//
Capital and largest city of Venezuela
Photo: QuinteroP, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Caracas is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, in northern Venezuela, near the Caribbean. Venezuela’s urban spirit can be discovered mainly from understanding Caracas, its capital city, a busy metropolis famous for its food, cultural diversity, and perfect climate, thanks to the unique combination of a high elevation and proximity to the Caribbean Sea.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
It has statues of Simon Bolivar, and is close to Congress and other government buildings. It also displays nice examples of colonial architecture.
La Casa Natal de Simon Bolivar
Bolivar's birthplace, also downtown. One of the few well-preserved colonial buildings with some great paintings and a museum. Next door is the Museo Bolivariano with some of Bolivar's war relics.
This is the main shopping street in Caracas, host of many fancy stores, such as Balu (H&M), AISHOP, Planeta Sports, Brands Shop, and many more. Sabana Grande is the main shopping thoroughfare in Caracas Venezuela, but is also home to many public artworks and nice street art. Sabana Grande is a broad, tree-shaded, pedestrians-only boulevard lined on both sides with stylish fashion boutiques and gift shops, a charming cobblestone street with countless outdoor and indoor shopping establishments as well as hotels and restaurants. Also a great spot for relaxing and people-watching; on any given day you can observe people bartering at shops, playing chess, or even dancing around dressed like Disney characters. Many of the buildings in Sabana Grande are considered architectural heritage of Caracas and they need maintenance. Unfortunately, some are in poor condition.
An art museum in the Museum Square in Los Caobos Park, Caracas. It was founded on 1917 and is one of the most important Venezuelan museums. Nowadays, it hosts several Picasso and Botero artworks. The neoclassical building is in a process of restoration. The museum has the most important collection of European art in Venezuela.
An art gallery in the middle of the lush and manicured gardens. Rotating exhibits by a variety of artists are shown.
A well-kept garden with an impressive array of tropical plants and trees.
Next to the Panteon Nacional. One of the best hidden gems of Caracas. A private collection of Boulton's family.
Parque Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda
This expansive park stretches on and holds many unexpected treats including a planetarium, a small zoo, and a cafe that is occasionally open to serve you a cafe con leche while you watch the turtles in a pond
This is a lovely old house and garden that hosts small concerts some weekends.
This is a science museum, the most important ornithological collection in Latin America, and belongs to the Phelps family.
This large university campus was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Designed by Venezuela's most famous architect, Carlos Raul Villanueva, the campus, known as the Ciudad Universitaria is a sprawling complex considered a masterpiece of 1950s and 1960s architecture blended in with art. A stroll around the grounds, keeping an eye open for modern art works by artists such as Fernand Leger. Metro Ciudad Universitaria.
A Catholic museum. Nice cafe on the premises.
Tandem paragliding flights with expert pilots in one of the most beautiful mountain sites in the world.
One of the better of the dozens of "areperas" dotted around town. Specializes in arepas, a savory corn-flour bread that doubles as Venezuela's traditional staple food. Pick from a dozen types of filling (including the classic Reina Pepiada - chicken, avocado, spring onions and mayo.) Or try a cachapa (a sweet corn pancake with a choice of toppings) or a nice steak with yuca. Wash it all down with beer, or with freshly made tropical juice. To do it the traditional way, go at 3AM, after a night out dancing.
A very nice place, often crowded but rightfully so, the food and wine are outstanding.
Expensive but very good cuisine, mostly French, with a relaxed but trendy atmosphere.
One of the older steak houses in Caracas, with top quality Argentine and Venezuelan cuts of beef.
This open air candlelight cafe is a popular haunt for after dinner cafe and some excellent desserts.
A perennially popular though noisy restaurant with a good selection of Italian dishes.
It is good if you want to savor good meat and chicken.
Excellent, if costly, Japanese restaurant.
Very good Chinese restaurant.
A branch of the American Tex-Mex chain.
A famous beef/meat restaurant with traditional Spanish decor.
A simple setting but very good thin crust pizzas.
Very pleasant Mediterranean decor with a lovely outdoor terrace. Good mostly Italian food but not with very generous portions.
Traditional Venezuelan restaurant. Moderately priced and open 24 hours. About one block north and west of Plaza Altamira.
Traditional Basque dishes in Caracas. One of the most expensive Spanish restaurants in the city. Place frequented by the political elite of Venezuela. Recommended.
One of the best Spanish restaurants in Caracas with a very rich history. It never disappoints. Once the favorite restaurant of the former president of Venezuela Carlos Andrés Pérez.
Great modern decorn. Excellent menu. The best pizzas of Caracas. Take a selfie with Shakira, Gandhi and Carolina Herrera. Highly recommended.
Great Arab and Lebanese food. Nice menu. Good quality pita bread. Newly refurnished.
New place in Sabana Grande. Nice shawarmas. Try Sujuk, one of the world’s most delicious and ancient types of sausage. The staff is really friendly. Highly recommended
Excellent menu. Italian food. A place with a very rich history. The building needs some restoration though.
Chinese restaurant in Caracas. Insanely big portions and great quality. Recommended. This is one of the best hidden gems of Sabana Grande
The best golfeados of Caracas. But do not eat many golfeados. One of the most caloric meals of the national gastronomy
Excellent menu. Try "Pizza de Nutella".
The most popular ice cream shop in Caracas. People always stand in line, but these ice cream cones are not cheap. The boulevard has many ice cream shops in the nearby area, but La Poma is the only one that makes them crazy. A life waiting in line and no one understands why. Their products are not subsidized.
Great retro decor, and a minimal but excellent menu. Recommended.
Excellent menu. Great delicacies and desserts. Highly recommended.
French food in Caracas. Great desserts. Excellent menu. Recommended.
Traditional Korean Food. Excellent menu. Recommended. Cheap
Caracas has a large Basque immigrant community and many excellent Basque restaurants. Bar Basque is the pick of the litter. Run by the same family for half a century, it's a legendary hangout for the politically connected. As in all Basque restaurants, the menu focuses on seafood. Superlative food. Expensive. Only a few tables, reservations required.
One of the best Spanish restaurants of Caracas.
This is one of the best places to have a coffee in Caracas. Try Chocobananas. Excellent menu. A really exotic place. Excellent prices.
This Caracas stalwart benefits from one of the best open air terraces in Caracas. Plastic tables and chairs are simple and the service is slow, but the beers are cheap and the atmosphere is good. This is a favorite hangout for Caracas' college crowd. Be careful at midnight.
Located in the "Centro Comercial San Ignacio" (Shopping Center), it has a similar layout to a typical East Coast lounge in the United States. This place is a popular hang-out for uppity Venezuelans. If you feel comfortable around posh and preppy crowds and you have certain buying power and trendy casual wear, this is a great place to enjoy people-watching while listening to great rock-alternative music. Be careful at midnight.
Located in a side street behind Sabana Grande, this remains Caracas' best-renowned salsa club where lower middle-class locals and tourists like to show off their moves, accompanied by live bands, till the early hours. To get a table, you'll probably have to pay 'servicio', i.e. agree to buy a bottle of rum or whisky. Sadly, the area around the club is not safe. Be careful at midnight.
One of the few genuinely bohemian spots still alive in Caracas, with great décor and a wonderfully eclectic crowd — university professors, writers, artists, poets, and assorted others all sharing the same space. Drinks are on the expensive side. As with most of the area, exercise caution after midnight.
More expensive than Los Peruanos, but cheaper than Sal Si Puedes. Incredible atmosphere. One of the best places for metalheads in Caracas. Nice drinks. Highly recommended. Be careful at midnight.
Considerably cheaper than Sal Si Puedes, with great music, live bands, and solid cocktails. A haven for those who remember an older Caracas, drawing a similarly mixed crowd of academics, artists, and street characters. Exercise caution after midnight.
It has two main areas: one for rock lovers and one for lovers of salsa and reggae. Great for alternative couples. BDSM games for couples and beginners. A place that really defies taboos. Be careful at midnight and arrange a taxi.
An affordable option for hardcore travelers, in the center of the boulevard, which is always crowded with people. Dress like the average Venezuelan. Around US$3.
Some travelers are not impressed with the service.
Cheaper than Gran Melia Caracas. The staff is friendly and speaks fluent English. Russian and Belarussian businessmen stay here.
The hotel is affordable and is the best accommodation option in the area after Gran Melia and Hotel Coliseo. Dress like the average Venezuelan and enjoy Sabana Grande. Around US$40.
Good option to stay in the center of the city. The museums and the historic center of Caracas is really close to this hotel. Bright clean rooms with good wifi. Tourists are not impressed with the service of the restaurants, but the nearby area has many Spanish restaurants. Around US$50
Clean and modern, this is a popular option and should be booked two weeks in advance. Max 2 people per room.
This once impressive Hilton hotel has suffered from the deterioration of central Caracas. Although close to the city's best museums, the Bellas Artes area is no longer the capital's finest and should not be wandered at night. In 2007, the hotel was taken over by the state and aims to provide 'socialist tourism' services.
Upscale 5-star hotel in Sabana Grande, it's connected directly to the El Recreo shopping mall and a block away from the newly-restored Sabana Grande boulevard. Local attractions include Sabana Grande Boulevard, Plaza Bolívar, El Recreo Gallery, Teresa Carreño Theatre, and Cerro El Avila National Park, all in close proximity; and only 2 blocks north, the Sabana Grande metro station. Many international celebrities, CEOs, royals and presidents stay here when they visit Venezuela. It boasts a guest list that includes Sting, Phil Collins, the Black Eyed Peas, the King of Spain and the Saudi Arabian royal family. Gran Melia Caracas is the headquarter of Abkhazia and Chechnya embassies, both related to the Russian Federation.
A modern and stylish hotel with all the amenities you might expect at the price.
Upscale 5-star hotel in the center of Caracas. This hotel opened in 2018. Around US$100. The museums and Plaza Bolivar are in the nearby area.
Popular luxury business hotel in the center of the business district. Excellent accommodation, exceptional restaurant and good service.
A five-star hotel with a popular rooftop lounge. Check for weekend promotions that offer significantly reduced prices.
One of South America's largest shopping malls, with two movie theaters, dozens of restaurants and probably hundreds of shops. Popular destination for shopping and hanging out. Metro Chacao.
Many boutique stores here, as well as lots of good bars and restaurants. A hub of Caracas nightlife.
Another large mall, next door to the Gran Meliá Hotel.
Another great mall with an amazing infrastructure, great shopping stores, cinema and fast food restaurants.
An old but popular complex of shops, offices, restaurants and a couple of nightclubs. Take a Metrobus from the Altamira metro station.
An upmarket mall in the Las Mercedes neighborhood. 15 minutes walking from Chacaito metro.
A bit old fashioned but a good art house cinema and Oscar D'Leon's Mazukamba nightclub is here.
A nice residential area with fancy hotels and small shopping malls. Can be accessed easily by metro.
The main commercial corridor of the city. Balu (H&M), AISHOP, Brands Shop, Levi's and Planeta Sports are the best stores in the boulevard of Sabana Grande. Sabana Grande is the only public space in Caracas that hosts three Balu (H&M) stores. This place is considered an open air shopping mall in Caracas.
By car
Nice and pretty highways connect Caracas with La Guaira and the airport to the north; Maracay, Valencia and Maracaibo in the west; Barcelona and Puerto La Cruz in the east.
By bus
Buses from the airport to Caracas give passengers the option of alighting either at Gato Negro metro station (somewhat unsafe at street level) or under a bridge at the Parque Central bus terminal,…
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.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Maiquetía · International · CCS
Loading places around the airport…
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.