Travel tips · Oaxaca · Mexico
Oaxaca travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
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
Oaxaca is home to many Indigenous peoples, including Zapotec, Mixtec and Mixe communities, and their languages, dress, cooking and festivals shape daily life in the city and especially in the surrounding villages. Craft traditions are passed down within families, and community festivals, processions and calendas with brass bands happen through the year.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish, Zapotec and Mixtec
- Currency
- MXN
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, and refill stations in…
- Emergency
- 911
Things to know
- Greet people with 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' when entering shops, markets and taxis.
- Ask before photographing people, especially in villages, markets and during religious ceremonies.
- During Día de Muertos, treat cemetery visits and family altars as private; observe quietly and do not touch offerings.
- Haggling is gentle and limited in markets; in artisan workshops, prices are usually fixed and reflect weeks of work.
- Dress modestly when entering churches, and keep quiet during services.
- Book Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca ahead: Visits are by guided tour only; reserve a place at the entrance a day or two ahead, especially for English tours.
- Book Oaxacan cooking class ahead: Popular classes fill up around Día de Muertos and the Guelaguetza; reserve a few weeks ahead for those periods.
- Eat the main meal at lunchtime, when comida corrida set menus are good value.
Tipping
Tip about 10–15% in sit-down restaurants and a few pesos at market fondas. Guides and cooking teachers usually receive 10% or more.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Sin carne | Without meat |
| Salud | Cheers |
What to wear
Casual clothes work everywhere; bring a warm layer for cool evenings and mornings in winter, a hat for Monte Albán and comfortable shoes for cobbles.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, and refill stations in many hotels.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Phone and internet
- Mobile data works well in the city; coverage is patchy in some mountain villages and along the road to Hierve el Agua.
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
The centre is generally calm for visitors, but watch for pickpockets in crowded markets and during festivals. Political demonstrations and road blockades are common in Oaxaca; they are usually peaceful but can occupy the Zócalo or close roads, so avoid them and check locally before long drives.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Mexico's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Oaxaca?
Tip about 10–15% in sit-down restaurants and a few pesos at market fondas. Guides and cooking teachers usually receive 10% or more.
+Can you drink the tap water in Oaxaca?
Do not drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, and refill stations in many hotels.
+What plugs are used in Oaxaca?
Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Oaxaca?
Spanish, Zapotec and Mixtec.