Sight guide · Oaxaca · Mexico
Visiting Monte Albán
The Zapotec capital was built on a levelled mountaintop about 400 metres above the valley, around 9 km west of the city, from roughly 500 BC.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: nsaum75 !Dígame¡ , CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Monte Albán is a historic site in Monte Albán, Oaxaca. Allow 2–3 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Monte Albán
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, views, outdoors and photo spot
- Best months
- December–February
About Monte Albán
The Zapotec capital was built on a levelled mountaintop about 400 metres above the valley, around 9 km west of the city, from roughly 500 BC. 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.
Tip: Go early, when it is cooler and the light is soft; there is little shade, so bring a hat and water.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Monte Albán.
Best time to visit Monte Albán
Monte Albán is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- January: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- December: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
- February: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-January the sun sets at about 18:12 local time (calculated for Oaxaca).
When to visit Oaxaca has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Oaxaca itinerary visits Monte Albán on day 2, together with Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Mercado Benito Juárez and Andador Macedonio Alcalá.
- No. 3 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 historic sites in Oaxaca.
- A family favourite in Oaxaca with kids.
If you like Monte Albán
- Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán — Santo Domingo and the Andador, 30–45 minutes
- Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca — Santo Domingo and the Andador, 1–2 hours
- Cerro del Fortín — Barrio de la Soledad, 1–1.5 hours
Staying near Monte Albán
Where to stay in Oaxaca compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Monte Albán?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Monte Albán free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Monte Albán?
December–February for the most comfortable weather. Go early, when it is cooler and the light is soft; there is little shade, so bring a hat and water.
+Do I need to book Monte Albán in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Monte Albán good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Oaxaca. Oaxaca is easy-going with children: compact, walkable and full of colour, with markets to graze through, craft workshops where kids can watch alebrijes being carved and painted, and the pools at Hierve el Agua.