What to do in Leon, Nicaragua - Tips and activities

Leon is a beautiful colonial city in the northwest of Nicaragua. The city is best known for its important role in the Nicaragua revolution that started in 1970. This can be seen everywhere in the city, which is actually called Santiago de los Caballeros de León. On the turbulent square is the famous white cathedral, the most beautiful in the whole of Central America. Outside the city there are also a number of volcanoes to climb. Enough reasons to visit the city of Leon when you are in Nicaragua .

TIP: From Managua and Granada you can easily take the local bus to Leon. 

What to do in Leon

1. Walk on the roof of the white cathedral

The enormous white cathedral of Leon stands on the central square. This cathedral is not only beautiful from the outside, but also from the inside. And the very best thing about this cathedral is that you can walk on the roof. Here you have a beautiful view of the white roof of the cathedral and the city of Leon. It is mandatory to walk in socks or barefoot on the roof.

PRICE: Admission costs €2.50 per person to enter the cathedral.

2. View all the street art and colonial buildings

The beautiful city of Leon is a kind of open-air museum. The city is full of churches, cathedrals, colonial buildings and lots of street art. You can choose to walk around yourself and admire everything, but you can also opt for a free walking tour. During this tour you will immediately learn more about the history of the city. Every day between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM you can do an English version of the tour.

3. Visit Museo de la Revolución

In Museo de la Revolución you will learn more about the intense and turbulent history of Nicaragua and its independence. With Leon being the city where the revolution started, this is the place to learn more about it. In the museum you will be guided by a veteran through photos and objects from history.

4. Volcano boarding the Cerro Negro volcano

One of the coolest and most exciting things you can do in Nicaragua is volcano boarding. Near Leon is the Cerro Negro volcano, an active volcano that consists largely of volcanic sand. This is the only place in the world where you can do this. So are you up for an exciting adventure? Then you should definitely do this when you are in Leon!

5. Climb the Telica volcano at sunset

Would you like to visit a volcano, but would you rather enjoy it in a slightly less exciting way? The Telica volcano is a 1.5-hour drive from Leon. You can climb this volcano in about 4 to 5 hours. The tours depart at the end of the afternoon, so you can enjoy the sunset on top of the volcano.

6. Good restaurants

• Casa del cafe for delicious coffee
• Bar El mirador for a drink
• Restaurante El Sesteo for food and drinks with a view of the cathedral
• Pan & Paz for the tastiest sandwiches
• Batidos Pitaya Leon for delicious smoothie bowls

Hotels in Leon

• Hostal Fachente :an affordable and good hostel, where you also have private rooms.
• Hotel La Posada del Doctor: a neat and good hotel with a courtyard.
• Hotel Al Sole: an affordable, beautiful hotel with a swimming pool, a little further outside the city.
• Hostal Clary: a hostel with private rooms and swimming pool, just outside the city.

TIP: From Leon you can easily travel to Antigua in Guatemala. You can often book this shuttle at your hotel or hostel.