Oaxaca City / 10 photo spots
10 Instagram spots around Oaxaca City
Oaxaca City combines carved stone churches with colourful neighbourhood streets, a historic aqueduct and views across the valley. These places offer different ways to photograph the city.
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Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Destination reference: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Spot coordinates: Wikidata, CC0. Selection, association and some calculations by You, Me, Away.
Zócalo of Oaxaca
Oaxaca’s central square is organised around a distinctive bandstand, with civic and religious buildings nearby. Compose from the plaza itself and let the surrounding trees or buildings give the bandstand a sense of place.
Search Google MapsOaxaca Cathedral
The cathedral near the Zócalo is known for the carved green stone of its baroque façade. Photograph the entrance from the public plaza, then isolate a section of the reliefs to show their texture.
Search Google MapsSanto Domingo de Guzmán
The church of Santo Domingo is part of a former convent complex in the historic centre. From the square in front, give its stone façade and twin towers room, leaving a strip of the open plaza at the bottom of your composition.
Search Google MapsAndador Macedonio Alcalá
The Andador Macedonio Alcalá runs through Oaxaca’s historic centre past rows of façades. Photograph along the street from the pedestrian area so the buildings on both sides guide the eye into the distance.
Search Google MapsBasílica de la Soledad
The Basílica de la Soledad in Oaxaca’s historic centre has a sculpted stone façade. From the public space outside, make a frontal composition that shows the entrance and the ornament above it together.
Search Google MapsJalatlaco
Jalatlaco’s cobbled streets run between traditional houses. Use a public lane to line up the façades and draw the eye towards the next corner. Leave entrances clear as you frame the shot.
Search Google MapsArquitos de Xochimilco
The Arquitos de Xochimilco are historic arches that once carried water towards Oaxaca. Photograph along the public street to repeat the arches in perspective, including the neighbouring façades to place the structure within the district.
Search Google MapsTeatro Macedonio Alcalá
The Teatro Macedonio Alcalá has an ornate exterior and a central tower topped by a dome. From the pavement at its corner, make a wide composition that includes the dome and the decorated façade below.
Search Google MapsParque El Llano
Paseo Juárez, commonly called El Llano, is a public park on the edge of Oaxaca’s historic centre. Photograph along a path across the park, using the open space and trees to give the city scene a calmer foreground.
Search Google MapsMirador del Cerro del Fortín
The Cerro del Fortín viewpoint looks across Oaxaca City. Make the panorama from the visitor area and include a little of the hillside or the viewpoint in the foreground to give the city below a sense of depth.
Search Google MapsSources for these photo spots
- INAH: Historic monuments of Oaxaca de Juárez
- Ayuntamiento de Oaxaca de Juárez: Cerro del Fortín viewpoint reopening, published by Quadratín
- Organization of World Heritage Cities: Oaxaca student heritage portfolio
- Oaxaca de Juárez: municipal urban tree management plan
- Municipality of Oaxaca de Juárez: Historic centre pedestrian project
- Secretaría de Turismo de Oaxaca: Barrio de Jalatlaco
- Municipal profile of Oaxaca de Juárez: Cultural attractions