Best Things to Do in Leon, Nicaragua
Are you looking for the best things to do in Leon, Nicaragua?
Leon ended up being my favorite destination in Nicaragua. This colonial city is known as the cultural and intellectual hub of Nicaragua. It’s also known as the City of the Revolution and you can feel the spirit of the Nicaraguan Revolution all around Leon through memorials, monuments, and murals.
How many days do you need in Leon, Nicaragua? I’d recommend spending three days in Leon. This gives you enough time to explore the city and take one day trip (of which there are several good options.) If you want to do more day trips or just enjoy the city, you can easily stay for a couple more days in Leon.
I loved Leon. Some parts of it are gritty and chaotic, but other parts are peaceful and beautiful. It doesn’t feel like the city caters to tourism as much as Granada does, giving it a more lived-in atmosphere.
Leon is the second-largest city in Nicaragua after the capital Managua, with a population of more than 200,000 people. However, it feels like a pretty small and walkable colonial town. Many of the top things to do in Leon are located in the historic center, and that’s definitely where I recommend that you stay.
I personally stayed at Hotel El Convento in Leon and it was honestly a highlight of my trip. This beautiful hotel is located in a historic former convent. It was luxurious and a great value for money. I loved the included breakfast and the swimming pool. It’s also just a few blocks from the main square of Leon.
You can read about other places to stay in Leon in this guide.
Now here’s a look at the top things to do in Leon:
Climb to the rooftop of Leon Cathedral
Leon Cathedral (pictured at the top of this article) is the largest church in Central America. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its beautiful, distinct architecture and historic signifiance. One of the best things you can do in Leon is actually climb to the rooftop of the church and take in the unique views.
The rooftop of the church (pictured below) features many white domes, giving it a striking appearance. You can walk all over the rooftop, taking in views of the surrounding city and volcanoes.
The entrance to the stairs is towards the front of the church on the right side. However, the buy tickets, you’ll need to go around to the back of the church on the right side. Tickets are approximately $3.
I recommend going right before sunset for the best views. Keep in mind that you have to take your shoes off on the rooftop so not to damage it, and if you go in the afternoon, the surface can be extremely hot!
Go volcano boarding
One of the most popular things to do in Leon is actually not in Leon, but about 45 minutes away. Volcano boarding on Cerro Negro is an adrenaline-pumping activity that is not for the faint of heart.
This is definitely the most popular tour to take from Leon, and you will see people all over Nicaragua wearing their volcano boarding shirts from Bigfoot Hostel or Volcano Day, the two main tour companies. I personally went with Bigfoot Hostel, which turns out to have more of a party atmosphere.
If that’s not your style, I heard Volcano Day is more relaxed. Both cost the same (roughly $47) and include the same things like transportation, equipment, and some food and drinks. I recommend doing the sunset tour, although be sure to eat a big lunch beforehand because you won’t be eating again for a while.
When you arrive at Cerro Negro, it’s about a 40-minute hike to the top. You can pay a porter $5 to carry your board up, which is what I opted to do. From the top, you’ll put on your goggles and jumpsuit, and then start sliding down the volcano! You can control your speed and go as fast or as slow as you want.
Be very careful during this activity, and don’t be afraid to go slow — the safety of doing this is a bit questionable! If volcano boarding doesn’t appeal to you, I have some other day trip suggestions below.
Take a free walking tour
One thing I always like to do when arriving in a new city is to take a free walking tour. It’s a great way to orient yourself with a destination and get some background on the history of a place.
This is the free walking tour I did. It offered a good overview of the history of Leon, as well as the culture, politics, and way of life in Nicaragua. Remember that free walking tours aren’t actually free because the guides work on tips. Still, this is an affordable way to learn more about Leon and Nicaragua.
Visit the Ortíz Gurdián Foundation Art Center
If you only visit one museum in Leon, make it the Ortíz Gurdián Foundation Art Center. There are a couple of other museums in the city, but this one is by far the best. It’s such a hidden gem!
Located inside several interconnected colonial buildings, this museum has an incredible collection of art, particularly modern art. The museum highlights work from Central American artists, which was really cool. There’s also an impressive collection of works from European and North American artists.
The museum itself is beautiful too. As I mentioned, it’s spread out across several interconnected buildings with courtyards and colonial details. Once you finish with the first wing of the museum, you will need to cross the street and enter a different building to access the second, larger wing of the museum.
Tickets are approximately $3 and well worth the cost of admission. This is a great place to go in the afternoon to escape the heat during the hottest time of day in Leon and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Learn about history at the Museum of the Revolution
Another museum in Leon that you might be interested in is the Museum of the Revolution. This is a pretty small, somewhat shabby museum on the main square in Leon, but the admission is just $3 and includes an English-speaking guide who will walk you through the history of the Nicaraguan Revolution.
You can also visit the rooftop of the museum, which offers a great view of the main square and Leon Cathedral. I wouldn’t say that this is a must-do, but I personally enjoyed my visit and learned a lot.
It’s important to note, though, that I’m a native English speaker and didn’t have much trouble understanding the guide’s accent. However, I was visiting the museum with a Dutch girl and a German girl and they both said that they weren’t able to understand much at all because of the guide’s accent.
Without a guide, there’s not much context you can glean on your own because the exhibits are basically just old photos and only a little bit of text in Spanish. So keep that in mind before you decide to go.
See the city’s other churches
Leon Cathedral is the focal point of the city, but there are lots of other beautiful churches in Leon. I enjoyed simply wandering around the historic part of the city and discovering some of these churches.
A couple I would recommend visiting are the Church of the Recollection (pictured below) and Calvary Church. These are lovely churches worth a quick visit as you wander around exploring the city.
Take a day trip
Finally, one of the best things to do in Leon is take a day trip! I already mentioned above that volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is one of the most popular activities. However, there are other options too.
If you aren’t interested in volcano boarding, but you still want to hike a volcano, El Hoyo, Telica, and San Cristobal are three other volcanoes near Leon. With some of these hikes, you can also book a combo tour that includes volcano boarding at Cerro Negro, or a visit to Lake Asososca.
Again, Bigfoot Hostel and Volcano Day are the two main companies for tours like this.
If you aren’t into volcanoes and want to hit the beach instead, Las Peñitas is the perfect day trip. This laidback surf town is just a 30-minute drive from Leon. You can go surfing or just relax on the beach.
Bigfoot Hostel offers a daily shuttle to Las Peñitas for $5 round-trip (free for guests) or you can take the local chicken bus for about $1 round-trip, although this option can take a little longer.
Best Things to Do in Leon, Nicaragua
This guide showed you the best things to do in Leon, Nicaragua.
Leon was the first destination I visited in Nicaragua, and it ended up being my favorite! This city surrounded by volcanoes is a juxtaposition of beautiful colonial architecture and gritty revolutionary history. It’s the cultural capital of the country and the gateway to adventurous outdoor activities.
It’s a great place to spend several days, and a must-visit destination on your Nicaraguan itinerary!
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