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Tourist guide: what to do and see in Asuncion
Come in and enjoy the mysterious Paraguayan capital.
If you are lucky enough to get an opportunity to visit this enigmatic capital, the variety of activities on offer will surprise you! The best way to get to know Asunción is by losing yourself in the civic centre, visiting the Cathedral, or being photographed next to the Casa de Gobierno. If you're looking to soak up its history and culture, our advice is to visit the museum House of Independence (Casa de la Independencia), which unveils Asunción's origins and emancipation. Also when planning your activities, don't forget to visit the small Persian fairs, especially the outstanding chaotic Silvio Peterossi market. In the midst of these visits and walks, the native objects and crafts offered by street merchants will be a real temptation. When night falls, it is time to try the local cuisine and enjoy walking along the banks of the Paraguay River.
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
Areguá
Living as an artisan
Living as an artisan
The chronicles say that the first ceramist who came to Areguá was Spaniard Ricardo Pérez, who had been granted land in this region alongside the Ypacarai lake as a reward for saving the life of the man who was to become president of Paraguay, general Bernadino Caballero. In fact, he saved him from enemy soldiers by hiding him in his clay oven and when it came to his reward, he asked to be able to continue being a ceramicist in Areguá. There are abundant clay and kaolin pots, vases and jugs for sale along the lakeside, specialities that you can buy during your visit to the potters' area. In the Avenida de la Candelaria you can observe the artisans at work, with more than 100 artisan families' ceramics to choose from. Don't forget how fragile these objects are; if you want your gifts to arrive home intact, it is worth finding out about companies specialising in the packaging and shipping of fragile goods.
Limpio
Artisan work and a river with curative properties
Artisan work and a river with curative properties
If you are superstitious and believe in local traditions, you will certainly want to visit the town of Limpio (short for San José de los Campos Limpios), 23 km from Asunción. Here you can not only buy unique pieces of craftsmanship made with fronds of the karanda'y (a palm tree typical of the area), but you can also drink water from a spring which, according the Paraguayans, is sacred and has curative properties. Typical Limpio crafts include 'piri sombreros', made from two palm leaves and traditionally used by farmers to protect them from the sun. The native Guaraní of the region specialise in weaving these leaves to create bags, baskets, fruit bowls and wallets. They can also be combined with another type of plant, the Guembé or Paraguayan philodendron, which, when dried turns a dark colour that contrasts with the pale karanda'y when woven together.
Festival of the Ñandutí (Itaguá)
A tradition that is passed down from mothers to daughters
A tradition that is passed down from mothers to daughters
Just 30 km from Asunción, Itaguá is known as the City of Ñandutí and is the place to go if you want to buy typical Paraguayan clothes. The ñandutí is a type of lace embroidered with shapes and colours that looks somewhat like a spider's web. The technique is passed down from generation to generation and its sale is organized by families or associations. According to legend, the ñandutí was created by a native mother who wanted to weave a beautiful cape so that her son would be able to court the woman he loved; so she copied the movements of the spider and with her own rods produced the first ñandutí cape. The Festival has been held between July and August every year since the 1970s; it is not limited to the sale of textile products, and includes a competition between artisans for the best design, tributes to the elderly of the place who have taught the ñandutí tradition during the year, as well as various concerts and comedy shows.
Shopping Villa Morra
Instead of markets you can visit this macro shopping center, where you will find crafts but also shops of all kinds
A shopping center with all its amenities
If you are one of those who leave shopping for the last day and time has run out, you still have a chance to buy last-minute gifts and not return empty-handed. Shopping Villa Morra, located in the center of Asunción, is -nothing more and nothing less- than a macro mall with all the comforts of this type of establishment: you can buy handicrafts and leather goods, traditional clothing, pieces of art, prints or whatever you can think of at a good price -but always more expensive than in the local markets- in the shops located in the same building. To recover your strength after a day of shopping, you can also take the opportunity to have lunch or dinner in Villa Morra itself, in the 'Food Court', specializing in fast food franchises and some oriental, Mexican or Italian gastronomic exoticism.
Pitcher and Syrup Festival (Festival del Cántaro y la Miel), Itá
Crafts with Franciscan tradition
Crafts with Franciscan tradition
At San Blas, in the region of Itá (37 km from Asunción), there are no storks but there is the picturesque festival of the "City of the Pitcher and Syrup" (Ciudad del Cántaro y la Miel). Chronicles say that the Franciscans who came to this town in the seventeenth century taught the women to make clay and ceramic jars which, with the passing of the centuries, have become its greatest exponent of crafts sales. Internationally recognised artist Rosa Britez, known as "the ceramicist of America", specialises in Paraguayan mythology and is hostess of the local museum that bears her name. The Pitcher and Syrup fair at Itá also brings together the sugar cane artisans; it is a fertile area for its cultivation and it is used to produce the syrup that you can buy here in the market throughout the year.
Mercado4
A bustling market
A bustling market
It is as if you're dropped into a Arab souk when you enter Mercado4; you'll find it a hotbed of scents and colours, located between Avenida Pettirossi y la Avenida Rodríguez de Francia, on the street and without any another infrastructure meaning that the mobile sellers' humble stalls are not sheltered from the rain or sunshine. It is important to keep an eye on your belongings and your wallet, as in any metropolitan area, and don't be overwhelmed by the apparent chaos of the stallholders. If you are looking for some fresh fruit to satisfy your hunger whilst sightseeing, the best native and exotic fruits are to be found here, sometimes newly arrived in caravans direct from the fruit fields. But there is also room to sell textile garments and electronics (not always genuine), crafts and a plethora of gift ideas, and all at a considerably lower price than anywhere else.
Plaza de los Héroes Market
Street market
Street market
Some of Paraguay's greatest assets are the hands and skills of its craftsmen, and this market, in the Plaza de los Héroes, has myriad objects for sale, mostly made by indigenous communities. In this plaza you will find typical Paraguayan garments such as the ao po'i (Guaraní for 'delicate fabric' ), ñandutíi (or 'spider web' ), which according to tradition was invented by a native of the Paraguayan jungle after looking at the design of spider webs. The craftsmen of the Plaza de los Heroes sell their wares from informal stalls in the sun where they might offer you a drink of traditional tereré while you decide what piece of art to buy. If you can't find anything to your liking and your journey coincides with the country's independence celebrations, there is also a similar but official craft market in Plaza O'Leary.
Central Bank Numismatics Museum (Museo Numismático del Banco Central)
Money and jewels of Paraguay
Money and jewels of Paraguay
If you could access the most hidden safes of the Central Bank of Asunción, what would you like to find? A collection of fine jewellery, coins, medals and other pieces like you might find in the cave of Ali Baba? All this and much more is organized and on display to the public in the curious Numismatic Museum, which has been open since the 1960s. In the north wing of the bank building, the museum takes a historic journey through coins and notes that show which events happened, and were depicted on its money, throughout the history of Paraguay. It includes a jewellery collection, kept from amongst donations from high society to the government that were to be melted down to produce coins during the War of the Triple Alliance. The Museum also has a library where the whole numismatist process of the country, since its independence, has been documented.
Monsignor Juan Sinforiano Bogarín Museum (Museo Monseñor Juan Sinforiano Bogarín)
The church's riches
The church's riches
Like any cathedral worth its salt, Asunción cathedral could not go without having wealth hidden in what was the Museum of the Asunción Cathedral Treasure, and is known today as the Monsignor Juan Sinforiano Bogarín museum, in tribute to the priest and researcher who devoted himself to caring, searching, and collecting the church's artistic objects, some purchased and others relinquished to him during his expeditions throughout the country. The museum includes over 400 pieces of the Monsignor Augustine Blujaki collection, part of the sacred content of the exhibition: Jesuit and Franciscan wood carvings, Hispano-Guaraní Baroque and all the silverware used over the centuries to celebrate mass in the cathedral. But you will not only find religious art when you visit this collection, the National History room contains objects as diverse as a green wedding dress that bore witness to a secret wedding, Marshal Francisco Solano Lopez' cigarette case and even a collection of fans belonging to ladies of high society.
Ministry of Defence Military Museum
A look back over of military history
A look back over of military history
Although Paraguay has only embarked on two wars since its colonization: the War of the Triple Alliance and the Chaco War, the history of both and an extensive collection of their protagonists' personal objects can be found in the Military Museum, opened in the 1930s in the Ministry of Defence building. In addition to what you would normally expect from this type of collection, such as weapons, flags, uniforms, ammunition and maps of operations, the novelty of this museum is its intimacy. The Mariscal Francisco Solano Lopez room, for example, contains personal objects that belonged to both this character and his girlfriend and "marshal", who accompanied him to the front: Elisa Alicia Lynch. This is the only explanation for the presence of a delicate music box, porcelain objects and dresses in a military museum. Details like this allow us to imagine everyday life during combat, such as that of Cerro Corá, where the Marshal and his 17-year-old son - Panchito Solano - died trying to protect Madame Lynch.
Guido Boggianni Anthropological, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum
Despite the gruesome history behind it, this museum is one of the most interesting you can visit
Aboriginal culture of Paraguay
Everything you will discover in the Guido Boggianni Anthropological, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum is the most playful and educational part of the indigenous ancestral cultures that populated Paraguay since the beginning of time. Its name honors the Italian photographer and explorer who began to take an interest in these aboriginal communities, Guido Boggianni, but his story had a rocky ending. Despite living with the indigenous people and photographing them with an improvised photography laboratory in the jungle (circa 1894), his hosts finally thought that he was "stealing their souls" by appearing in their photographs, so they killed him, crushed the skull, decapitated and buried separating the head from the body and from the chamber. Regardless of this outcome, the Museum will offer you an interesting journey through the Guaraní linguistic families, their rituals, masks, feather and ornamental art. A section is also dedicated to archaeological discoveries related to Prehistory, while another department continues to study and disseminate the surviving indigenous ethnic groups.
Bernardino Caballero Museum of National History
A 20th century house museum
A 20th century house museum
One of the most exciting trips to nineteenth century Asunción is the Bernardino Caballero Museum of National History, near the Parque Caballero. It remains almost exactly as its owner left it when he died in 1912. General Bernadino Caballero had fought in the War of the Triple Alliance where he just about survived after having been taken prisoner and detained for some time in Brazil. Do you want to know how he fought in the war? With military sabres and a revolver, which are on display in this museum. The rooms have been kept the same as when he was alive: his bedroom with furniture of the era and brass bed, jukeboxes that he would listen to with friends, and a study with its collection of antique pens, inks and typewriters. The Museum has gathered this collection with the help of the general's descendants, who donated more than 3,000 personal souvenirs and objects.
Cultural Centre and Museum of Sacred Art. (Centro Cultural y Museo de Arte Sacro)
A look at the evangelisation of tribes
A look at the evangelisation of tribes
One of Asunción's recently created cultural spaces is the Museum of Sacred Art, opened in 2010 by the foundation of its patron Nicolas Dario Latourrette Bo in the restored Villa Lina, whose architecture dates back to the early twentieth century. The Museum has been declared of National Tourist and Cultural Interest thanks to its original search for Paraguayan identity through Franciscan and Jesuit religious imagery. With more than 600 pieces from the seventeenth century, the Museum of Sacred Art includes examples of what is known as "Hispano-Guaraní art", which was the result of colonization and the tribespeople's artistic interpretation of the carvings and evangelization brought by the Spaniards. The museum's cultural offerings include an auditorium for films, concerts and conferences, a large library where you can see documentation on the museum and a coffee-bookshop.
Ramon Elias Museum of Mythology
Indigenous legends kept alive
Indigenous legends kept alive
If you organize an excursion to Capiatá, just 20 kilometres from Asunción, don't miss out on the only museum of its kind, not only in Paraguay, but probably in neighbouring countries: the Ramon Elias Museum of Mythology. It was founded by the Paraguayan artist of that name in 1979 and since then has been the last refuge of legends that have been almost forgotten with the passage of time: the myths and the rites of the Guaraní ancestral culture that Ramon Elias studied and painted for years. Apparently, first of all, he gathered information from books on native mythology, then visited indigenous peoples, consulted their elders, listened to oral traditions and learned from local crafts and finally returned with all he had learned to his collection of myths, where he carved them as they had been described. The Capiatá museum of mythology, includes carvings and depictions of Jesuits and Franciscans after the arrival of colonization, as well as photographs and old and forgotten weapons from wars across Paraguay.
Carlos Antonio Lopez Railway Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril)
Asunción's first locomotive
Asunción's first locomotive
The locomotive named 'Sapucai', has the honour of being one of the first steam powered beasts on rails to cross the Rio de la Plata area. Can you imagine the scene as the inhabitants of Asunción climbed on board a train for the first time? The city railway station opened in 1861 and interestingly, it was one of the first in Latin America to cater for passengers, not just cargo. You can recreate this nineteenth century experience by feeling and looking closely at the iron of the famous locomotive and its wagons, which are kept at the Carlos Antonio Lopez Railway Museum at the Railway Station. Until recently there was a tourist railway from Asunción, which is now closed, but they are looking into reopening and reinstating this trip to the past.
Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum (Museo Etnográfico Andrés Barbero)
Journey through the history of the inhabitants of Paraguay
Journey through the history of the inhabitants of Paraguay
The fundamental elements of Paraguayan anthropology since the 1930s can be found in the Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum. It all started with an in-situ study of the indigenous people who lived in Chaco, following the trail of prehistoric sites and the objects that had been found there. Researcher Andrés Barber was appointed captain of the expedition, led by the Scientific Society of Paraguay, and was responsible for the study of various tribes throughout the country, for the purpose of developing an ethnographic and anthropological map of Paraguay. This led to the discovery of which indigenous ethnicity dominated each region before the arrival of Spanish colonization. And there is even more: in the Ethnographic Museum twenty indigenous communities are described that still survive today; according to the latest studies, there are 20 different ethnic groups grouped into five linguistic families. If you want to feel like an explorer, make sure you visit this museum.
Centre of Visual Arts
Learn about history through art
Learn about history through art
In the early eighties there was a resurgence of interest in Guaraní art and the Centre of Visual Arts was created containing the Museum of Clay, Museum of Indigenous Art and the Gallery of Contemporary Paraguayan Art, all within in a single space. The tour will give you an overall idea of art in Paraguay from pre-Columbian times to the present, with curiosities in each section. The Museum of Indigenous art, for example, goes into Guaraní rituals and ancestral traditions with 1,750 objects representing each indigenous race that has populated the country since the beginning of time, which can now be found on its digitized database. The Museum of Clay contains more than 4,000 clay and ceramic pieces from the seventeenth century onwards, so you can learn about the evolution of Paraguay's crafts and their implicit symbolism. Finally, a permanent collection of fine arts including sculpture, is kept in the Paraguayan Gallery of Contemporary Art.
City Memorial Museum (Museo Memorial de la Ciudad)
The entire history of Asunción
The entire history of Asunción
Built in the eighteenth century and renovated as part of the Manzana de la Rivera architectural complex, the Casa Viola houses the City Memorial Museum, which will take you back in time for a tour of Asunción through the ages. The collection is organized in such a way as to explain its evolution from a historical point of view, with ancestral objects from Guaraní culture, including a pre-Hispanic funeral casket, wood carvings and cement sculptures, with a mapped out journey of the city's development. But there is also an emphasis on describing Asunción through its own protagonists: residents in different eras have left records of avatars, wars, commemorations and appointments, and through the chroniclers of the time, testament manuscripts and other documents. The City Memorial Museum is filled with Guaraní ritual objects, typical instruments, old postcards from Asunción, and paintings.
Paraguay Cruise
Would you like to go on a cruise?
Would you like to go on a cruise?
An irresistible trip for true explorers and adventurers, the Paraguay Cruise leaves from Bahia Asunción with the promise of an unforgettable trip, which must always be booked in advance. With two routes to choose from, you can enjoy four or six days aboard a boat equipped to sail the Paraguay River and its tributaries with all the amenities of a luxury cruise: exquisitely decorated wooden cabins with views over the surrounding landscape of the shores, nightlife and cocktails and local dishes prepared in the exclusive Lounge Bar Mandu'ara, and not forgetting its covered pool where you can relax for a while. The Chaco itinerary lasts just two nights and offers a photographic safari with native flora and fauna identification and hiking around the rural areas where the cruise stops. The Pantanal Itinerary explores natural grottoes and includes a foray into the jungle and the 'Tres Hermanos (Three Brothers)' hills , accompanied by a biologist guide who will explain the things you find on this trip.
Capiatá
A place where beliefs combine
A place where beliefs combine
Just 20 kilometres from Asunción, you will find the eclectic town of Capiatá, which is known for its combination of ancestral pagan rites and traditional Christian beliefs influenced by the Spanish colonization. The tour will take you to look around the eighteenth century Church of our Lady of the Candlemas (Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria), one of the few examples of Paraguayan baroque, with great wealth in its ornamental interior and its carved high altar. Mysterious Capiatá is also home to the picturesque Ramón Elias Museum of mythology (Museo Mitológico Ramon Elias), created by the researcher and artist Ramon Elias, who collected indigenous Paraguayan objects and tribal masks that are now displayed in the museum and give an accurate impression of how indigenous beliefs merged with Christianity. During this visit you will find representations of Guaraní mythological beings, Jesuit and Franciscan carvings and descriptions of the transition from believing in some Gods to believing in others.
Vapor Cué National Park
Remains of Paraguay's wartime story
Remains of Paraguay's wartime story
To reach the Vapor Cué National Park you'll have to travel 98 km from Asunción, but its exciting wartime history makes it well worth a visit. It is the largest warship cemetery in the region; the ships remain stranded almost in the same place where they sank, silent witnesses of the Triple Alliance War that erupted in 1864. This spot is especially poignant since this was where the Paraguayan army, defeated in the battle of January 1869, sank their own vessels as they retreated up-river, pursued by the enemy armada. This was the only way they could save anything: the shallowness of the river meant that the enemy could not manoeuvre past the sunken ships. And yet they reached them, so they decided to set fire to the ships left behind. At the end of the 1970s, it was decided to restore these war relics and so the Vapor Cué National Park was born, a ship graveyard with six ships and two helmets, all of which were recovered.
Lake Ypacarai
Nature on the outskirts of Asunción
Nature on the outskirts of Asunción
Lake Ypacarai is an excursion not to be missed; near the towns of Areguá and San Bernardino, and 34 kilometres from the capital, it is surrounded by the Ypacarai National Park, with its 16,000 hectares of Andean flora. Shallow tourist boats cross the three metre-deep lake, offering breath-taking views of the surrounding Caaguazú mountain range. Without doubt, not only will the landscape, towns and villages that surround the Lake Ypacarai surprise you but also the small places not yet over-exploited by tourism. One of its main attractions is the Lake Festival, which is celebrated between August and September, and boasts the highest concentration of regional folk music. A nature reserve, lagoons and streams along the palm groves of karanda'y, species typical of the area, concerts and local crafts. What more could you ask for?
Carlota Palmerola Castle (Castillo Carlota Palmerola)
A fairytale castle
A fairytale castle
It has no ghosts or tragedies behind it, but Carlota Palmerola Castle is certainly mysterious. It is located in the city of Areguá, three-quarters of an hour away from Asunción. The National Tourism Office (Calle Palma, 468) offers a private minibus service, leaving on Sundays at 9am to promote tourism to this region and its castle, which has just been opened to the public. The building dates back to 1897 and in 1904, it was opened as the Palmerola Ayala family's ballroom and venue for social events, with a unique architectural style between medieval and neo-gothic, demonstrating its owners' social class. The last heir donated the castle and its gardens to the Dominican nuns who have tried to keep the interior of the emblematic building intact, with period furniture and clothing (including tunics of the priests who celebrated mass in the castle chapel), as well as photographs and objects belonging to the family.
Arruyos y Esteros
The Emerald of the Cordilleras
The Emerald of the Cordilleras
If you have chance for a small trip outside the limits of Asunción, it is worth travelling the 68 kilometres that separate it from Arruyos y Esteros (streams and estuaries), a place whose name represents the lushness of its landscape, where streams and vegetation abound, to the extent that it is known as Paraguay's "Emerald of the Cordilleras". The two great rivers that surround it, the Piribebuy and Manduvirá, ensure that the land is fertile for cultivating cereals and fruit. In fact, the best day of the week to plan your visit to Arroyos y Esteros is Saturday, when you can visit the market with its organic fruit and vegetables, home made cheeses and jams, and plenty of other delicacies. Curiously, this town, known as the Organic Valley, is also known for being the first producer of organic sugar cane and for exporting 100% of its rice grown in paddy fields surrounding the village.
Plaza Uruguaya
Rest in the shade of its trees
Rest in the shade of its trees
After a day of sightseeing in Asunción, your feet might lead you to take a rest in the Plaza Uruguaya, a meeting point near the old railway station, surrounded by bookshops and benches where you can sit in the shade of the lapachos (tajý in Guaraní), trees that are typical of Paraguay with their fronds of pink flowers in spring. There was once an Triumphal Arch (Arco del Triunfo) in the Plaza Uruguaya, built by the marshal Francisco Solano Lopez, but there is nothing left of its historical remains. Now, there are craft markets and students enjoying the cool of the shade, they buy old books and drink tereré, which has Paraguayan national heritage status. The news stands around the Plaza Uruguaya also serve this drink, in case you want to try it and blend in with the locals. The only downside of the plaza is the presence of pickpockets who are aware of its interest to tourists.
Chaco-í
The most forgotten part of Asunción
The most forgotten part of Asunción
On the other side of the Paraguay River, which you can see from Asunción, is the ghost town of Chaco-í. In colonial times this was the destination of the wealthy where they kept country houses, but over time, it has become the great forgotten. The latest political promises mention finally annexing this land to Asunción via a bridge or regular ferry crossings (its inhabitants have to cross the river in their own boats to go to work), with the objective of promoting infrastructure and tourism in the area. However, if you want to get to know Chaco-í first-hand before it becomes urbanised and take a leisurely stroll through the streets of squat houses and goats, you can agree on a price with the fishermen that work from the beach at Montevideo and ask them to take you across the river to the other shore. The inhabitants of Chaco-í will be happy to welcome you.
Ñu Guazú National Park
Outdoor activities for all tastes
Outdoor activities for all tastes
For sport lovers, the Ñu Guazú National Park is the ideal place for an adrenaline rush in the open air whilst enjoying the extraordinary landscape. Located in the Luque neighbourhood, with a recently built bridge linking it to the Metropolitan Park, the Ñu Guazú has five miles of trails for running, rollerblading, as well as a cycle path, fitness parks and even football pitches and basketball courts. Several kiosks along the way provide refreshments and snacks, although if you want a good lunch it is advisable to bring food with you and enjoy it in the shade of the 'Parque Taiwán', an area of oriental-Taiwanese ambience and landscaping. This space forms part of the Lake Trail (Paseo de los Lagos) and is on a little island which is accessed via a bridge. Police presence guarantees safety within this compound, even for lone walkers in the early morning.
Botanical Garden and Zoo
An afternoon of pure nature
An afternoon of pure nature
If you are travelling with children, Asunción's Botanical Garden and Zoo provide a perfect almost two-in-one outdoor activity, both are within the same enclosure, where you can spend a pleasant day with a picnic. You should bear in mind that the Zoo has been around for many years; the animals are in captivity, not in recreated habitats adapted to the particular needs of the 70 species that live there. For its part, the Botanical Garden, created in 1919, provides a large area in which to seek shelter on hot days with more than 110 hectares of Paraguayan flora, including the outstanding exuberance of its ancient trees and a medicinal plants nursery. Both the Zoo and the Botanical garden were created in the mid-nineteenth century on land owned by the president of Paraguay, Carlos Antonio Lopez, where he also had his country house, the Caso de Campo, which now houses the Museum of Natural History.
O Gaucho
Prepare your stomach for a treat
Prepare your stomach for a treat
If you arrive in Asunción hungry as wolf, the best place to satisfy your appetite is O Gaucho, a Brazilian churrascaria, where you can eat buffet food to your heart's content (drinks not included) and all at a very affordable price. The Gaucho grill prepares its meat on skewers over the fire, keeping the inside tender whilst forming a crunchy outer layer. It is advisable to book in advance, especially if you're going as a group, because its success means that it fills almost as soon as the doors open and especially on live show nights. Although its speciality is meat, you will also find international cuisine, elaborate fish and seafood recipes, as well as generous side dishes to accompany your meal. The desserts come highly recommended: make sure you leave some room. If you don't know what to choose: go there with time to spare and enough room in your stomach to try everything.
Hacienda Las Palomas
Viva Mexico!
Viva Mexico!
The speciality of Hacienda Las Palomas, also known as TacoVilla, is Mexican food, and they say this place is the best of its kind in Asunción so if you go without booking at the weekend, when there is a Mariachi show, you'll be wasting your time. The menu offers a great range from classic tacos, quesadillas and fajitas to all possible combinations of roast meat with sauces, each more explosive than the last. Clients also highlight the attentive service and affordable prices, especially for evenings with entertainment provided when menu prices are not increased and portions do not shrink; if you're with company it might be better to ask for dishes to share. And finally, to relieve the thirst that you may have acquired after a bellyful of Mexican food, there is nothing better than sampling some of their cocktails, especially the 'Frozen Mint Margarita'.
El Grillo Cantobar
Do you know what a paraguayisima night is?
Do you know what a paraguayisima night is?
If you don't like karaoke bars, avoid El Grillo Contobar. But if you want a surreal night out, watching first-hand how the locals have fun during what they literally call "paraguayisimas nights", this bar offers a night out that will be, without a doubt, different from what you have seen so far in Asunción. El Grillo Cantobar is not only open at night, it is also perfect for after work, when you can enjoy Paraguayan cuisine, specializing in grills and barbecues, accompanied by excellent beer. There is an interactive area with Wi-Fi where diners can display messages on screens at the bar via Bluetooth; enough sangria or cocktails to make you lose your senses and, of course, the main musical attraction: karaoke, which entertains tourists and locals alike. You can also compete in trivia games hosted by the El Grillo Cantobar DJ to win an extra turn at the microphone.
Talleyrand
A place with a wealth of culinary tradition
A place with a wealth of culinary tradition
Talleyrand opened its doors back in the seventies, with a name that pays homage to the French character Talleyrand, known for - among other merits- being a great host and gourmet in the nineteenth century. At first he specialised in French cuisine, but with time, he has expanded to international fusion with local products. Can you guess one of the star dishes at this restaurant, apart from the pasta and spaghetti, or meat prepared in all its forms? If you've guessed that it's Surubí, the traditional fish dish of Paraguay, then you're right, in this case prepared with Roquefort for a distinctive touch. Talleyrand is divided into several rooms, although it is hardly spacious, so it's advisable to book if you would like to have lunch in this icon of Asunción. The chain also has another restaurant in the Sol shopping centre, which is a more comfortable and spacious place to eat. Hint: study the wine list carefully; you will not be disappointed.
Un Toro y Siete Vacas
For true carnivores
For true carnivores
As you might imagine, the quiet Un Toro y Siete Vacas (One Bull and Seven Cows) restaurant is not recommended for vegetarian tourists, although with a little effort they will find vegetable or pasta specialities and delicious salads among the international dishes. However, the speciality of this wealth of Argentine flavour with a Paraguayan signature is every meat recipe imaginable and with all the possible garnishes. Un Toro y Siete Vacas opened in 2012 with the challenge of filling Asunción's gap in the market when it comes to speciality grills. With a 200 person capacity and rustic-style décor, its dishes - presented on wooden trays and accompanied by little jars of Argentine, Brazilian and Paraguayan sauces- are complemented by a delicious wine list that will not leave you wanting. Regular customers recommend that you book in advance and leave room for dessert.
Paseo Carmelitas
Fashion stores and beautiful people
Fashion stores and beautiful people
The life and soul of the party and nightlife is, without a doubt, the entire block of Paseo Carmelites, where entertainment, gastronomy and night-time drinks are just a few steps away. Not to be confused with the "Carmelitas centre", which is an events and conference venue. In the Paseo de Carmelitas, in addition to modern shopping centres and fast food franchises - many of them local and Paraguayan cuisine -, you will also find a shopping area and business lunch menus. However, the best time is when the night falls and the beautiful people of Assumption comes to see and be seen on terraces and at nightclubs, pubs and bars, which cater to different styles and budgets. This is a safe area to go out alone or in a couple, but it is advisable to book a taxi for your return to the hotel.
Bolsi
Good atmosphere and excellent food
Good atmosphere and excellent food
Bolsi's clientele come for not only the really superb menu but also for the delightful attention that makes you feel right at home. The extensive opening hours - the kitchen is open until the early hours of the morning and then again for breakfast - are another point in its favour. As is customary, the Asunci usually begin their meal with a "Pira broth" or fish soup as a starter, but Bolsi also will surprise you with their juicy meat dishes, pizza, pasta - such as their famous "Mamma ravioli with mafia sauce" and all kinds of mediterranean traditions, not to mention the monumental desserts that could have a menu all to themselves. If you stop to look at the sweet counter, you will probably leave Bolsi with a sugar rush. Divided into various areas, including a terrace and bar, the menu ranges from more elaborate dishes to tapas with imported beer or quick burgers made from quality meat with generous garnish.
Tierra Colorada
Quality Paraguayan cuisine
Quality Paraguayan cuisine
Named in honour of the red sandstone and clay that shape Asunción, in a small period of time the Tierra Colorada (Coloured Earth) restaurant has become a top culinary location for the most demanding stomachs. Run by the famous chef Rodolfo Angenscheidt (star of tv cookery shows) since 2010, Tierra Colorada specializes in innovative Paraguayan cuisine with a touch of fusion, influenced by the chef's French training. Its owner's mission is to promote traditional recipes from Paraguay to the category of delicatessen, as demonstrated by its extensive wine lists, elaborate dishes such as truffle risotto, tenderloin with blue cheese sauce, lamb cooked for 16 hours so it melts in the mouth, or delicious desserts created using local fruits. It is advisable to book beforehand to avoid disappointment. Ideal for private or corporate events.
Taberna Española
Fancy a sangria?
Fancy a sangria?
For visitors who are less experimental with their meals, the Taberna Española is the perfect spot to reminisce about the typical dishes on the other side of the Atlantic. Regular customers talk highly of the marvellous Valencian paella prepared in this traditional tasca with rustic-baroque décor, where there is practically no spots that are left undecorated. The collection of bottles of wine (with samples of Spanish, Argentine and Chilean origin) complete with garlic, hams and chorizos hung to dry and frying pans that advertise delicacies such as garlic mountain rabbit and Spanish omelette. The upper part of the Taberna Española also has a charming terrace with potted flowers, where you can enjoy a refreshing jug of sangria accompanied by a wide variety of tapas and delicious freshly baked bread whose arrival makes waiting for the meal a pleasure.
Sushi Club
You won't know whether you're in Japan or Paraguay
You won't know whether you're in Japan or Paraguay
The name of the restaurant won't leave you guessing what type of cuisine you will find there. The Sushi Club combines minimalist and elegant décor: a terrace where you can enjoy a drink on warm nights and a select menu of Japanese dishes with a price that fits luxury clubs or the residential area that is home to the restaurant. All possible varieties of sushi and sashimi are available, of course, but you'll also find latin fusions such as its famous shrimp roll tempura and grains sprinkled with chilli sauce, "fish tiradito" or ceviche and all kinds of grilled fish. If you plan to dine at the Sushi Club, ask about its exquisite range of desserts (such as the so-called 'Lust for Chocolate') and one of the cocktails that they prepare, then, if you wish to carry on, stay on the Paseo las Carmelitas and visit the late night pubs there.
Lido Bar
Homemade traditional food at a good price
Homemade traditional food at a good price
The locals flock to the Lido Bar for lunch and dinner and this traditional eatery is well positioned close to the Pantheon of Heroes. It is something of an institution in the capital and therefore almost always full so be prepared for a wait. Here, it is not about luxury, it is more of a typical neighbourhood bar with home-cooked recipes that has earned itself a reputation based on years of good cooking. This eatery will amaze you with its affordable prices and traditional Paraguayan dishes. They also offer a takeaway service. Suribí soup is one of their star dishes, but if you don't fancy fish soup, you'll also find other delicacies such as home-cooked pies, meat pasties and croquettes. It is worth checking if there is a football match of local interest, because if so, the Lido Bar will be packed out.
Mburicao
Haute cuisine and good service
Haute cuisine and good service
If you are looking for an exclusive restaurant for an important appointment, whether personal or business, you should definitely book a table at the Mburicao, the leading restaurant for gastronomic excellence in Asunción. Its fusion of European cuisine - especially Italian and French - with oriental touches and regional products, in particular seafood or freshwater fish, makes their menu one of the most select in the city and with a price to match. Among their specialities you will find the regional fish dish "suribí in puff pastry with cream of vegetables", one of the star dishes; the regular clientele often choose the deliciously prepared fish dishes, although the Mburicao also offers meat and Italian cuisine, including octopus or shrimp risotto. Interestingly, another of its strengths is the rich variety of bread, which, combined with the wine and cheese menu, make this place an essential spot for gourmets.
Club de Regatas Mbiguá
Like ducks to water!
Like ducks to water!
One of Asunción's oldest sporting clubs is the Mbigua Yacht Club, whose rowing team has been ploughing through the Paraguay River since 1902. It is amazing that the athletes were able to train, since the turbulent start of the 20th century was the stage for a coup d'etat and constant revolutions. The Football Club was also born against this backdrop but did not survive beyond 2010. Nowadays, the Mbigua Yacht Club provides an entertaining show to watch from the Bay of Asunción when athletes take to the river with their boats and paddles to compete in the regatta. The facilities also have swimming pools: one freshwater and one salt - where the local swimming team trains and locals refresh themselves in the hot months. If you've packed your swimsuit, don't hesitate to visit Club Mbigua.
Itaú del Sol cinemas
Any type of film you could wish to see
Any type of film you could wish to see
When you just want a relaxing evening, watching a good film and relaxing in an armchair with popcorn and a drink, the leisurely option is a visit to the Itau del Sol cinemas. The great benefit of visiting this cinema complex with 3D screening rooms is that not only will you be able to watch international blockbusters, but also great quality Latin American cinema that might never be screened in some countries. Itau cinemas are located in the Centro Comercial Shopping del Sol, which is not unlike any other shopping centre anywhere in the world: fast-food franchises, clothes, electronics and gift shops, beauty salons... about 120 units in all. If you're looking to spend a leisurely evening without moving from one spot, this the place for you.
Fiesta de los Kamba Ra'anga
Nightime, costumes, fire and dancing
Nightime, costumes, fire and dancing
The traditional fiestas of San Pedro and San Pablo that are held all around the Christian world, reach epic proportions in Paraguay. If you are planning a June visit, it would be well worth your while to include a trip to the Los Altos region, 60 kilometres from Asunción so that you can attend the Festival of the Kamba Ra'Anga, Guaraní for "figure of black". It seems to have originated in the colonial era as a masked ritual with dancing and elements of fire, crafts and ancestral dances that include social criticism. The 'Game of the Rua' consists of a nightime chase where the Guaycuru, try to catch the local youngsters, who in turn defend themselves with a burning stake. The traditional masks that are used in the Kamba Ra'Anga, and can be bought from the artisans, are created using tosca wood, leather or fabrics decorated with chicken feathers and straw.
Asunción Golf Club
And what if you want to include some sport in your trip?
And what if you want to include some sport in your trip?
Oddly enough, the origins of the Asunción Golf Club seem to be the result of a whim of the English who came to the city to extend the railway line in 1926 or thereabouts. How much time can you spend in Asunción without playing golf? The Transchaco route, near the Botanical Garden, was the place chosen by the British to fence off 47 hectares and an 18 hole golf course where country's best golfers have trained and where today, promising young Paraguayans are trained in this sport. The golf club also has a restaurant and barbecue area called the 'Club House', where you can enjoy the local cuisine, either inside or on the outdoor terrace. You will be in for a real treat if your trip coincides with one of the tournaments organized by the club or, if you book in advance, you can enjoy this sport on its lawn.
Astronomy Centre - Planetarium
An activity for all the family
An activity for all the family
Did you know that in the Guaraní ancestral tradition, there were six words for "dawn"? "Koe" was dawn itself, but it could also be "koe ti" if the dawn was clean and clear, "koe pyt" if it was pink and so on. Their gods were represented in the constellations, just like the mythology and stars that we know in Europe. You can learn about this and much more in the picturesque Father Buenaventure Suarez Astronomical Centre and Planetarium. It is named after the man who is regarded as the first astronomer in Paraguay: a Jesuit who built the first observatory in the 18th century, using the tools he had to hand. A visit to the Astronomy Centre is a good idea if you are looking for alternative and interesting entertainment: spend a day among telescopes, fossil and meteorite exhibitions, model aircraft and projections on the domed screen of the Planetarium.
Ignacio A. Pané Municipal Theatre (Teatro Municipal Ignacio A. Pané)
A worthwile cultural activity
A worthwile cultural activity
The Ignacio A. Pané Municipal Theatre is another example of a cultural monument in Asunción with a history of adventures and misadventures from its beginning until today, when can visit it and enjoy its meticulous programming. The emblematic building was originally constructed in 1889 on the ruins of what was the former seat of Congress and later the National Theatre. Inaugurated in 1855, it survived wars and time's wear and tear on its beams and wooden walls. It was the jewel in the cultural crown from 1894, when it was extended with gardens and boxes, but just 100 years later it had to be shut down because of the deterioration of the building. The new look and multimedia of today's Municipal Theatre are the result of the restoration that was completed in 2006, recovering its architecture and reverting it back to its former status of landmark and headquarters of dance, classical music, opera and theatre performances. If you are interested in the theatre world, this is its temple in Asunción.
Bay of Asunción (Bahia Asunción)
Enjoy the activities on offer in this idyllic place
Enjoy the activities on offer in this idyllic place
Open-air concerts performed by the Asunción Symphony Orchestra, the rowing federation championships and a sanctuary for migratory birds: the Bay of Asunción offers opportunities for all kinds of leisure activities, including a recently modernised river footpath. Separated from the Paraguay River by the Banco San Miguel and appointed a Natural Biosphere Reserve, its features make it a perfect place for spotting migratory birds. Since 2011 the area has been undergoing an urban plan for its revitalisation, which includes the construction of the Avenida Costanera along the riverbank, including works to prevent discharge and pollution. The plan also includes programmed recreational activities. This has made the Park of Solidarity (Parque de la Solidaridad) - at the beginning of the Bay - become a musical landmark for outdoor concerts, especially at Paraguay's Independence commemorations, which are held every year in May.
Manzana de la Rivera Cultural Centre
Don't rush your visit here.
Don't rush your visit here.
In 1989, with the motto "Save the block in front of the Palace", Paraguayan architecture students started a campaign for the restoration of a group of nine historic homes in front of the Lopez presidential palace. And they won: the authorities got involved as well as the Spanish Cooperation Agency, and the result is the current Manzana de la Rivera cultural centre, which is interesting not only for its architectural restoration, but also for its exhibition space and artistic pieces that shape the core of the project and are well worth a long visit. Amongst the renovated houses, you can find the mid-eighteenth century colonial-style Casa Viola, which houses the 'Memory of the City' Museum. You can go to dance and theatre performances in the neo-classical Casa Clari-Mestre, built in 1912. The Municipal Library is inside the Casa Vertua, with about 20,000 books at your disposal.
Church of San Buenaventura (Iglesia de San Buenaventura), Yaguarón.
A tribute to evangelism
A tribute to evangelism
To visit this landmark historical monument you will need to travel 48 kilometres from Asunción to the town of Yaguarón, named after the giant jaguar that dominated these lands many years ago. Amongst the architectural wealth of the place, as well as colonial buildings, you will find the Church of San Buenaventura, a small Franciscan parish church that began evangelising to the Guaraní in 1600, led by Friar Alonso de Buenaventura. Curiously, the church of St. Buenaventura, which was completed in the eighteenth century, has withstood the test of time with almost all its original materials intact: lapacho wood and the vaulted coffered ceiling with striking Hispano-Guaraní decoration. As with all Franciscan architecture, there is a striking contrast between its simple exterior and the magnificent works of art inside, including altars with gold leaf and wooden slats hand carved by local people.
Lambaré Hill (Cerro Lambaré)
A viewpoint surrounded by vegetation
A viewpoint surrounded by vegetation
When the Spanish settlers invaded what is now Paraguay, they found a strong and courageous native Guaraní community led by Chief Lambaré, who entrenched himself and his people in the hill that bears his name and resisted the attacks as long as he could and until there was some negotiation with the Spaniards. The Jesuits, aware of Chief Lambaré's influence, were quick to raise their first, rather precarious parish church next to his house. Now open to tourists,the hill is in the heights of the Ita Enramada neighbourhood and from the top you can see the Paraguay River and the nearby capital of Asunción, with a statue of the courageous native hero. Lambaré Hill is part of the hilly terrain - just 139 metres above sea level - that forms part of the Ybytypanema mountain range, next to the hills of Tacumbu Ňemby and Yaguaron.
Cathedral of San Lorenzo (Catedral de San Lorenzo)
The only one of its kind in Paraguay
The only one of its kind in Paraguay
Another of the country's important religious settlements and monuments, the municipality of San Lorenzo, is to be found just nine kilometres from Asunción and its neo-gothic style cathedral is the only one of its kind in Paraguay. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the original church was built by the Jesuits in 1775, but when they were expelled this chapel fell into rack and ruin until it had to be demolished. At the beginning of the 20th century, as has often happened throughout the religious history of this country, the next cathedral of 1853 also had to be restored due to the deterioration of the initial structure. There were changes upon changes to the cathedral plans until the locals were happy with the European neo-gothic style, but by then there were no funds. As amazing as it may seem, the final work that you can visit today in all its splendour was not finished until 1969, so its neo-gothic style will endure for sure this time, in a perfect state of preservation.
Itá Pytá Point Viewpoint (Mirador de Itá Pytá Punta)
High viewpoint over the river
High viewpoint over the river
Itá Pytá ('upright red stone') Point is a commitment to nature that maybe went wrong because the materials weren't suitable or because the ground could not stand up to the volume of tourists, but it is certainly one of the best viewpoints in Asunción, with views over the Paraguay River. Although the authorities are working to recover the asphalt of the whole viewpoint, where local children usually play in the late afternoon, in some corners you'll see posters warning "stay clear" ("no acercarse"), because of the danger of collapse or poor footing, as the sandstone ground is not safe in heavy rains. As long as you respect these warnings, it is worth climbing up to the viewpoint to contemplate not only the little markets encouraged by the neighbours to increase tourism, but also the boat trips in the evening. However, before climbing, you should ask the locals whether it is safe.
Cultural Centre of the Republic
The old town hall, now a cultural centre
The old town hall, now a cultural centre
These days, the old town hall building houses the Cultural Centre of the Republic, which aims to raise awareness of the historical and cultural importance of Paraguay amongst visitors and locals. The monument dates back to colonial times, when the country made its first steps and created its institutions. Its walls accommodated the executive and legislative powers, then became the seat of the National Congress until the 21st century and is now a museum which includes collections of sacred art, an auditorium for lectures and concerts, and a historical tour of the political functions that took place here. The gardens bordering the Cultural Centre of the Republic have also been modified and refurbished in recent years, now offering a refreshing walk by a fountain and pool next to the statue of one of the founding fathers of Paraguay, Juan de Salazar y Espinoza.
Church of the Incarnation (Iglesia de la Encarnación)
This little church has a long history behind it.
This little church has a long history behind it.
The adventures and misadventures of the Church of the Incarnation date back to the year 1539, when the first stone of the convent was laid, and since then it has been relocated to different places around the city's hills until it found its present home. It has suffered several fires, land movements, expropriation due to power struggles and ruins, until Italian architect Juan Colombo became interested in the misfortune of this church and offered to restore it - some say for free - in 1893, in a Romano-Corinthian architectural style. Sixth time lucky: the building that you can visit today is the last restoration the church has undergone, and among its most valuable and famous objects is the big pipe organ, the only one of its kind in the country. It was brought here from Germany in the 1920s, and remained in pieces for over 20 years, finally restored and fitted by the manufacturing company so that it could finally be heard in the Church of the Incarnation.
Lopez Presidential Palace (Palacio de los López)
Current seat of government.
Current seat of government.
The president of Paraguay's official office is in the Lopez presidential palace, seat of the national government and one of the treasures of the Asunción's cultural heritage. Lopez Palace is named after Francisco Solano Lopez, who was president of Paraguay at the end of the nineteenth century; having travelled around the world to recruit the services of the best architects and interior designers, choosing the best raw materials to build the Palace ... he had the misfortune of never living in it. When the work was almost completed, the Triple Alliance war broke out, and so he had to go to the battlefield. Not only that: his palace was bombed and looted by the Brazilian-Argentinian coalition. His two successors in office tried to restore the building, but coups d'etat prevented them from living there, it seemed to be cursed. Today the nation is governed from this palace, and it provides spectacular architectural lighting that is well worth seeing at night.
Casa de la Independencia
Paraguay's Independence was forged here
Paraguay's Independence was forged here
The Casa de la Independencía and the Museum inside basically contain the story about the Paraguayan plot to achieve independence from the Spanish mandate toward 1811. Built from adobe and palm in the 18th century, since then had served as an innocent place for Paraguayan gentlemen to meet, some on the pretext of courting the ladies that lived there, others to visit relatives. In reality, secret meetings were held here to orchestrate the independence movement, eventually dashing out onto the Callejón Histórico to lift the nation and declare independence for Paraguay. A tour of this house-museum is like a spy adventure set in a perfectly preserved colonial house, with furniture, weapons, paintings and objects belonging to the period. Independence House also contains key documents relating to the revolution, after several previous attempts where they did not achieve their goal.
Pantheon of Heroes (Panteón de los Héroes)
Monument to the country's heroes
Monument to the country's heroes
If you were given any thousand-guarani coins when you changed currency at Asunción airport, you'll see they are embossed with what is considered to be one of the seven treasures of Asunción's cultural Heritage: the Pantheon of Heroes and the chapel of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption (oratorio de la Virgen Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción). Located in almost the exact centre of the city, this early twentieth century burial site was inspired by Les Invalides in Paris, designed in the seventeenth century with the original idea of also being a mausoleum. Asunción's Pantheon of Heroes houses the mortal remains of important Paraguayan heroes, who are honoured on March 1st every year with politicians and military parades. If you get chance to go on a guided tour of the Pantheon and the chapel, you will discover the site's secrets and its importance in the history of the country.
National Gallery of Fine Arts
Painting and photography united
Painting and photography united
Opened in 1909, like many of Asunción's galleries, the funds of the National Gallery of Fine Arts come from a Paraguayan collector and patron, Juan Silvano Godoy, who was devoted to searching for and collecting paintings, sculptures, carvings, ceramics, engravings or lithographs by national and international artists from the seventeenth century onwards. It was originally called Museo Godoy in his honour and when it was nationalized following his death, it was renamed. The National Gallery of Fine Arts owes its distinctiveness to its interest in the artistic trends that were developing in Europe, making art accessible to the people of Asunción, as well as bringing local artists out of anonymity. Over time, the National Gallery of Fine Arts has expanded its disciplines to include temporary exhibitions of contemporary photography and performance art, educational-circuits and access to historical documentation, which you can consult in the National Archives in the same building.
Museum of Natural History
Important taxidermy collection
Important taxidermy collection
If you are visiting the Botanical Garden, there is an additional surprise attraction: the Museum of Natural and Indigenous History and Herbarium, which you will find in the Casa Baja (former country residence of Paraguayan president Carlos Antonio Lopez), created in 1840. The house contains a taxidermy collection that was started at the beginning of the twentieth century, with reproductions of the natural habitats of Paraguay's indigenous fauna. Throughout its seven rooms you will be able to observe, closely (and without risk) embalmed predators in danger of extinction, display cases containing extraordinary collections of preserved butterflies, birds and native fish. The Museum of Natural History also includes a section on the different indigenous ethnic groups that have inhabited Paraguay since remote times, as attested to by the 650 year old female mummy; pre-Hispanic gold work and hunting, gathering, and traditional fabric weaving artefacts. Finally, you can study at length in the Herbarium, repository for the seeds and plants of Paraguay.
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