Oaxaca is located in Southwest Mexico and is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico, known for its rich cultural heritage and unique cuisine. In fact, it’s a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s also described as the gastronomical capital of Mexico, meaning it serves famously authentic Mexican food and it’s a destination for food lovers. One food in particular that they’re known for is mole and you have to try it in Oaxaca. They’re also known for their street food. To try all this food, we first need to choose a place to stay in Oaxaca.
So we combined a list of where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico for all budgets and preferences. All of these hotels include free wifi, a flat-screen tv, and more. Read on to find out which one on this list of best places to stay in Oaxaca is for you!
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Best Places To Stay In Oaxaca Mexico: Quick Guide
Top Pick: La Noria
Best Luxury Hotel: Hotel Escondido Oaxaca
Best Budget Hotel: Selina Hostel
Best Mid-Range Hotel: Hotel Parador de Alcalá
Best Boutique Hotel: Hotel Azul
Best Historic Hotel: Quinta Real Oaxaca
Best Place To Stay For Day of the Dead: Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico
Best Airbnb: Grana B&B
Most Instagrammable Hotel: City Centro Oaxaca
Best Neighborhoods In Oxaca For Tourists
Where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico? These are the top neighborhood in Oaxaca to choose hotels from.
1. Centro Histórico
Centro Histórico is hands down the best place to stay in Oaxaca, Mexico because it’s at a central location. All the main attractions are here in the city center including Zocalo, a large main square with the Oaxaca cathedral. It’s like the downtown of every city – all the activities are happening here.
One downside of living in this neighborhood is probably the amount of noise you’ll hear at your hotel. But if you don’t mind that, this is the place to stay! Below, we have tons of recommendations on which are the best hotels to stay at in Centro Histórico.
2. Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the northern part of Centro Histórico and it’s considered the nicest part of Centro Histórico. It’s the best area to be close to tons of best restaurants, shops, markets, and historic sites.
It’s known for its cobblestone streets and it’s very walkable. Some of the famous landmarks here are the Santo Domingo Church and Oaxaca Botanical Gardens.
3. Barrio de Jalatlaco
Jalatlaco is a really unique neighborhood to stay in in Oaxaca city. In this neighborhood, you’ll see tons of colorful buildings and artwork on the walls made by local artists. It’s quite an artsy neighborhood and a few hotels in this area are quite colorful as well.
You’ll also find some nice coffee shops, bars, local shops, restaurants, and art galleries. This neighborhood is an easy walking distance to downtown Oaxaca so it’s still a convenient area to stay in.
4. Barrio de Xochimilco
This is the oldest neighborhood in Oaxaca and is known for its authentic food, especially mole. It’s a short walk from downtown so if you’re into the old-world charm and want to be away from the noise, Barrio de Xochimilco is a great neighborhood to stay at.
5. Reforma
Reforma is to the north of Centro Histórico and a bit of a walk away from Centro Histórico but a great place to stay if you want to live like the locals. There aren’t many attractions here but it’s not one of the tourist areas if that’s what you prefer.
There are tons of authentic restaurants here including international dining options and nice boutique hotels.
Where To Stay In Oaxaca Mexico?
1. La Noria
La Noria is our top pick hotel for its convenient location in Centro Histórico, clean facilities, and for its beautiful courtyard. The hotel’s architecture is stunning and also has a small outdoor pool. The staff is also really friendly and always willing to help out. The rooms have a slightly old-fashioned feel but they’re all very well-kept and clean.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Price: $$
Best For: Nice architecture & close to the main attractions
2. Quinta Real Oaxaca
Quinta Real Oaxaca is one of the most well-known and popular hotels in the city of Oaxaca. When asking locals about where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico, many of them think of this place first. This hotel is built on a historical site, the Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena, and is known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in honor of preserving the colonial design. The architecture has an old-world charm but the interior facilities and modern and comfortable. The price per night is on the higher end so definitely a splurge but if you’re into historic hotels, it’s worth it.
Neighborhood: Santo Domingo
Price: $$$
Best For: Luxury & Historical Hotel
3. Hotel Con Corazón
Hotel Con Corazón translates to “hotel with heart” and is a hotel that invests most of its profits into building educational programs for the youth of Oaxaca. It’s a great place to stay for those who want to give to the community. Not only are they an impact hotel, but they also have a beautiful design, amazing free breakfast, and friendly staff. If you’re overwhelmed with where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico, I would recommend choosing this one because you know the profits are going towards a good cause.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Price: $
Best For: Nice hotel design, give back to the community, close to main attractions
4. Hotel Casa de Sierra Azul
The architecture of Hotel Casa de Sierra Azul is representative of the 19th-century classic style of Oaxaca while the inside is incredibly modern and clean. The staff is all very friendly and the hotel is very quiet. The courtyard is very calming and has beautiful decorations. I would book this hotel just for the courtyard – it’s so beautiful. This hotel is located in a convenient spot since it’s very close to the Santo Domingo cathedral.
Neighborhood: Santo Domingo
Price: $$
Best For: Historical hotel yet modern, Beautiful Courtyard
5. Hotel Azul
Hotel Azul is a boutique hotel with a perfect combination of an old-world and modern feel. The rooms are clean and minimalistic with not too many decorations. But what many hotel guests come to Hotel Azul for is the courtyard. It’s spacious and very calm. They even have a rooftop terrace where they have a bar.
Neighborhood: Santo Domingo
Price: $$
Best For: Boutique Hotel & Beautiful Courtyard
6. Hotel Parador de Alcalá
Hotel Parador de Alcalá used to be an 18th-century mansion and it turned into a boutique hotel after getting restored. The rooms are a bit small but they’re very clean. Their pool is quite big so if you’re figuring out where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico with a nice pool, this is the one to choose. The rooftop patio is a nice place to relax during the day. They also have a beautiful inner courtyard with nice architecture.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Price: $
Best For: Budget-Friendly, Nice Swimming Pool, Boutique Hotel
7. Hotel Escondido Oaxaca
Where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico that will give you the most memorable experience? It has to be Hotel Escondido Oaxaca because it’s unlike any other hotel on this list. It’s one of the best luxury hotels because its interior design is an architectural masterpiece. It’s hard to describe the level of intention that went into the building and designing this place – you’ll just have to see for yourself in the pictures. The space has warm earthy tones with a big courtyard, rooftop bar, really aesthetic common areas, and a small outdoor swimming pool. The staff is very welcoming and friendly too.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Price: $$$
Best For: Luxury hotel, stunning architecture
8. Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca-Centro Historico
Oaxaca, Mexico doesn’t have many large recognizable hotel chains so this Holiday Inn located in the center of all the main attractions is a rare find. It’s also very popular with over 1200+ reviews on Google. The rooms here are quite spacious and very comfortable. Facilities are very clean and reviews are raving over their delicious breakfast. There’s also a swimming pool that’s quite big and relaxing to chill in. This is a great option if you want to stay at a recognizable hotel.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Price: $
Best For: Hotel Chain, Spacious Rooms
9. City Centro Oaxaca
City Centro Oaxaca is one of the few hotels located in Barrio de Jalatlaco and it’s the most popular one in this neighborhood. The hotel is unique because it has pink walls on the outside of the building and in the hotel rooms. The staff is very friendly and the hotel is quiet. There’s also a roof terrace and sometimes plays live music.
Neighborhood: Barrio de Jalatlaco
Prices: $$
Best For: Pink Walls, Hotel in Barrio de Jalatlaco
10. Grana B&B
If you’re looking to stay at a Bed&Breakfast, Grana B&B is one of the most highly rated. The decor is very modern yet authentic Oaxacan decor. The entire space is very picturesque and intentionally designed. Eating breakfast in the courtyard will be incredibly relaxing here.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Price: $$
Best For: B&B, Beautiful Decor & Design
11. Hotel Sin Nombre
Hotel Sin Nombre means “hotel without name” and is a boutique hotel located in a 17th-century colonial mansion. The rooms are on the smaller side but the decoration and design are really unique and modern. The beds are very comfortable, the facilities are clean, and the staff is kind. What really makes this place stand out is the incredible architecture this place has. There’s also a rooftop bar and an amazing restaurant.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Prices: $$$
Best For: Boutique Hotel, Incredible Architecture
12. Hotel Suite Bello Xochimilco
Hotel Suite Bello Xochimilco is more of an apartment and each suite is quite spacious with a kitchen. The room is clean and very comfortable to stay in. This is a good choice for groups or families at an affordable price. The hotel has a bright color theme which may not be to everyone’s liking but it brings liveliness to the space. The location is very optimal as well since it’s close to the main attractions.
Neighborhood: Santo Domingo
Prices: $
Best For: Spacious, Apartment-Style
13. Hotel Parador San Miguel
Hotel Parador San Miguel is known for its courtyard with the sound of songbirds. The birds have been rescued birds from local shelters. The courtyard is small, but very beautiful and has lots of nature. The rooms are a bit small but it’s clean and well-kept. The location is perfect because it’s only a few blocks away from Zocalo.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Prices: $$
Best For: Birds In Courtyard, Boutique Hotel
14. NaNa Vida Hotel Boutique
NaNa Vida Hotel Boutique is a boutique hotel with very modern and simplistic decor. The rooms are spacious, minimalistic, and clean. The staff here is incredibly friendly and you can feel it right when you step in. The courtyard here is very beautiful and a great place to relax. One downside is that the hotel can get a little noisy because it’s so close to the main attractions.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Prices: $$
Best For: Boutique Hotel, Friendly Staff
15. Selina Hostel
Where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico that is most affordable? It’s definitely Selina Hostel. This place is a great place to stay for those who want to save some money and since it’s a hostel, you will be sharing a room with others. The facilities and rooms are very clean and the decor is very modern. If you’re traveling with a group and want an affordable option, all of you can book one room so you don’t need to share with others. There’s also a bar on the rooftop. The location is ideal and close to the main attractions.
Neighborhood: Centro Histórico
Prices: $
Best For: Hostels, Affordable
Oaxaca is a beautiful city with so much culture and best things to do. Next time you visit Oaxaca, use this guide to find where to stay in Oaxaca Mexico!
Read more: Read this checklist to make sure you have everything before going to Oaxaca!
What area is best to stay in Oaxaca?
The best area to stay in Oaxaca is Centro Histórico. It’s a short walking distance to all the main attractions including Zocalo.
Is Oaxaca a walkable city?
Yes, Oaxaca is a very walkable city. The main attractions are located within close proximity to each other and there’s really no need for a car.
How many days do you need in Oaxaca?
Stay in Oaxaca for at least 2 nights, 3 days to see everything Oaxaca has to offer.
