History · Oaxaca · Mexico
6 historic sites to see in Oaxaca
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nsaum75, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca and Monte Albán. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Santo Domingo and the Andador, Monte Albán and Centro Histórico
Historic sites in Oaxaca
Religious site · Santo Domingo and the Andador
1.Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Look for the genealogical tree of Saint Dominic's family on the ceiling beneath the choir, and the Rosary Chapel, a riot of gold leaf, to the right of the nave. The plaza and agave beds outside are the city's favourite meeting point.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Photo spot
Museum · Santo Domingo and the Andador
2.Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Its star exhibit is the treasure of Tomb 7 at Monte Albán: Mixtec gold, jade, turquoise and carved bone found in 1932. Upper-floor windows look down over the Ethnobotanical Garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Historic site · Monte Albán
3.Monte Albán
Its Great Plaza is ringed by pyramids, a ball court and the Danzantes, carved stone figures among the oldest monuments in the site. Views stretch across all three arms of the Oaxaca valley.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
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Landmark · Centro Histórico
4.Zócalo and Cathedral
The cathedral, with its green-stone baroque façade, faces the adjoining Alameda de León.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
Museum · Centro Histórico
5.Museo de Arte Prehispánico Rufino Tamayo
Figurines and vessels from across Mexico are shown as sculpture.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Barrio de la Soledad
6.Basílica de la Soledad
On the terraced plaza outside, stalls have sold nieves for generations, with flavours such as leche quemada, tuna (prickly pear) and rose petal.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo and the Andador | Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca | 30–45 minutes + 2 hours |
| Monte Albán | Monte Albán | 2–3 hours |
| Centro Histórico | Zócalo and Cathedral and Museo de Arte Prehispánico Rufino Tamayo | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Barrio de la Soledad | Basílica de la Soledad | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Monte Albán; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Santo Domingo and the Andador): Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán → Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Monte Albán and Centro Histórico): Monte Albán → Zócalo and Cathedral → Museo de Arte Prehispánico Rufino Tamayo, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Barrio de la Soledad): Basílica de la Soledad, at least 1 hour.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds. Warm days, cool nights and clear skies; one of the most pleasant and least crowded months.
- May: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot, with the first storms arriving later in the month and the valley starting to green.
- June: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 15 rainy days, quiet crowds. The rainy season begins: sunny mornings, afternoon or evening downpours and green hills.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Centro Histórico — Zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid
- Santo Domingo and the Andador — The pedestrian street, galleries and the gilded church
- Barrio de la Soledad — Western centre around the basilica and its ice-cream stands
More of Oaxaca
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Oaxaca?
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Oaxaca's most spectacular church was built by Dominican friars from the late 16th century and is covered inside with gilded and polychrome stucco.
+Which of these are free in Oaxaca?
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Zócalo and Cathedral and Basílica de la Soledad.