Caracas, Venezuela

Nearby areas in Caracas, Venezuela

Although the giant city spans an entire valley and is constantly expanding, the sprawling metropolis can be divided into four areas of interest. The city is well connected by the clean, efficient Metro, and accessing the nearby Avila National Park is easy.

El Centro

The historic downtown district is the heart of Caracas, where architectural marvels from the 17th and 18th centuries stand proudly in the face of modern skyscrapers. In an around the famous Plaza Bolívar are interesting sites, such as the 17th-century Cathedral of Caracas, the Casa Natal de Bolívar, Santa Capilla, a 19th-century Neo-Gothic cathedral, and some of the city's fine museums. Here you will also find El Capitolio Nacional, which houses Venezuela's Congress, and La Casa Amarilla, a former prison now used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. El Teatro Nacional (The National Theater), the Panteón Nacional, and the El Palacio de Meriaflores, the Presidential Palace, and the astonishing San Francisco Church are also worth a look.

Parque Central and Bellas Artes

The cultural center of the city is marked with a beautiful central park, modern skyscrapers, and large number of art centers. The country's two tallest buildings, 53-floor octagonal towers, preside over the Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño, where Caracas enjoys world-class ballet, opera, classical concerts, dance, and theatre performances. The best museums in the city are also here, such as the Contemporary Art Museum, the Children's Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Gallery. Next to the Teresa Carreño complex is the Teatro Ataneo, which has a popular movie theater and hosts the biannual International Theater Festival.

Altamira and La Castellana

These extremely wealthy suburbs are residential areas with beautiful stucco houses and 12 foot privacy walls. While Altamira is a great launching point for an excursion tothe Avila National Park, Las Castellana is a nightlife hotspot full of cafés and bars.

Sabana Grande, Las Mercedes, El Rosal

These areas have great shopping districts, vibrant nightlife, and plenty of sights. The Boulevard de Sabana Grande, which is sometimes called Avenida Abraham Lincoln, is lined with nightclubs, bars, coffee shops, and street vendors. Everyone in the city comes here on the weekends to stroll around, enjoying the street musicians, mimes, comics, and other performers. Avenidas Casanova and Francisco Solano branch off the Sabana Grande, and offer tons of restaurants and affordable accommodations. The streets of El Rosal are filled with art galleries. Las Mercedes has for a long time been the most fashionable district in Caracas, with trendy nightclubs, chic art galleries and boutiques, and countless restaurants. The main drag, Avenida Principal de las Mercedes, leads to the popular Paseo de las Mercedes shopping mall.

For more information about Caracas, Venezuela

Corporturismo

Torre Oeste, 37th floor, Parque Central, Caracas, phone 02/507-8607 or 02/507-8612.

Unatur (English-speaking)

Torre Oeste, 35th floor, Parque Central, Caracas, Phone 02/507-8607.

California

Venezuelan Tourism Association, Box 3010, Sausalito, CA 94966 phone 415-331-0100 email vtaga@hotmail.com.

New York

Venezuelan Information Center, 7 East 51st St., Suite 1515, New York, NY 10022 phone 212-826-1660.