures) to hand-embroidered textiles using traditional Zapotec designs. The markets—especially the Mercado Benito Juárez and Mercado 20 de Noviembre—offer sensory overload in the best possible way.

I'm still using the ceramics we shipped home, still wearing the woven bag I haggled for in the market, still burning the locally made candles that somehow smell exactly like Oaxaca feels.

The Vibrant Energy

There's an energy to Oaxaca that's hard to quantify but impossible to miss. Maybe it's the strong indigenous heritage that remains living culture rather than museum piece. Maybe it's the thriving arts scene, with galleries and street murals around every corner. Maybe it's how celebrations—and Oaxaca has many—spill into the streets with fireworks, parades, and communal joy.

Whatever the source, the city pulses with life. Evenings at the zócalo mean live music, street performers, families strolling, couples dancing. The bars fill with locals and travelers mixing easily, united by excellent mezcal and the city's welcoming spirit.

Getting There from the Pacific Northwest

I won't sugarcoat it—Oaxaca isn't the easiest destination to reach from the Pacific Northwest, but it's absolutely worth the extra travel time. Most flights route through either Los Angeles or Mexico City, with the latter actually offering an interesting opportunity.

If your schedule allows, consider building in a few nights in Mexico City either on the way to or from Oaxaca. The capital deserves exploration in its own right, and breaking up the journey can make the travel feel less like an ordeal and more like a multi-city adventure. Plus, the flight from Mexico City to Oaxaca is short—just over an hour—turning what could be a grueling travel day into something more manageable.

The journey may require some patience, but the moment you step into Oaxaca's warm evening air, mezcal in hand, the travel logistics fade into distant memory.