Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay, set on the banks of the Paraguay River in South America. Its position on the water has shaped the city for centuries, and a stroll along its streets still reveals the layers of its past.
What to see
The historic colonial centre is the heart of a visit. Here you will find plazas, museums and the government buildings that house the country's public life. Walking between them is the simplest way to get a sense of the city, and many of the sights sit close enough together to explore on foot.
- The historic centre, with its colonial streets and open squares
- Museums that cover the city's and the country's history
- The government buildings that anchor the capital's civic life
Visiting the city
Asunción suits travellers who enjoy slow exploration over a checklist. Give yourself time to wander between the plazas, step into the museums that interest you, and watch the city go about its day. The river setting gives the urban landscape a particular character, especially when you look out from the waterfront.
Beyond the centre, the wider metropolitan area, known as Gran Asunción, extends the city's reach, so it can help to plan your route before you set out. Whether Asunción is right for you depends on what you hope to find: a capital with a colonial core, a river at its edge, and a steady sense of history in its public spaces.
