Sight guide · Oaxaca · Mexico
Visiting Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Two blocks south of the Zócalo, this food market is known for its Pasillo de Humo, a smoky corridor where you choose tasajo, cecina and chorizo from butchers, have it grilled over charcoal, then buy tortillas, grilled onions and salsas from the women walking the aisles.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. João Sousa assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mercado 20 de Noviembre is a market in Centro Histórico, Oaxaca. Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Market
- Area
- Centro Histórico
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- food and rainy day
- Best months
- June and August–September
About Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Two blocks south of the Zócalo, this food market is known for its Pasillo de Humo, a smoky corridor where you choose tasajo, cecina and chorizo from butchers, have it grilled over charcoal, then buy tortillas, grilled onions and salsas from the women walking the aisles. Fondas around the edges serve mole and hot chocolate.
Tip: Pick the meat first, then sit at a shared table; vendors will bring tortillas, guacamole and chiles to you, each paid separately.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Centro Histórico, zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid.
Best time to visit Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Mercado 20 de Noviembre is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- June: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- August: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- September: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Oaxaca has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Oaxaca itinerary visits Mercado 20 de Noviembre on day 2, together with Monte Albán, Mercado Benito Juárez and Andador Macedonio Alcalá.
- No. 5 of the 17 sights in our Oaxaca things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- One of the picks in oaxaca on a rainy day.
Near Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Also in Centro Histórico, so you can walk between them:
- Zócalo and Cathedral — 1 hour, free
- Mercado Benito Juárez — 1 hour, low cost
- Museo Textil de Oaxaca — 1 hour, low cost
Staying near Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Stay in Centro Histórico ($$) to walk here: zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid. All areas to stay in Oaxaca.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Mercado 20 de Noviembre?
Plan 1 hour. With Zócalo and Cathedral nearby, it fits a half-day in Centro Histórico.
+Is Mercado 20 de Noviembre free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Mercado 20 de Noviembre?
June and August–September, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Pick the meat first, then sit at a shared table; vendors will bring tortillas, guacamole and chiles to you, each paid separately.
+Do I need to book Mercado 20 de Noviembre in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.