Overview

Caracas’ best attraction may be its people.  They are a diverse, young, and lively population that colors the streets of the capital with laughter, music, and unrestrained enthusiasm. The sophisticated tastes of the 4 million inhabitants demand the endless parades of boutiques and fine restaurants that crowd upscale commercial areas.  Caracas features an enormous cultural center called Bellas Artes, museums and concert halls.  This capital city is hip, fast paced, and altogether cosmopolitan.  At the same time, the people exhibit a special warmth and hospitality.

Although Caracas is a sprawling metropolis, its places of interest can be explored comfortably in a day or two.   Caracas can be divided into four principal areas of interest: the downtown El Centro district and its monument packed Plaza Bolívar; Parque Central and the surrounding Bellas Artes cultural district; Las Mercedes and the Bulevar Sabana Grande, with its many boutiques and restaurants; and the residential, very wealthy suburbs of Altamira and La Castellana.   Few of the museums charge admissions fees, and there is plenty to see and learn in this South American capital.

Worldly museums and cultural centers, lively bars, and refined dining establishments are all interconnected by the city's clean, efficient subway system. The weather, too, facilitates exploring: At 3,000 feet above sea level, Caracas has one of the world's most comfortable climates, with an average daily temperature of 75°F.