- Oaxaca, Mexico, was just named the best city in the world in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2020.
- Each year, the publication releases its World’s Best Awards, where it surveys readers and ranks destinations, hotels, and cities around the world.
- Oaxaca topped this year’s list with a score of 93.54 points out of 100.
- These photos show the colorful city’s architecture, nature, and flavorful cuisine.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Oaxaca has nearly everything a person could dream of exploring.
Foto: A church in Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, Mexico. Source: Norma Cordova/Getty Images
The city sits in southwestern Mexico and is surrounded by mountains.
Foto: An aerial view of the city.
“One of the most delightful cities I’ve ever visited,” one person wrote to Travel + Leisure.
Foto: Colorful buildings line the city.
With stunning architecture, history, markets, music, and food, the Mexican city is a must on every bucket list.
Foto: A Spanish colonial catholic church in Oaxaca, Mexico. Source: Gabriel Perez/Getty Images
It’s perfect for nature lovers who want to escape to the city’s lush outdoors.
Foto: Fascinating outdoor landscapes sit just outside the city. Source: Lindsay Upson/Getty Images
And visit places like the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua.
Foto: The waterfalls are connected to nearby hot springs. Source: Ricard Martínez Cuders/Getty Images
Or the Zapotec temples and ruins.
Foto: The site is located six miles away from the city center. Source: Craig Lovell/Getty Images
For the foodies, the city has an abundance of markets teeming with fresh fruit, vegetables, and other goods.
Foto: The city is filled with markets. Source: Octaviano Merecias Fotografia Photography/Getty Images
The city also has an exciting street food scene.
Foto: Red, black, and green mole. Source: Grant_Hayward/Getty Images
Don’t forget to try staples like the mole …
Foto: A mole amarillo quesadilla. Source: ©fitopardo/Getty Images
… Or the Oaxaca delicacy, chapulines, which are roasted grasshoppers.
Foto: Tlayuda tortilla with chapulines. Source: ©fitopardo/Getty Images
Beyond delicious cuisine, the city is also known for its mezcal, which is an alcohol made from agave and often referred to as “smoky tequila.”
Foto: Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit. Source: Indigoai/Getty Images
The city is also rich in culture and home to multiple churches, the most stunning of which is the Templo de Santo Domingo.
Foto: The space is open to visitors, but it’s still a functioning church. Source: Carlos Sanchez Pereyra/Getty Images
But perhaps the best part of the city is its people.
Foto: Oaxaca has one of the largest indigenous populations in Mexico. Source: Glow Images/Getty Images
Local artisans spin yarn, carve wood, and master a variety of skills.
Foto: A woman weaving in Oaxaca, Mexico. Source: Glow Images/Getty Images
It’s a city you won’t forget.
Foto: A view through a Spanish colonial window with the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. Source: Gabriel Perez/Getty Images