Oaxaca punches well above its weight for museums. The old Santo Domingo monastery alone would make the trip worthwhile, but the city has a handful of other collections that fill in the picture of Zapotec, Mixtec and colonial history.
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Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca (Santo Domingo)
This is the big one. Housed in the restored Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzman — itself a stunning piece of architecture — the museum covers Oaxacan history from pre-Hispanic times through the colonial era. The Mixtec treasure from Tomb 7 at Monte Alban is here: gold jewelry, turquoise mosaics, carved bone and crystal. It is one of the most important archaeological finds in Mexico and the craftsmanship is remarkable.
The building itself is worth the entry fee. Gilded church interior, massive stone walls, a botanical garden in the cloister. Budget at least two hours.
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo (MACO)
Across from the cathedral on Alcala, MACO has rotating exhibitions of contemporary Oaxacan art. The building is a colonial house and the exhibitions tend to be small but interesting. Free on Sundays.
Museo Rufino Tamayo
Pre-Hispanic art collection donated by Oaxacan painter Rufino Tamayo. Small but well-curated — figurines, ceramics and stone carvings from across Mesoamerica. A few blocks from the Zocalo on Morelos street.
Instituto de Artes Graficas (IAGO)
Founded by another Oaxacan artist, Francisco Toledo. Free to enter. Rotating print and graphic art exhibitions, plus a great library of art books. One of those quiet places you stumble into on a hot afternoon and end up staying for an hour.