La Paz is well worth visiting not only for its importance, but also for the many curiosities and attractions that make the city so interesting. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in La Paz.
Although many travellers assume of La Paz as Bolivia’s capital, the country’s constitutional capital is actually Sucre, a beautiful colonial city and the seat of the Supreme Court.
La Paz is the country’s financial, cultural, political and administrative heart, serving as the seat of government and home to the executive and legislative branches, as well as most of Bolivia’s ministries.
Founded in the 16th century by Spanish conquistador Alonso de Mendoza, La Paz is the highest seat of government in the world, sitting at more than 3,600 metres above sea level.
The city lies in the Chuquiago Marka Valley, in the heart of the Andean Altiplano and at the foot of the imposing Illimani. This snow-capped peak rises to 6,300 metres above sea level and is considered the protector of the city and its main symbol.
Another interesting fact is that La Paz is home to the longest urban cable car system in the world. It connects the city’s different neighbourhoods while navigating its famously rugged terrain.
Its dramatic setting, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, is just the beginning: colourful markets, historic streets, lively neighbourhoods and viewpoints give the city a unique character.
From riding the famous Mi Teleférico above the rooftops to exploring the Witches’ Market and wandering through the historic centre, there are plenty of experiences to enjoy. In this guide to the best things to do in La Paz, I’ll take you through the places and experiences worth adding to your itinerary.
The 20 best things to do in La Paz
1. Take a Tour of La Paz’s Most Interesting Sights
One of the best ways to get your bearings in La Paz is by joining a guided walking tour. Over around two to two and a half hours, you’ll explore some of the city’s main sights with an English-speaking local guide while learning more about its history, culture and traditions.
The tour takes you to must-see sites such as Plaza Murillo, where you can see the Presidential Palace, the National Congress of Bolivia and the Metropolitan Cathedral, as well as the Witches’ Market and other historic landmarks.
Along the way, you’ll also discover some of the more curious aspects of everyday life in La Paz, from the traditional hats worn by local women to the masked shoe shiners and the zebras (people dressed in black-and-white zebra costumes who work as street educators and traffic guides) you’ll see on the streets.
2. Stroll Around Murillo Square
This is one of the city’s main squares and definitely deserves a place on your list of things to see in La Paz. It was originally known as Plaza de Armas before being renamed Murillo Square.
The new name honours Pedro Domingo Murillo, considered one of the precursors of Bolivian independence.
The Government Palace, also known as the Burnt Palace, and the Legislative Palace both stand here. The clock on the latter runs backwards, unlike clocks elsewhere in the world, symbolising the country’s attempt to turn back time and reclaim its identity.
Another important landmark is the Metropolitan Cathedral, which houses the remains of the famous Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana.
3. Explore the Miraflores and Sopocachi Neighbourhoods
The Miraflores neighbourhood was designed by Emilio Villanueva Peñaranda in the mid-20th century as a garden suburb. Today, it is a relaxed area of the city where you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon.
It is located at the end of one of the cable car lines, making it easy to visit on the same day you explore the city by cable car.
Sopocachi, meanwhile, is the cultural and bohemian area of La Paz. Abaroa Square is one of the places locals most often head to when they want to bolichear, as they commonly call going out to bars and nightclubs.
4. Enjoy the nightlife around San Francisco Square
Another popular area to experience La Paz nightlife is around San Francisco Square.
While Plaza Abaroa tends to attract more locals, the streets surrounding San Francisco Square are especially popular with tourists and expats, with plenty of bars and places to go out after dark.
It’s a good option if you want to experience a more international side of the city.
5. Walk Along Jaén Street
Despite being just over 100 metres long, this is one of the city’s most visited streets. The reason? It is the best-preserved colonial street in La Paz.
In the 16th century, it was known as an important market for buying and selling llamas. It is located in the historic centre, just a short walk from the famous Murillo Square.
Despite its short length, the street is home to a total of 10 museums, including the house of Pedro Domingo Murillo and the Museum of Precious Metals.
You’ll also find plenty of bars and restaurants, along with various stories about the ghosts said to haunt this charming street in La Paz.
6. Visit the Coca Museum
The coca leaf is considered part of Bolivia’s cultural heritage. It is also a tourist’s best friend, especially when those dreaded symptoms of altitude sickness start to appear.
The plant is closely tied to the country’s history, so this small museum is well worth a visit if you want to understand more about its importance.
Inside, you can learn more about how it has been used throughout history and discover the different applications of this famous leaf.
Visitors can also learn how to chew it properly and enjoy a cup of coca tea in the museum café.
7. Step Inside the Basilica of San Francisco
This stone-built church was completed in the mid-18th century and features a striking blend of Baroque and Mestizo architectural styles in both its interior and façade.
One of the details that stands out most is the decoration, with sculptures depicting mythical animals and scenes inspired by nature.
Inside the church, you can climb the tower for a beautiful panoramic view of central La Paz and San Francisco Square.
The adjoining convent is also home to a museum where you can admire paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including works by the Peruvian painter Gregorio Gamarra.
8. Stop at Lanza Market
Located in San Francisco Square, Lanza Market is a popular meeting point for anyone looking to take a break and grab something to eat.
The market is made up of numerous stalls selling everything from food to everyday essentials. Locals tend to return to the same vendors, whom they affectionately refer to as their casera.
If you want to try traditional cuisine without spending much, this is one of the best places to do it.
You can sample typical dishes such as fricasé and chairo, while also getting a chance to experience the market alongside the paceños, as the people of La Paz are known.
9. Take a Cable Car Ride
With the largest urban cable car system in the world, a ride on La Paz’s famous Mi Teleférico is something you really shouldn’t miss.
Each line gives you a different perspective of the city, and the fares are low enough to make it easy to explore several of them without spending much.
For me, one of the best times to take this ride is at sunset, when the surrounding landscape, including the impressive peak of Illimani, takes on a beautiful light.
10. Cycle Down the Death Road
This road connects La Paz with the Yungas region, which is why it is also known as the Yungas Road.
The route stretches for around 80 kilometres and has been considered the most dangerous road in the world, with an elevation difference of around 3,000 metres to overcome.
Its unpaved surface, narrow sections and lack of safety features have contributed to numerous fatal accidents over the years.
Nowadays, it is particularly popular for bicycle tours, attracting people who want to experience the adrenaline of cycling down this famous road. The experience includes transport from La Paz, a guide and the necessary equipment.
The descent takes you from the high Andes towards the greener landscapes of the Yungas, making it a great way to combine adventure and spectacular scenery in a single day.
It’s an experience that features on virtually every list of things to do in La Paz.
11. Have a Paceña Beer
Paceña is Bolivia’s most internationally recognised beer and is produced by Cervecería Boliviana Nacional, the country’s oldest brewery.
It has more than 130 years of history and was originally produced only at altitudes above 3,600 metres. Over the years, advances in technology have allowed its production to expand beyond these heights.
A good way to enjoy it is with a salteña or baked empanada filled with meat, hard-boiled egg, potato and olives.
12. Explore El Alto Market
Another market worth exploring in La Paz is El Alto Market. Unlike Lanza Market, it spills out onto the streets of the El Alto neighbourhood only on Thursdays and Sundays.
It is considered the largest open-air market in Bolivia, so you’ll find just about anything you could be looking for here.
Getting there is easy thanks to one of the cable car lines connecting the neighbourhood with the city centre.
If you fancy buying something, be prepared to put your negotiation skills to the test to get the best possible price. It’s certainly one of the more entertaining things to do in La Paz.
13. Enjoy Avenida 16 de Julio
This is the city’s main thoroughfare and the avenue that connects the historic centre of La Paz.
Along the way, you’ll come across several monuments, including the allegory of the Motherland opposite Bueno Street, the sculpture of Christopher Columbus opposite Cabrera Passage and the statue of Simón Bolívar in Venezuela Square.
Thousands of paceños walk along the avenue every day. Its pavements are lined with a mix of colonial buildings, republican era architecture and more modern structures, creating a fascinating combination that reflects the architectural heritage of this city.
14. Climb to Killi Killi Viewpoint
The easiest way to reach this popular viewpoint is by taking the minibus from Yanacocha Street. It sits at the highest point of the Villa Pabón neighbourhood, on Avenida de la Bandera, and admission is free.
Its name comes from a bird of prey that once inhabited this area and was not found anywhere else in La Paz.
In the 18th century, the viewpoint served as an important strategic location for Indigenous people, who used it to watch over the city and prepare the attacks led by Tupac Katari.
Today, it is a popular place for locals to relax and spend time outdoors. From here, you can enjoy beautiful 360-degree views across this fascinating Bolivian destination.
15. Enjoy the Views from Laikakota Viewpoint
Laikakota is another of the city’s viewpoints, and its name comes from Laika (sorcerer or witch) and Kota (pond or lake). It sits on a hill in the Chuquiago Valley, in an area separating the Miraflores neighbourhood from Sopocachi and central La Paz.
You can easily reach it using the cable car network, although it is also possible to walk up. There is a small entrance fee to enter the park, while children can get in for free.
Laikakota Viewpoint offers unparalleled views of the city and is also a great place for children to play.
16. Discover the General Cemetery
This cemetery, inaugurated in 1831 during the government of Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz, is quite different from the kind of cemetery you might be used to. Rather than being a place solely associated with mourning and contemplation, it is a space people visit with a sense of hope and celebration.
With so many notable figures buried here and beautifully detailed sculptures adorning the graves, the cemetery has become a fascinating open-air museum and is well worth adding to your La Paz itinerary.
17. Watch Cholita Wrestling
A visit to La Paz wouldn’t be complete without seeing one of the city’s best-known shows: cholita wrestling. Cholitas are the Indigenous women of the Andes who wear traditional dress.
Their outfits are mainly characterised by wide-brimmed hats and full skirts known as polleras. Each one has its own distinctive aesthetic features depending on the region.
The wrestling matches take place at night in the El Alto neighbourhood, so it is advisable to attend with a guide or as part of an official tour.
One of the most important aspects of the show is its attempt to highlight the role women play in Bolivian society and show that they are just as capable of fighting as men.
18. Visit the Witches’ Market, one of the most popular things to do in La Paz
This unusual market is located on Cerro Cumbre, between Linares and Sagárnaga streets.It takes its name from the wide variety of items sold here for performing traditional Bolivian rituals.
The most famous of all is the dried llama foetus, which is traditionally buried in the foundations of houses as an offering to Pachamama, or Mother Earth.
You can also find simple amulets and souvenirs for tourists, including some of the market’s most popular items: Andean hats and jumpers made from alpaca wool. There is a wide range of designs in bright, cheerful colours.
For foreign visitors, exploring this unusual market is one of the most popular things to do in La Paz.
19. Learn More About San Pedro Prison
Located in this very square is a rather unusual building: San Pedro Prison. It is the largest prison in the country, and was the result of a failed attempt to establish an open prison system in La Paz.
The prison has several unusual features that make it particularly distinctive. Inmates work to earn a living, live there with their families and even pay rent for their cells.
A few years ago, it was possible to visit the prison from the inside, and it was even listed as one of the things to do in La Paz by Lonely Planet.
These tours are now completely prohibited following a series of problems that occurred during the visits. Rusty Young’s book “Marching Powder” tells the story of his experience as an inmate there.
20. Escape to the Magical Valley of the Moon
The Valley of the Moon lies about 10 km from the centre of La Paz, making it an easy escape from the city. Its name was given by none other than Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the Moon.
When the American astronaut visited in 1969, he compared the landscape to the Moon itself.
This otherworldly landscape is the result of erosion on a clay mountain, which has gradually been sculpted into countless unusual shapes.
Over time, the erosion has created a kind of desert of stalagmites, producing a truly unique scene and one of the must-see attractions in La Paz.
You can visit the Valley of the Moon independently or join a guided tour to discover this fascinating landscape and enjoy the views of the surrounding Andes.
An additional suggestion for those willing to venture a little farther afield is taking a two-day trip to Lake Titicaca. Located near the border with Peru and just over 150 km from La Paz, it is the highest navigable lake in the world, at 3,800 metres above sea level.
The excursion takes you to Copacabana and Isla del Sol, where you can explore the island, discover ancient Inca ruins and spend the night before returning to La Paz.