How to plan a trip to Caracas?

Caracas is a city full of contrasts and interesting places to visit. It’s also often the gateway to and from the country for international travellers, so we recommend you spend a few days exploring its historic centre, its many museums and galleries and El Avila National Park while you’re there. We spent three days in the city on our arrival in Venezuela. The stay was really enriching and we had a great time. That’s why we’d like to share with you our experience and all the key aspects of planning your trip to Caracas.

Later you can read about the documentation needed to enter the country, the climate and the best way to get there. We’ll also tell you about the best places to stay and the must-sees. And most important of all, for foodies, we’ve listed several dishes to delight your senses that you can try in local restaurants. Join us in this post and discover the best tips for travelling to Caracas.

1. Prepare the necessary documentation for travelling to Caracas

To travel to Caracas, you will need different documentation depending on your country of origin:

• Schengen countries: citizens of the Schengen area do not need to apply for a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or work purposes. They only need to present a passport valid for at least 6 months.

• Latin American countries: Citizens of some South American countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru or Uruguay will be able to enter the country with a valid passport. The maximum stay is 90 days but can be extended to 180 days at immigration offices if necessary.

• Other countries: all other travellers from other countries around the world will need to apply for a visa. To apply they will need to present a passport valid for at least 6 months, return ticket, proof of accommodation, travel insurance with specific minimum coverages, possibly an international vaccination certificate, and evidence of sufficient financial solvency for the stay. It is recommended to apply 90 days in advance, as processing time may depend on the volume of applications. The processing fee is around €50.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Choose the date to plan your trip to Caracas

Caracas is a cosmopolitan city where the weather doesn’t affect the course of life. Whatever time of year you go, you’ll find a lively atmosphere and a wide range of cultural and leisure activities. However, if you prefer to avoid the rain, it’s best to travel during the dry season, which runs from November to April. During these months the weather is more favourable, with sunny days and a lower probability of rain, making it easier to sightsee and explore the city and its outdoor attractions, such as El Avila National Park. In addition, this season coincides with several cultural events and festivals that can enrich the travel experience.

The rest of the months coincide with the rainy season, and while it’s still possible to enjoy the city, you’ll need to be prepared with waterproof clothing. In general, the rain is concentrated at specific times each day, so we recommend that you visit the city’s museums during these hours, and take advantage of the rainy season to visit the parks and surrounding countryside.

3. Find out how to get to Caracas

Caracas airport, Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport, is the main gateway to the country and is well connected to other Venezuelan cities as well as Latin American and European capitals. Direct flights from Spain, for example, range from €600 to €900 depending on the season. They’re more expensive during the dry season.

If you’re travelling from other parts of Venezuela or from nearby countries, you can travel by car or bus. It’s usually a long trip because of the long distances between the main cities, but it can also be a cheaper option.

We remind you that with the Passporter App you can buy your flights through Skyscanner and save them in an organised way. It’s perfect especially when you’re going on a long trip with several trips.

4. Find the accommodation that fits your expectations to enjoy Caracas

Caracas is a huge city where you’ll find a wide range of accommodation. As the country’s capital and the main gateway for international travellers, prices tend to be higher than in other Venezuelan cities, but it’s still possible to find good deals if you look in advance. We encourage you to use the Passporter App to book a place to stay through Booking and keep them organised.

If you don’t know where to start looking for accommodation in the city, here’s a list of the best neighbourhoods to stay in:

• Las Mercedes: this is one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the city, famous for its wide range of gastronomy, bars, and luxury shops. Las Mercedes is ideal for those looking for entertainment and a comfortable and safe stay.
• Chacao: although it is mainly a commercial and business area, Chacao offers a variety of accommodation options. It is an area with good security and excellent connectivity to other parts of the city.
• La Castellana: is one of the quieter neighbourhoods, ideal for those looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. It has good hotels, restaurants and is close to important business centres.
• El Rosal: a mainly business area that also offers good accommodation options for business travellers. It has a number of international chain hotels and easy access to services.

5. Choose the activities you want to do in Caracas

Below we have prepared a selection of the must-sees in Caracas to give you an idea of how many days you will need to visit the city. But if you want to know more, we encourage you to visit this post where we tell you everything in detail: Things to see and do in Caracas.

• Cerro Avila: is an emblematic park in Caracas located on top of a hill. It offers panoramic views from its summit accessible by the Caracas Cable Car.
• Historic Centre of Caracas: cultural heart with colonial buildings, including the Caracas Cathedral and Plaza Bolivar.
• Museum of Contemporary Art: national reference of modern art with exhibitions in the Central Park, free entrance.
• National Pantheon of Venezuela: a historical monument that houses the remains of Simón Bolívar and other important figures, free admission.
• East Park: this is a green space for outdoor activities, including a cactus garden and Humboldt planetarium.
• Principal Theatre of Caracas: historic cultural space for artistic events, tickets $5-$15.
• Bolivar Theater: offers an intimate setting for the performing arts following its renovation and expansion.
• El Venezolano Square: lively historical and cultural hotspot in the centre of Caracas.
• The Mausoleum: part of the National Pantheon complex, dedicated to Simón Bolívar, guided tours available.
• Bolivarian Museum: dedicated to the life and legacy of Simón Bolívar. It includes personal objects and historical documents.

All the information you need to organise your trip to Venezuela here

6. Where and what to eat in Caracas?

Venezuelan cuisine offers a rich variety of flavours, combining indigenous recipes with international touches. In Caracas you’ll find a wide culinary offering ranging from traditional Venezuelan specialities, such as arepa, pabellón criollo and hallaca, to a wide presence of international cuisine, including Italian, Asian and Mediterranean dishes in a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.

If you are a food enthusiast we encourage you to venture into the local markets and sample the specialities at the street stalls, where you will find a veritable feast of fresh produce, with tropical fruits and natural drinks being the highlights.

Here are some of the city’s specialities that we had the opportunity to try in both local restaurants and street stalls:

1. Arepa: an essential on any Venezuelan table, this corn torta can be filled with a variety of ingredients, from cheeses to meats to avocado. It is eaten at any time of the day, even at breakfast.
2. Pabellon Criollo: Venezuela’s national dish, which combines rice, shredded beef, black beans and ripe plantains, offering a unique and comforting taste.
3. Hallaca: traditionally prepared for the Christmas festivities, it is a mixture of meat, olives, sultanas and capers, wrapped in corn dough and cooked inside banana leaves.
4. Cachapa: a kind of pancake made from tender corn, often served with handmade cheese, which offers a sweet and savoury dining experience.
5. Tequeños: cheese sticks wrapped in a flour dough and fried to a perfect golden brown, ideal for snacking or as a side dish.

7. Organise a trip with friends to Caracas

Exploring Caracas with friends can be a unique experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. However, there is so much to see in the city that coordinating a large group or simply getting a couple of people together can present some challenges as we tell you in this post: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

With Passporter, organising these adventures is much easier thanks to the App, where you can plan with your friends the complete route of the trip taking into account everyone’s preferences. Add your friends and create your travel itinerary together with the stops you are going to make and the points of interest you are most interested in. Later you can share your experience through the photos you take during the trip.

8. Tips for planning a trip to Caracas

• The currency of Venezuela is the Venezuelan Bolivar.
• Hedge against medical emergencies: travel insured. Choose good travel insurance such as Mondo.
• We recommend that you change money before your trip to Caracas, as it will be cheaper than at the airport
• Don’t expose valuables.
• The best months to visit Venezuela are December to April, in the dry season.
• Always drink bottled water.
• Use sunscreen, especially in the summer months, as well as light but sun-protective clothing and stay hydrated.
• Get yourself an eSIM card so you’ll have internet connection on your trip to Caracas.
• Use the Passporter app to organise your travel itinerary, get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, manage your bookings and save all relevant documents.

9. Do you want your trip to Caracas organised by Passporter?

As you’ll have seen from this post, there’s so much to see in the city that you need to plan your trip to Caracas in detail if you want to get the most out of your stay. With the Passporter App you can create your own travel itinerary and include all the stops of interest to you in an organised way, taking into account opening hours. Be inspired by the experiences of other travellers and organise a trip to suit you.

And if you’re someone who prefers not to have to think during your holiday, we’ve got good news for you: We now also offer fully organised trips so that all you have to worry about is having a great time.

10. How to prepare what to see on your trip to Caracas

Download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
• Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information about the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you want to visit each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app to always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documents…
• Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can share your experience on how to plan your trip to Caracas.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter. 

11. Frequently asked questions about a trip to Caracas