Are you not quite ready for winter’s cold? Oaxaca, Mexico not only gives you an escape, but its vibrant architecture, rich food and richer history are sure to give you a surge of energy that can sustain you right through the colder months.

The city’s official name is Oaxaca de Juárez, and it’s the capital of the state of Oaxaca. The state is home to more than a dozen Indigenous peoples, including the Zapotec and Mixtec, and boasts more Indigenous residents than any other Mexican state. The Spanish founded the city’s colonial center in 1529, and the cultures have been mixing ever since.

The city sits at an elevation of about 5,100 feet (1,555 meters) in Oaxaca’s Central Valleys region, and that plays a huge role in its welcoming weather.

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Why go now

Día de Muertos festivities just wrapped up, but November is still a shoulder season sweet spot with fewer crowds than the winter months, explains weather.com meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser. November is part of the dry season, so there are typically only around two days of rain per month.

“Highs typically linger in the upper 70s, but days in the 80s aren't unheard of. Lows drop into the 50s and potentially even upper 40s - so definitely bring layers for the evening hours,” Kaiser advises.

“These temperatures make for great days of outdoor exploring on trails and in the ruins and historic areas.”

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What to do and see

You can get started by taking advantage of free walking tours led by locals (you’ll definitely want to tip!). It’s a great introduction to the city, and you can take note of places you’d like to explore more.

One must-see listed by travel lovers is the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The interior of this church and former monastery just might take your breath away thanks to its incredible detail. The convent part of the compound is now dedicated to the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca), another must-see.

(Bonus: there’s a botanical garden that’s part of the museum tour and it’s home to hundreds of native Oaxacan plants.)

To explore the Indigenous culture, take a day trip to Monte Albán, which the UNESCO World Heritage Centre calls the most important archaeological site of the Valley of Oaxaca.  See the remnants of the terraces, canals and pyramids that were inhabited by Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs across 1,500 years.

Let’s get into the food!

Oaxaca is filled with markets brimming with textiles, flowers, drinks and food. 

The 20 de Noviembre market is a favorite for many. It’s named after the date the Mexican Revolution began in 1910. While it offers a wide variety of authentic foods served by locals, one of the most popular areas is the “Pasillo de Humo” (smoke aisle or smoke corridor), where vendors grill cuts of meat over charcoal while you pick your own.

Oaxaca is home to seven varieties of mole, according to the Mexico Daily News, with flavors and ingredients connected to the city’s Spanish and pre-Hispanic heritage.

Some moles use more than 25 ingredients, and you can try at least some of them at restaurants throughout the city center.  You can even learn how to create one (or more); many locations offer cooking classes.

Then there’s mezcal, the mother of tequila (all tequila is a type of mezcal). Oaxaca produced about 90% of Mexico’s certified mezcal in 2023, according to the Mexican Mezcal Regulatory Council, so talk about going to the source!  Santiago Matatlán, about an hour from the city, calls itself the world capital of the spirit, and its distilleries are open to visitors.   

Getting there

Most visitors fly into Xoxocotlán International Airport, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the city center. Nonstop flights from the U.S. are limited, so many travelers connect through Mexico City, about a 90-minute flight away. From the airport, taxis are the easiest way into town, and buses also run to Oaxaca from Mexico City if you’d rather stay on the ground.