Free things to do · Oaxaca · Mexico
6 free things to do in Oaxaca
Oaxaca without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nsaum75, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Oaxaca without paying an entry fee: Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Zócalo and Cathedral, Andador Macedonio Alcalá and Basílica de la Soledad are all free. Eat the main meal at lunchtime, when comida corrida set menus are good value.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 6
- Low-cost extras
- 9
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- February, May–June and August–September
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Santo Domingo and the Andador
1.Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Visit in the late afternoon, when the sun lights the façade, and step inside quietly if a service or wedding is under way.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Photo spot
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Landmark · Centro Histórico
2.Zócalo and Cathedral
Take a coffee under the arcades in the early evening, when the square is at its liveliest and the marimba players set up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
Street · Santo Domingo and the Andador
3.Andador Macedonio Alcalá
Walk it twice: in the morning for galleries and shops, and after dark when calendas and street performers take over.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Architecture
Religious site · Barrio de la Soledad
4.Basílica de la Soledad
Order a scoop of leche quemada with tuna, the classic Oaxacan pairing, and eat it on the plaza steps.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Jalatlaco
5.Jalatlaco street walk
Go in the morning light for photographs and finish with breakfast at one of the barrio's cafés.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Barrio de la Soledad
6.Cerro del Fortín
Climb in the late afternoon for sunset views, and come down before dark; take a taxi up if you want to save your legs.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo and the Andador | Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Andador Macedonio Alcalá | 30–45 minutes + 1 hour |
| Centro Histórico | Zócalo and Cathedral | 1 hour |
| Barrio de la Soledad | Basílica de la Soledad and Cerro del Fortín | 45 minutes + 1–1.5 hours |
| Jalatlaco | Jalatlaco street walk | 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Museum · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Go before visiting Monte Albán to understand the site, and leave time for the window views of the garden and the church dome.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Historic site · Monte Albán
Monte Albán
Go early, when it is cooler and the light is soft; there is little shade, so bring a hat and water.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Market · Centro Histórico
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Pick the meat first, then sit at a shared table; vendors will bring tortillas, guacamole and chiles to you, each paid separately.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Garden · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca
Book the English-language tour if you need it; Spanish tours run more often, and the content is excellent either way.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Market · Centro Histórico
Mercado Benito Juárez
Buy mole paste here to take home; stallholders will let you taste the negro, rojo and amarillo before choosing.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Museum · Centro Histórico
Museo Textil de Oaxaca
Check the shop before buying textiles elsewhere; it is a reliable benchmark for quality and fair prices.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Museum · Centro Histórico
Museo de Arte Prehispánico Rufino Tamayo
Allow an hour and combine it with lunch nearby; the museum is small enough to see without fatigue.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Santo Domingo and the Andador
Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca
Use the courtyard as a calm break from the Andador, and ask about other cultural centres Toledo founded in the city.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Santa María del Tule
Árbol del Tule
Stop on the way to Teotitlán or Mitla; the village market next to the churchyard is good for a tejate or a snack.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
More ways to save
- Eat the main meal at lunchtime, when comida corrida set menus are good value.
- Use colectivos for the valley villages instead of private taxis if you are comfortable sharing.
- Buy crafts directly from workshops in the villages, where more of the price goes to the maker.
- Combine Tule, Teotitlán, Mitla and Hierve el Agua into one day on a group tour to save on transport.
- Book well ahead for Día de Muertos and the Guelaguetza, or avoid those weeks for much lower hotel rates.
- Carry small notes and coins; market vendors and colectivo drivers rarely have change for large notes.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Oaxaca expensive to visit?
Oaxaca is affordable for most visitors, but 6 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Oaxaca?
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán: Visit in the late afternoon, when the sun lights the façade, and step inside quietly if a service or wedding is under way.