How many days · Oaxaca · Mexico
How many days do you need in Oaxaca?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: nsaum75 !Dígame¡ , CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
5 days is the sweet spot for Oaxaca, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers the centre, Santo Domingo, the markets and Monte Albán. Five days adds a full day along the Tlacolula valley (El Tule, Teotitlán, Mitla, Hierve el Agua) and a day of craft villages south of the city or a cooking class.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 5 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 11.1 h (Dec) to 13.1 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, Monte Albán and Zócalo and Cathedral |
| 2 days | Rushed | Zócalo and Cathedral, Mercado 20 de Noviembre and Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca |
| 3 days | Good | Mercado Benito Juárez, Andador Macedonio Alcalá and Museo Textil de Oaxaca |
| 5 days | Ideal | The highlights plus a day trip to Mitla |
| 7 days | Relaxed | A slow trip with day trips such as Mitla and Hierve el Agua |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Oaxaca add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Monte Albán (2–3 hours), Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (2 hours) and Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca (1–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán | 30–45 minutes | Santo Domingo and the Andador |
| Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca | 2 hours | Santo Domingo and the Andador |
| Monte Albán | 2–3 hours | Monte Albán |
| Zócalo and Cathedral | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Mercado 20 de Noviembre | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca | 1–2 hours | Santo Domingo and the Andador |
| Mercado Benito Juárez | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Andador Macedonio Alcalá | 1 hour | Santo Domingo and the Andador |
| Museo Textil de Oaxaca | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Museo de Arte Prehispánico Rufino Tamayo | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Basílica de la Soledad | 45 minutes | Barrio de la Soledad |
| Jalatlaco street walk | 1–2 hours | Jalatlaco |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 5 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca |
| With children | 6 days | Slower days and time for Árbol del Tule |
| With day trips | 7 days | Add Mitla and Hierve el Agua |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 11.1 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.1 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Oaxaca with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | About 365 km | 5 days |
| San Miguel de Allende | About 601 km | 4 days |
| Antigua | About 700 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Oaxaca?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 5 days is more comfortable. Three days covers the centre, Santo Domingo, the markets and Monte Albán. Five days adds a full day along the Tlacolula valley (El Tule, Teotitlán, Mitla, Hierve el Agua) and a day of craft villages south of the city or a cooking class.
+Is a week too long in Oaxaca?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Mitla and Hierve el Agua.