Where to stay · Oaxaca · Mexico
Where to stay in Oaxaca
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Centro Histórico. Zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid. Best alternatives — families: San Felipe del Agua.
Key facts
- First visit
- Centro Histórico
- Families
- San Felipe del Agua
- Budget
- Centro Histórico
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Centro Histórico | Zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid |
| Families | San Felipe del Agua | Leafy foothills at the edge of the Sierra Norte |
| Couples | Santo Domingo and the Andador | The pedestrian street, galleries and the gilded church |
| Budget | Centro Histórico | Zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid |
| Luxury | San Felipe del Agua | Leafy foothills at the edge of the Sierra Norte |
| Food lovers | Centro Histórico | Zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid |
| Solo travellers | Jalatlaco | Cobbled lanes, murals and small cafés in an old barrio |
| Shopping | Santo Domingo and the Andador | The pedestrian street, galleries and the gilded church |
| Quiet stays | Jalatlaco | Cobbled lanes, murals and small cafés in an old barrio |
Oaxaca neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, budget and culture
Centro Histórico
The streets around the Zócalo and the Alameda de León hold the cathedral, the government palace and, a few blocks south, the Benito Juárez and 20 de Noviembre markets. Everything in the historic centre is walkable, and hotels range from simple guesthouses to restored colonial mansions.
- Good
- Walk to markets, museums and restaurants; Wide range of prices; Lively evenings on the Zócalo
- Watch out
- Protests and marches sometimes occupy the Zócalo; Street noise and fireworks at festival times
- Nearby
- Zócalo, Cathedral, Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Mercado Benito Juárez
$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers, culture, food lovers and shopping
Santo Domingo and the Andador
The northern half of the centre around Santo Domingo and the pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcalá is the most polished part of the city, with boutique hotels, galleries, mezcal bars and many of the best-known restaurants. The Ethnobotanical Garden and the Museo de las Culturas are on the doorstep.
- Good
- Prettiest streets in the city; Restaurants and mezcal bars on foot; Quieter than the Zócalo
- Watch out
- Highest hotel prices in Oaxaca; Tourist-oriented shops and menus
- Nearby
- Santo Domingo, Jardín Etnobotánico, IAGO, Museo Textil
$$ · Best for couples, solo travellers, quiet stays and food lovers
Jalatlaco
Jalatlaco, just east of the centre across Calzada de la República, is one of Oaxaca's oldest neighbourhoods, with stone-paved streets, brightly painted single-storey houses and street murals. It has filled with small guesthouses, coffee roasters and casual restaurants while keeping a residential feel around its church of San Matías.
- Good
- Photogenic, quiet streets; Ten minutes' walk to Santo Domingo; Good cafés and breakfast places
- Watch out
- Cobbles are hard work with luggage; Few large hotels
- Nearby
- Templo de San Matías Jalatlaco, Santo Domingo, Parque El Llano
$$ · Best for quiet stays, solo travellers and budget
Xochimilco
North of Calzada Niños Héroes, the barrio of Xochimilco is threaded with stone lanes that run alongside the remains of the 18th-century aqueduct that once supplied the city. It is residential and calm, with a weekend market feel around its church and a 15–20 minute walk to Santo Domingo.
- Good
- Peaceful at night; Local atmosphere; Lower prices than the centre
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants; Uphill walk back from the centre
- Nearby
- Aqueduct arches, Santo Domingo, Reforma
$$ · Best for food lovers, quiet stays and solo travellers
Reforma
Colonia Reforma, north of Parque El Llano, is where many middle-class Oaxaqueños live, with wider streets, apartments and some of the city's well-regarded local restaurants and coffee shops. It suits longer stays and travellers who want a neighbourhood base rather than a historic one.
- Good
- Everyday local life; Good apartment rentals; Easy taxi access
- Watch out
- No colonial character; Taxi or 25-minute walk to the Zócalo
- Nearby
- Parque El Llano, Xochimilco, Centro Histórico
$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and families
San Felipe del Agua
San Felipe del Agua climbs the hills about 5 km north of the centre, where gardens, larger homes and a few resort-style hotels sit at the start of walking trails into the forested Sierra. It is cooler and greener than the city below, but you need taxis to reach the centre.
- Good
- Gardens, pools and space; Cooler nights; Hiking from the door
- Watch out
- Taxi needed for everything; Far from markets and nightlife
- Nearby
- Sierra Norte trails, Reforma
$ · Best for budget, culture and families
Barrio de la Soledad
The western edge of the centre, around the Basílica de la Soledad and its plaza of nieve stands, is quieter and more local than the Zócalo, with simple hotels and family eateries. Calle Independencia leads back to the cathedral in about ten minutes.
- Good
- Good-value hotels; Close to the Fortín viewpoint; Local plaza life
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants after dark; Some streets are quiet late at night
- Nearby
- Basílica de la Soledad, Cathedral, Cerro del Fortín
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Histórico | $$ | Zócalo, Cathedral, Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Mercado Benito Juárez |
| Santo Domingo and the Andador | $$$ | Santo Domingo, Jardín Etnobotánico, IAGO, Museo Textil |
| Jalatlaco | $$ | Templo de San Matías Jalatlaco, Santo Domingo, Parque El Llano |
| Xochimilco | $$ | Aqueduct arches, Santo Domingo, Reforma |
| Reforma | $$ | Parque El Llano, Xochimilco, Centro Histórico |
| San Felipe del Agua | $$$ | Sierra Norte trails, Reforma |
| Barrio de la Soledad | $ | Basílica de la Soledad, Cathedral, Cerro del Fortín |
Getting to your hotel
Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) is about 10 km south of the centre, roughly 20–30 minutes by road. Authorised taxis and shared vans sell tickets at counters in the arrivals hall at fixed fares to the centre.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Oaxaca for first-time visitors?
Centro Histórico. The streets around the Zócalo and the Alameda de León hold the cathedral, the government palace and, a few blocks south, the Benito Juárez and 20 de Noviembre markets.
+Where should families stay in Oaxaca?
San Felipe del Agua: Gardens, pools and space.
+Which area of Oaxaca is best for a budget stay?
Centro Histórico ($$): Zócalo, cathedral and markets in the colonial grid.