A long weekend in Oaxaca is a feast for the senses. Oaxaca City is, in my opinion, one of the cultural hubs of Mexico. Best known for it’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities, it has much to offer any time of the year. For me, it’s in my top three destinations in Mexico, and I’m eager to return to explore all that it has to offer. Beyond that, the food. The food in Oaxaca is some of the best in Mexico. Even the smallest, most unassuming restaurants serve flavor like you’ve never experienced. I’m so excited to share this trip with you!
How to Get to Oaxaca
First of all, Oaxaca is a state, so where you’re going is Oaxaca City. There are daily flights from Oaxaca from Mexico City from $100 – $200 USD. If you stay in Mexico City first, check out my three day itinerary for Mexico City. The flight is only an hour and twenty minutes, so it’s very easy to spend a long weekend in Oaxaca.
From the U.S., there are a few places, such as Los Angeles, that have direct flights, but in most cases, you’ll have one stop. You can also take a bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca City. I have never done this, but I have friends who have done it without issues. On Ado Bus, which is a well-known bus line in Mexico, it’s between $25 – $65 each way, and the trip is approximately eight hours.
Where to Stay in Oaxaca
Oaxaca is less known by international tourists, but it is definitely becoming more popular with the rise in awareness around Día de los Muertos and the food scene. Interestingly, it is now also a very popular wedding destination. The mix of rich culture and food has started to give this location global attention, and with that, many hotel options. Here are a few I’ve found in my research.
- Grana B&B ($$) – The next time I go to Oaxaca, I’m staying here. I have seen Grana Airbnb on Instagram and I’m completely enamored with the architecture and vibe of this hotel.
- Hotel con Corazon ($) – This hotel has great reviews at a great price and embodies the architectural style of Oaxaca.
- City Centro by Marriott Oaxaca ($$$) – If you’re a Marriott Rewards member looking for a Marriott hotel with some cultural elements, this is it. And, it has a pool.
- Boulenc Bed & Bread ($) – Another affordable and stylish option, this hotel has all the vibes of an old school Oaxaca home with modern amenities.
- Hotel Materia ($$$) – Many sources indicate it’s one of the ten coolest boutique hotels in Oaxaca, this hotel looks like one to try.
What to do in Oaxaca
There is so much to do in Oaxaca that I think I could write several posts about it. However, we only had a long weekend in Oaxaca, so we packed in as much as possible – from Mezcal to handmade candles to limestone waterfalls – we did it all, and in between, we ate. Here are some options of what to do during a long weekend in Oaxaca.
Go Shopping for Artisan Goods
Oaxaca is known for it’s handicrafts and textiles, and when I tell you I brought home so many things from Oaxaca. There are two larger artisan markets in Oaxaca – La Casa de las Artesenias de Oaxaca and Artesanias La Casa del Rebozo. They both sell similar items, and the prices will be much less than in Mexico City. I bought alebrijes, textiles for our home, art, and more. They’re also great places for gifts.
Visit Museum and Galleries
Oaxaca is truly full of art. It’s in the handicrafts, the murals, and the streets. You’ll find many stores selling art as well. Here are a few: Kaku Secret Gallery, Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca (Santo Domingo), Museum of Oaxacan Painters, 2020 Art Contemporaneo (no website). I recommend walking around and seeing what strikes your fancy.
Take a Day Tour
This was one of the best things we did in Oaxaca. It was definitely the easiest way to see the most in a short amount of time. In our case, we did a private tour because we had to go directly to the airport that day, and we wanted to be able to choose our schedule. To book a tour, you can simply go to the Zocalo (main square) and find someone selling them. There are many options. If you wish to plan ahead, here are some that were similar to ours. I didn’t find any tours that did everything that we did. Since ours was private, we were able to do a lot because we were on our own timeline.
- Viator – Tour Monte Albán, Hierve el agua, Teotitlán Del Valle and Mezcal
- Get Your Guide – From Oaxaca: Hierve el Agua and Teotitlán del Valle
- What will you see? So much! On our tour, we went to the famous Tule tree, a Oaxacan bakery, a family’s home where they made beautiful, handmade carpets (I bought one), the most incredible studios in Teotitlán del Valle where they make handmade beeswax candles (I bought many), Hierve el Agua (limestone waterfalls), and a mezcal tasting. It was a truly full day. For me – must do’s were Tule tree and the Teotitlán del Valle artisans (candles and carpets). I could have skipped Hierve el Agua, although it’s one of the most popular tours from Oaxaca City.
- Tips: Bring cash and bring snacks. There are very few places to eat along the way, especially if you don’t have cash, and it’s a very long day. We stopped for food before the airport at a tiny, wonderful place, but we were starving.
Where to Eat & Drink in Oaxaca
Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite region is in Mexico in terms of food, I always say Oaxaca. This region is known for it’s moles, and before I went to Oaxaca, I had no idea how many different types of moles there were. In one weekend I ate black mole (the one you probably know), yellow mole and red mole. I ate mole with chicken, tlayudas with Oaxaca cheese and mole, enchiladas with mole, etc. Oaxaca is also famous for cacao and for the infamous, beloved Mexican snack – chapulines (grasshoppers). Basically, it is food heaven, and we ate all weekend. Here are a few places we loved.
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre ($) – The market. We loved the market. We ate there multiple times. The food is reasonably prices and so good. We particularly loved the over 100 year old, La Abuelita, and we ate there twice.
- Los Danzantes ($$$) – This was recommended to us for dinner and did not disappoint. If you want a nice dinner with music, this is the place.
- Marito & Moglie Cafe ($$) – While not Oaxacan, and actually Italian in name, we loved this little spot for brunch. I’d highly recommend it.
- Restaurant Tierra del Sol ($$$) – If you want something a bit high-end, check out Tierra del Sol. We loved this place because not only was the food delicious, the view from the rooftop was excellent.
