Top places to visit in La Paz

• Plaza Murillo

  square · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  La Paz's main square, ringed by the Presidential Palace, National Congress and the Cathedral. The political heart of Bolivia.

• Mercado de las Brujas (Witches' Market)

  cultural · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Atmospheric street market selling Aymara ritual items — llama foetuses, herbs, amulets and offerings to Pachamama.

• Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)

  geology · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Eroded clay-and-sandstone spires forming a lunar landscape just south of the city, with marked walking trails.

• Mi Teleférico (Cable Car Network)

  transport · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's highest and longest urban cable-car network, linking La Paz with El Alto across the canyon. Riding the Línea Roja or Amarilla gives sweeping Andes and city views.

• Mirador Killi Killi

  panorama · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hilltop viewpoint giving a 360° panorama of La Paz spilling down the canyon, with Illimani towering behind.

• Basílica de San Francisco

  church · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A masterpiece of mestizo-baroque architecture (16th–18th c.) with a richly carved stone façade and a museum and rooftop tour.

• Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore (MUSEF)

  ethnography · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Excellent ethnographic museum on Bolivia's indigenous cultures, textiles and masks, set in a colonial mansion.

• Calle Jaén

  colonial · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The best-preserved colonial street in La Paz, a narrow cobbled lane of pastel houses housing several small museums.

Things to do

• Death Road Mountain Biking Adventure · 9 h · from BOB 600 per person
• La Paz City & Cable Car Tour Cultural · 4 h · from BOB 150 per person
• Tiwanaku Archaeological Day Trip Day Trip · 8 h · from BOB 350 per person
• Cholita Wrestling Night Entertainment · 3 h · from BOB 120 per person

Day trips and tours

• La Paz City Highlights & Cable Car Tour 4 h · from BOB 150
• Death Road Mountain Bike Descent 9 h · from BOB 600
• Tiwanaku Archaeological Day Trip 8 h · from BOB 350

Where to stay in La Paz

• Sopocachi about BOB 520 per night

  Leafy, bohemian district with the best cafés, restaurants and nightlife, popular with visitors and well-heeled locals.

• Centro / San Francisco about BOB 280 per night

  The historic core around San Francisco and the Witches' Market — most central and budget-friendly, but busy.

Hotels

• Hostal Naira 3-star · BOB 250 to BOB 320 per night
• Hotel Rosario La Paz 3.5-star · BOB 520 to BOB 700 per night
• Loki Hostel La Paz 2-star · BOB 90 to BOB 260 per night
• Atix Hotel 5-star · BOB 1,700 to BOB 2,600 per night

Where to eat

• Gustu Bolivian, Contemporary · about BOB 380 per person
• Ali Pacha Vegan, Bolivian · about BOB 190 per person
• La Costilla de Adán Bolivian, International · about BOB 95 per person
• Café del Mundo Cafe, International · about BOB 55 per person
• Mercado Lanza Bolivian, Street Food · about BOB 25 per person

Getting to La Paz

Airport: La Paz (LPB)

How visitors arrive in La Paz

• Flight to El Alto International Airport By air from International · common

  El Alto airport serves the city and is described as the world's highest international airport; flights come from other Bolivian and South American cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus from Bolivian cities By road from Other Bolivian cities · common

  Buses reach La Paz from Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Oruro, Potosi, Sucre and Uyuni, as well as Arica and Iquique in Chile. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Copacabana and Lake Titicaca By road from Lake Titicaca · possible

  Buses and minibuses link La Paz with Copacabana, Desaguadero and Tiwanaku on the Lake Titicaca side. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Marked radio taxi from El Alto airport

  Use only radio taxis showing a roof sign and avoid unmarked cabs at night. Taxis are not metered, so agree the fare before getting in. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shared vans from the airport unconfirmed

  Shared vans run down the autopista past Plaza San Francisco and El Prado to Plaza Isabel la Catolica. On domestic arrivals they are straight ahead and to the right after baggage claim. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Mi Teleferico cable car network unconfirmed

  The cable car system links El Alto with downtown La Paz and can avoid road traffic. A rechargeable card avoids ticket queues. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• The airport sits at very high altitude; move slowly, including to baggage claim and immigration. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Cable Car

  Mi Teleferico is a network of cable car lines, named by colour, that connects downtown La Paz with El Alto and the neighbourhoods around.

  Mi Teleférico website

• Minibus

  Minibuses run set routes across La Paz and El Alto and are flagged down from the roadside.

• Ride Hail

  Ride-hailing apps, including Didi and Uber, are used in La Paz, though driver availability can be patchy.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake police / bogus document check

  Tourist areas, streets near the bus terminal and Plaza San Francisco

  A person in plain clothes (sometimes with a fake badge), occasionally helped by a fake "tourist", claims to be police and asks to inspect your passport, wallet or bags for "drugs" or counterfeit money, then steals cash or cards.

  How to avoid it: Real Bolivian police never check documents or search you in the street, never ask for cash, and never ask you to get into a vehicle. Refuse, insist on going to a proper police station, and call 110.

• Unofficial / fake taxi robbery

  Street-hailed taxis, especially at night and from the airport

  An unlicensed taxi (sometimes with an accomplice already inside) takes you on a detour, robs you or forces ATM withdrawals ("express kidnapping").

  How to avoid it: Use phone-dispatched radio taxis or an app (Yango). Note the plate, avoid taxis with passengers already inside, and don't hail random cabs at night.

• Distraction theft (spit/spill)

  Markets, Witches' Market, crowded streets

  Someone sprays liquid, "mustard" or fake bird droppings on you and a helpful stranger cleans you off while an accomplice takes your bag or wallet.

  How to avoid it: Keep walking, hold your bag tightly, and politely decline help. Wear bags in front in crowds.

• Counterfeit banknotes & short change

  Markets, taxis, small shops

  Vendors or taxi drivers pass fake Boliviano notes or shortchange tourists, or refuse worn/older USD notes.

  How to avoid it: Check large notes (watermark, texture), keep small denominations, and count change. Use newer, crisp USD if exchanging.

Best time to visit La Paz

• Jan 15°C
• Feb 15°C
• Mar 15°C
• Apr 15°C
• May 15°C
• Jun 14°C
• Jul 14°C
• Aug 15°C
• Sep 16°C
• Oct 16°C
• Nov 17°C
• Dec 16°C

More in Bolivia

• Uyuni
• Copacabana
• Sucre
• Rurrenabaque
• Santa Cruz de la Sierra
• Potosí

Frequently asked questions about La Paz

What are the top-rated places to visit in La Paz?

The highest-rated places in our La Paz guide are Mi Teleférico (Cable Car Network), Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore (MUSEF), Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), Mirador Killi Killi, Basílica de San Francisco.

Where should I stay in La Paz?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in La Paz: Sopocachi, Centro / San Francisco.

How do I get around La Paz?

Ways to get around La Paz covered in our guide: Cable car, Minibus, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in La Paz?

Scams reported to us for La Paz include Fake police / bogus document check; Unofficial / fake taxi robbery; Distraction theft (spit/spill). Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in La Paz?

Average daytime highs in La Paz run from 14°C in Jul to 17°C in Nov.

Which airport is nearest to La Paz?

The nearest airport to La Paz has the code LPB.