Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, Santo Domingo — Attraction in Oaxaca

The Museo de las Culturas was located right beside the Santo Domingo de Guzman Cathedral via its own entrance.

The museum was large featuring many exhibits which were situated in various rooms inside this former monastery. The museum is focused on the Oaxaca culture, art and history. There were lots of ancient artifacts recovered from the surrounding areas in Oaxaca, which were very interesting to see.

Unfortunately, the information placards in the museum were in Spanish-only so I wasn't able to understand a lot of it, but I still enjoyed exploring this museum, wandering into the various rooms, and checking out the exhibits.

There were open-air windows throughout the museum with fantastic views overlooking the streets of Oaxaca as well as the incredible botanical gardens next door with so many amazing cacti and succulents. I didn't have time to visit the gardens, as they had a separate entrance fee and only scheduled tours at specific times during the day, which did not work with my schedule.

The entrance fee was 70 pesos which was very reasonable. I spent around 2 to 2.5 hours exploring here. It was a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon and cool off from the heat outside. You are not allowed to take backpacks inside the museum, so I had to leave mine in a cubby behind the front desk. I just took my phone, camera, and wallet with me and felt safe leaving my backpack there. Everything worked out fine.

Visited in...

Museo de la Cultura de Oaxaca is not just an informative museum; it's an architectural marvel. The breathtaking drawings on the roof and the garden, reminiscent of a Garden of Eden, add a unique charm to the overall experience. Exploring the museum is like taking a journey from the pre-Hispanic era to contemporary times, providing a rich understanding of the diverse people who have inhabited Oaxaca.

Our visit lasted an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes, and throughout this time, we were captivated by the wealth of information presented. What makes this museum particularly pleasant is not only its informative content but also the aesthetic appeal of its design.

Highly recommended for those eager to delve into the history of the region, Museo de la Cultura de Oaxaca stands out as a delightful blend of education and aesthetic enjoyment. A must-visit for anyone interested in the vibrant life of Oaxaca's...

Good museum with a variety of artifacts and a special exhibition on perro art. Very poor directional signage and confusing layout. A wonderful large map exists of both floors but it is posted at very END of exhibit at the exit. After the superb exhibit of Mt Albans artifacts (gallery 5) you need to double back north and turn left to see four additional galleries that we missed (6-9). We have no idea what was in those. After seeing gallery 10 we saw people i hallway (gallery9) and tried to go backwards to see 6-9 but security said we to circle back to take them in order… we never could figure it out and gave up… then saw the map at end showing where to go. So.. why not put map on wall at beginning NOT end of exhibit !!! Or hand out maps!!! We didn’t recall seeing any gallery numbers prominently posted either. Matters were further confused by Evacuation Route signs which directly contradicted...