Sights and landmarks in Oaxaca

Sights and landmarks in Oaxaca

1. See

   Casa de Benito Juarez

   Historic childhood home of former Mexican President Benito Juarez. It's an unassuming home fitting for a man of humble roots.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00·M$43 (adults), free (disabled/children under 13), free admission on Sundays for residents; M$45 video permit

2. See

   Catedral Metropolitana

   Oaxaca's largest church dates from 1533 and is known for its unique interpretation of baroque style architecture.

3. See

   Centro Fotográfico Álvarez Bravo

   Established by Mexican photographer Manuel Álvarez Bravo and housed in a beautifully-restored colonial building, this center hosts changing exhibits of work by Mexican and international photographers.

   Wed-Mon 09:30-20:00·Free

4. See

   Instituto de Artes Gráficos

   A smaller venue which hosts rotating exhibits of work by national and international artists.

   Daily 10:00-20:00·Free

5. See

   Jardín Etnobotánico

   Oaxaca Botanical Garden

   A former army base, converted to a large botanical garden in 1993. The garden, designed by Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo who led the project to create it, has the largest collection of living cacti and agave plants in Oaxaca. Paths take visitors though the constantly growing collections that show the rich biodiversity of Oaxacan plant life. Entrance to the garden is through guided tours only, limited to 30 people, and no reservations are accepted. Spanish tours are one hour long, and English tours are two hours.

   English tours: Mon-Sat 11:00; Spanish tours: Mon-Sat 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, Mon-Fri also at 17:00·Spanish tours $50, English tours $100

6. See

   La Casa de la Ciudad

   City Museum

   Features exhibitions devoted to architectural styles, historical photographs and urban art. Two aerial photographs taken of Oaxaca in 1990 and 2006 are embedded in an underlit floor so that visitors can walk over them and explore the changes in the city that occurred during those 16 years.

   Daily 09:00-20:00·Free

7. See

   Museo Textil de Oaxaca

   MTO

   An 18th century mansion (restored in 2007) with exhibits featuring the designs, techniques and creative processes used for the production of Oaxacan textiles. In addition, the museum regularly runs conferences and workshops.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 10:00-18:00·Free

8. See

   Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca

   MACO

   Housed in a building known as the Casa de Cortés, this museum hosts exhibits of local and nationally recognized modern artists.

   Wed-Sun 10:30-20:00·M$20 (adults), M$10 (students/seniors), free on Sundays

9. See

   Museo de Arte Prehispánico de México Rufino Tamayo

   Astoundingly large collection of pre-Hispanic sculptures and other works collected by Rufino Tamayo. As an artist involved in both early-1900s modernist movements and the celebration of Mexican heritage, Tamayo had an eye for outstanding depictions of faces and human form, and a desire to keep historic art from leaving the country. The pieces are exhibited as works of art rather than as anthropological artifacts.

   Wed-Mon 10:00-17:00, closed Tue·By donation

10. See

    Museo de Grana Cochinilla

    Museum about the cochinilla bug and the nopal plant it feeds upon, which is used to create cochineal dye, also known as Red 4.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00, by appointment only

11. See

    Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca

    Centro Cultural Santo Domingo, Ex Convento de Santo Domingo

    This is a museum of regional history and culture, with exhibits on Zapotec, Mixtec, and Olmec civilizations, as well as colonial and revolutionary era history. The highlight is the collection of treasure excavated from Tomb 7 at Monte Albán by archaeologist Alfonso Caso in the 1930s. The Museo occupies most rooms of the Convent of Santo Domingo, so it is huge and impressive: you will need a few hours to visit it! It also offers nice views over the plaza and the botanical garden.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·M$210 (M$105 Mexican residents, Free for Mexicans under 13 and seniors); M$63 video and tripod permit

12. See

    Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños

    Museum of Oaxacan Painters

    This late 17th-century building houses a collection of historic and modern Oaxacan art on two floors.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-20:00·M$10, free on Sundays

13. See

    Museo del Palacio

    Palacio de Gobierno / Governor's Palace

    This 19th-century building houses a mural by Mexican painter Arturo Garcia Bustos, and hosts rotating exhibits about the history of the city.

    Tue-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-18:00·Free

14. See

    Templo de Santo Domingo

    A spectacular church built from 1570-1608, with subsequent Baroque renovations. It has been restored. Particularly noteworthy on the south side is the elaborate Capilla de la Virgen del Rosario, as well as the Capilla de la Cruz de Huatulco, which contains the legendary pre-Hispanic cross of Huatulco. The ornate golden interior decoration make this the most popular wedding spot in Oaxaca, so expect to see such celebrations on weekends.

    Daily 07:00-13:00, 16:00-20:00·Free

15. See

    Zócalo

    Plaza de la Constitución

    Catch a street act, watch a clown entertain children, buy a souvenir or just people watch from a sidewalk cafe as time passes by. Dozens of vendors have set up booths around the square. This is also a frequent site for political sit-in protests, particularly by teachers protesting government changes to state education, leading to massive demonstrations in 2006 and 2014. As a result, the square often has tents.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Oaxaca (CC BY-SA 4.0).