• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

The Perfect 3 Days in Oaxaca City, Mexico (Itinerary)

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 · Oaxaca

Is spending three days in Oaxaca City enough to soak in the all sites, architecture, and gastronomy that Oaxaca has to offer?

Certainly not, but three days is a great amount of time to immerse yourself in some of Oaxaca City’s top things to do and see.

Woman with blonde hair looks up in downtown Oaxaca at the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Oaxaca City, Mexico.

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!

If you’re unsure of how many days in Oaxaca you need, rest assured that three days is plenty.

With 3 days in Oaxaca City, you have ample time to slurp up its rich gastronomy, marvel at its centuries-old architecture, stroll through its sprawling local markets, and stand in awe as you explore ancient Zapotec ruins.

If you are ready to see the best of Oaxaca City in as little as three days, I’ve got the perfect, detailed itinerary right here.

After spending two months in Oaxaca, and having lived as nomads in Mexico on and off since 2018, I can guarantee you will fall in love with Oaxaca just as much as we did when we first visited.

Let’s go!

Table of Contents show
The Ultimate 3-Day Oaxaca Itinerary
Day 1: Discover Oaxaca’s Historic Center
Day 2: Explore Beyond the City
Day 3 in Oaxaca: Street Food, Mezcal, & Markets

The Ultimate 3-Day Oaxaca Itinerary

Blonde female digital nomad posing for photo in front of pink wall with a sign that reads, "Oaxaca Te Amo" in Oaxaca City, Mexico.

Here is a brief overview of what you can expect to do and see during your 3 days in Oaxaca City.

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
  • 🎒 9 Best Backpacker Hostels in Oaxaca City

Day 1: Discover Oaxaca’s Historic Center

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

Even though you have three full days in Oaxaca to spare, it’s always best to start in the heart of the city center.

The city center of Oaxaca (also referred to as downtown) is a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will find everything in the center—from gourmet restaurants to local eateries to renovated historic monuments to modern museums and much, much more.

Get familiar with Oaxaca by kickstarting your 3-day itinerary with a tour around the Zócalo (main square).

I recommend you follow my DIY self-guided walking tour of Oaxaca to learn more about each point of interest.

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

The Teatro Macedonia Alcaná de Oaxaca.
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá

Here, you’ll find a bustling square adorned with the 16th-century Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca.

Two blocks east sits the equally stunning Teatro Macedonio Alcalá. If you take a guided walking tour of Oaxaca, your departure point will be at this beautiful and historic building.

There are tons of interesting activities to do in the center of Oaxaca, such as visiting the San Pablo Cultural Center, the Oaxaqueño Painters Museum, and the free Regional Textiles Museum of Oaxaca.

While the main markets of 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juárez are located about 700m south of the Zócalo, there is the Atemporal design market hidden right around the corner from the pedestrian-only street of the Anador Turistico you should check out.

Inside this market, you can shop for artisanal jewelry and clothes, and treat yourself to fancy ice cream, mezcal, and other treats!

✨ Read more about the must-see markets of Oaxaca here!

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

The Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is a must-see on any Oaxaca itinerary.

And during your three days in Oaxaca, you’ll pass by the ornate church and ex-convent aplenty.

Surrounding this sprawling plaza are tons of independent art studios, rooftop bars, boutique stores, mezcal bars (mezcalerías), museums, and more!

The main things to do around Santo Domingo are:

  • Tour the Ethnobotanical Garden (with a guide only)
  • Visit the on-site cultural and archaeological museum
  • Step inside and visit the interior of the ex-convent
temple santo domingo oaxaca city

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.

While the Templo Santo Domingo is supposed to be open daily, it’s not really. Visiting hours for tourists vary.

You are better off visiting the Jardín Etnobotaníco (Ethnobotanical Garden) for the morning tour and then swinging by the cathedral in the late afternoon.

For the garden tours, you need to join a guided group (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.

A block north of the temple lies even more points of interest to visit in the vicinity.

  • 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)
Downtown Oaxaca City

Luckily, all of this can be done on foot.

If you are strapped for time on your very first day in Oaxaca, you can always come back in your spare time on days two and three and complete the above-mentioned activities.

Day 2: Explore Beyond the City

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

When you have 3 days in Oaxaca City, I recommend spending one of those exploring more of Oaxaca City’s surroundings on a day trip.

Here are a few of the most popular Oaxaca day trips.

  • Monte Albán — explore the ruins of this Zapotec archaeological site overlooking Oaxaca City
  • Hierve El Agua — wade in spring pools at the top of this popular petrified waterfall
  • Tlacolula Sunday Market — stroll through this large, sprawling market featuring everything Oaxaqueño
  • Mezcal distillery tour — learn about the entire culture and process behind mezcal on a mezcal tour from Oaxaca (read my review)
  • San Antonio Arrazola — journey to the small pueblo where the Oaxaca alebrijes figurines originate
  • Mitla & Yagul Caves — visit the town and archaeological site of Mitla and the prehistoric caves of Yagul/Mitla

If you decide to visit Monte Albán, my advice is to go as soon as it opens. This ancient Zapotec capital city and archaeological site is a must-visit.

In fact, for all the day excursions, start early so you can make the most of your afternoon and evening back in Oaxaca City.

Hierve El Agua is by far the most popular choice for day trips, but note that it takes about 1.5 hours to reach one way—even more if you go by bus (from Oaxaca, you’ll have to first shuttle to Mitla).

The easiest way to visit Hierve El Agua from Oaxaca City is with a half-day or full-day guided tour like this top-rated one.

Screenshot of Viator tour of Hierve El Agua.

Day 3 in Oaxaca: Street Food, Mezcal, & Markets

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

For your third and final day in Oaxaca, you may not have a full 12 hours cut out for you to explore, which is why I recommend doing some lighter activities today, such as:

  • Eating your way into Oaxaca’s street food culture
  • Going on a street art tour of Oaxaca’s Jalatlaco neighborhood
  • Ducking inside the local markets of the city
  • Finishing the day in a swanky mezcal bar at Mezcalogia

For starters, you don’t need to pay for a guided food tour, but if you are keen to learn more about the culture and history of the gastronomy of Oaxaca, then I would definitely recommend doing just that.

Luckily, the food tours are affordable and they offer so much value.

Recommended 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
Oaxacan street food

If you prefer to discover Oaxaca’s street food and markets at your own pace, then start on foot near the Zócalo and head south.

There are a couple of markets down here to visit.

  • Mercado 20 de Noviembre
  • Benito Juárez
  • Mercado de Artesanías

Mercado 20 de Noviembre is the big and sprawling market right across from Benito Juárez Market.

For food, head to Noviembre. For everything else, head to Benito Juárez. At Benito, you can find everything from produce to crafts to souvenirs to crispy crickets, and more!

Alternatively, or additionally (if you have time), visit the old, artsy neighborhood of Jalatlaco.

The neighborhood of Jalatlaco in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
The San Matias Jalatlaco Temple with a colorful belfry.

Jalatlaco is a 10-minute walk east of Templo Santo Domingo, and there is no excuse to miss out on it.

Here, 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.

Aside from the little crown jewel of the neighborhood, the San Mátias Temple, there are lots of cute shops, studios, and cafes.

The best way to visit is with a guided street art tour by bike, but the neighborhood is small enough to get lost on your own. It’s pretty neat to glean your local guide’s insight and stories about all the artists and murals you see, though!

I love Jalatlaco because it is a nice way to wind down and conclude your trip to Oaxaca.

I’m sure you’ll love it so don’t forget to tack it onto your 3-day Oaxaca itinerary!

To top off your stay in Oaxaca, head to one of the mezcal bars around the Santo Domingo Plaza for a final slurp of that smoky goodness before you go home!

If you have any questions at all about what to do and see in Oaxaca in three days, drop me a comment below and I’ll get back to you. ☺️

Bookmark 3 days in Oaxaca guide for later!

By: Bri · In: Oaxaca

you’ll also love

What to See & Do with Only 48 Hours in Oaxaca
Blonde woman walking through garden of cacti in Oaxaca City, Mexico.25 Unmissable Things to Do in Oaxaca City, Mexico
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”

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Where to Stay in Oaxaca City in 2023 (Best Neighborhoods)

Primary Sidebar

hello!

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!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

What to See & Do with Only 48 Hours in Oaxaca

How to Spend 4–5 Days in Oaxaca City: The Ultimate Itinerary

women swimming in Mexico's natural wonders - cenote tzaujun

My Top 5 Favorite Cenotes in Yucatan & Quintana Roo

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • CONTACT
  • COURSE
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

When you already feel nostalgic for leaving a plac When you already feel nostalgic for leaving a place you’ve only just arrived in... Do you know the feeling I’m talking about?? 

We are here in Goa, India 🇮🇳 for an amazing digital nomad retreat hosted by @nurall_co and are feeling so pumped and grateful to be here! ✨

We’ve already spent our first few hours diving into butter paneer masala and chai at the lovely @caferasagoa and wandering the historic Latin Quarter in awe of its Portuguese tiles and little hole-in-the-wall tapas bars. And it’s safe to say we’re hooked. 🤩 

Can’t wait to uncover even more treasures that Panjim and Goa hold 🫶

... And so begins Day 1/40 of my trip through India, Taiwan, and Japan! Follow along for the journey 🤗

#goaindia #panjim #portugese #indiatraveldiaries #backpackingasia #panaji
I can’t believe I’m posting this from the othe I can’t believe I’m posting this from the other side of this 3-day journey to get my visa processed and reunite with Paul in India!! 

That first day I wallowed in what Jen Sincero coins as “self-suckery” — I beat myself up, looked at only the negative side, and genuinely felt like I deserved what was “happening to me” because it was my mistake for having uploaded the pdf of my old passport and not my new one (yes, I really did that) — a simple error that resulted in ridiculous e-visa delays for which I could do nothing about, 3 days of transiting between airports, lots of tears, and an out-of-pocket cost of $850 for two flight changes + $$ for airport junk food (which pretty much costs the same as a meal in a Michelin star restaurant) + $150 in Uber rides and hotel fees, and countless hours of lost sleep. My real mistake, in hindsight, was rushing; not going slow, as I always preach. I rushed what I was doing and got caught in the senseless consequences. 

Little did I know then, but Day 1 was just the beginning of this near-72-hour journey to India and back to Paul. What is certain is that I DID NOT expect our big trip back to Asia to start like this. 

But I’m so, so glad it did. 

#indiatravel #airportlife #travelstories #evisa #qatarairways #asiatrip
If you know how this song ends, you know how this If you know how this song ends, you know how this video ends 💀

PS — I still have the scar 😂🥲🪦🍑

📍 El Mogote sand dunes in Baja California Sur w/ @4xfourtours 

#sandboarding #epicfails #rippedpants #spongebob #bajacaliforniasur #lapazbcs
Is Mexico a good digital nomad destination?? Here Is Mexico a good digital nomad destination??

Here’s why Mexico is a GREAT destination for remote workers and travelers:

🌮 Amazingggg food — Literally the best! I just came back from eating Baja fish tacos and they cost just $1.50 each, like whatttt

🇲🇽 Culture / people — I find Mexicans to be some of the kindest and friendliest people on Earth. If there is a reason I keep coming back to Mexico it is because I have felt, and do feel, at home here.

🌿 Outdoors / nature / adventure — Mexico has it ALL and I mean it ALL (islands, beaches, mountains, rainforests, deserts, volcanoes, amazing marine life + wildlife, allll types of activities, etc)

💻 WiFi — Not the best depending on where you go, but way more than enough for what I use it for! Lots of cafes + coworking spaces nowadays too

🥂 Community — There is a growing community of nomads and it’s a pretty diverse mix!

💰 Cost of living — It’s more affordable to live, which is great for beginner nomads who are still building their biz

I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to slow travel/live as a digital nomad in Mexico since 2018 — Baja California Sur marks our 5th state out of the 32 Mexican states (+ Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca).

This country gives and gives, so let’s give back as guests! Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, + support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!

Read my blog 🔗 in bio for my 100+ free guides to Mexico 🫶🏼

#mexicotravel #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad
If there’s one activity you shouldn’t skip out If there’s one activity you shouldn’t skip out on when in Baja California Sur, it’s off-roading and sandboarding in the Mogote Sand Dunes!

✨ Make sure to save this to your Baja, Mexico bucket list! 

📍 El Mogote (near La Paz)

🏂 w/ @4xfourtours

💻 read all about it + book the experience on my blog! (🔗 in bio)

#lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #sandboarding #elmogote #sanddunes #offroading #adventuretravel #bajamexico #desertadventures
What do you pack first?! 🎒🤔 As a homebase- What do you pack first?! 🎒🤔 

As a homebase-less nomad, I move countries with only these two backpacks, so I’m not worried about fitting all I need for my 40-day trot through Asia! 🌏

But I would LOVE your travel tips and recs, in particular for Taiwan and Japan (I’ll be solo in 🇯🇵)!!! Send me all your fav street foodie suggestions, secret gardens, cute towns, onsens, temples — all of it! 🏯

I’m so excited to feel EXCITED about going somewhere I’ve never been before. I haven’t been to India since 2018 and I’ve never been to Taiwan or Japan! 

Have you been to any of the three? 🇮🇳🇯🇵🇹🇼 

Backpacks (not spons):
🎒 @rei 40L recycled rucksack 
📸 @wandrd PRVKE Lite / 11L to 16L with roll-top 

#solotrip #backpackingasia #femalesolotraveler #asiatrip #indiatravel #taiwantravel #japantravel #digitalnomadgirls #packing #rei #wandrd
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • Blog Course
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

3 shares