Zócalo
4.5
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4.5
1,765 reviews
Excellent
930
Very good
513
Average
209
Poor
72
Terrible
41
Suporto
Susan Weckbaugh482 contributions
Jan 2020
Sit outside under the portals and have a Margarita or naranjada to cool off after walking all over. Saturday night and Sunday are the times to see the Mexican families out for their social entertainment. Musical concerts and wandering musicians, although I still haven't found the marimbas. Please be kind to the poor people begging. Ten pesos is only 53 cents but it can buy food for someone less fortunate than you.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald L
Denver, CO2,936 contributions
Dec 2019
We spent a week in Oaxaca over the Christmas Holidays. We ate at several of the restaurants lining the square and shopped at many of the local vendor's booths. We were entertained by many different musicians and enjoyed watching the children interact with the multiple Santa's and Three Kings. Children played with large inflatable toys and adults danced. Restaurants were crowded, day and night. This was were the action was every day, all day, during the holidays. Many hotels on the square and nearby for lodging and they were reasonably priced. Several walking streets (Vigil, Alcala and 5 de Mayo) all came off the north side of the park and provided addition shopping, eating and lodging opportunity. Oaxaca is a fun place to be over the holidays.
Written 9 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil B R
New York12 contributions
Jan 2020
Especially in the early evening, nice to watch street life. Grab a drink or a meal and watch time pass. We saw a locals also orchestra performing and all these older couples came out to dance. Just lovely.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tivoli102@yahoo.com
Liberty Township, OH258 contributions
Oct 2019
Lots to see here and plenty of shade trees and benches to sit and enjoy as people walk by. Near plenty of restaurants, shopping stalls and markets. Locals hang out and so fun to watch families, toddlers, young people just enjoying life.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinapjs
Washington DC, DC3,633 contributions
Feb 2020
There was a concert with a 14 piece marimba band playing and the audience dancing. Street vendors all around. Little kiosks selling all kinds of things. Lively, lots of fun. You can sit our at one of the cafes and enjoy the party.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shalla
7 contributions
Mar 2020
What can one not say about this central park of their community where you can really absorb all the fine nuances of their culture. Everybody gathers. Children play and laugh with their balloons and other throwing toys from the vendors. Watched a grandfather braverly and lovingly teaching his granddaughter how to skateboard on her pink plastic board; they both giggled when he had to bail out! Families and groups wandering, munching on goodies from food vendors, perusing the arts and crafts booths, sitting in cafes outdoors and indoors for wonderful food and drinks. Small groups watching street artists creating their pieces - the gentleman with the spray paint can creating planetary vistas on canvas was amazing. And the music!!! Individual musicians, trios, small bands, bands on stages set up and people of all ages dancing. I could just sit on the park benches and enjoy people watching all day!
Written 27 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arlyn R
Boston103 contributions
Feb 2020
This is where the locals AND the tourists go to pass an afternoon or evening. Lots of music, lots of vendors, lots of people watching each other. LOTS of shoeshine stands! Worth a stop-by to see the action, even if serenity is more your thing...
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie B
95 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Pretty much the center of the city. Great for sitting and getting a drink or bite to eat and do some people watching. First night we were here there was a concert, another night a wedding celebration, and always some sort of street music. Lots of restaurants, street vendors and even shoe shine stands. It would be pretty difficult to be in Oaxaca City and not spend sone time here. Fun!
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderer618309
32 contributions
Jan 2020
Our apartment overlooked one end of the zócalo so we were always aware of special events going on. There was music every evening and a concert with a wonderful soprano and a unique composition one evening. Everything was lit up at night so it was very pretty. We saw several weddings come down to the zócalo, parade style along the pedestrian precinct, and it was a remarkably happy and colourful celebration. Just sitting out with a drink in the afternoon was lovely, too.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
@ Brigitteme76
Chicago, IL21 contributions
Jan 2020
The cathedral, the national palace/president's residence, the ruins of an ancient Aztec Temple, the daily raising and lowering of a giant Mexican flag, and a large, bustling plaza, that's the Zocalo. Add great hotels (we stayed in the Zolalo Central, which I highly recommend) that surround the plaza, and numerous restaurants and stores of all types within a block or two. And lest the title of my review misleads you, there are plenty of Mexicans on the Zacolo, only some of whom are selling stuff to tourists. Don't miss it!
Written 26 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How late do vendors and people hang out in the zocalo? What's a safe time to leave in the evening?
Written 2 September 2020
Hi. I did not hang out very late in the Zocolo. The Friday night that I was there, it was very active at about 8:30 p.m. I felt completely safe everywhere I went in Oaxaca. I was studying at the Spanish Immersion school and the teachers went over the dangerous areas of Oaxaca. In any foreign country, I usually am back at my hotel or room by at least 9 p.m. Just trying to be smart when I travel.
Written 2 September 2020
I would like to know if there are any hotels in direct view of the zocalo? We plan to travel to this location to stay one month with my 94 year old mother....she cannot walk very far...THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP
Written 5 November 2017
I did not see any that looked directly upon the Zócalo but there are probably a few directly surrounding it!
Written 25 November 2017
Thinking of a trip to Oaxaca this November. Is the impact of the Teachers strike enough to postpone the trip to next year or to pick another destination?
Written 3 July 2016
I was in beautiful Oaxaca the first two weeks of June 2016. At the time the protestors were mainly in the zocalo area, although there were a couple of very large protest marches one block from my hotel. I never felt threatened or in danger. The presence of the protestors in the main square along with the remodeling of the Benito Juarez market was more of an inconvenience for me as a tourist. I did take one day tour to outlying villages and was warned that we might encounter roadblocks on our way back to Oaxaca, but this did not happen. I flew directly into and out of Oaxaca so did not encounter any transportation problems with buses.
There were very few tourists when I was there, and sometimes certain restaurants and businesses were closed. Again, more of an inconvenience than a problem for me and I just made the best of it. I thoroughly enjoyed Oaxaca and hope to return as soon as possible.
This was just my experience and it would be difficult to advise you as it seems this is a fluid and ever changing situation. If you don't make it to Oaxaca this year I would recommend a visit in the future as the city and its people have much to offer. I have traveled extensively throughout Mexico and Oaxaca is my favorite city.
Written 6 July 2016
We finally stayed at Trébol, just two blocks south of the Zocalo, and directly across from the big Benito Jaurez Market; we love it and it was unbelievably inexpensive. See my review posted 2 March 2016 -- the first of many very good reviews for this excellent little accommodation.
Written 4 July 2016
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