Taxis are generally considered safe to flag down street cabs in Oaxaca, and the fares are fairly inexpensive. The app-based ride-hailing company Didi provides service in Oaxaca under a partnership with a group of yellow taxis, and it's reasonably priced as well.

Colectivos, shared taxis that run along fixed routes in and around Oaxaca, are cheaper than regular cabs, but you'll be squeezed into a car with at least three other passengers. The maroon-and-white sedans congregate on the northeast side of Oaxaca's 2nd-class bus station, and they display their destinations on the windshield.

Taking a bus is generally efficient and very inexpensive. They go nearly everywhere in the city, while numerous private lines run to Oaxaca's outlying towns with frequent service departing from the 2nd-class bus station and several small terminals on the south end of Bustamante street.

From the avenue outside the 1st-class bus station, "Juárez" buses will take you three blocks east of the Zócalo, while the "Tinoco y Palacios" line runs a route three blocks west of the main square. Drivers carry change, and you can hail them from practically any corner.

The new CityBus system operates along multiple routes, one of which cuts through the historic center on Avenida de la Independencia and heads east to the 1st-class bus station.

At Mina 501, Autobuses Turísticos has hourly morning and early afternoon departures to the astonishing Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán.

Oaxaca is becoming more bicycle-friendly, regularly expanding its network of designated bike lanes, which makes for a safer ride as you bike through a downtown area.

There is no need to have a car if you are staying within the city center. Driving is very congested in the historical center and there is a lack of street parking. If you do plan to drive in the city, keep in mind that many downtown streets have no stop signs or traffic lights but most motorists in Oaxaca abide by "uno por uno" etiquette, meaning the first vehicle to arrive at an intersection has the right of way.

Having a car is very practical if you plan to get outside the city. There are several small towns south of the city, as well as the wildlife-rich mountain villages of Pueblos Mancomunados that many visitors like to venture out to. There is usually not much traffic outside the city limits, but expect some poorly maintained roads with potholes and unmarked speed bumps. Also, be aware that protesters regularly stage blockades in Oaxaca. If you come across a roadblock, seek an alternative route whenever possible.