Oaxaca, Mexico is one of the most culturally rich places I’ve ever visited. Its indigenous history and culture, traditional crafts, modern art, and colorful colonial architecture are on display in Oaxaca’s museums. With so much to see, these five museums to visit in Oaxaca City are listed in order of how I would prioritize them with limited time. All are housed in incredible historical buildings and are worth visiting for that reason alone!
Check out more Oaxaca travel guides, tips, and recommendations here.
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
The Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca is the city’s top museum and one of the best regional museums in Mexico. It’s adjacent to the Templo de Santo Domingo inside a former 16th-century convent. The museum showcases Oaxaca’s history and culture, from pre-Hispanic to modern times. The architecture inside and views of the church and botanical gardens are as worthwhile as the museum’s collection. The artifacts and treasures discovered in nearby Monte Albán are a highlight.
Recommendation: Definitely don’t miss this museum! Plan to spend about 2 hours here.
Museo de Arte Prehispánico de México
The Pre-Hispanic Art Museum of Mexico houses the great Oaxacan artist Rufino Tamayo’s incredible collection of over a thousand pre-Hispanic artifacts in an 18th-century mansion. The museum is unique in that it presents archeology as art. Artifacts from as far back as 1250 BCE are displayed in front of boldly colored walls, mirroring the colors in Tamayo’s paintings. The contrast makes each piece pop and come to life in a way I’ve never seen at a museum before and will always remember.
Recommendation: Highly recommend! Stop by the trendy artisan cafe-bakery Boulenc nearby.
Museo Textil de Oaxaca
Oaxaca’s Textile Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the region’s traditional textile crafts. The museum occasionally hosts temporary exhibits featuring textiles from abroad. When I visited, there was an exhibition on Japanese textiles and (sadly!) limited space dedicated to Mexico, but that isn’t usually the case. The museum has a great gift shop of high-quality pieces for sale.
Recommendation: Check out the incredible craftsmanship on display – it’s free! Bonus: the museum is right next to the San Pablo Cultural Center. The cultural center is inside a 17th-century convent, has a courtyard that’s an oasis of calm in the city, a cafe, and regularly hosts exhibits and events.
Photo Credit: Museo Textil de Oaxaca
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo y de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Oaxaca’s contemporary art museum was originally founded by renowned artist Francisco Toledo. It closed for several years following a labor dispute. The museum reopened (after I left) in the summer of 2024 under new leadership and with a new name: the Museum of Contemporary Art and Cultures of Oaxaca. It houses Mexican and international contemporary art in a historic 17th-century building.
Recommendation: Art lovers should stop by this centrally located museum!
Photo Credit: Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca
Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños
Despite its name, the Oaxacan Painters Museum is more of a gallery for temporary exhibitions of Oaxacan painters’ contemporary work. Some of Mexico’s most famous painters, like Rufino Tamayo and Francisco Toledo, are from Oaxaca! In their spirit, the Oaxacan Painters Museum highlights acclaimed and emerging artists, showcasing their paintings in a restored colonial mansion.
Recommendation: Since the exhibits change regularly, you never know what you’re going to get! Check it out if you have the time or like art and culture. It’s conveniently located next to the Zócalo.
Photo Credit: Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños
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