Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas
Caracas
Occupying the eastern end of the Parque Central complex, the Museum of Contemporary Art is by far the best in the country, though it can be a little…
Must-see attractions in Venezuela
Salto Ángel (Angel Falls)
Venezuela
Thundering Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall and Venezuela's number-one tourist attraction. Its total height is 979m (3211ft), of which the…
Caracas
This neo-Gothic church, one block north of Plaza Bolívar, is modeled on the Sainte Chapelle of Paris. It was ordered by General Antonio Guzmán Blanco in…
Caracas
This leafy square is the nucleus of the old town. It's always alive with huddled groups of caraqueños engaged in conversation and children feeding freshly…
Caracas
If you’d like to dig a little deeper into traditional Venezuelan culture – perhaps learn to play joropo music with the bandola llanera (a string…
Venezuela
The most popular high-mountain trekking area is the Sierra Nevada national park, which has all of Venezuela's highest peaks, including Pico Bolívar (5007m…
Caracas
Just south of the Capitolio Nacional, the Church of San Francisco was built in the 1570s, but was remodeled on several occasions during the 17th and 18th…
Venezuela
Gran Roque is the main island and population center, and exudes a distinct Caribbean feel. The sandy streets of the fishing village are lined with single…
Venezuela
North of the old town, and separated from it by the entrance channel to the harbor, is colonial Fortín San Felipe, later renamed Castillo Libertador. It’s…
Venezuela
On the southern edge of the colonial sector is the tree-shaded Plaza Miranda. Positioned at the halfway point between the cathedral and the cemetery, it…
Venezuela
The Iglesia de San Antonio is at the upper end of the historic town of Clarines. Built in the 1750s, the church is a massive, squat construction laid out…
Venezuela
Commissioned by Gómez in 1934, this Soviet-esque theater was intended to be the best in the country, to match the capital status of the city. An immense…
Venezuela
This gigantic, 47m-high monument is said to be the world’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary. Frankly, it bears an eerie, uncanny resemblance to Darth…
Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía
Venezuela
North of San Rafael, at an altitude of about 3600m, is the Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía, an astronomical observatory with four telescopes and a…
Venezuela
Not far from the zoo is the Jardín Botánico. Inaugurated in 2000, the botanical garden is still young, and only a portion of the total 44 hectares is open…
Parque Nacional Médanos de Coro
Venezuela
Mesmerizing zebra stripes of sand shimmer in the breeze at the Parque Nacional Médanos de Coro, a spectacular desert landscape with sand dunes of 30m in…
Simón Bolívar Mausoleum
Caracas
After a 2010 exhumation to confirm cause of Bolívar's death, Chávez built his hero this grand new mausoleum, which opened in 2013. The US$140 million…
Venezuela
Near the purpose-built tourist village of Kavac, Cueva de Kavac is not a cave but a deep gorge with a waterfall plunging into it. There's a safe, natural…
Museo Diocesano Lucas Guillermo Castillo
Venezuela
For an insight into the colonial past, go to the Museo Diocesano Lucas Guillermo Castillo which is named after a local bishop. Accommodated in 15 rooms of…
Caracas
Occupying half of Plaza Bolívar’s southern side, the city hall was erected by the Caracas bishops from 1641 to 1696 to house the Colegio Seminario de…
Venezuela
This good Marine Museum is worth the trip across the island, especially for families. It has a shallow pool of safe-to-handle starfish, snails and other…
Galería de Arte Nacional
Caracas
Venezuela’s largest museum began construction in 1989 but was abandoned in the mid-’90s. Architect Carlos Gómez persevered though and construction resumed…
Venezuela
The sovereign state of Venezuela was born in this historic house on May 6, 1830, when Congress convened here and decreed secession from Gran Colombia…
Parque Nacional Cerro El Copey
Venezuela
If you have your own wheels (or are willing to hire a taxi) and want to leave the crowds behind, head up into this fresh, hilly national park, southwest…
Venezuela
For a taste of unadulterated Venezuelan patriotism, visit the Carabobo Battlefield, 32km southwest of Valencia. This is the site of the great battle…
Venezuela
The Museo Trapiche de los Clavo occupies the walled-in compound of a 19th-century hacienda. The core of the museum is the original trapiche (sugarcane…
Venezuela
This large, modern waterfront complex is one of the most ambitious urban projects ever to be carried out in the country - a 20th century Venezuelan Venice…
Caracas
The Museum of Fine Arts is a beautiful museum with lots of breathing room housed in two buildings, a functional modern six-story building and a graceful…
Caracas
This renovated fragment of a 220-year-old coffee hacienda houses a fine museum with rotating works by Venezuelan artists. Property of the Simón Bolívar…
Venezuela
Next to the cathedral, the Museo Arquidiocesano features a fine collection of religious art. Note the Ave María bell cast in AD 909, thought to be the…
Río Caroní Airplane
Venezuela
If you’re passing through the city’s airport, don’t miss the Río Caroní airplane, conveniently parked in front of the terminal building. This is the part…
Panteón de Gómez
Venezuela
In typical dictator style, once Gómez had taken a firm grip of Venezuela, he set about building himself a grandiose mausoleum. Finished in 1919, this…
Caracas
Bolívar’s funeral took place just two blocks from the house where, on July 24, 1783, he was born. The interior of Bolívar’s birthplace has been…
Venezuela
The lively waterfront boulevard, Paseo Colón, is the place for a late afternoon or evening promenade. This seafront and beach area comes to life when a…
Venezuela
The nearest island to Gran Roque, Madrizquí is only about 1km (0.6mi) to the southeast. It was the favorite island of affluent caraqueños (people from…
