Zócalo, Southern Mexico, Mexico

4.5 (1.762 reviews) Spent Ranking #15 in Southern Mexico Points of Interest & Landmarks

This is the spot for people watching, live music, shopping, restaurants, dancing...

At first, I didn't realize that the "Zocalo" is just the town square next to the main cathedral. In the middle, there is a bandstand type structure and around the outside of the square are restaurants and informal shopping stands. There are plenty of sellers walking around with scarves, bags, balloons, children's toys, and little wooden combs/spoons, etc. with decorative handles. Any one of these "walk about" sellers will offer you a discounted price if you say no to their first price and walk away. But the more established shops in tents around the square are less willing to haggle and often more expensive than the ones just down the street, next to the 2 main market buildings - 20 de Noviembre and Benito Juarez. We were only in Oaxaca 2 nights, but both nights there was live music and dancing in the square. This is where we got to see locals letting loose and tourists watching on in fascination. Since it's in the center of town and pretty much everything, you can't miss it.
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Address

Portal del Palacio, Oaxaca 68000 Mexico

Current local date and time now

Saturday, May 11, 2024, 19:44

User Ratings

4.5 based on (1.762 reviews)

Excellent
53%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%

Reviews

  • 5lquadros 5:00 PM Mar 9, 2020
    Oh so beautiful and festive!
    We came here during the holiday season. If you want to feel the Christmas spirit, this is the place to be. The festive crowds, the music, activities etc all adds up to the fun. Just walk all around. Thee is plenty to see and do. The street food is great, we had the fired potato chips, ice cream and shopped souvenirs, local handmade crafts and clothes. Everything is so reasonable priced. Near the church there was a band playing and we saw the locals dancing. We recommend that if you see an act, please pay a few pesos to them, this is how they make their livelihood (please be generous). For a while we felt like we were in Europe. The area is well kept and clean. Highly recommend you visit.
  • 4Rowan H 5:00 PM Jul 20, 2022
    Meeting Square in heart of oaxaca
    The Zocalo is a large square/courtyard located in the centre of oaxaca. Bustling with street vendors/markets and lined by up market restaurants and hotels its a quick stop as part of a larger walking tour of the city. When we visited it appeared safe and was a pleasant 10 minute stop.

See also

More Things to do in Southern Mexico