Best Areas to Stay in Asuncion | Paraguay

I spent a month in Asuncion and visited several areas so let me share with you the best areas where to stay in Asuncion from a safety and convenience point of view.

In this article, I will share with you the safest areas in Asuncion and will also point out some areas you should better avoid not only for staying but also while sightseeing in Asuncion.

The best areas to stay in Asuncion

The top 3 areas where to stay in Asuncion regarding safety and convenience are:

• Villa Mora

• Las Lomas

• Recoleta

You can also consider the Asuncion Downtown aka the historical center of the city but there are a few things you should know before picking an accommodation there. So let's dive into each of the above.

Villa Mora

Villa More without a doubt is the best area where to stay in Asuncion. It is a safe area where to base yourself and also one of the best areas for restaurants and entertainment.

Villa Mora is a perfect area for foodies as there are plenty of restaurants offering various cuisines like Korean, Thai, Japanese, and more, as well as some local Paraguayan restaurants.

My absolute favorite food places in Villa Mora are El Cafe de Aca and Pira Sushi. El Cafe de Aca offers an amazing breakfast menu and a wonderful atmosphere. Pira Sushi offers loads of sushi options, as well as ceviches and ramen. The interior is also lovely.

In Villa Mora, you will find several hotel options and also many lovely apartments in modern buildings.

Las Lomas

Las Lomas is an area next to Villa Mora and is also a safe location where to stay.

On the border of Las Lomas and Villa Mora, you will find one of the biggest and most modern shopping centers in Asuncion - Shopping delSol - where you have plenty of restaurant options, game rooms, and a cinema.

My absolute favorite rooftop terrace in Asuncion is located in Las Lomas - Zulu! You will get an amazing view of the city as it is one of the highest buildings. Apart from an extensive cocktail menu they also offer great food options.

Las Lomas features some of the best hotels to pick from in Asuncion. Very popular is Dazzler Hotel in Asuncion but you will also find in Las Lomas hotels like Ibis & Aloft that are very well rated on Booking.

Recoleta

Another safe area I can recommend where to stay In Asuncion is Recoleta. I stayed in Recoleta and I really enjoyed it. It is way quieter and more chill than Villa Mora so ideal for those who want to stay in the city near everything but don't want the crazy city buzz.

In Recoleta, you will find Mariscal Shopping Center which is like any other shopping center but they have a really lovely outside area full of different food stalls that create a really cool atmosphere.

I would say convenience vise, Recoleta is a perfect choice as it is perfectly situated between the bus station and the airport, plus a short drive away from the old town.

My absolute favorite food place in general in Paraguay is La Queseria. It is a bit more expensive than usual restaurants but the food is absolutely amazing. They have the best croquettes. Better than in Spain! I discovered the place the Recoleta but they do have another restaurant in the Shopping delSol restaurant area that is between Villa Mora and Las Lomas.

In Recoleta, you will find many wonderful apartments to stay at but also some really good hotel options like the Hub Hotel.

Things that are in common for all these 3 areas:

• They are all safe to stay at and wander around. Of course, always be more cautious in the late hours. But during the day they are absolutely fine.

• They all have new modern apartment buildings, so you can pick quite good apartments with a pool and gym. Same for hotels, you can find quite good options.

• They all are well situated towards the airport, so you won't need to drive through the whole city to get to your accommodation.

• In general taxis (Uber & Bolt) are extremely cheap, so getting around between these 3 areas for restaurants will cost you around $1. Don't worry about which end you are staying at, getting around is easy and cheap.

Safety Tip: In South America, I only use Uber & Bolt, never local taxis. I find Uber & Bolt way safer, way cheaper, and way better. You do need data to get them on the go, so I use eSIMs from Airalo that are easy to install and ensure I have data wherever I travel in South America.

Asuncion Downtown

Another area you could consider where to stay is Asuncion Downtown which is the historical center of the city where all the main monuments and sites are located. But I would recommend this area only if you are short on time and staying in Asuncion only for a day or two to go on a tour and learn more about Asuncion and Paraguay. The area is not safe. During the day sticking to exploring the main sites with people around you, you will be fine but once it gets late and dark it is not a safe area. It is quiet and empty compared to other capitals but that is worst. My main rule in South America always is not to be the only person on the street. Always stick with people when in downtowns, so the Asuncion combination of in general not having a safe downtown, plus being quite empty is a dangerous mix.

More importantly, a favela has grown literly in the middle of the downtown, next to many important sites. So it is very easy to roam near it without knowing. Check this map and avoid this area:

I am mentioning Asuncion Downtown because it is a very convenient location if you are short on time and want to be near all the main sites. At the same time, Uber/Bolt from Villa Mora is not more than $3. So you can still stay in a nice safe area where you can go out for a nice meal in the evening and during the day just take a quick taxi ride to the downtown to explore. Whichever option you pick, it is worth considering getting travel insurance for your peace of mind.

Find a list of the best things to see and do in Asuncion in my Asuncion Travel Guide!