Monte Albán above the Oaxaca valley in Mexico
Mexico Itinerary 7 Days
Seven days in January: Mexico City, then Oaxaca. Dry season, cool mornings in the capital, one short flight between them.
About This Destination
This Mexico itinerary 7 days is Mexico City and Oaxaca, not a beach loop and not the whole country. January is the dry season in both. Mexico City mornings are often about 6–10°C because of the altitude, with mild afternoons. Oaxaca is sunny, warm in the day, and cool at night. Daylight is about 11 hours.
The two cities are one hour apart by air and about six hours by bus. This plan uses the flight so the travel day is not the whole day. Reserve that ticket, a Mexico City hotel, and an Oaxaca hotel. Teotihuacan and Monte Albán are busier on weekends. Paradise Pilot does not book the flight, the hotels, or the site tickets.
Trip Overview
Pace
Moderate
Budget
Mid-range
Build this trip
Open the planner with Mexico City and Oaxaca already filled in, then choose your dates.
Plan a Mexico City and Oaxaca itinerary
Day-by-day itinerary outline
- Day 1
Arrive in Mexico City
Land at MEX and go to Roma Norte or Condesa. The airport is about 30 to 60 minutes by the official taxi or the metro, depending on traffic. No ruins today.
- Day 2
The historic center
Zócalo in the morning, one museum after, and no Teotihuacan on the same day.
- Day 3
Teotihuacan at opening
Be on the road by 07:30. The site is about an hour from the city. Walk the Avenue of the Dead in the cool part of the day and leave at lunch.
- Day 4
Fly to Oaxaca
A one-hour flight. Afternoon in the Oaxaca zócalo only. Monte Albán is tomorrow.
- Day 5
Santo Domingo and the markets
A walking day in the center. Santo Domingo in the morning, then one market. No ruins.
- Day 6
Monte Albán
Morning at the site in the photo, back in the city for lunch. Mitla is a different drive and is not in this day.
- Day 7
Fly out via Mexico City or directly
Most international tickets connect in Mexico City. The Oaxaca to Mexico City flight is about one hour. No new site.
Mexico Itinerary 7 Days planning questions
What does this seven-day Mexico itinerary cover?
Mexico City, including Teotihuacan, and Oaxaca, including Monte Albán. It does not include Cancún, the Yucatán, or Puerto Vallarta. Those are different weeks.
Why fly instead of the bus?
Mexico City to Oaxaca is about one hour in the air and about six hours on the ADO bus. The flight keeps day 4 from being only a road. Book the flight. The bus is the fallback if you prefer not to fly.
What is January weather like?
Dry. Pack a layer for Mexico City mornings. Oaxaca days are warm and the nights are cool. You do not need beach clothes for this route.
What should I reserve ahead?
The domestic flight and both hotels. Site tickets for Teotihuacan and Monte Albán can often be bought that morning, but weekends are crowded, so go at opening. This site does not book any of it.