Discover Caracas
Hotels, halal food, prayer spaces, things to do, and itineraries in Caracas.
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Must-see attractions in Caracas
From headline landmarks and heritage icons to parks, waterfronts, and major museums, discover 29 standout sights to build into your time in the city.
After the establishment of an independent colony in the early 1800s, Caracas continued to grow through the 19th century at a modest rate as new settlers moved in from Europe, and traders discovered that the cocoa it produced was some of the finest around the Caribbean. It was only in 1914 with the revelation of the presence of oil around the Maracaibo region and the surge in the international demand for oil that Caracas gained tremendous importance on a global scale. The economy shifted from a primarily agrarian one to one based on oil production and import. With all the money from importing oil, Caracas started to develop rapidly, attracti
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Muslim travel planner
Plan a Muslim-friendly trip in Caracas
Halal restaurants in Caracas
Caracas’s food scene is part of the city experience. Choose from 32 restaurants and food districts with location notes and planning tips.
caracasEl Arabito
Cuisine: Arabian Address: Avenue Casanova, Sabana Grande Phone: 212 761 0887 Timings: Mondays to Sundays 11am to 12midnight Small, welcoming, and inexpensive, this Arabian diner is known best for its falafels, shish kebabs, spicy shawarmas, and an assortment of customizable salads. It also specializes in fast food, burgers, and sandwiches. Try the Pitta-Burger, made out of a beef or chicken helping wrapped inside soft Middle Eastern bread. A take-away service is also provided as there is rarely enough space to seat the hordes of incoming customers. The restaurant contains a little store where you can buy Arabian spices and groceries like olives, dry nuts, roasted almonds, and confectionery.
caracasZambal
Cuisine: Asian Address: 3 Avenue, Los Palos Grandes Phone: 212 286 8553 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 11am to 4pm, 7pm to 11pm Small, trendy, and popular amongst the locals as the best Asian eatery in town, you will often find Zambal overcrowded to the brim with young Caraqueños as well as tourists. Chinese, Indo-Chinese, Japanese, and Thai, you can experience authenticity in all its Asian grandeur. The place contains charming interior décor and lighting, kind of like a frame out of a Japanese movie. The furniture is finely carved, ceramic ornaments line the intimately low-placed shelves, and incandescent lanterns hanging from the ceiling simulate fireflies on a dark night. Treat yourself to one of the delightful varieties of sushi after choosing from an assortment of appetizing Thai soups. You can also try the sashimi, chicken curry, szechaun steak, and salmon. Service is quick and very polite.
caracasLasserre
Cuisine: French Address: 3 Avenue, Los Palos Grandes Phone: 212 283 4558 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 12noon to 4pm, 7pm to midnight. Saturdays 7pm to midnight A genuinely French dining experience, a rarity in Caracas. The interior whisks you off on a magical journey to 17th century Versailles, complete with baroque and rococo paintings, full-length mirrors reminiscent of the Palace Hall, and decorative schemes in silver, gold, and crystal, coupled with soothing live piano sessions. The rich menu offers traditional delicacies like anguille pâté, chicken Kiev, peacock bass, and Canard à l'Armagnac. Also available are a delightful variety of French desserts. The restaurant offers a valet parking service. Reservations are strongly advised.
caracasEl Barquero
Cuisine: Spanish/Seafood Address: Avenue Luis Roche, corner 5a Transversal Altamira Phone: 212 261 4645 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 1130am to 11pm All aboard for a delightful journey into the riches of the oceans, accompanied by creatures from the deep (don’t worry, the creatures will all be cooked, grilled, fried, or roasted)? El Barquero, “The Boatman”, serves mouthwatering fish and shrimp dishes, as well as a delightful variety of lamb and rabbit dishes! Try the seafood rice and casserole. The restaurant has an air of formality, and is good for over-lunch business talks. It also contains a hall that can be rented out for conference and event dinners.
caracasAstrid y Gastón
Cuisine: Peruvian Address: Calle Londres, Las Mercedes Phone: 212 993 1119 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 1230pm to 330pm, 7pm to midnight Straight from the heart of Lima, Peru, comes this delightful little restaurant that will leave you just longing to visit Peru itself! Located in one of the most upscale and undisturbed parts of town, the restaurant offers genuine Peruvian flavor right down to the last speck of pepper and sauce. Start off by spicing things up with some hot, steaming chupe (soup). Then try scrumptious delicacies like the ceviche (saucy seafood in tantalizing gravy), causa (dumplings with potato peels and slices), and a variety of fish and meat menus that are not exactly true-blood Peruvian but a finger-lickin’ blend of Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Asian flavors. The place has a formal atmosphere, and is good for serious dinners with business partners and delegates. Reservations are especially advised.
caracasComa
Cuisine: International Address: inside the C.C. Blandín shopping center, Avenue Blandín, Chacao district Phone: 212 263 4628 Timings: Daily 8am to 730pm A favorite hangout space for businessmen, Coma places all its emphasis on providing healthy, low-fat, organic food for its busy clientele. Treat yourself to tossed salads, whole meal sandwiches, a variety of pasta, fresh fruit juices, a selection of cream shakes, and dishes derived from milk and dairy products. For dinner you can try a more filling menu composed of fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. A special mention is the salmon fillet. Coma contains an open-air terrace, another reason which makes it a first choice for relaxed business conversations through the evening. Coma, keeping in mind its target crowd, also provides wireless internet service to its customers.
Caracas masjids and Muslim travel
Landmark masjids and prayer-aware notes for visitors planning salah, family movement, and halal-friendly days.
Masjid
Caracas contains just one large mosque, called the Mosque Ibrahim Ibin Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim, or simply the Caracas Mosque. It was constructed fairly recently, in 1993. It was commissioned by Sheikh Ibrahim ibne Abdul Aziz, and architect Zuhe Fayez was credited with the design of the mosque. The mosque is the largest in all of Latin America, potentially housing around 3500 worshippers when full. The mosque is located in the Parque Central area, on Avenue Libertador.
Mezquita Ibrahim Ibin Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim
Caracas, Venezuela
Where to stay in Caracas
Choose where to stay by trip style, from landmark luxury and family bases to central, airport, and neighborhood-led stays.
caracasTamanaco InterContinental
Address: Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes Phone: +58 212 909 7111 Fax: +58 212 909 7006 Located at an advantageous location in the serene residential Las Mercedes district, near the foothills of the Avila Mountain, the 4-star InterContinental offers convenient accessibility to the city’s business and entertainment districts. The hotel contains a friendly multilingual staff, well versed in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French. The lobby contains a small convenience store and a gift shop, and provides high speed wireless internet access. Pets are not allowed at the hotel. A charged valet parking service is available. The InterContinental is a first choice for travelers who want value at reasonable prices. Rooms: The hotel contains 523 Guest Rooms and 34 full Suites spread out over 9 floors, out of which a total of 271 are designated as exclusively non-smoking. Out of the 523 Guest Rooms, 460 are Single Bedded, and 63 Double Bedded. All the rooms contain a mini refrigerator and mini bar, a coffee maker, a safe deposit box, cable television with DVD player, two landlines, and free of charge wireless internet. The rooms also have a work desk, and electrical adaptors and convertors are available on request. Suites contain a set up for a living room/lounge, a kitchenette complete with a stove, cutlery and utensils, and a complimentary printer included with the work desk. Guests in the Suites are also entitled to daily complimentary breakfast, drinks, and dinner snacks. A free newspaper is delivered to the Suites every morning. Bathrooms contain bidets, hair dryers, and bathtubs with hot and cold water. Room service is available 24 hours. Dining: 1. Café Cacique: the hotel’s own breakfast diner that will spoil you for choice with its delightful variety of servings. Eat away your morning grogginess as you indulge in more than just hot coffee and toast – traditional Venezuelan delicacies, inducing arepa and criollo, all served with side dishes of cheese, as well as international beef and chicken menus. Choose to dine either in the air conditioned hall, or go out onto the airy terrace for the cool morning breeze and the splendid view over the neighborhood. 2. La Cabana: serving lunch and dinner, this casual open-air poolside restaurant is most famous for its special pizza and steak, as well as traditional Venezuelan cuisine. 3. Le Gourmet: located in the hotel lobby and open for lunch and dinner, this restaurant serves as a formal eating and meeting place of the hotel’s business clientele. The restaurant offers authentic French cuisine prepared by the country’s renowned chefs, including pressed duck, truffles, and some vegetable menus, with soothing violins and a grand piano playing in the background. 4. El Punto: overlooking the majestic Avila Mountain, this lobby bar offers fascinating terrace views of the surroundings, as well as an air conditioned dining space. Special on the menu: Sushi. Health Facilities: The hotel includes a fully equipped fitness center that features a gymnasium, Turkish baths, and a sauna. A jogging trail, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, and three outdoor tennis courts are accessible all through the day. Masseurs and fitness instructors are also available. The hotel contains its own beauty salon. Meetings & Events: InterContinental offers world class services to make your business or social event an effective and memorable one. 17 different Meeting Rooms with a total seating capacity of 800 banquet and 1500 reception style. The largest Meeting Room can seat 50 guests in a banquet arrangement, and the smallest 6. The Business Center is available from 7am to 11pm, and offers printing/copying/faxing services, in addition to arranging for PCs with internet connections and projectors with screens. Additional equipment like VCRs and DVD players, LCD screens, stage illumination, whiteboards, microphones and sound systems can also be arranged for on request. A courier service is available. Private limousine pickup can also be arranged for guests.
caracasGran Melia
Address: Avenue Casanova, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: +58 212 762 8111 Fax: +58 212 762 3737 Nestled amongst the liveliest of urban spaces within the city, Hotel Gran Melia offers business travelers luxury and value coupled with access to the city’s major attractions right at its doorstep. As you hang around your private bedroom terrace every night, you can witness the more sober, mundane activities of the city start to cease as little specks of colored bulbs start lighting up the streets. With classical European elements including rustic furniture, intricate ornamentation, valueless tapestries and works of art adorning the halls and lining the corridors and chandeliers of crystal throwing soft, pale lighting down onto an awestruck you, this hotel will reach out to embrace you with the warmth of a family member. Rooms: 430 Guest Rooms, all individually air conditioned, with modern bathrooms containing bath tubs, a separate shower area, hair dryers, and complimentary bathrobes. Rooms have cable television, direct dial landlines, an in-room safe, complimentary stationery, and an iron and ironing board. Complimentary newspaper service every morning. Laundry and dry cleaning is available at reasonable rates. Room service 24 hours. Dining: 1. Restaurante Mediterráneo: open-air poolside restaurant serving exquisite tastes from Greece, Spain, and Portugal, with a sprinkle of local magic. 2. Gran Vía: the perfect setting for social events, banquets and parties. 3. Prosciutto: open-air restaurant serving authentic Italian food all meals of the day. 4. Sumiré: savor Japanese delicacies like sushi and stew. Warm lighting, charming ambience. 5. L'Albufera: Spanish and Galician foods, some of the best around Caracas. Health Facilities: Gran Melia houses a fully equipped fitness center offering complimentary services to the hotel guests, complete with a gym including cardiovascular equipment, a massage therapy center, and an outdoor pool with sauna and Jacuzzi. The hotel’s own doctor is available on a 24 hour basis. The hotel also features a beauty salon. Meetings & Events: The hotel contains a modern, well-equipped business center to cater to the needs of a wide corporate clientele. It helps in providing technical support to your event, like arranging for audiovisual equipment and logistic services, as well as banqueting facilities. 28 Meeting Rooms of different sizes are available. Wired internet is provided at $20 a day, and printing/faxing services are available on demand. Parking for 3200 vehicles is provided, as well as a limo pick and drop service.
caracasJW Marriott Hotel
Address: Avenue Venezuela con Calle Mohedano, El Rosal district, Caracas Phone: +58 212 957 2222 Fax: +58 212 957 1111 Part of a leading chain of hotels, the Marriott does not disappoint you in what you expect of a truly international lodging, dining, and event management facility. The hotel’s very central location in the business and commercial district of Caracas makes it an ideal stopover for business travelers. Some side-servings for the guests include bowling and mini golf within a short distance from the hotel’s premises, in addition to all the modern luxuries it provides. Pets are not allowed inside the hotel, but certified service animals can be brought in with disabled people. The hotel also offers charged but very secure on-site parking. Rooms: Marriott contains a total of 269 Guest Rooms on 17 floors, all containing one wall that is fully glazed to allow for maximum natural light and spectacular views over the city. Guest Rooms are individually air conditioned, and contain all modern conveniences, including a spacious workstation with wired high speed internet facility, ironing board and iron, lavish bedding materials and sofa-beds, an in-room safe, cable television, and a mini-fridge with bottled water. The bathrooms are all marbled, and contain spray jets in the bathtub, a separate shower area, and a bathrobe and hair dryer. The Conference, Vice Presidential, and Spa Suites provide access to the Executive Lounge, with complimentary breakfast, light snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, tea and desserts. Each suite also contains a separate lounge and dining area, a wet bar, 2 TV sets with premium cable, and 3 telephones. Dining: 1. Sur New World Fusion: the hotel’s primary eating spot, this restaurant offers a unique blend of local and international flavors for all meals. Special on the menu: the buffet breakfast. Casual ambience. Phone: +58 212 957 6070. 2. Casa del Café: a small bakery and delicatessen offering mouthwatering pastries, confectionery, beverages, and light snacks. A variety of visually appealing salads are on display during lunch hours – do try one or two during your stay, or order your own custom-made salad! Casual atmosphere, open all day. Phone: +58 212 957 6071 3. Nori Sushi & Ceviche Bar: a pleasing variety of authentic sushi and spicy Japanese soups at lunch and dinner. Phone: +58 212 957 6081 4. Lobby Bar: enjoy finger snacks, sandwiches, tea and soft drinks, all the way from 1130am to 1130pm. Phone: +58 212 957 6012 Health Facilities: This five star hotel houses a modern, adequately equipped fitness center, containing a gymnasium with cardiovascular machines, and specialized masseurs for guests. The hotel also contains a solarium, a sauna, and a heated outdoor swimming pool with complimentary towels. Meetings & Events: Marriott includes thirteen meeting rooms of varying sizes, with the maximum capacity Conference Hall seating 600. Each meeting space is equipped with high speed internet, in addition to audiovisual aids like projector systems, sound systems, and stage setups. A group of trained professionals is ready to assist you, right from the initial planning out of your event, to the eventual execution, catering to all the technical requirements. The Business Center provides computers, faxing and printing, and posting/parceling services. An on-site exhibition area is also available for small expositions and displays. Catering for business and social events is provided within the hotel’s premises, from reception services to breakfast, high tea, and the main meals – a wide variety of dishes from all around South America, Spain, and generally the world over.
caracasEmbassy Suites Hotel
Address: Avenue Francisco De Miranda En Avenue El P - Caracas Phone: +58 212 700 4200 Fax: +58 212 267 3761 Lying in close proximity to the major tourist attractions and shopping malls of Caracas and surrounded by the modern commercial and business district of the city, this luxurious five star hotel is the ideal choice for first class leisure and business tourists. Keeping in mind the needs of its target clientele, the hotel provides high speed wireless internet in the lobby and all the rooms, free of charge. The lobby also contains an ATM machine and money changer, an air ticketing booth, storage for extra luggage, a small gift shop (good for picking up souvenirs), and also arranges for transportation to and from the hotel to various destinations within the city. Pets are allowed in the hotel. Rooms: The hotel contains Standard Rooms and Suites, in addition to two Special Accessibility Rooms for the disabled. The rooms are categorized into smoking and non-smoking ones. The Standard Rooms are spacious, charmingly furnished, and equipped with 32” color TV screens, coffee machines and microwaves, ironing facilities, and dual line telephones. On one corner is placed an adequately illuminated working desk. The Suites are much grander, and contain, in addition to the basic facilities, their own refrigerators and mini bars, an additional television set, and a comfortable sofa bed. All Bathrooms have hair dryers and bidets. Daily newspapers and breakfast are delivered to each room free of charge. Cribs are available on request. Room service is available 24 hours. Dining: Every morning, treat yourself to a complimentary made-to-order breakfast service, with items ranging from sliced vegetables, freshly prepared fruit shakes and juices, to eggs, meat and dairy products. A variety of local as well as international options are available to choose from. The hotel’s own restaurant, the Atrium Café, provides a casual ambience for lounging around all day as you sip on local beverages and treat yourselves to the exciting lunch and dinner menus. At night, as you prepare to retire to your room, be sure to spend a few minutes at the Manager’s Reception in the lobby, just letting go of the day’s exhaustion as you grab a few complimentary drinks and light snacks. Health Facilities: A fully equipped fitness center, as well as an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and a whirlpool, is available for the guests to splurge on. The hotel also contains its own hair salon. Meetings & Events: Embassy Suites houses a state-of-the-art business center located on the 18th floor, complete with photocopying, printing, scanning and faxing facilities. The trained multilingual staff will provide the necessary technical assistance you require to make you event roll smoothly. In addition to the general 12-16 seating meeting rooms, the larger, flexible conference halls can be adapted to provide for a greater seating or reception. Audiovisual equipment is available on request. Express mail and a cargo service can also be arranged for.
caracasHotel Coliseo
Address: Avenue Casanova, Sabana Grande Phone: +58 212 762 7916 Fax: +58 212 761 7333 With an ideal location that gives you access to the best restaurants, bars, cinemas, clubs, and fashion outlets dotted around the alluring tourist district of Sabana Grande, Hotel Coliseo is the one of the first places that fills up during peak tourist seasons. The presence of helpful multilingual staff makes sure that you never experience a communication gap during your period of stay. The hotel provides free, secure parking for guests, and access for wheelchairs. Pets are not allowed inside. Rooms: Coliseo contains 68 air conditioned Guest Rooms spread over five floors. All rooms have attached baths, and are equipped with satellite television, direct landlines, high speed internet at a fee, and a secure in-room safe. Laundry service can be called for at reasonable rates. Dining: Complimentary breakfast is not a tradition at this place, but the hotel’s own restaurant, Nerone, serves genuine Italian delicacies for all meals of the day. With a seating capacity of 150 people, Nerone attracts not only guests staying at Coliseo, but a considerable crowd from outside as well. Nerone also operates a bar that serves refreshing drinks 24 hours a day. Meetings & Events: Coliseo offers air conditioned conference halls, with seating capacities for 50 to 150 people. The in-house business center provides high speed internet service, projectors and rollaway screens, and related audio-visual tools. Printing and faxing are available at request. A small meeting room is available for private sessions.
History and today in Caracas
Read the city today, its history, residents, culture, and character before planning your route.
Caracas Today
After the establishment of an independent colony in the early 1800s, Caracas continued to grow through the 19th century at a modest rate as new settlers moved in from Europe, and traders discovered that the coc
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Caracas History
Caracas during the Middle Ages was little more than a small village in a beautiful valley occupied by indigenous tribes. The towering Mount Avila to the north of the settlement created a natural barrier that protected the city from the Caribbean Sea. Hence it remained out of sight from the prying eyes of the European navies that sailed along the coasts of the region on the lookout for local towns to plunder and add as colonies to their respective crowns. However, this did not hinder interaction between merchant navies and the locals. Traders often frequented the village for its rich cocoa, medicinal herbs, and other local products. In 1562, Francisco Fajardo, a sailor of Spanish-Guaiqueri origin who had established several small settlements along the South American coast, tried to set up agricultural plantations for the crown in the region. This was instantly seen as a possible means of invading local traditions of farming, and the estate was soon destroyed by the locals. Some little skirmishes followed afterwards, but on 25th July 1967, the Spanish Captain Diego de Losada established the city as a territory under the Spanish crown. It was named as Santiago de León de Caracas. Formal city planning rapidly came into play as the Spanish moved in. By 1578, the city was centered on a public piazza, surrounded by 24 equal quadrilaterals. Linear streets were developed, covered by a layer of rounded cobblestones, and the first blends of Medieval European architecture with traditional construction materials of wood and adobe became evident. Private housing for the elite, complete with patios, arcades, and quarters for servants and horses, began springing up. Development then proceeded along the main east-west axis, which still forms the spine of the city’s networks today. In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the Golden Age of piracy, the city remained comparatively out of sight of marauding pirates and opportunist bounty hunters. Apart from an attack by English buccaneers in 1595, Caracas remained a fairly safe haven for traders and new settlers. For these reasons, and a steadily increasing cultivation of cocoa, Caracas soon emerged as the capital city of the region in 1777. A major outbreak of smallpox quickly wiped out the native Indian population, decreasing the chances of a rebellion. However, there were still attempts to gain independence from the Spaniards. Manuel Gual and José María España assembled an organized army that was defeated on 13th July 1797. On 5th July 1811, following the ideals of the Wars of Independence in North America and the French Revolution, officials signed the Declaration of Independence that was to shape the future of Caracas. Caracas also gave birth to Simón Bolívar, who is regarded as a pioneer in the rebellions against the Spanish crown. He led the local population to a crucial victory against the aristocracy at the Battle of Carabobo, on 24th June 1821. Today, monuments, streets, and even the currency in Venezuela are named in his honor.
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Exchange Rates
The currency used is the Venezuela bolívar fuerte (VEF). This replaced the Venezuela Bolivar (VEB) with effect from 1st January 2008. This was due to unprecedented rises in inflation over the years. 1 VEF = 1000 VEB. The VEB, however, is obsolete currency. The banknotes used are in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 bolívares. Coins are available in of 1, 5, 10, 12½, 25, 50 céntimos, and 1 bolívar denominations. The 1 céntimo coin is rarely used, as prices are usually calculated in 5 céntimos progressions. 1 VEF = 0.232558 U.S. dollars 1 U.S. dollar = 4.30000 VEF
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Visa Information
A passport that is valid for at least six months is needed when visiting Venezuela, even as a tourist. The visa process is generally hassle free, and takes around 2-3 weeks during the off-tourist season, that is the winter months. The embassy would provide the required forms and the guidelines to filling out these forms. There are several kinds of visas that can be issued. The most common one is a visit/tourist visa, valid for up to 90 days of stay, and for a single entry and exit only. The business visa however can be used for multiple exits and entries, and is also valid for 90 days. Student visas are dealt with on a case to case basis, depending on the kind of program and the institution. For acquiring a student visa, please consult the embassy in person. It is recommended that you have at least 2 unused pages of your passport remaining when you apply for a visa to Venezuela. Once in Venezuela, always be sure to carry your passport along with some other form of ID around, as you may be asked to produce these by officers of the law. There is no need to worry though, as this is normal procedure.
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When to go
Caracas enjoys mild weather all year round, due to its tropical location, its proximity to the sea, and its altitude (800m above sea level). December to April is a generally less humid season, constituting a magical autumn transforming into a blossoming spring. This is the time when tourist crowds are at their peak. All the major festivities around town, including Carnaval, Christmas, and Semana Santa, occur during this season. You will experience all the excitement of the Caraqueño street life and culture up close and personal when you visit during these months. However, this is also the season when shopping malls and restaurant owners decide to go all Beverly Hills on their prices. Apart from a few really generous sales, shopping during the high season is not at all recommended unless you know how to haggle well! The months from May to October are usually not that popular with tourists, meaning air fares are much lower. So are the prices on local amenities and services. If you are on a budget, this is a great time for you to head to Caracas, as you can still catch some of the most exciting, though less crowded, festivals around town, in addition to the wonders of shopping, window-shopping, and all in between!
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Fast Facts
Location: Caracas, capital of Venezuela Dialing code: 00 58 212 X (where +58 is the international code for Venezuela, 212 is the regional code for Caracas, and X is the local number) Emergency numbers 171 - Emergencies 169 - Police 166 - Fire Department Population: 1,815,679 Languages : Venezuela is a very rich country in terms of the variety of languages spoken and generally understood throughout. The 1999 Venezuelan Constitution declared Spanish as the official language, in addition to the languages spoken by the indigenous locals. The languages most commonly used are: Spanish, English, Italian, French, Arabic, Portuguese, and indigenous languages like Sikiana, Panare, and Yaruro. You will be able to get along quite well if you are sufficiently fluent in English, as English is taught as a compulsory subject at school and university levels in Venezuela. Time zone: UTC/GMT - 4:30 hours Religions: 70% Roman Catholic 29% Protestants 1% Muslims and Jews Average January temperatures: 13.1 °C to 29.0°C Average July temperatures: 16.9 °C to 31.0 °C Annual rainfall: 912.8 mm
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Public Holidays
New Year's Day (Año Nuevo) – January 1 Day of the Declaration of Independence – April 19 Labor Day – May 1 Battle of Carabobo Day – June 24 Independence Day – July 5 Simón Bolívar Day – July 24 Christopher Columbus Day/Day of the Indigenous Resistance – October 12 Christmas Day – December 25
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Annual Temperature
January low temperature: 13.1 °C high temperature: 29.0 °C precipitation: 15.3 mm February low temperature: 14.5 °C high temperature: 31.0 °C precipitation: 13.2 mm March low temperature: 15.3 °C high temperature: 31.7 °C precipitation: 11.4 mm April low temperature: 16.2 °C high temperature: 31.1 °C precipitation: 59.2 mm May low temperature: 18.2 °C high temperature: 31.8 °C precipitation: 81.7 mm June low temperature: 18.1 °C high temperature: 30.3 °C precipitation: 134.1 mm July low temperature: 16.9 °C high temperature: 31.0 °C precipitation: 118.4 mm August low temperature: 16.6 °C high temperature: 29.3 °C precipitation: 123.8 mm September low temperature: 16.8 °C high temperature: 30.1 °C precipitation: 115.4 mm October low temperature: 16.4 °C high temperature: 29.7 °C precipitation: 126.3 mm November low temperature: 15.7 °C high temperature: 29.6 °C precipitation: 72.6 mm December low temperature: 14.2 °C high temperature: 28.4 °C precipitation: 41.4 mm
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Shopping in Caracas
Explore 25 shopping stops, from malls, markets, and book bazaars to fashion streets and souvenir finds.
caracasCentro Commercial Chacaito
Address: Plaza Chacaito, Chacao district Situated by Plaza Chacaito, the central landmark piazza within the elite Chacao district, the Chacaito mall is known for its pleasing variety of everyday casual wear garments and accessories. The place also contains a well-stocked supermarket, and a café which offers some very fine cappuccino.
caracasCentro Commercial Paseo
Address: Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes, Las Mercedes district Phone: 212 991 3164 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 8pm Paseo is for Caraqueños living the high life! Aptly situated in one of the city’s most elite neighborhoods, Paseo is an old mall that the citizens have come to trust when it comes to authentic jewelry, especially gold and silver bracelets, designer labels in apparel, cosmetics and accessories, and charming interior décor. The mall offers, apart from the high-end, not-so-inexpensive garments and electronic gadgets, a commendable bookstore with a large international collection, a splendid cinema house, the mall’s own health and beauty salon, a well-stocked pharmacy, and a collection of some of the city’s tastiest diners and cafés. Hotel Paseo Las Mercedes, a high-end hotel that offers excellent service to guests, is included within the mall’s premises. Also within the mall, Transnocho Cultural, a very happening place for intellectuals and postmodernists, attracts a sizeable audience to its regularly held musical programs, art exhibitions, and performances. For the party loving horde, the mall includes its own nightclub – you can experience a subtle shift in the kind of crowd as the hours start setting in. Parking is available in the mall’s own garage.
caracasSan Ignacio
Address: Avenida Blandín, La Castellana, Caracas Phone: 212 263 3953 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 3am Two splendid elliptical towers with seemingly infinite terraces, resembling an ultramodern space station or a high-income futuristic elite colony, the San Ignacio is a visual marvel in itself for its visitors. The mall offers ridiculously expensive designer garments and footwear, fashion accessories, both locally crafted and internationally branded, and the latest in electronic gadgetry including computers, cell phones, and video games. The mall also contains a number of popular diners and coffee shops, perfect for that break in your tiring shopping day. An incredible cinema with VIP seating adds another dimension to the mall. Thus, San Ignacio forms a multi-faceted entertainment complex. As dusk falls, San Ignacio makes a smooth transition from a shopper’s paradise to a partygoers’ haven. With its numerous clubs and late-night bars serving up all kinds of shots to heart pumping music, San Ignacio entertains the city from morning till the very early hours of the morning again. Underground parking with valet service is available for up to 2000 cars.
caracasCentro Commercial Ciudad Tamanaco (CCCT)
Address: Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes Phone: 212 959 2169 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 9am to 9pm, Sundays 1pm to 7pm Situated in Las Mercedes, the hip and happening part of Caracas, the CCCT is the perfect place to head to if you have a sizeable wallet or a collection of credit cards that actually work! The inverted half-pyramidal shape of the mall attracts many an unsuspecting tourist from a long distance, who wanders inside unaware of the outrageously expensive goods on display. CCCT is famous for its more than 500 shops and boutiques that sell anything from garments to undergarments and all in between and beyond. The stores contain toys, electronics, high end décor, and authentic artwork, apart from the mundane groceries and items of daily use. CCCT houses two nightclubs that rage on all night, a charming variety of international diners arranged around an artistically designed food court, and a splendid movie theater. The mall contains an indoor parking space for 6000 cars. Weekends get especially crowded, when people come not only to shop, but to eat, watch movies, and dance all night!
caracasCentro Lido
Address: Avenue Francisco de Miranda, El Rosal district Phone: 212 952 7196 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 8pm Located in another elite neighborhood within Caracas, Lido presents a shopping experience marked by authentic serenity and comfort that many other malls fail to provide. Firstly, the mall is not very crowded – this may be due to the fact that its prices are WAY too high for common Caraqueños to even window-shop. The mall is actually complementary to an already existing office space, containing facilities like beauty salons, perfume and cosmetics stores, and fitness centers, which cater exclusively to its stinking rich corporate clientele. The mall offers high-end designer gear, accessories, jewelry, and footwear. It also houses two incredible movie theatres, more than a dozen authentic international diners, and a five-star hotel. Even if you do not shop, the mall offers an exciting insight into the lives of the city’s elite.
Signature sights in Caracas
A curated pick of the city's standout sights, led by the strongest editorial recommendations.
Festivals and events in Caracas
Plan around 12 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.
caracasThe World Poetry Festival
Initiated in 2002, this literary festival has managed to gain the attention of an intellectual target group all across the country. Popular, established poets, as well as upcoming ones from all around the Latin American region come together in this charming series of evening sittings, concerts, poetic displays and artworks, calligraphic exhibitions, and a host of related cultural activities. Might sound a bit dry to all the partygoers out there, but you would not believe the amount of people who turn up for participation in a literary sitting during this festival – Venezuelans love poetry!
caracasNew Year's Day
Caraqueños just need an excuse to start shaking all over! Partying, singing, dancing, and going wild to the beats of music serve as the Fountain of Eternal Youth for this nation. New Year’s Eve makes no exception. From late afternoon you can see people scurrying all around town, eager to close down their businesses, get together a group of friends, and head to the most happening places around town – either the beach, that is swarming with other like-minded partygoers, or a more private retreat in nightclubs across the city. As a centuries old tradition, people bring homemade cloth or rag dolls and burn them at the stake – this represents forgetting the hardships and problems borne the previous year and preparing for a fresh new start. As midnight draws in, people head to the central square. Here an intense display of fireworks follows, amidst excited squeals from the audience, to welcome the New Year as the clock strikes midnight.
caracasFiesta de Nuestra Senora de La Candelaria
A revered religious celebration occurring during the first week of February that pays homage to the Virgin Mary, a highly esteemed religious icon in Latin American lands. This festival is marked with sober expressions of respect rather than zealous displays of passion. People from all over the rural suburbs gather around as the main churches in Caracas hold religious sermons, poetic and musical recitals, and folk songs and dances. As the festival draws to an end, people put up ceremonial candle lighting displays and decorate churches and homes with floral wreaths, giving a warm, blessed, motherly touch to the city.
caracasCarnival
A festival that draws in tourists and visitors to Caracas by the thousands, from all across South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean lands, Carnival is an event that gives new meaning to the phrase “partying hard!” Marked by noisy street processions, splendid decorative elements, parades with lavishly prepared floats, and in general hordes of adrenaline-charged locals and tourists jumping to the beats of heart-throbbing music, Carnival gradually increases in intensity and reaches its peak at Mardi Gras, a Tuesday. Live open-air concerts, street performances, amateur theatrics, all-night clubbing, and a general air of recklessness are the main highlights of this festival.
caracasSemana Santa
A somewhat milder festival compared to the general party-loving scene in Caracas, Semana Santa marks a week-long vacation season before Easter where families get together to spend quality time at homes, public parks, and, most commonly, at the beach, sunbathing. The week marks a series of venerated religious proceedings that commemorate significant events from the life of Christ, including the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Church plays re-enact these events in the presence of hundreds of dedicated followers. A series of feasts follows as the day’s more formal programs come to an end. This festival is also marked by empty office buildings, fully booked hotel rooms, and overcrowded public transportation, as most people get decreased work hours and so spend more time socializing.
Caracas tours and experiences
Heritage walks, food crawls, coastal trips, museum circuits, family days, and guided ideas for an easier day out.
caracasOsprey Venezuela
Address: Centro Commercial City Market, Nivel Plaza 121, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: + 58 212 762 5975 Fax: + 58 212 762 9890 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 830am to 12pm, 130pm to 430pm A small tourism agency that became operational in 2001 with the aim of providing inexpensive, reliable guidance to backpackers and amateur travelers, and has now grown considerably in size to cover not only all of Venezuela, but also other Latin American countries. Come here for unbiased advice about various locations within Caracas, as well as further travel tips on the surrounding regions and cities.
caracasSalto Angel
Address: Western Sector Canaima National Park TT AC. 199 Venezuela Phone: +58 212 6352166 Fax: +58 212 6352155 An agency that organizes eco-tours of the beautiful countryside surrounding Caracas, including national parks, exquisite tropical islands, kayaking in rough rivers, and a breathtaking trip to the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. The agency is not based in Caracas, but arranges for pick and drop from your hotel to their Caracas office, from where you will be whisked off to adventure in a small private plane!
caracasAngel Eco-Tours
Address: Avenue Casanova, 2da Avenue de Bello Monte, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: +58 212 656 1240 Fax: +58 212 656 1240 A cheaper alternative to eco-tourism, this agency, in addition to offering you predesigned itineraries of the natural wonders of Venezuela, allows you to create your own modified tour. Be it scuba diving, snorkeling, bungee jumping, high flying, or simply mountain trekking, you can try your hand at playing Dora the explorer at very reasonable prices.
caracasNelson
Address: Sabana Grande, Caracas Not a real agency, Nelson is the name of a very friendly local college professor who rents out his apartment to tourists. What you get for the price is, apart from the very convenient apartment itself, valuable guidance about touring the city, including how to deal with the locals, where to head to at what time to catch which local event, and how to explore the city depending on your personal interests, skipping all the unnecessary parts and focusing only on what you expect out of your visit to the city. Nelson lives on a small flat just two minutes’ walk from the main avenue at Sabana Grande – ask any local once you get there, he is quite a popular guy in the neighborhood!
The Irhal city file
Caracas travel guide sections
Focused sections for articles, directories, maps, and trip planning.
