Is Oaxaca City really unsafe?
 

Is it unsafe for women travelling alone?

Unless things have changed in the last 8 years, definitely ok for a woman travelling alone or with other women. Just take usual precautions as you would anywhere.

I travel to Oaxaca twice a year and spend a lot of time in the city- from downtown to very poor areas on the outskirts of town. I have never been the victim of a crime. My teenage daughters walk around the central part of town during the day with no problems. The Mexican folks who I know there say there is very little crime. Likewise an American I know who lives there feels it is very safe. She says she was robbed once, late a night at a pay phone and the robber was very polite. All I can say, from personal observation, it seems much safer than an American city of like size. I would use general precautions, be aware of petty theft and pickpockets in places like the Abastos market and the second class bus terminal, but I would not worry about it at all.

I was just in Oaxaca over the Thanksgiving Holiday - we spent most our time in and around the zocalo (between the markets to the south and santo domingo to the north) it didn't even feel like a city. <BR><BR>Plus, we noticed quite a few police/securidad officers walking around during the day and at night. <BR><BR>I would agree with Linda - just take the usual precautions as you would anywhere.

Hi - I was in Oaxaca by myself, to visit friends who live there, around the time of Day of the Dead. I think it is quite safe although it is true that you have to be careful in the mercado, if you decide to go look. It is a great experience to look around there, but there are pickpockets so best to not even carry a purse. Other than that, I think it is very safe.