Asunción

Paraguay's capital, with the López Palace on the Paraguay River, the National Pantheon of the Heroes and a colonial old town; the pottery town of Areguá and Lake Ypacaraí nearby make great weekend escapes.

Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, sits on the east bank of the Paraguay River facing Argentina across the water. Founded by the Spanish in 1537, it is one of South America's oldest cities and is known as the "Mother of Cities." The city proper has about 500,000 people and Greater Asunción about 2.5 million, and life moves at a relaxed pace.

Areas to explore: ① The old town (Centro) — the López Palace on the riverfront, the Manzana de la Rivera cultural center opposite, the National Pantheon of the Heroes, the Casa de la Independencia, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo are all within a 15-minute walk and can be covered in a day; at dusk, watch the sunset from the Costanera riverside promenade, then visit the colorful Loma San Jerónimo neighborhood. ② The newer districts — Villa Morra and Recoleta to the east are packed with restaurants, malls and hotels, and are home to the Museo del Barro and Recoleta Cemetery; the Mercado 4 market is great for local life and street food. ③ Day trips — heading east along Route 2, you can link Itauguá (ñandutí lace), Areguá (pottery and strawberries), San Bernardino on Lake Ypacaraí and the pilgrimage town of Caacupé; to the southeast, Yaguarón has an 18th-century Franciscan Baroque church.

Seasons: the climate is subtropical; Apr–Oct (autumn through spring in the Southern Hemisphere) is cooler and drier and the best time to visit, while Dec–Feb is scorching (often above 35°C) with frequent thunderstorms. Getting around: Silvio Pettirossi International Airport is about 15 km from the center, about 30 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app (Bolt, Uber); city bus routes are complicated, so most visitors use ride-hailing. Plan on 2–3 days (including a day trip around the lake). Tips: check visa requirements before you travel; avoid walking alone at night in the old town and around the train station; and be sure to try chipa (cheese bread), sopa paraguaya (cornbread), asado and tereré, the iced yerba mate.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries