The Zocalo of Oaxaca, formally the Plaza de la Constitucion, is the historic main square at the heart of Oaxaca City’s colonial center, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and laid out by the Spanish after their arrival in 1529.
The plaza is framed by the Palacio de Gobierno on its south side and lined with cafes and portal restaurants, and its art nouveau bandstand, added in a 1901 remodel, still hosts live marimba and other music in the evenings. It is one of the city’s best spots for people-watching, shopping for local crafts, and soaking in colonial architecture.
Visitors typically spend 1 to 2 hours here, whether that’s a leisurely coffee or margarita at a portal cafe during the day or lingering into the evening when the square fills with music, street food vendors, and local life.
