Getting Around Asunción
Asunción is a sprawling capital, but its historic core is compact and its transport options are cheap and plentiful. Buses go almost everywhere, taxis and ride-hailing fill the gaps, and the airport sits just outside the city with a few straightforward ways into town.
Rail, Metro and Tram
For practical purposes, there is no rail-based transit for visitors to use. Asunción has no train service: the handsome 19th-century station building next to Plaza Uruguaya has been repurposed as a museum and cultural events venue rather than a working terminus. The city's tramway, which began with horse-drawn and steam cars and later ran on electric power, was discontinued in the 1990s and formally closed before the end of that decade. There is no metro. Plan your movements around buses, taxis and walking instead.
Buses
Buses are the backbone of local transport: ubiquitous, cheap, and an experience in themselves. They run more or less everywhere in the city, with destinations displayed on boards in the front window. If you are unsure, shout your intended destination at the driver when the bus stops and he will tell you yes or no — though you will need some Spanish for this.
- Watch the numbering: there are sometimes several versions of the same bus number (16, 16.1, 16.2 and so on), and these often follow different routes. Check before boarding.
- No fixed stops: there are few official bus stops. You can flag a bus down almost anywhere by sticking out your arm, except at intersections of any size.
- Getting off: be careful when exiting, since many buses only slow down rather than come to a full stop for passengers.
- Fares and payment: fares are paid with a JAHA or Más card, which you can buy at supermarkets, kiosks and drugstores. Air-conditioned buses (con aire) cost more than non-air-conditioned ones.
- Planning: there are no official schedules or maps, but apps such as Moovit and Google Maps can help, and locals know which buses go where — just ask.
Some routes that are useful for visitors:
- Centre (Oliva) to Shopping del Sol: 28, 30
- Centre to Shopping Mariscal López / Villa Morra: 18, 26, 28, 30.2 (from Oliva), 56 (from Haedo)
- Centre (Oliva) to the Botanical Gardens: 1, 13
- Centre (Oliva) to the Bus Terminal: 8, 36
- Centre (Haedo) to Mercado 4: 2, 21, 25, 27, 29, 133
- Centre (Oliva) to the airport: 30A
Long-Distance Buses
The Terminal de Ómnibus de Asunción sits southeast of the city centre at the junction of two main avenues. Avenida Fernando de la Mora, in front of the terminal, leads west into the centre, while Avenida República Argentina, alongside it, runs north toward Villa Morra, Carmelitas, the business district and the airport. To reach downtown, take a taxi or one of the many city buses that serve the terminal, such as N°8 or N°38.
- Ticket offices for all bus companies are inside the terminal on the first floor.
- Tickets for some national long-distance and international destinations can also be bought at travel agencies or online through the bus company's website.
- Services to the largest cities generally come in two flavours: común, which is cheaper but stops in every town along the way, and directo, which runs direct or with few stops, takes less time, and is less frequent — often just a couple of services a day, typically at night or early morning.
- On the pricier long-distance services, food and drink is often served, and almost all buses stop en route so vendors can come aboard selling chipa and cocido.
International connections run to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. If you are arriving from Formosa in Argentina, one option is to cross at the San Ignacio de Loyola International Bridge and pick up a bus on the Paraguayan side to the Asunción terminal; note that some buses from Formosa only go as far as the Clorinda terminal, and there is also a pedestrian crossing into Nanawa from central Clorinda. At the border, avoid changing money with the vendors standing right at border control — their rate is well off the going rate, and an official exchange point lies a few hundred metres further on.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the simplest option for direct trips, including the run from the airport, where they charge a fixed rate. For everyday movement around the city, taxis and ride-hailing apps are a comfortable alternative to buses, particularly at night or when carrying luggage — remember that local buses do not run overnight, roughly between 23:00 and 05:00, which is exactly when many flights arrive and depart.
Walking
The historic centre of Asunción is small enough to be explored on foot. The historical core lies essentially between the streets Colón and Antequera. Some attractions, such as the Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden), sit a bit further out and are better reached by bus or taxi.
Beyond the old core, the Carmelitas area has become a hub for retail and entertainment, with several large shopping centres and North American-style bars and restaurants. Two street-naming quirks are worth knowing: east–west street names change at Independencia Nacional, and north–south ones change at Avenida Mariscal López. Keep that in mind when following addresses or asking for directions.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) lies northeast of Asunción and handles both international flights — including connections to Madrid, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, São Paulo, Montevideo, Santiago, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Lima, Bogotá, Panama City and Miami — and domestic services to destinations such as Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, Pedro Juan Caballero, Concepción, Vallemí, Fuerte Olimpo and Bahia Negra.
- Taxi: the trip to the city centre takes roughly 30–45 minutes, and taxis charge a fixed rate of about US$25.
- City bus: there is a bus stop a short walk outside the terminal — walk out of the terminal and turn right, as there are no signs pointing the way. Bus 30-A goes into the city and takes about an hour; the fare is paid with a JAHA or Más card. Note that local buses are not suited to carrying big pieces of luggage, and they do not run during the night, when many flights arrive and depart.
- Car rental: available at the airport, with many companies having offices on the arrivals floor.
- Hotel shuttles: some major hotels run their own private minibuses.
Other Ways In
Asunción is the starting point and terminus of Paraguay's main highways, so arriving by car is straightforward, and long-distance buses connect the capital with the rest of the country and with neighbouring countries. On the river, Copanatra car ferries link the Port of Ita Enramada, at the southern edge of the city, with Puerto Pilcomayo on the Argentine side; they run frequently on weekdays and on a shorter schedule on Saturdays and holidays.