Start Here
Oaxaca is where food, culture, and history come together in a way that no other city in Mexico can match. The food alone has put it on the international map. Mole, mezcal, tlayudas, chapulines. This is where families eat their way through a trip and learn something at every stop.
The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Calle Macedonio Alcalá is a pedestrian street running from the Zócalo to the Templo de Santo Domingo, lined with galleries, chocolate shops, and mezcal bars. The Jalatlaco neighborhood is covered in murals and papel picado flags. Kids can take cooking classes, watch alebrijes being carved, and visit markets where the chocolate is ground fresh in front of them.
Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital, sits on a hilltop 20 minutes from the city center. It is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico.
✈ Oaxaca · Trip at a Glance
• • •
🌎 Region: Oaxaca Valley, southern Mexico
📝 Language: Spanish (16 indigenous languages also spoken in the state)
💰 Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN)
☀ Best Months: October through April (dry season)
⭐ Family Rating: ★★★★★
Getting Around
Oaxaca’s airport (OAX) has direct flights from Mexico City, and some seasonal connections from U.S. cities through Volaris and VivaAerobus. Most families connect through Mexico City, which adds a short domestic flight of about an hour. The airport is 20 minutes from the centro.
The city center is compact and walkable. The Zócalo, Santo Domingo, Mercado 20 de Noviembre, and Jalatlaco are all within a 15 minute walk of each other. Taxis around the centro cost 40 to 60 MXN ($2.50 to $3.50 USD). Uber works here but the taxi coverage is just as good.
For day trips to Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, or the Tule Tree, colectivos (shared vans) leave from the centro and cost 20 to 50 MXN. Private drivers are easy to arrange through your hotel for around 800 to 1,500 MXN for a full day.
Getting to Oaxaca
Most U.S. flights connect through Mexico City (MEX). The domestic flight to OAX is about 1 hour. Some seasonal direct flights from U.S. cities on Volaris.
City Taxis — Fixed rates around the centro, 40 to 60 MXN ($2.50 to $3.50 USD). No meters. Agree on the fare before you ride.
Where to Stay
Most families stay in the centro historico or the Jalatlaco neighborhood. Centro puts you steps from the Zócalo, the markets, and the pedestrian streets. Jalatlaco is quieter, covered in street art, and has a village feel while still being a ten minute walk from everything.
Casa Oaxaca
Boutique hotel in the centro with a courtyard pool, rooftop terrace, and an excellent restaurant. Beautiful rooms in a converted colonial house. Around $200 to $300 USD per night.
Hotel Casa de Sierra Azul
Colonial building with a central courtyard, pool, and good family rooms. Walking distance to the Zócalo and Santo Domingo. Around $90 to $130 USD per night.
City Centro Oaxaca
Modern hotel in the centro with clean, comfortable rooms. Rooftop bar with views. Solid mid range option for families. Around $70 to $100 USD per night.
Suites de la Parra
Apartment style suites in Jalatlaco with kitchens, living areas, and a quiet courtyard. Good for longer stays and families who want to cook some meals. Around $60 to $90 USD per night.
What to See
Monte Albán
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the earliest cities in Mesoamerica. The Zapotec capital sits on a flattened mountaintop 20 minutes from the city center, with 360 degree views of the surrounding valleys. The main plaza, ball court, and observatory are all well preserved.
Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds. Bring water and sunscreen. There is very little shade. Admission is around 90 MXN ($5 USD) for adults. Kids under 13 are free. Plan 2 to 3 hours.
Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Mercado Benito Juárez
These two markets sit side by side in the centro. Mercado 20 de Noviembre is famous for the Pasillo de Humo (Smoke Alley), where vendors grill meat over open flames and you eat at communal tables surrounded by smoke. Mercado Benito Juárez is the place for chocolate, mole paste, cheese, chapulines (grasshoppers), and fresh produce.
Both markets are family friendly and the vendors are welcoming. Point at what looks good. Most dishes cost 50 to 100 MXN ($3 to $6 USD).
Jalatlaco
Jalatlaco is a small neighborhood on the eastern edge of the centro that feels like its own village. The streets are strung with papel picado flags and covered in murals. There are small cafes, mezcalerias, and artisan shops tucked into the side streets.
This is a great neighborhood for a morning walk with kids. The colors are everywhere. Grab coffee and pan dulce at one of the corner bakeries and just wander.
What to Eat
Oaxaca has a strong claim to being the food capital of Mexico. Seven different moles. Mezcal from the surrounding valleys. Tlayudas, the Oaxacan version of a pizza. Chapulines on everything. The food scene here is deep and it is affordable. Most meals at market stalls and street stands run 50 to 120 MXN ($3 to $7 USD).
Tlayuda
Oaxacan Crispy Tortilla
A large, thin, crispy tortilla spread with black bean paste, topped with tasajo (dried beef), Oaxacan cheese, avocado, and salsa. Think of it as a Oaxacan open faced taco the size of a plate. 60 to 100 MXN.
Mole Negro
Black Mole Sauce
The signature mole of Oaxaca. Dark, rich, and complex with over 30 ingredients including chilhuacle peppers, chocolate, and plantain. Usually served over chicken with rice. 80 to 150 MXN at a sit down restaurant.
Chapulines
Toasted Grasshoppers
Crunchy, seasoned with lime, chile, and garlic. They are sold by the bag at Mercado Benito Juárez and sprinkled on tacos, tlayudas, and guacamole. Kids who are willing to try them usually like the crunch. About 30 to 50 MXN per bag.
Hot Chocolate
Oaxacan Cacao
Oaxaca is famous for its chocolate. The cacao is ground fresh at shops along Calle Mina and mixed with cinnamon, sugar, and sometimes almonds. A cup of hot chocolate at Mayordomo or Chocolate Guelaguetza costs about 30 to 50 MXN and kids go through it fast.
Nicole’s Perspective
Oaxaca is the city I recommend when families tell me they want Mexico but not a resort. It is the full package. The food is excellent for all ages, the culture runs deep, and the pace is slow enough that you do not feel rushed.
I always tell families to do a cooking class here. You go to the market with a local chef, shop for ingredients, learn about the chiles and the moles, and then cook a meal together. My families with kids aged 7 and up consistently say the cooking class was a highlight of their whole trip.
Monte Albán is one of the most powerful archaeological sites I have worked into itineraries in Mexico. It is not as crowded as Chichen Itzá, the hilltop setting is dramatic, and kids can climb and explore. Go first thing in the morning.
If you have four or five days, add the Tule Tree (over 2,000 years old, and kids lose their minds over the size of it), Hierve el Agua (petrified waterfalls with natural pools), and the Sunday market at Tlacolula. That combination gives families a trip that sticks with them for years.
Day Trips
Hierve el Agua
About 90 minutes east. Petrified waterfalls formed by mineral springs, with natural infinity pools overlooking the valley. Kids can swim in the pools and hike to the waterfall viewpoints. Bring swimsuits and water shoes.
Tule Tree
Fifteen minutes from the city center. The Árbol del Tule is a Montezuma cypress that is over 2,000 years old with a trunk circumference of 42 meters. It is one of the widest trees in the world and kids stand next to it with their jaws on the ground.
Tlacolula Sunday Market
Thirty minutes from the city. One of the largest and oldest indigenous markets in Mexico, running every Sunday. Food, textiles, pottery, mezcal, and produce. This is not a tourist market. It is where local families shop.
Sierra Norte
About 90 minutes north. Community run ecotourism villages in the mountains with hiking, mountain biking, and zip lines through cloud forest. Good for families with older kids who want an active day outside the city.
Practical Tips
Language
Spanish is widely spoken. English is understood at most hotels and some restaurants, but markets and smaller shops are Spanish only. Basic phrases go a long way. Google Translate with the offline Spanish pack is helpful.
Cash or Card
Markets, street food, and colectivos are cash only. Hotels and sit down restaurants take cards. Keep 500 to 1,000 MXN in cash. ATMs at Banorte and Banamex in the centro give good exchange rates.
Altitude
Oaxaca sits at 5,100 feet. Most people do not feel altitude effects, but drink extra water for the first day or two. The air is dry. The sun feels stronger than you expect.
Safety
The centro, Jalatlaco, and Reforma neighborhoods are safe for families. Oaxaca has a reputation as one of the safest cities in Mexico for travelers. Use normal precautions and stay in well lit areas at night.
How Many Days
Four days gives you the city center, the markets, a cooking class, Monte Albán, and one day trip. Five days adds the Tule Tree, Hierve el Agua, and a slower pace. Three days works but you will be choosing between experiences. Oaxaca rewards staying longer.
Common Questions
Is Oaxaca safe for families?
When should we visit Oaxaca?
Will my kids eat chapulines?
Is Monte Albán worth it with young kids?
Do I need to book a cooking class in advance?
Planning a Trip to Mexico?
Oaxaca is the trip I love helping families plan. From cooking classes to market tours to day trips into the valleys, there is a lot to coordinate and I know how to put it together. If you want help, I would love to work with you.
Read the Mexico Guide
