Things to do in Asunción, Paraguay
The Paraguayan capital is the biggest city in the country, and is often overlooked by backpackers who venture around South America.
However, those who do choose to visit will enjoy a beautiful capital full of timeless architecture, amazing street food as well as some really friendly locals.
Things to do in Asunción
In this guide we’ll explore Asunción, what to see and do, the best places to stay as well as our own top tips for a backpacking trip here.
Why Travel to Asunción?
One of the lesser-visited capitals in South America along with Caracas in Venezuela, Asunción as a result maintains a really unique atmosphere.
Walking around markets such as Mercado No°4 will allow us to try lots of Paraguayan dishes such as Chipas and Mbeju, and also the cool national drink of Tereré.
The local culture is also well and truly alive here too. Paraguayans in general are some of the friendliest locals you can meet, and in Asunción you’ll also have the opportunity to meet and get to know the indigenous Guaraní culture (who still proudly live here despite societal changes).
Asunción is also one of the major gateways into the country, and is a good first basecamp to arrive into before traveling around the rest of Paraguay.
Travelers in neighboring Argentina can easily hop over the border (or from Bolivia which is more of a rugged adventure), whilst the city’s international airport also welcomes daily flights from around the world too. If heading on a longer trip through the country, then be sure to check out the best things to do in Paraguay for ideas on what to do along the way.
How to Get to Asunción
There are a few different ways of getting to Asunción, which makes it easy to add this city into a trip through South America.
The most popular way is through the international airport, where there are daily direct flights arriving from many countries around Latin America. These include Peru, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, with a one-way costing between $100-200.
The other way is overland, given Paraguay borders many other countries. Asunción directly borders the small town of Clorinda in Argentina, which is the easiest to get to when in cities like Salta and Córdoba of Northern Argentina.
Got travel insurance for Paraguay?
Best Things to do and see in Asunción
Head on a walking tour of Asunción
The Paraguayan capital is full of historical highlights, and the very best way of seeing them all is by simply getting up and going for a long walk!
Most are within the historic center, starting with the beautiful Palacio de López, the Panteón as well as the Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. You’ll also find there are many beautiful parks to relax in along the way, such as Plaza Italia and the Plaza Uruguaya.
Visit the Ybycuí National Park
One of the most stunning natural parks in the country (and is a must during your trip around Paraguay), the Ybycuí National Park is located roughly 4 hours from Asunción.
Here we can find beautiful waterfalls like those of Escondido and Guaraní, whilst exploring La Rosada – which was the first ever iron foundry built in the South America continent. Given the distance it’s possible to head here with a day tour from the capital.
Try some of Paraguay’s best local dishes
The cuisine of Paraguay remains much less-known when compared to those of Peru, Brazil and Argentina – which makes it an exciting, fresh adventure when trying local foods.
We highly recommend trying Mbeju and Chipas which are national staples that can be found all over the country. Those after a heart stew will also love Vori-Vori which is full of meat, dumplings and different condiments.
Get to know the indigenous Guaraní people
Like with many other South American countries (namely Bolivia and Peru), Paraguay has deep cultural roots and still proudly lives alongside these ancient influences and creations.
In Asunción the Guaraní still live here within the city, and especially around the Mercado No°4 where we can get to know them as they prepare local dishes as well as the national drink of Tereré.
Where to Stay in Asunción
There are many different kinds of accommodation available in Asunción, which is ideal depending on what kind of budget we are traveling with.
Those who want to keep things cheap will love the La Petite Maison hostel which has comfortable dorm beds and is located just a stone’s throw away from the Historic Center. On-site you can also enjoy the gardens as well as the terraced views.
Those who want a more comfortable and private experience will want to stay at the El Viajero Asunción Hostel & Suites. Here you’ll be staying in a beautiful private room within the historic center, which also has an on-site swimming pool and bar to enjoy.
Best Time to Visit Asunción
Overall Asunción is quite wet most of the year, although there is also a dry season too if you dislike so much rain.
The dry season begins in late June and lasts until September, which is the overall best time to visit. Here annual temperatures hover between a cooler 64-70°F, with highs of 81°F and lows of 56°F. Between these months we can expect anywhere from 2-3 inches of rainfall falling throughout each month.
The wet season lasts the rest of the year between October and May, although it’s lighter in certain months (such as May and October). Temperatures are much hotter during these months, with averages of 70-82°F, highs of 92°F as well as lows of 63°F. In terms of rainfall we can expect anywhere from 4.5-6.5 inches of rainfall throughout each month.
Asunción Backpacking Tips
Now we’ll share some of our best tips for exploring Asunción, based on our own experience here.
- We recommend spending between 3-4 days in Asunción. This will be more than enough to see all of the historical sites, as well as to get to know the local Guaraní culture. You’ll also be able to head to the Ybycuí Falls – although you’ll need more time if you want to explore the wetlands of the Gran Chaco and all of the wildlife there.
- Always follow our usual safety tips as you would in any other South American capital. Whilst locals are generally friendlier here, many are living in extreme poverty which can make issues like pickpocketing a problem. For this reason be sure to dress-down and leave valuables back in your accommodation when exploring the city.
- The sun can be really intense here, along with some quite roasting temperatures too. For this reason you’ll want to keep reapplying sunscreen as it can be quite easy to burn when out for long periods of time. Also make sure to keep drinking lots of water too in order to avoid dehydration.
Things to do in Asunción
And that’s all for our backpacking guide to Asunción.
The Paraguayan capital remains an off-the-beaten-path destination in South America, which is exactly the reason to visit now before it catches on! Here we can see raw local culture, eat our way through tasty national dishes as well as head to some pristine nearby waterfalls.
In this guide we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about Asunción. This includes the best things to see and do, the best time to visit, where to stay and much, much more.
We hope you enjoyed reading this guide! If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
“Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
