Ancient City · Mesoamerican · Mexico
Mitla
Mitla is the Zapotec religious centre in the Tlacolula Valley, 44 km south-east of Oaxaca city, known for walls covered in geometric stone mosaics. Its palaces are decorated with fretwork made of thousands of small cut stones fitted without mortar, a style found nowhere else in Mexico.
Photo: User:Gengiskanhg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mitla tickets: which one for you
Our pick for each kind of visit, with live dates and prices from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most.
Best for: First visit, the classic valley day
A full day by minibus from Oaxaca with the Tule tree, Mitla, the mineral springs of Hierve el Agua and a mezcal distillery, with transport and a guide.
- On your own, at your own pace: San pablo villa de mitla entry ticket to the archaeological zone of mitla Entry to the archaeological zone bought ahead; take the bus from Oaxaca and add the church, the market and lunch in the village at your own pace.
- Active travellers by bike: Mitla bike sightseeing tour to the archaeological zone and caves with rock art Cycles through the valley fields to the ruins and nearby caves with rock paintings, a quieter way to see the area than the coach tours.
Tickets and tours: all the options
Entry is paid at the INAH ticket office next to the Group of the Columns; foreign visitors pay MXN 210, and Mexican nationals enter free on Sundays. The ticket covers the main enclosure, while the courtyards behind the church of San Pablo can usually be seen without a ticket. Licensed local guides can be hired at the entrance for a short tour.
On GetYourGuide Mitla is mostly part of a valley day trip from Oaxaca, combined with the great Tule tree, a rug-weaving village such as Teotitlan del Valle, a mezcal distillery and the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua. These tours last about ten hours, include transport and a guide, and sometimes a buffet lunch. Entry fees are often extra. There are also private tours by car, a long day covering Monte Alban and Mitla, a bike tour, a multi-day Day of the Dead trip and a simple entry ticket. For most visitors, the classic group day trip is the efficient choice. If you prefer to spend more time in Mitla itself, travel by bus and visit independently, as the site is small and easy to follow.
What to see at Mitla
Group of the Columns
The main group and the heart of the visit, entered from the ticket office. A large courtyard is framed by long buildings on platforms, their outer walls covered in panels of stepped-fret mosaic. Look closely at how each pattern is built from small cut stones set in place without mortar, like a jigsaw.
Hall of Columns and patio
On the north side of the courtyard, a broad stairway leads into the Hall of Columns, a long room with six thick stone columns that once held a roof. A narrow passage behind it opens into a small inner patio surrounded by rooms whose walls are entirely covered in fretwork, the finest at the site.
17 tickets and tours for Mitla
Live dates and prices from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most tickets.
Cruciform tombs
Under the buildings of the second courtyard, steep stairs go down into cross-shaped tombs lined with the same fretwork. In one stands a single stone column that local tradition calls the column of life; people embrace it to learn how many years they have left. The passages are low and narrow.
Church Group
North of the main site, the colonial church of San Pablo was built on top of one of the ancient palaces, using its stones. Walk behind it to see courtyards with remains of fretwork and traces of red painted figures on the lintels. The contrast between the church and the Zapotec walls shows how the Spanish built over the old sacred places.
Village market and streets
The street between the ruins and the main square is lined with stalls selling woven textiles, embroidered blouses and mezcal. The town is known for its weaving, and several workshops show the looms. Eat in one of the simple restaurants around the square, where Oaxacan dishes such as tlayudas are served.
A short history
Mitla was inhabited by AD 100 to 650, perhaps much earlier, and began as a fortified village. Its name comes from the Nahuatl Mictlan, the place of the dead; in Zapotec it was Lyobaa, the place of rest. After the decline of Monte Alban it became the main religious centre of the Zapotec, and the Mixtec gained influence from about AD 1000. It reached its peak between about 750 and 1521, when the palaces with their mosaic walls were built for the high priest and nobles. The Spanish founded the church on its ruins in the 16th century. The area lies within the UNESCO site of the Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla, listed in 2010.
Getting there
Mitla is about 44 km south-east of Oaxaca city along Highway 190, through Santa Maria del Tule and Tlacolula. Second-class buses and shared taxis to Mitla leave from the Oaxaca second-class bus terminal and from stops along the road out of the city, taking about an hour. From the drop-off in the village, walk about 15 minutes north along the main street to the ruins, or take a moto-taxi. Oaxaca airport is south of the city, about 50 minutes from Mitla by taxi. By car, the drive takes about 50 minutes, and there is parking near the site. Hierve el Agua is a further 45 minutes along a mountain road.
Rules and what to bring
Do not touch the mosaic walls or climb on the structures; the stones are loose and fragile. The tombs have steep stairs and low ceilings, so watch your head and take care with small children. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen; the valley is sunny and dry. There are toilets near the entrance and plenty of food stalls and restaurants in the village. Respect the church, which is still used for worship.
When to go
Group tours from Oaxaca usually reach Mitla in the late morning, between about 10 am and 1 pm, on their way to or from Hierve el Agua. Arrive at opening or in the afternoon after 3 pm to have the courtyards almost to yourself. Sundays bring more Mexican visitors, as entry is free for them, and the Tlacolula market on the same day draws crowds to the valley.
The dry season from October to May is the best time. The rainy season from June to September brings afternoon storms but greener scenery. The valley is at about 1,480 metres, so mornings can be cool in winter and middays warm all year. The Day of the Dead at the end of October and early November is a special time in the region, with altars and celebrations in the villages. Allow an hour for the ruins and another for the village.
Combine it with
The Tule tree, one of the widest trees in the world, stands in Santa Maria del Tule on the way from Oaxaca. The ruins of Yagul and the Sunday market of Tlacolula are 20 minutes away. Hierve el Agua and the mezcal villages of Santiago Matatlan are close, and Monte Alban lies on the other side of Oaxaca.
At a glance
| Hours | 8 am to 5 pm daily, last entry around 4.30 pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Open daily |
| Entry fee | from MXN 210; Mexicans and residents MXN 105, free on Sundays |
| Time needed | about an hour |
| Best time | At opening or after 3 pm; October to May for dry weather |
| Booking | Pay at the gate; tours from Oaxaca include it on the way to Hierve el Agua |
| Access | Mostly level paths with some steps; the tombs are entered by narrow, steep stairs |
| Getting there | Bus or shared taxi from Oaxaca city to Mitla, about an hour, then a short walk |
| Civilisation | Mesoamerican |
| Elevation | 1 480 m above sea level |
| Checked | October 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
When is Mitla open?
8 am to 5 pm daily, last entry around 4.30 pm. Open daily.
How much is the entry fee for Mitla?
Entry fee: from MXN 210; Mexicans and residents MXN 105, free on Sundays.
How long do you need at Mitla?
Allow about an hour for Mitla.
Do I need to book Mitla in advance?
Pay at the gate; tours from Oaxaca include it on the way to Hierve el Agua.
Can I book a ticket or tour for Mitla online?
Yes. GetYourGuide lists 17 tickets and tours for Mitla, with live dates and prices and free cancellation on most of them.
When is the best time to visit Mitla?
At opening or after 3 pm; October to May for dry weather.
How do I get to Mitla?
Bus or shared taxi from Oaxaca city to Mitla, about an hour, then a short walk.
Is Mitla accessible, and what is the terrain like?
Mostly level paths with some steps; the tombs are entered by narrow, steep stairs.
Is Mitla worth visiting?
Worth it for the geometric stone mosaics covering palace walls and the underground cross-shaped tombs, an easy stop on a valley day trip. Skip or shorten it if you want a large ruined city, as the site is compact and an hour is enough.