Oaxaca family guide
Oaxaca is a colourful, walkable colonial city where the air smells of roasting cacao and grilled tlayudas. Families climb the ancient Zapotec platforms of Monte Albán, paint wooden alebrije animals with village artisans and look for shapes in one of the widest tree trunks on Earth. Festivals such as Day of the Dead and the July Guelaguetza fill the streets with music, flowers and dancing.
Create a Oaxaca activity book
Best ages
Ages 5-12 enjoy the craft workshops, markets and ruins most; little ones manage too, but Monte Albán and Hierve el Agua involve sun, steps and uneven ground.
Stroller
The pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcalá is smooth, but other sidewalks are narrow with high kerbs and gaps. Monte Albán has gravel paths and steep stone stairs, so bring a carrier for under-4s.
Take this guide on the trip
Signal and roaming are not guaranteed abroad. Print this guide or save it as a PDF, then add a Oaxaca travel journal and packing list. All three are free and are made in your browser.
Travel journal for Oaxaca Packing list for OaxacaTop things to do in Oaxaca with kids
Monte Albán Ages 4+
Explore a Zapotec city on a flattened mountaintop with a ball court and big stone platforms to climb; go early, as there is little shade, and under-13s enter free.
Chocolate grinding on 20 de Noviembre Ages 3+
At shops like Mayordomo, kids watch cacao, sugar and cinnamon ground into paste, then taste hot chocolate with soft egg bread.
Alebrije workshop Ages 4+
In San Martín Tilcajete or San Antonio Arrazola, families meet the carvers and paint their own small wooden creature to take home.
Árbol del Tule Ages 3+
This ancient cypress has a trunk over 40 metres around, and local children with flashlights show visitors elephant and lion shapes in the bark.
Hierve el Agua Ages 6+
Mineral springs flow over cliffs that look like frozen waterfalls, with shallow pools for a dip; it is a 1.5-2 hour drive and road blockades sometimes close access.
Rainy-day and cold-day options
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Gold treasures from Monte Albán's Tomb 7 inside the former Santo Domingo convent.
Museo Textil de Oaxaca
A small, often free museum of weaving, dyes and embroidery from Oaxacan villages.
Mercado 20 de Noviembre
A covered market with a smoky grill hall where you pick meat and eat hot.
A simple first day
- Morning
- Walk the Andador to Santo Domingo church and peek at the cactus garden.
- Afternoon
- Watch chocolate being ground and lunch on tlayudas at 20 de Noviembre market.
- Evening
- Join families in the zócalo with balloon sellers and a cup of nieve.
Getting around
The historic centre is compact and best on foot, and taxis are cheap for short hops. Shuttles run to Monte Albán from the centre, and a hired driver is the easiest way to reach the valley villages.
Food kids like
Try tlayudas, stringy quesillo cheese, memelas, tamales in banana leaf, hot chocolate and fruit sorbet from the nieve stalls by the Basílica de la Soledad. The main meal is lunch, around 2-4 pm.
What Oaxaca costs for a family
About MXN 3,000-5,000 (about €140-230) a day for a family of four, excluding lodging.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Monte Albán entry (adult, under 13 free) | MXN 95-110 (about €4.50-5) |
| Hierve el Agua community fee (per person) | MXN 50-100 (about €2.50-5) |
| Tlayuda at a market or street stall | MXN 100-180 (about €5-8.50) |
| Hot chocolate with bread | MXN 50-80 (about €2.50-4) |
Eat the comida corrida set lunch at market stalls, and hire one driver for a full day of Tule, an alebrije village and Hierve el Agua. Prices are typical ranges checked for 2025–2026; confirm current prices before you book.
Safety notes
- Oaxaca sits at about 1,550 m with strong sun, so use hats and sunscreen even when the air feels cool.
- Tap water is not safe to drink, so stick to bottled or filtered water and choose busy street stalls with fast turnover.
- Protests and road blockades happen from time to time, so check local news before long drives and leave buffer time before flights.
What's inside the Oaxaca activity book
A personalized printable book for one child (or up to three with Family), built around Oaxaca: landmark spotting, a 12-item scavenger hunt, a local food tasting page, local phrases and a quiz. Print it at home before you leave and bring a pencil.
Missions
- Alebrije designer
- Giant tree shape finder
Landmarks to find
- Monte Albán
- Templo de Santo Domingo
- Árbol del Tule
- Hierve el Agua
Foods to spot or taste
- tlayuda
- hot chocolate
- quesillo cheese
- chapulines
Words to try
- Hola Hello
- Gracias Thank you
- Por favor Please
- Sí Yes
Mini €5.90 (10 pages), Adventure €9.90 (25–28 pages) or Family €14.90 (up to three children). One-time purchase, no subscription; the book is printed at home in English.
Create a Oaxaca activity bookQuestions parents ask
Is Oaxaca good for young children?
Ages 5-12 enjoy the craft workshops, markets and ruins most; little ones manage too, but Monte Albán and Hierve el Agua involve sun, steps and uneven ground.
Can you use a stroller in Oaxaca?
The pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcalá is smooth, but other sidewalks are narrow with high kerbs and gaps. Monte Albán has gravel paths and steep stone stairs, so bring a carrier for under-4s.
How much does a family day in Oaxaca cost?
About MXN 3,000-5,000 (about €140-230) a day for a family of four, excluding lodging. Eat the comida corrida set lunch at market stalls, and hire one driver for a full day of Tule, an alebrije village and Hierve el Agua.
When is the best time to visit Oaxaca with kids?
Best months: October, November, December, February, March.