Venezuela
Where to stay in Caracas
Caracas is a city in Venezuela, home to about 2,246,000 people.
- Best months
- December to May
- Nearest airport
- CCS14 km · Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport
- Currency
- VESsovereign bolivar
- Time zone
- America/Caracas
- Language
- Spanish, Venezuelan Sign Language
About
About Caracas
Caracas, officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). It is located along the Guaire River in the northern part of Venezuela, within the Caracas Valley of the Venezuelan coastal mountain range.
Caracas is a cosmopolitan city, congested and noisy. The restaurants in Caracas are still excellent and have a lot to offer. Wear light clothing, comfortable shoes and clothing or jewelry of little value. Also tourists who do not know the language, it is recommended to take a dictionary with Spanish translation to make it easier for them to stay in the country. The people of Caracas are usually quite hospitable and friendly. Caracas is a city of contrasts. El Rosal and Las Mercedes are the most exclusive districts of the city.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Caracas
See
Caracas has more than enough sights and attractions to fill three or four days although it is often overlooked by international travellers.
- La Plaza Bolivar
- Simón Bolívar Birthplace House
- Boulevard of Sabana Grande
- Museo de Bellas Artes de Caracas
- Centro de Arte La Estancia
- Jardin Botanico
- Casa John Boulton Caracas
- Parque del Este
- Museo de Arte Colonial
- Museo Colección Ornitológica William Phelps Caracas
- Universidad Central de Venezuela
- Museo Sacro de Caracas
Do
- Paragliding Colonia Tovar Venezuela
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Caracas to stay in
Caracas has many hotels, but lacks youth hostels found in other South American countries. Backpackers will find that Caracas is not a cheap destination and there are not rooms available in the US$20-30 typical hostel range. While the whole of the city is considered to be dangerous at night, it’s preferable to stay near Sabana Grande or farther east. Many hotels in the Sabana Grande area will offer rooms on an hourly basis (euphemistically known as love hotels) which are primarily for unmarried Venezuelan couples. Most hotels are in Sabana Grande, which is the geographic center of the city or midtown.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Caracas
4 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 Alba Caracas | 1969 | 1.8 km |
| Hotel Ávila | 2.1 km | |
| Potomac Hotel | 1.5 km | |
| Hotel Alex Caracas | 0.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Caracas
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Caracas are December to May. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; October is the wettest, with about 120 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 Caracas: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line; Arturo Michelena International Airport (VLN, 118 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Taxis can be easily hailed in the street and are generally (but not always) safe. They have no meters so prices should be agreed on before getting in. Some reports indicate that the situation has improved and there are fixed rates posted. Caracas traffic is notoriously bad and the metro is a better option if your destination is near a station. Licensed taxis have yellow plates and while some private cars with white plates are taxis too, it’s generally safer to take a licensed cab. Venezuelan taxi cab drivers may quote you about double the actual price when you ask how much a ride will be.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CCS · Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport
VLN · Arturo Michelena International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Caracas
Stay safe
Violent crime in Caracas is a major problem, and it has been getting steadily worse: Caracas is now by some counts the world's most dangerous city. If you are robbed, hand over what is asked of you. For this reason it is advisable to carry a “decoy” wallet with small bills (around US$50). Most thieves carry guns and they will use them regardless of the consequences (there is a sense of impunity due to poor policing). Stick to the tourist areas and dress like the average Venezuelans (jeans and short-sleeved shirt) and do not wear any expensive-looking jewelry. The barrios (poor neighborhoods/shantytowns) are to be avoided.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Caracas: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Caracas?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Caracas are December to May. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; October is the wettest, with about 120 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Caracas?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line; Arturo Michelena International Airport (VLN, 118 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Caracas?
sovereign bolivar (VES).
Nearby
Destinations near Caracas
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.