Must-see attractions in León

  • Iglesia de la Recolección

    León

    Three blocks north of the cathedral, the 1786 Iglesia de la Recolección is considered the city’s most beautiful church, a Mexican-style baroque confection…

  • Museo de Arte Fundación Ortiz-Gurdián

    León

    Probably the finest museum of contemporary art in all of Central America, the Ortiz-Gurdián Collection has spilled over from its original home in Casa Don…

  • Museo Histórico de la Revolución

    León

    León is the heart and soul of liberal Nicaragua. Stop into this museum for an overview of the Nicaraguan revolutionaries who stood up against the Somoza…

  • Catedral de León

    León

    Officially known as the Basílica de la Asunción, León’s cathedral is the largest in Central America, its expansive design famously (and perhaps…

  • Museo de Leyendas y Tradiciones

    León

    León’s most entertaining and eclectic museum is housed in La XXI (the 21st Garrison), decorated with murals graphically depicting methods the Guardia…

  • Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de Sutiaba

    León

    The Subtiaba neighborhood is centered on this church, located about 1km west of the León cathedral. It’s better known as ‘Catedral Subtiaba,’ and is the…

  • Museo Rubén Darío

    León

    Nicaragua's most famous poet, Rubén Dario, lived in this house for the first 14 years of his life – indeed, he started writing poetry right here at age 12…

  • El Fortín de Acososco

    León

    The Guardia Nacional’s last holdout in León can be reached by the 2.5km dirt road from the western side of Guadalupe cemetery, on the southern border of…

  • Museo de Arte Sacre

    León

    Call ahead to make sure this intriguing museum is open. You’ve probably noticed this neighborhood’s churches are in some disrepair, a situation that…

  • Museo Adiáct

    León

    This interesting little museum inside the Casa Cultural de Subtiaba, is a beautifully muraled building; you may need to ask that it be opened. You’re…

  • Iglesia de San Francisco

    León

    The 1639 Iglesia de San Francisco is one of the oldest in the city, a national heritage site with lots of gold, a gorgeous nave, and a rococo interior. It…

  • Iglesia de la Merced

    León

    Home to León’s patron saint, la Virgen de la Merced, this is considered the city’s second-most-important church. After Volcán Momotombo erupted and forced…

  • Iglesia El Calvario

    León

    A hodgepodge of neoclassical and baroque styles, the richly hued El Calvario dates from the 18th century. It's notable, among other attributes, for the…

  • Galería de Héroes y Mártires

    León

    A homage to León’s more recent history is found at the Galería de Héroes y Mártires, run by mothers of FSLN veterans and fallen heroes, with murals,…

  • Ruinas Iglesia Santiago

    León

    Well signed 1½ blocks away from San Juan Bautista, this church was (according to local legend) cursed by duendes (fairies), and by the looks of it the…

  • Las Ruinas de Veracruz

    León

    A few blocks west of the Iglesia Santiago are the ruins of this 16th-century church destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1835. It remains a spiritual…

  • Museo Entomológico

    León

    For a truly comprehensive collection of creepy crawlies, butterflies, scorpions and other critters from all over Central America, drop into this private…

  • Casa del Obrero

    León

    An early 20th-century landmark, the Casa del Obrero (House of the Worker) honors Nicaraguan laborers. The building became a historical symbol on September…

  • Ermita de San Pedro

    León

    This church, two blocks east and one block south of San Juan Bautista, was constructed between 1706 and 1718. It's considered one of the best examples of…

  • Parque Rubén Darío

    León

    This quaint park has a statue of the poet master and busts of other, lesser Leónese poets, including Alfonso Cortés (1893–1969), Azarias H Pallais (1884…

  • Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

    León

    Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, built in 1743, is León's only church that's oriented north–south; it's historically connected to the city by the 1850 Puente…

  • Iglesia de San Nicolás de Laborío

    León

    Felipe III of Spain ordered this graceful church to be built in 1618. If you take the street east to the Ruinas de la Ermita de San Sebastián, you're…

  • Iglesia Zaragoza

    León

    For something completely different, swing by the ultra-Gothic 1884 Iglesia Zaragoza. There's an interesting mix of architectural styles here – it looks…

  • Ruinas San Sebastián

    León

    Built on a spiritually significant site for indigenous people, this 1742 church was wrecked during the Somoza's bombardment of León in 1979. You can still…

  • Mausoleo de los Héroes y Mártires

    León

    A monument to the local heroes, the eternal flame of the Mausoleum of Heroes & Martyrs rests within a small plaza just north of the Parque Central,…

  • Iglesia de San Felipe

    León

    This 17th-century church occupies a whole block on the northern edge of downtown and was constructed to serve the spiritual needs of working-class…

  • Casa Cultural de Subtiaba

    León

    Look for the faded mural at the headquarters for area indigenous communities and home to Museo Adiáct.

  • Capilla San Juan de Dios

    León

    A Victorian-style chapel around the corner from Rubén Darío's one-time home, with a modernist, neoclassical exterior and appealing interior.

  • Iglesia San Juan Bautista

    León

    This 17th-century neoclassical church was rebuilt more than once and boasts an impressive bell tower.

  • UCAN

    León

    Pricey private school worth checking out for a look into León's university scene.

  • UCC

    León

    This university specializes in architecture and tourism-related degrees.