City Tour and Museum of Cultures
Description
Start your day by exploring the Museum of Cultures, where vestiges of pre-Hispanic civilizations and local crafts reveal the vibrant history of the region. Head towards the majestic Church of Santo Domingo, a baroque masterpiece that captivates with its sculpted façade and gilded altarpieces. From there, travel along the picturesque Tourist Walk. Make a sweet stop at a local chocolate shop and immerse yourself in the vitality of the November 20 Market. Benito Juárez, where the stalls are overflowing with spices, herbs and local products that give life to the rich Oaxacan gastronomy. Explore the Museum of Oaxacan Painters, an artistic refuge that highlights the region's contemporary creativity. End your day in the imposing Cathedral Church, an architectural work that fuses styles throughout the centuries. Contemplate the sacred beauty and history that are woven into every detail, closing your tour with an unforgettable cultural experience in the heart of Oaxaca.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will visit the small and busy public square surrounded by the city center where you will find a variety of restaurants, stalls and historic buildings.
The markets of Oaxaca reflect in their premises and to their last corner, all the culture and tradition of the state. There is a great variety of products -either gastronomic or artisanal-, most of them are made by locals and harvested on their own land.
The Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in the city of Oaxaca de Juárez is an example of New Spain baroque architecture. Its interior is decorated with gold. Its beauty will amaze you. *The hours of the museum of cultures may vary during the week and could be closed* *
For crafts, souvenirs and mezcal we will visit: Calle de Alcalá, Former Convent of Santa Catalina and Chocolate Factory
This fascinating museum highlights the richness and diversity of cultures that have left their mark on the region over the centuries. Founded in 1965, the museum occupies the imposing building of the former Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, a colonial structure that in itself is an architectural masterpiece. The museum's rooms house an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts, crafts, textiles and objects of daily life that offer a deep insight into the history and cultural identity of Oaxaca. Highlights include exhibits dedicated to the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures, which dominated the region before the arrival of the Spanish. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum organizes cultural events, workshops and educational activities that involve the local community and visitors. The Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca is, without a doubt, a must-see destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the cultural and historical wealth of this Mexican region.
The majestic Oaxaca Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, stands as an architectural and spiritual testament in the heart of the picturesque city of Oaxaca, Mexico. Built over several centuries, from the 16th to the 18th century, the cathedral reflects an amalgamation of architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Baroque, creating a unique and fascinating structure. The exterior of the cathedral captivates with its ornate façade, decorated with intricate details carved from local green quarry. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the imposing central nave, whose height and breadth evoke a sense of divine grandeur. The gilded altars and baroque altarpieces display exceptional works of sacred art, highlighting the skill of local artists from the colonial era.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(20)
Helpful to do before going to Monte Alban as preparation for what you see there. Quite amazing! Markets have lots of unique foods.
Antonio gave us an outstanding tour of Oaxaca central. He took us to a number of the major sights and pointed out hidden gems along the way. It was an amazing orientation to the city which allowed us to explore it fully on our own. Antonio was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city and having grown up and continues to live in the city gave us insight into the Oaxacan way of life. We would greatly recommend this tour early in your visit to get a great “lay of the land”!
This was a great tour with a great guide Dra. Silvia Männing Pérez Ramirez. She is an anthropologist & historian. We highly recommend Doctora Silvia and the tour.
Great introduction to Oaxaca. Our guide, Moses, was knowledgeable, clear and very kind. He answered all our questions and made us feel like we had a good friend in Oaxaca.
After carefully planning our tour with TripAdvisor and receiving numerous messages confirming them, nothing went as planned or expected. First, we were not picked up at our hotel at the designated time, as planned. When we called the TripAdvisor number on our receipt, it was a non-working number. After waiting 30 minutes for someone to contact us, we walked to another hotel to find out if their guests on the tour were picked up. They were, so the concierge called someone directly and an agent from another tour company arrived to take us to join our tour. She spoke little English, and left us with a guide who had already started a tour with another couple who only spoke Spanish. The guide was not wearing a TripAdvisor shirt and made little effort to inform us of what we missed. He had to say everything twice, although the Spanish portion was much more extensive. One of the museums in the tour was closed and no alternate was offered. The tour was booked as a 4 1/2 hour walking tour with several significant stops, but it ended after 3 1/2 hours. At no point did the guide recommend a place to use the restroom or get a beverage. The final stop was at a large, crowded Mercado. The guide spent most of our time there assisting the other couple trying to select items to take home with them the next day. Due to the narrow aisles we had to stand apart from them so we’re not able to hear much of what the guide was telling them about the foods, herbs, and crafts. Overall, the tour was a disappointment, especially for the price, and we are unlikely to book again with TripAdvisor.
We are truly sorry that your experience with the tour did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us. We understand that planning a tour should be an enjoyable experience, and we completely understand your frustration with the issues you mentioned. Regarding the museum, we would like to clarify that you were notified in advance that the museum would be closed on the day of your tour. However, we understand that this situation might not have been fully clear, and we apologize for any confusion. Additionally, we would like to highlight that we tried to contact you to coordinate the pickup service, but unfortunately, we did not receive a response from you, despite your mention of having seen our message. Regarding the market, we understand that narrow areas can make communication difficult in large groups. Although we have had successful experiences in such environments, we will carefully review what happened with the guide and the vendor to ensure we improve the experience for future tours. As for the uniform, we would like to clarify that our guides do not wear TripAdvisor-branded uniforms because we are an external partner agency. However, all our guides are properly identified with certification badges that validate them as professionals for the tour. We sincerely regret that the tour did not meet your expectations. We would like to offer you a courtesy for your next tour with us, giving you the opportunity to experience the quality of our services in a more satisfying manner. Thank you for your understanding, and please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions. We hope to welcome you again in the future and provide you with a better experience.
They were 20 minutes late, didn't cover what the tour description said. The guide super friendly but did not give much detail and explanation of the places we visited. It was Sunday so the museums were closed and they didn't warn about this.
We had a great history walking tour around the zocalo of Oaxaca and the Oaxaca cultural museum that has artifacts from Monte Alban. A lot of the displays are in Spanish so it’s good to have a guide. Good tour for history and customs of Oaxaca!
Excellent tour, Sylvia was very informative and shared many things we would not have been aware of about the museums and other points of interest. We would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to learn more about Oaxaca.
Santo Domingo museum and grounds, Lavatorio, organic market, easy scenic walking, excellent explanations by guide
Excellent walking tour, very knowledgeable tour guide. The tour guide was extremely acamodating. Worth every peso!!🙌🙌🙌🙌
