Paraguay
Where to stay in Asunción
Asunción is a city in Paraguay, home to about 462,000 people.
- Best months
- June to September
- Nearest airport
- ASU12 km · Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
- Currency
- PYGParaguayan guaraní
- Time zone
- America/Asuncion
- Language
- Guarani, Spanish
About
About Asunción
Asunción is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city lies on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, immediately north northeast of the confluence where it is joined by the Pilcomayo River.
The Asunción metropolitan area is home to 2.2 million of Paraguay's 6.9 million inhabitants. It is a cosmopolitan and demographically young city with 65% of its residents under the age of 30. Many landmarks and historical buildings in the old city centre have recovered their past splendour thanks to Paraguay's bicentennial independence celebrations that took place during 2011 and demanded a lot of restoration work throughout the city. In 2012, a new riverside promenade (costanera) was opened along the Bay of Asunción, adding a much-needed space for running, walking and family recreation.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Asunción
See
- National Congress of Paraguay
- Metropolitan Cathedral
- Panteón Nacional de los Héroes
- Centro Cultural El Cabildo
- Casa de la Independencia
- Palacio de López
- Estación Central del Ferrocarril
- Teatro Municipal
- Manzana de la Rivera
- Iglesia de la Encarnación
- Mburuvicha Roga
- Museo del Barro
Do
- Trade fair
- Ñu Guazu
- Running
- Jardín Botánico y Zoológico
- Dusk walk
- Estadio Defensores del Chaco
- Estadio General Pablo Rojas
- Loma San Jerónimo
- Colégio Experimental Paraguay‑Brasil (CEPB)
- Cultural Center of Spain Juan de Salazar
- Fundacion Texo
- Teletón Children’s Rehabilitation Center
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Asunción to stay in
The lodging scene in Asunción has greatly improved. The hostel range, previously nonexistent, started business in the past decade and since then has seen a lot of new openings, especially in old houses of the historic city centre. On the other hand, many new modern hotels, including some luxury properties of international brands, have opened their doors in the new business district of Avenida Aviadores del Chaco and Avenida Santa Teresa. Finding a bed should not be difficult for the common traveller. The highest concentration of hotels from budget to splurge can be found in the historic city centre and the new business district.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Asunción
18 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Guaraní | 0.5 km | |
| Asuncion Palace | 0.8 km | |
| Costanera Hostel Asuncion | 1.1 km | |
| Crowne Plaza Asuncion | 1.1 km | |
| Gran Hotel Armele | 0.7 km | |
| Gran Hotel del Paraguay | 2.1 km | |
| Gran Hotel Parana | 0.6 km | |
| Hotel Amalfi | 1.0 km | |
| Hotel Cecilia | 1.2 km | |
| Hotel Guarani Asuncion | 0.4 km | |
| Hotel Manduara | 1.3 km | |
| Hotel Palmas del Sol | 1.0 km | |
| Isla Francia | 1.2 km | |
| La Casona Hotel Boutique | 4.9 km | |
| Palmaroga Hotel | 0.5 km | |
| Premier Hill Suites Hotel | 1.6 km | |
| Residencia Leones de Castilla | 4.6 km | |
| San Diego Hotel | 0.7 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Asunción
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Asunción are June to September. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; December is the wettest, with about 171 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Asunción: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line; Formosa National Airport (FMA, 120 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Car rental is available at the airport and many companies have offices on the arrivals floor. Also, some major hotels have their own private minibuses.
Getting around
The historic centre of Asunción is small enough to be explored by foot. However, some of the attractions, such as the Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden) are a bit outside. In addition to the city's historical core - which is essentially between the streets Colón and Antequera - the Carmelitas area has become a hub for retail and entertainment, containing several large shopping centres and North American-style bars and restaurants. East-west street names change at Independencia Nacional, and North-South ones at Avenida Mariscal López.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ASU · Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
FMA · Formosa National Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Asunción
Eat
At lunchtime there is no shortage of cheap restaurants to dine in or take away – you can't miss them. The places where you help yourself and pay by weight are usually very cheap and a decent option besides the slightly more expensive restaurants with their daily menu. At dinner time only very few eating places are still open and finding a good deal – especially if you are budget-conscious – is a lot harder. Most shopping malls have decent food courts with a variety of restaurants, however, they are away from the centre. Bigger supermarkets often have cheap self-service restaurants inside.
Stay safe
The National Police has a highly visible presence. Under the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner crime in any form was not tolerated. Crime is not prevalent, although the perception of crime is that it has been high since Stroessner's fall in 1989. Some houses are protected by 20 ft high walls topped by barbed wire and electric fence or razor wire, and those who can afford it have a full-time guard on their grounds. Despite the locals' rather high perception of crime, Asunción is one of the safer capitals in South America and violent crime is very uncommon. Because there are few tourists in Paraguay, visitors are not likely to be specifically targeted by criminals.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Asunción: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Asunción?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Asunción are June to September. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; December is the wettest, with about 171 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Asunción?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU), about 12 km from the city centre in a straight line; Formosa National Airport (FMA, 120 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Asunción?
Paraguayan guaraní (PYG).
Nearby
Destinations near Asunción
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.