León

Center for Initiative on the Environment

Centro de Iniciativa Medio Ambiental

An educational center about animals, plants, biodiversity and the environment.

Open now · closes 5:30 pm·C$20

Central Park

Parque Central

A lively park with a fountain and shady trees in front of the cathedral. The park is a great place to people watch as it is packed with families and youth chatting and playing, with vendors selling ice cream and drinks. On weekends musicians, dancers or street performers may add to the atmosphere. Of the eight streets leading up to the square, six have been converted to nice pedestrian streets. For a guided walking tour of the city, gather at the northeastern corner of Central Park at 9:00.

Centro Cultural y Museo Rigoberto López Pérez

Casa del Obrero

A beautifully restored colonial building honoring the poet Rigoberto López Pérez. In 1956, in this building, he assassinated the dictator Anastasio Somoza García (father of the other two dictators, Luis and Anastasio Somoza Debayle), after which he was killed in a hail of bullets. The building has some impressive art work including a mural by painter Ricardo Morales, as well as poems written on the walls.

El Fortín de Acosasco

For the best view over the city with the volcano range in the background, head to this historical fortress southwest of León. During the Somoza dictatorship, the fortress was used both to control the city and as a prison for political opponents. Best reached from Sutiava, but there is also a road from Barrio Guadalupe.

Free

Environmental Botanical Garden

Jardín Botánico Ambiental

Run by the UNAN-León university for both public education and research. The botanical garden has recreated the four different forest types that exist in Nicaragua, with cacao, cinnamon, avocado, mango, coco and many other trees. You will also see birds and other wildlife. The entrance fee includes an extensive guided tour along stone covered forest paths. Ask the guide why a plant with long thick leaves is called "lengua de suegra".

Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00·C$146 for foreigners, C$25 for Nicaraguans

Ermita San Pedro

A baroque chapel completed in 1718, with a simple but beautiful exterior. Of four small historic chapels in Sutiava, this is the only one that survived the turbulent times of the early 19th century.

Iglesia El Calvario

A colorful baroque-style church from 1764 with a vivid depiction of the crucifixion inside.

Iglesia Guadalupe

The main church in the southern part of León, built at the end of the 19th century. Unlike the typical west facing entrance of other León churches, the entrance of this church faces north towards the cathedral.

Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza

With its ashlar masonry the church has an almost medieval look, but it is one of the newer churches, built in 1934.

Iglesia San José

A small church that was built as a chapel to Iglesia San Filipe. The church is old, but it has a modern façade after renovations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Iglesia San Juan Bautista

A relatively simple church located in front of San Juan Park. It was built between 1620 and 1650 but reconstructed in a neoclassical style in the 18th century, with large wooden columns. It used to be the church of the old hospital.

Iglesia San Juan de Dios

Small church with a simple exterior. Has a beautiful altar piece, depicting Saint John of God, the Assumption of Mary and Saint Raphael the Archangel.

Iglesia San Sebastian

Protected by a modern roof, only ruins remain of this old historical church from the 18th century, after it was bombed by the Somoza dictatorship in 1979. A new parish church has been built next to the ruins.

Iglesia de San Francisco

Santuario Diocesano San Francisco de Asís

Built in 1639, this is one of the oldest churches in Leon, located adjacent to the former Franciscan convent. The church closed in 1830 when the Franciscan friars were expelled, but it was reconstructed in the 1960s. It has a nice bell tower and some beautiful altarpieces. Also note the small colorful woodcarvings depicting the forteen stations of the cross. Outside the church there is a statue of Saint Francis talking to a wolf.

Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de Sutiava

One of the oldest and largest churches in León, serving a traditionally indigenous community in Sutiava. The rustic wood interior is a pleasant deviance from the often ornate styles that are more typical of most León churches.

Iglesia de la Merced

Baroque church from 1762. It belonged to the friars of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy until they were expelled from Nicaragua in 1830. The church's statue of Saint Mary of Mercy came from Barcelona a few centuries ago.

Iglesia de la Recolección

Old church consecrated in 1788 with a bright yellow front in Mexican baroque style.

Iglesia el Laborio

Dedicated to San Nicolás de Tolentino, this is one of the oldest churches in León, built in 1618. It has many beautiful statues of different saints.

León Cathedral

The largest cathedral in Central America and a UNESCO World Heritage site, built in a mix of baroque and neoclassical styles. The thick, low-slung, fortress-like walls were explicitly engineered to survive earthquakes. With construction started in 1747 the cathedral was inaugurated in 1780. The connected parish church in the south-eastern corner was built in the 1790s. The façade and towers were added between 1810 and 1820. In 1909, the cathedral received a series of 14 large paintings by José Antonio Sarria Mejía, depicting the stations of the cross. The cathedral is the final resting place of the poet Rubén Darío, as well as many other notable Nicaraguans. For a small fee you can climb the stairs up to the roof, where you get a great view of all of León's churches and the surrounding volcanoes. You also get a close-up view of the giant sculptures holding up the cathedral bells; just don't ring them. A guided tour brings you into the cellars beneath the cathedral, with old antiques and burial places. Facing the southern side of the cathedral is the episcopal palace and the beautiful San Ramón seminary.

León Viejo

The original site of León on the western shore of Lake Xolotlán at the foot of the Momotombo volcano, until the city was moved in 1610. Not available elsewhere, this UNESCO World Heritage site shows the ruins and layout of an early colonial city, with the Calle Real leading up to the Plaza, the Cathedral, other churches, and residencies of its leading citizens. There is also has a small museum about the indigenous population.

Tue-Sun 08:00-17:00·C$50 natives, C$365 foreigners, which includes an excellent guided tour, less for children

Museum of Myths and Legends

Museo de los Mitos y Leyendas Tradiciones

This is a museum with two themes. One part commemorates traditional myths and legends, with life size displays of costumes and other traditional objects. The second part commemorates the anti-Somoza activists who were jailed in the building during the 1970s, with drawings on the walls and a prominently displayed statute of an urban guerrilla holding a handmade bomb. Some sarcastically now call it the Museo de las Traiciones (Museum of the Treasons) as a reference to how the Sandinista rank and file has been cheated by president Daniel Ortega and his cronies.

Museum of the Revolution

Museo de la Revolucion

The museum consists of a room with some displays and artifacts, none of which offer any explanations in English. The most unique aspect of this museum are the old guides, who provide an animated commentary on the beatings, arrests, street fights and assassinations of the revolutionary period, much of which are based on their own experiences. They will be sure to point out a picture of their younger self, rifle and all.

C$50

Ortiz-Gurdián Art Museum

Centro de Arte Fundación Ortiz Gurdián

The finest art museum in Central America, located in several inter-connected colonial houses. Excellent collection of 20th-century Nicaraguan and Latin American art, but there is also indigenous, colonial and contemporary Latin American art. The museum also has European art, including work by Picasso, Chagall and Miró. Even if you hate art, make a visit to enjoy the museums beautiful colonial architecture.

Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·C$30 general, C$15 student (with ID), C$130 foreigner

Park of the Poets

Parque de los Poetas

A park honoring five poets of the Spanish language, all with connections to León: Rubén Darío, Alfonso Cortes, Salomón de la Selva, Azarías Pallais and Antenor Sandino Hernández. At night you can grab a piece to eat at one of the food stands.

Parque Arlen Siu

A park commemorating the revolutionary singer Arlen Siu, who was killed in 1975 by the Somoza dictatorship at the young age of twenty. The park has a small zoo, the best playground in León and the municipal nursery.

Rubén Darío Centennial Park

A park built in 2016 on the one hundred anniversary of the death of poet Rubén Darío. The park has a big monument honoring the poet, surrounded by a beautiful flower garden.

Rubén Darío Museum

Museo Archivo Rubén Darío

The beautiful colonial childhood home of writer and poet Rubén Darío, founder of the modernismo movement in Spanish literature. The exibit includes family furniture and historical books. His most famous book, Azul, is a collection of short stories and poems.

Tue-Sat 9:00-17:00, Sun 9:00-12:00

Zoo Arlen Siu

Zoológico Alren Siu

A very small zoo with monkeys, birds, tigers, turtles, pelibuey sheep and a lion. Fun for small children.

Free

Street Murals

As you’re wandering around the streets, keep a lookout for large and small street murals, located in various places around the city. The murals usually commemorate historical events such as the 1959 massacre of protesting students by the military under the Somoza dictatorship.

Iglesia San Filipe

A 17th-century colonial church with a beautiful altarpiece.