Travel Guide
Americans Can Fly Nonstop To This Historic & Affordable City In Mexico
Mar
Craving a sunny getaway to Mexico but the jam-packed, all-inclusive resorts in Cancun or a bustling Mexico City with the crazy traffic just don’t do it for you anymore?
Before you go ahead and book those flights somewhere all-too-predictable again, perhaps you should know that there’s this lesser-known historic city in southern Mexico boasting beautiful sights, incredible gastronomy, and low prices.
Most importantly, it has fewer tourists than all your usual tourism hotspots, particularly along the Mexico coast, and despite its laid-back character, you can fly there nonstop from as many as 3 U.S. cities:
Why Visit Oaxaca de Juarez In 2025?
Oaxaca de Juarez is a mid-size state capital by Mexico standards, with a population of around 715,000 and sitting roughly 161 miles inland.
It’s by no means a small, quaint town, but to all effects, its landmark-dotted center has all the charm of one:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Centro Histórico features among Mexico’s oldest, having been built by the Spaniards upon their conquest of the territory in the early 16th century, and despite the passing of the centuries, it’s remained largely untouched ever since.
We’re talking cobbled streets that lead to charming plazas bordered by colonial manors, brightly-colored facades with wrought-iron balconies in classic Iberian fashion, and not a skyscraper in sight, at least not in the city’s very core.
What To See And Do In Oaxaca City
Like most Mexican cities, a visit to Oaxaca will likely start at the Zócalo, a wide square flanked by a string of monuments.
The Cathedral of Oaxaca looms over it, with its stone foundations dating back to 1535 and magnificent Baroque exterior.
Adjacent to the cathedral, there stands a stately Palacio de Gobierno, a centerpiece of Oaxaca’s colonial ensemble, and a focal point in local politics since its last renovation in 1783.
Still in Centro, the Ex-Convent of Saint Paul is a former religious site that houses a library, a cafe that serves delicious coffee, and contemporary art installations.
In many ways, it is the meeting point between the Old World and our modern era.
Its companion, the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is yet another former convent, except it plays host now not to a cafe, but the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, though its main draw is undoubtedly its delicate plasterwork and frescoed ceilings.
If you still can’t get enough of the postcard-ready streets, you should head next to Calle Alcalá, known for its timeless architecture and plethora of family-owned cantinas, or even Pochote, a traditional market with rows upon rows of handicraft and food stalls.
While you’re there, be sure to try Oaxaca’s tlayuda, a large, thin corn tortilla topped with a variety of meats, string-cheese, and refried beans—these are often called ‘Mexican pizza.’
You should also sample the empanadas de amarillo, flavorful tortillas filled with shredded chicken and yellow mole.
In the unlikely scenario you can’t find these curbside treats in Pochote, they’ll be widely available in and around Mercado Benito Juárez, Oaxaca’s bustling central market.
This Is How Cheap It Actually Is To Visit Oaxaca
Speaking of food, you can get delicious, inexpensive grub in just about every eatery downtown.
Oaxaca is not exactly a resort town catering primarily to American and Canadian guests, remember?
For under $5, you can have slow-roasted pork tacos or torts with salsa verde and picked jalapeños at the well-frequented Tacos de Lechon, or you might want to treat yourself to guacamole with chapulines, paired with draft beer, at the mid-range Levadura de Olla, for around $14.
We also love Ancestral Cocina for its efforts in preserving native cooking traditions and innovative twists on Oaxacan street food, and if it’s a no-frills cantina with a big selection of mezcals and bite-size eats, you should book a table at the centrally-located La Mezcalerita.
Looking for somewhere reasonably priced to spend the night?
Casa Dos Lunas has rooms with standard rooms with a view for $69, and the boutique Hotel Danibaan has even-cheaper rates from only $44.
Not on a shoestring budget? For a 5-star stay, topped with a rooftop pool overlooking the spire-dotted Oaxacan skyline and with a sumptuous breakfast buffet, Design Hotels member Otro Oaxaca will set you back by $ 369 a night.
That would be the odd exception, though: in general, hotels in Oaxaca are very affordable.
According to Budget Your Trip, a one-week trip to Oaxaca for two people costs around MX$13,230, or US$648, including accommodation, food, local transportation and sightseeing, and excluding only flights.
Onto those flights, now.
Fly Nonstop To Oaxaca From Texas And LA
You can fly nonstop to Oaxaca (OAX) from the following U.S. airports:
- Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – with American Airlines
- Houston (IAH) – with United Airlines
- Los Angeles (LAX) – with Volaris
Fouine from Dallas to Oaxaca with American, the cheapest option coming up on Google Flights is on March 17–20, from $463.
From Houston, the lowest airfares are between April 2–April 7 ($504), and finally, there are cheap flights for around $359 throughout spring.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
