Asunción walking tour & city guide

The historic centre and the river

The centre of Asunción sits near the river. The Palacio de los López, the white presidential palace, faces the water and is lit up at night, and a few blocks away the Panteón Nacional de los Héroes, a domed monument modelled on Les Invalides in Paris, stands on a small square. Calle Palma, the main shopping street of the old centre, links these sights with the cathedral, the Casa de la Independencia and the restored houses of the Manzana de la Rivera.

Along the shore, the Costanera is a riverside promenade with wide views across the water, popular for evening walks and cycling. Inland, Mercado 4 is a sprawling market district of stalls selling fruit, herbs, clothes and electronics, while Villa Morra is a greener, newer area of shopping streets, malls and quiet residential avenues.

A classic walk: the Panteón to the Costanera

Start in the morning at the Panteón Nacional de los Héroes and walk along Calle Palma, past its shops and old facades, to the cathedral and the Casa de la Independencia. Continue towards the river to see the Palacio de los López from the gardens in front of it.

Finish on the Costanera in the late afternoon, when the heat eases and the river turns golden. On another day, take a taxi to Mercado 4 in the morning, when it is at its busiest, and spend the evening in Villa Morra.

Good to know

May to September is the most comfortable time to visit, with mild, dry days; summers from December to February are very hot and humid. Buses cover the city, but taxis and ride-hailing apps are easier for visitors. Tereré, cold herbal tea shared from a cup, is part of daily life, and you will see people carrying their flasks everywhere. Popular day trips lead to the lakeside town of San Bernardino and the Jesuit mission ruins further south.