Oaxaca City is compact enough that you can cover the entire historic centre on foot in under 20 minutes. For most visitors, walking handles the central sights — Zócalo, Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Santo Domingo, the MACO museum — without any transport at all. Beyond the centre, a combination of colectivos and taxis gets you to villages, archaeological sites, and the ADO bus terminal for onward journeys.
Walking the centro
The historic centre is flat in its core and pushes slightly uphill toward the Jalatlaco neighbourhood and Cerro del Fortín park. The andador turístico — a pedestrian street running from the Zócalo toward the Mercado — is closed to traffic and is where most of the restaurants, mezcal bars, and gallery shops are concentrated.
Distances from the Zócalo:
- Mercado 20 de Noviembre: 4 min walk
- Templo de Santo Domingo: 8 min walk
- Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (inside Santo Domingo): same compound
- MACO (contemporary art museum): 5 min walk
- Mercado Benito Juárez: 3 min walk
- Bus terminal (ADO/OCC Primera Plus): 20 min walk or MXN 40–50 taxi
Walking is safe in the centro during daylight and early evening. The Jalatlaco neighbourhood, northeast of the centre, is about 12 minutes on foot and worth the walk for its narrow colonial streets and plant-filled doorways.
Colectivos to the valley villages
Shared minivans (colectivos) are the standard way to reach villages in the Oaxaca Valley. They depart from fixed points near the Mercado de Abastos (a large market complex about 1.5 km southwest of the Zócalo) and from the 2nd class bus terminal on Calle Trujano.
Key routes and approximate fares (as of 2026):
| Destination | Departs from | Fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tlacolula (Sunday market) | 2nd class terminal | MXN 20–25 | 45 min |
| Mitla (Zapotec ruins) | 2nd class terminal | MXN 25–30 | 1 h |
| Etla (Wednesday market) | Mercado de Abastos | MXN 15–20 | 30 min |
| San Bartolo Coyotepec (black clay) | 2nd class terminal | MXN 15 | 25 min |
| Teotitlán del Valle (weavings) | 2nd class terminal | MXN 20 | 45 min |
| Atzompa (green clay) | Mercado de Abastos | MXN 15 | 20 min |
Colectivos fill up and leave when full — there is no set timetable. Service runs from roughly 06:00 to 19:00. For the Tlacolula Sunday market, go early (before 08:00) or you will spend more time getting there than browsing.
To return, simply wait at the same spot where you were dropped off; colectivos back to Oaxaca City pass regularly.
Taxis
Taxis are yellow and abundant in the centro. Most trips within the historic centre cost MXN 30–50. Longer trips — to the airport, ADO terminal, or Xochimilco neighbourhood — run MXN 60–100. Taxis in Oaxaca do not use meters; agree a price before you get in.
From Aeropuerto Internacional Xoxocotlán (OAX), the taxi to the centro is approximately MXN 150–200 (as of 2026) using the authorised taxi desk inside the terminal. The airport is 8 km south of the centre.
Ride apps (Uber) operate in Oaxaca but with limited drivers compared to Mexico City. InDriver has some coverage. For reliability, street taxis or arranged transfers are often faster.
Mototaxis
In the narrower streets near the Mercado de Abastos and in outlying neighbourhoods, three-wheeled mototaxis (motorcycle rickshaws) fill gaps taxis don’t cover. Fares run MXN 15–25 for short trips. They are useful for carrying heavy bags from the market back toward the centro.
ADO and OCC buses (intercity)
Oaxaca City has two main bus terminals:
ADO/OCC first-class terminal — Calzada Niños Héroes de Chapultepec 1036, about 1.5 km northeast of the Zócalo. Serves Mexico City (TAPO terminal, 6–7 h, from MXN 400), Puebla (5 h), and other destinations with reclining seats and luggage holds.
2nd class terminal — Calle Trujano near the Mercado de Abastos. Serves Hierve el Agua (via colectivo connection), Puerto Escondido via the coast road (7–8 h, MXN 200–280), and Pochutla (for Puerto Ángel and Mazunte).
For Puerto Escondido, the second-class bus via Pochutla is the scenic route along the coast; the OCC “Super” service takes the mountain road (6 h) and is faster. Both cost approximately MXN 250–350.
Car hire
A rental car makes sense for:
- Hierve el Agua (petrified waterfall cliffs, 70 km southeast, inaccessible by direct colectivo)
- A self-guided mezcal distillery tour through the Tlacolula Valley
- Combining Monte Albán in the morning with San Bartolo Coyotepec and Cuilapam de Guerrero in the afternoon
Rental desks are at the airport. Budget, Europcar, and Hertz all have counters. Expect to pay MXN 600–900 per day for a compact car, plus fuel. Mountain roads around Hierve el Agua are paved but narrow; a standard sedan handles them fine. The toll road to Mexico City (MEX-135D) is excellent if driving north.
Getting to Monte Albán
Monte Albán sits on a ridge 9 km west of the centre with no direct colectivo. Options:
- Authorised shuttle buses depart from the Hotel Fortin near the Zócalo, timed around the site opening. Return is coordinated with your departure. Cost approximately MXN 60–80 round trip, plus MXN 75 entry to the site (as of 2026). This is the most straightforward option.
- Taxi — negotiate a return trip (driver waits 2–3 h). Expect MXN 200–250 for the taxi alone.
- Self-drive — the approach road is clearly signed from Calle Mina.
Practical notes
- Oaxaca altitude: 1,550 m. Not extreme, but pace yourself on the first day, especially if arriving from sea level.
- The Zócalo and pedestrian streets are largely level; cobblestone side streets are uneven.
- Most colectivos are Toyota minivans; they fit 8–10 passengers. Bags go on your lap or in the back.
- The rainy season (June–October) brings afternoon downpours. Carry a lightweight layer — the city cools fast at altitude after rain.
- For remote villages and ruins beyond the Tlacolula Valley, consider a half-day or full-day guided tour, which typically includes transport, a guide, and often a mezcal tasting stop. Prices run MXN 500–900 per person.