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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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What to See & Do with Only 48 Hours in Oaxaca

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 · Oaxaca

So you decided to spend two days in Oaxaca’s historic capital, Oaxaca de Juárez (Oaxaca City), huh? Great choice, might I say!

That’s wonderful because Oaxaca City rarely ever disappoints its visitor. I mean, how could it?!

Famous for its world-renown gastronomy, centuries-old architecture, and ancient Zapotec ruins, Oaxaca City is delightful to discover.

While 2 days in Oaxaca isn’t nearly enough to fully explore this wondrous city, it’s plenty enough to dive head-first into dishes of mole, shots of artisanal mezcal, and see the 1200+ registered historic sites speckled throughout the city.

And don’t worry—even if you could spend two months in Oaxaca as I did, you still would have a lot of activities left over on your ‘things to do in Oaxaca City’ bucket list!

If you are ready to see the best of Oaxaca City in just two days or in one weekend, I’ve got the perfect, detailed itinerary right here. Read more below and drop me your comments at the end of this post!

Table of Contents show
How to Spend 2 Days in Oaxaca, Mexico
Day 1 in Oaxaca: The Centro Histórico
Zócalo
Santo Domingo
More Places to Visit
Day 2 in Oaxaca: Monte Albán & Jalatlaco
Monte Albán
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Jalatlaco

How to Spend 2 Days in Oaxaca, Mexico

Before we get into the juicy bits of this 2-day itinerary, here is a brief overview of what you can expect to do and see during your short time in Oaxaca City.

Seeing as 48 hours isn’t that much time (including the time it takes to arrive/depart), I suggest combing through my other Oaxaca travel guides at some point to decide on your activity preferences.

And by that, I mean, do you want to explore Oaxaca’s street art scene, historic sites and museums, or food and spirits?

If you said yes to all three, you’re in luck!

In my itinerary, you will get to see a bit of everything, including the artsy neighborhoods, the archaeological sites, (some) museums, and, of course, the main local markets to immerse in Oaxaca’s incredible food and textile cultures.

Of course, feel free to customize the below itinerary to find what piques your interest the most!

Bookmark these Oaxaca guides for later:

  • 🚶‍♀️ Best DIY Self-Guided Walking Tours of Oaxaca City
  • ✨ The 12 Cutest Boutique Hotels in Oaxaca
  • 🗺 How to Spend 4–5 Days in Oaxaca City Itinerary
  • 🌵 3 Days in Oaxaca City, Mexico (Itinerary)
  • 🎒 9 Best Backpacker Hostels in Oaxaca City

Day 1 in Oaxaca: The Centro Histórico

Colorful hostels, restaurants, and buildings line cobbled street in Oaxaca City Historic Center.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

No matter how much time you have to spend in Oaxaca, it’s always best to start in the heart of the city center.

And in Oaxaca City, the heart is centralized around the Zócalo (main square).

Zócalo

The Zócalo is interesting for its atmosphere and bounty of restaurants, shops, and attractions perched around the square blocks which are easy to reach on foot.

One of the places to visit here is the bustling Alameda de Léon square connected to the main park on its northwest corner.

While you’re here, don’t miss stepping inside the ornate, 16th-century Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca.

To see more beautiful, historic buildings, head one block right to see the regal Teatro Macedonio Alcalá. You can simply pass by it to marvel at it or check their Facebook to see if there are any opera or theatre events going on while you’re in town.

The Teatro Macedonia Alcaná de Oaxaca.
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá

From this point, you can make an easy circle to get back to the Zócalo while checking out the historic San Pablo Cultural Center and the free Regional Textiles Museum of Oaxaca.

Local Tip: You can actually cross from Av. de la Independencía street to Miguel Hidalgo street by passing through the cultural center’s colorful, umbrella-strewn plaza. Once on the other end, duck inside Muss Café—one of our favorite cafés in Oaxaca City—for a delicious coffee or lunch break.

Colorful umbrellas hang in the plaza of the San Pablo Cultural Center in Oaxaca City Centro.

From here, head down Miguel Hidalgo toward the Zócalo again.

Once you reach the back of the cathedral, turn right and follow the pedestrian-only street through the heart of Oaxaca’s city center.

If you are on a car-free, cobbled street covered in colorful flags and lined with shops, restaurants, and more on either side, then you’ve made it to the Anador Túristico.

On your way up the Andaor Túristico, there are countless hole-in-the-walls to discover.

From bookstores to cafes to galleries to one of my favorite hidden places to visit—the Atemporal Design Market.

If you enjoy trendy/artsy jewelry, clothes, and crafts (and even fancy gelato), then come here.

Atemporal design market in covered outdoor courtyard
Artisanal ice cream with mezcal, lime, and blackberry.

Explore at your own pace for the next four blocks north until you reach the Santo Domingo Plaza which opens up to the immense and iconic Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán.

Santo Domingo

Once you reach Santo Domingo, you will feel pulled in all directions!

temple santo domingo oaxaca city

Around this big and beautiful plaza are independent art studios, rooftop bars, artisanal boutique stores, swanky restaurants, tattoo shops, and more.

I recommend stepping into a few that attract your eye, but don’t linger too long! Plenty more activities await you on your first day in Oaxaca.

For example, the cathedral itself is a must-visit! While it’s open daily, you will probably have the most luck visiting in the afternoon. So you might need to come back for this.

In contrast, the Jardín Etnobotaníco (Ethnobotanical Garden) which is connected to the back gardens of the temple, one block down, can only be visited during the morning with a tour guide (for English tours, that’s at 10 am, 11 am, or 12pm and costs $100 MXN pesos).

Blonde woman walking through garden of cacti in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
Jardín Etnobotanico de Oaxaca

If you don’t decide to do the ethnobotanical garden tour, you can take advantage of your available time and continue visiting the historic center beyond the temple.

More Places to Visit

Beyond the temple, there are a few more points of interest to visit in the vicinity (within a couple of blocks) which you may/may not have time for depending on your schedule.

  • The House-Museum of Benito Juárez
  • La Cosecha Organic Market
  • Aqueducts (Arches) of Xochimilco
  • The oldest neighborhood of Oaxaca, Xochimilco
  • Mercado Sánchez Pascuas (local food/produce market as featured in a Netflix episode)

You might need to bookmark some of those locations to come back and visit if you have more time on day two.

Speaking of, here’s what your second day in Oaxaca could look like!

Day 2 in Oaxaca: Monte Albán & Jalatlaco

On your first day in Oaxaca, you got to explore the heart of the city center. Now for the second day, I recommend visiting/doing three things:

  • Monte Albán — a Zapotec archaeological ruins site
  • Markets — including 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juárez
  • Jalatlaco — an artsy, old Zapotec neighborhood

Monte Albán

If you decide to visit Monte Albán, expect it to take the entire morning (and it’s best to get there early before the sun really comes out).

Woman standing overlooking the Zapotec archaeological ruins of Monte Albán near Oaxaca Mexico.

The archaeological site is well worth your time.

It was once the thriving capital of the Zapotec Indians, but it also saw the tide and influence of the Olmecs and Aztecs before the city was abandoned several centuries ago.

Man reading sign in front of Zapotec pyramid at Monte Albán in Oaxaca

You can read my guide linked above for the full details, but the easiest way to get there is to hop in a DiDi or local taxi. It’s better if you can split the cost with someone.

Otherwise, if you’re on a tight budget, there are local buses.

Since Monte Albán will take up a good chunk of your morning, you can expect to get back to Oaxaca City in time for lunch.

This is when I recommend heading to the 20 de Noviembre market.

Mercado 20 de Noviembre

Inside the Noviembre 23 Mercado de Oaxaca
Tlayuda and michelada - Oaxacan food and drink at market in Oaxaca

The local food here is delicious and, if you are a meat-lover, you will especially appreciate the famous, smoky “Meat Aisle.”

For vegans/vegetarians, don’t worry!

There are other things you can eat at the market, and you don’t need to visit the meaty section of the market if you are sensitive to the site or smell of hanging raw meat.

Recommend Oaxaca Food Tours:

  • 🦗 Eat Like A Local Authentic Oaxaca Food Tour
  • 🌮 2x Oaxaca Markets Street Food Tours by Locals
  • 🌽 Earth, Corn & Fire: The Roots of Oaxacan Cuisine

The market is easy to reach on foot from the Zócalo, just head south two blocks.

Across the road from the Mercado 20 de Noviembre is the big and sprawling Benito Juárez Market.

Here, you can find everything from produce to crafts to souvenirs to crispy crickets, and more!

Once you’ve wrapped up at the market, either walk or DiDi to the entrance of the Jalatlaco neighborhood.

Jalatlaco

The neighborhood of Jalatlaco in Oaxaca City, Mexico.

In this artsy, old neighborhood you will be enamored with the colorful street art and quaint cafes, restaurants, and independent art galleries/studios that have taken up residence inside the historic converted buildings.

My best advice to end your second day in Oaxaca City is to simply get lost in the maze of Jalatlaco.

There is the cute San Mátias Temple to see, plus a handful of cute shops, studios, and cafes. For yummy food, head to Santa Hierba.

See where Jalatlaco takes you, and then navigate back to your accommodation for the night before you pack up and head out!

While two days in Oaxaca is quite short, this itinerary packs quite a bit into it!

I hope that you’ll get to see and do everything that was on your bucket list. If not, you’ll just have to plan your trip back! Please let me know your thoughts below, and have a safe trip!

Pin this 2-day Oaxaca itinerary for later!

By: Bri · In: Oaxaca

you’ll also love

Woman standing overlooking the Zapotec archaeological ruins of Monte Albán near Oaxaca Mexico.How to Visit Monte Albán Near Oaxaca City (Zapotec Ruins)
Tejate drink of cacao and corn served in a red jicara (gourd) bowlWhere to Drink Tejate in Oaxaca — The Must-Try “Drink of the Gods”
The colorful belfry of Templo San Matías Jalatlaco in Oaxaca City, Mexico.The Ultimate Guide to Jalatlaco: Oaxaca’s Artsy Neighborhood

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

#nepal #nepalnow #nepalphotography #nepaliculture #nepalisbeautiful #natgeoyourshot #patan #kathmanduvalley #lifetimeexperiences #photonepal #nepaltravel
Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swi Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swirling spirituality, its raw humanity? ✨🇳🇵❤️

#nepal #visitnepal #nepalnow #travelstories #localtravel #mindfultravel #slowtravel #natgeotravel
When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

#solotravel #localtravel #nepaltravel #nepaldiaries #nepali #solofemaletravel #kathmandunepal #thamel #tibetanfood #solotraveldiaries
My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
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