La Paz, Bolivia: Choosing The Best Neighborhoods To Stay

La Paz, Bolivia, is a city of stark contrasts. From the cold and desolate, to the swanky and modern, choosing a good neighbourhood to stay in is important. The best area depends on your budget and interests.

The Historic City Centre is home to La Paz's best colonial architecture, museums, cultural attractions, and typical restaurants. It also offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget hostels to luxury hotels.

Sopocachi is La Paz's trendy bohemian neighbourhood, popular with wealthy and sociable youth. It has upscale restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightclubs, as well as grand colonial mansions and modern apartment blocks. It's pedestrian-friendly and relatively safe, but noticeably more expensive than surrounding neighbourhoods.

The Centro is where most tourists base themselves as it offers easy access to La Paz's main sights. To the west of the Plaza San Francisco is a tourist hub with souvenir stores, travel agencies, hotels, and restaurants. To the east of San Francisco is the true city centre, with important government buildings, museums, churches, and other interesting sights. However, the whole area is very crowded and chaotic, with heavy traffic and pollution.

Zona Sur is an upmarket area home to around a third of the city's population. It's mostly inhabited by La Paz's financial elite who prefer its warmer, lower-altitude climate. It's safe, clean, and quiet, with the best private schools in the city, but there isn't much for tourists to see, which is why most prefer to stay in the centre.

San Pedro is a middle-class neighbourhood between the centre and Sopocachi that remains relatively untouched by tourism. It has some quality dining and nightlife options, and is within walking distance to the centre and Sopocachi, with cheaper rent, making it an enticing option for long-term residents.

Other areas include Miraflores, which is modern and has lots of entertainment and dining options, and El Alto, which has cheap hotels and budget accommodation as it's close to the airport.

Sopocachi: La Paz's bohemian heart, with great nightlife and restaurants

If you're looking for a trendy, bohemian neighbourhood to stay in La Paz, Sopocachi is the place to be. Known for its bustling nightlife and vibrant cultural scene, Sopocachi is a mix of grand colonial mansions, towering modern apartment blocks, well-kept plazas and shady trees. Although it is noticeably more expensive than surrounding neighbourhoods, its pedestrian-friendly streets, upscale restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs make it a popular choice for the city's wealthy and sociable youth.

Sopocachi is located in the central part of the city and is one of the biggest residential districts. Some of the city's largest buildings are found here, including the Plaza Abaroa, Plaza España, and the Montículo, a big hill with monumental areas. The Montículo Park offers wonderful views of the Illimani Mountain and the city beyond. The neighbourhood is also home to the academy of fine arts and the national conservatory of music.

For those seeking a more relaxed pace, Sopocachi offers plenty of opportunities for people-watching. Plaza Eduardo Avaroa is a great spot to sit and soak in the atmosphere before heading to the nearby Montículo Park for stunning views.

When it comes to accommodation in Sopocachi, there are a variety of options available. For a homely feel, Gloria's on Calle Abdon Saavedra comes highly recommended. Alternatively, La Loge offers spacious one-bedroom apartments with a living room-kitchenette, computer, TV and laundry facilities. La Loge is located above the French restaurant La Comedie, which serves delicious food and is definitely worth a visit.

Whether you're looking for great food, lively nightlife or simply a place to relax and take in the views, Sopocachi has something for everyone.

Centro: Close to tourist attractions, but noisy and chaotic

Centro is the place to stay in La Paz if you want to be close to the city's main sights. To the west of Plaza San Francisco is a tourist hub with souvenir shops, travel agencies, hotels and restaurants. While this area is pleasant enough to stroll around, it's not an authentic representation of Bolivia.

To the east of San Francisco, you'll find the city's true centre, where you'll discover La Paz's most important government buildings, museums, churches and other attractions such as Calle Jaen and Plaza Murillo.

Basing yourself in El Centro is very convenient for sightseeing, but it's worth noting that the area is very crowded and chaotic, with heavy traffic and pollution.

Zona Sur: Upmarket area with the city's best cafes and restaurants

Zona Sur is the upmarket area of La Paz, home to swanky mansions and modern apartment blocks. It encompasses a huge area of the city and is inhabited by around a third of La Paz's population, mostly the city's financial elite. It is safe, clean, and quiet, with the best private schools in the city, making it a popular choice for wealthy, long-term expats.

The heart of Zona Sur is San Miguel, a pedestrian-friendly district packed with some of the city's swankiest cafes and restaurants. The area has a warmer, lower-altitude climate than the rest of La Paz, and its residents prefer it for being less crowded and chaotic than the city centre.

One of the best cafes in San Miguel is Roaster, which is at the forefront of the Bolivian coffee revolution. The team here are passionate about coffee and know their craft. They support local farms around La Paz, and their beans come from the Yungas, grown at a high altitude in subtropical forests. With a bakery onsite, you can enjoy your coffee with sourdough and pastries. The living wall makes a pretty backdrop too.

Another excellent cafe in Zona Sur is Vainilla, also located in San Miguel. This cafe is known for its delicious sandwiches and friendly service.

Zona Sur may not have many tourist attractions, but it is an excellent choice for those looking for a safe, quiet, and upscale area to stay in La Paz, with easy access to some of the city's best cafes and restaurants.

San Pedro: Authentic, non-gentrified Bolivian neighbourhood

If you're looking for an authentic, non-gentrified Bolivian experience in La Paz, the neighbourhood of San Pedro is an excellent choice. Located between the city centre and the trendy bohemian neighbourhood of Sopocachi, San Pedro offers a glimpse into local life that remains relatively untouched by tourism and foreign influence.

The area has a mix of commercial activities, with car parts dealerships and other businesses lining the streets. However, there are also some quality dining and nightlife options scattered throughout the neighbourhood. Within easy walking distance to the centre and Sopocachi, San Pedro offers cheaper rent, making it an enticing option for long-term residents who want to be close to the action without breaking the bank.

One of the unique aspects of San Pedro is the infamous San Pedro Prison, which has gained a reputation as one of the world's most bizarre and corrupt institutions. Located just metres away from the tranquil Plaza San Pedro, the prison is a city within itself, with shops, restaurants, and even cocaine laboratories run by inmates. While the prison is no longer open to tourists, its presence adds to the neighbourhood's authenticity and provides a glimpse into the complex realities of the Bolivian justice system.

In addition to its local flavour, San Pedro also offers convenient access to some of La Paz's main attractions. The city's best museums, oldest churches, and interesting sites such as Calle Jaen and Plaza Murillo are just a short distance away. The neighbourhood is also home to the authentic Mercado Rodriguez, a vibrant market that offers a true taste of Bolivian culture and cuisine.

For those seeking a more immersive and off-the-beaten-path experience in La Paz, San Pedro is definitely worth considering. Its blend of local culture, intriguing history, and proximity to the city's attractions make it a great choice for travellers who want to explore beyond the typical tourist trail.

Miraflores: Modern high-rises and local culture, but not for Bolivia beginners

Located in the east of La Paz city centre, Miraflores is a highly urbanised residential neighbourhood. It is known for its modern high-rises, local culture, and attractions like the Botanical Garden, Busch Avenue, and Villarroel Square. While it offers respectable entertainment and dining options, most of the action is a bit too far to reach on foot. The area can get pretty crowded during peak hours, especially around the central stadium.

Miraflores has undergone extensive redevelopment since the 1950s, and today, it boasts numerous modern apartment blocks offering quality long-term accommodation at reasonable prices. The neighbourhood is home to a mix of residential buildings and local attractions, including the Hernando Siles Stadium, the Archaeological Plaza, and the Miraflores Women's Penitentiary Centre.

The area has a variety of entertainment and dining options, ranging from respectable restaurants to local eateries. It is known for its vibrant local culture and convenient access to important city locations. The neighbourhood is well-connected to other parts of the city, with several avenues and bus lines providing transportation to nearby areas.

While Miraflores offers a blend of modern amenities and local charm, it may not be the best choice for first-time visitors to Bolivia. The area is quite dense, and some of the main attractions are a bit far for walking. Additionally, the neighbourhood can be crowded during peak hours, especially near the stadium.

For those seeking a more authentic and off-the-beaten-path experience, San Pedro, a middle-class neighbourhood between the centre and Sopocachi, might be a better option. It remains relatively untouched by tourism and offers a mix of commercial pursuits and quality dining and nightlife options. However, for those seeking modern accommodations and convenient access to entertainment and dining, Miraflores can be a suitable choice, despite the crowds and distance from the city centre.

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