Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0Plaza de los Héroes y calle Palma (centro histórico)
The main square and downtown's shopping street: handicrafts, a Saturday street fair and buildings that tell a century of stories.
What it is
The squares around the Pantheon, including Plaza de los Héroes and Plaza de la Democracia, form the heart of downtown, with lapacho trees, craft vendors and folks sharing tereré (iced yerba mate). Calle Palma, the historic commercial artery, is lined with currency exchange offices, shops, eclectic early-20th-century façades and the SENATUR tourist office, which sells handicrafts from all over the country. On Saturdays it transforms into the Palmear street fair, with food, music and art until late. Here, too, stands the Hotel Guaraní, a modernist gem from 1961. It's the best base for exploring the old town on foot.
What to see and do
- Palmear fair: Saturdays from 11:00 to 23:00 along Calle Palma
- Turista Róga (SENATUR): tourist information and handicrafts, daily from 7:00 to 19:00
- The Hotel Guaraní and its modernist façade, facing Plaza de la Democracia
- Craft stalls in the squares: ñandutí (Paraguay's delicate "spiderweb" lace), wood carvings and Indigenous basketry
Did you know…?
The Palmear fair turns Calle Palma into a pedestrian promenade every Saturday from 11:00 to 23:00, with free entry.
The Hotel Guaraní has often been mistakenly attributed to Oscar Niemeyer; the City counts it among Asunción's 7 Heritage Treasures.
At the corner of Palma and Chile, in front of the Pantheon's portico, a plaque marks Kilometer Zero of the national highways.
History
Calle de la Palma got its name by decree on April 1, 1849, and has always been the city's commercial artery, with general stores, shops and apothecaries; in the early 20th century, its stretch between Alberdi and 14 de Mayo, paved with wooden blocks, was the elite's "petit boulevard." In 1961 the Hotel Guaraní opened beside the square — the capital's first five-star hotel, designed by a Brazilian firm that won an international competition; it closed in 1996 and reopened in 2008.
Tips
- On weekdays downtown is bustling by day and empties out at night; Saturdays with Palmear are when it's most alive.
- Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas and use taxis or ride-hailing apps at night.
- Carry cash in guaraníes (₲) for crafts and fairs; there are exchange offices on Palma.
Public space; Palmear fair on Saturdays from 11:00 to 23:00 (check before you go).
Best time: Saturdays during the Palmear fair; April to October for walking without extreme heat.
What to try
- Chipa (cheesy cassava-starch bread) and sopa paraguaya (a savory cornbread, despite the name "Paraguayan soup") at traditional downtown cafés such as the Lido Bar
- Food stalls at the Palmear fair on Saturdays
Activities
Where to stay
Festivals and events here
International Jazz Day in Asunción
Jazz concerts at cultural centers and stages around the capital to celebrate the genre’s world day.
MusicAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)May→ JunAsunción International Book Fair (FIL)
Ten days of books, authors and language: the country’s great literary festival, with free entry and a guest country.
CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)FeaturedMayIndependence Days (May 14 and 15)
Two public holidays for the 1811 independence: flags, ceremonies, sopa paraguaya and chipa guasu all over the country.
CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)AugAugust 1: National Carrulim Day
On the first day of August people drink carrulim—cane liquor, rue and lemon—to ward off the ills of the most dreaded month.
TraditionAsunción y todo el país, VariosAugAugust 15: Founding of Asunción and Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption
The birthday of the Mother of Cities coincides with the feast of its patron saint: Mass at the Cathedral, a public holiday and cultural events.
ReligiousAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)FeaturedNearby
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Fiestas de San Juan (San Juan ára) en Asunción
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 12 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.