Leon is the capital of the administrative region of the same name in Nicaragua.
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| Leon | ||
| department | Department of León | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 174.051 (2005) | |
| height | 86 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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background
León and Granada were and are rivals for leadership in Nicaragua. Before Managua became the capital, there were disputes between the more conservative Granada and the more liberal León over the location of the capital. Even today, a large part of the population in León is politically left-wing and in the cityscape you can find wall paintings and the like with positive reference to the FSLN
getting there
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By plane
the nearest airport is in Managua. For directions from there, see below.
By bus
From Managua there are three different bus categories: ordinario buses drive over the Carretera Vieja a León and take the longest, expreso buses drive on the Carretera Nueva a León and microbuses drive from the UCA terminal and are the fastest and most comfortable but also the most expensive.
There is no direct bus connection to and from Granada. If you want to go from Granada to León, you have to change trains in Managua. The easiest way to do this is with the minibuses that stop at the universidad centroamericana (UCA).
There are other buses to and from Estelí and Somoto
In the street
Of Managua from there are two roads to León. Carretera nueva (new street) and Carretera vieja (old street). While the new road is in good condition, the same cannot be said of the old road, so taking Carretera Nueva is recommended.
mobility
There are many in León Taxisthat are stopped with a show of hands. The price for a trip in the urban area is set at 10 Cordoba.
It is normal for other people to sit in the taxi or get on while it is in motion. Usually whoever was first in the car is driven first.
City traffic is handled by expanded trucks that shuttle between the market in Subtiava and the main bus terminal. a trip costs three cordobas. These "city buses" are particularly worthwhile if you want to go to the beach in Poneloya, as the buses there leave from the Mercado de Subtiava.
Tourist Attractions
Churches
Churches are a dime a dozen. In the city center there is one every 2 blocks. In the center, next to the cathedral at Parque Central, there are the Recolección, Virgen, San Juan, El Calvario ... The oldest and one of the most beautiful is the church of Sutiaba. (not quite in the center - you have to take a taxi at 10 Cordobas). However, this is usually not openly accessible - inquire beforehand (or ask the neighbors on the way to the beach).
- 1 Leon Cathedral (Catedral de León).
- 2 Sutiaba Church (Iglesia San Juan Bautista de Sutiaba)
Castles, chateaux and palaces
Buildings
Monuments
Museums
Streets and squares
Parks
There is the right in front of the cathedral 3 parque central and (with a view of the cathedral) to the left of it a small park with an eternal flame and a wall painting worth seeing, which shows various milestones in the history of Nicaragua, for example the murder of Anastasio Somoza Garcia (the dictator of Nicaragua who murdered Sandino) in the year 1956, or a silhouette by Sandino
various
activities
- Lava surfing. This has been a pleasure since 2005 surfing the lava gravel slopes of the 25 km northeast of the volcano with wooden boards Cerro Negro increasing in popularity. This pleasure clearly falls under the category of extreme sports and is offered by various local organizers such as Vapues Tours or Hokano Adventures.
shop
kitchen
Cheap
The Comedor Lucia is good cheap and with a comparatively large selection a good choice at a low price. You can choose between about 10 different meat dishes and also the vegetarian menu and pay around 25-35 Cordoba.
medium
- CocinArte. A vegetarian restaurant. You pay around 50-60 Cordoba for a main course. From the SW corner of the central park, walk two blocks south to a slightly wider street, where you turn right and walk another 3 blocks until the restaurant appears on the right-hand side. Delicious food and good, calm atmosphere.
Upscale
nightlife
accommodation
Cheap
- Via Via. A lot frequented by backpackers hospedajewhich has both a few rooms and a dormitory. This is relatively noisy, however, as the bistro or pub is also very popular. There's something going on here, at least twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) there is live music. This is where they meet Internationals and the Locals.
- Big Foot. Another option is the Big Foot just across the street. Here, too, you meet a lot of people, but it's a bit quieter overall.
medium
- La Casona Colonial Guesthouse. La Casona Colonial Guesthouse has nice, simple en suite rooms for around $ 10 a night. It's close to the Iglesia San Juan.
Upscale
- Hotel El Convento. The Hotel El Convento is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive that León has to offer.Price: A night in a single room costs $ 68.50 (although the price seems ridiculously low for the luxury on offer). Definitely worth a visit, if only to enjoy a lovely freshly brewed coffee (for only $ 0.50!).
Learn
There is a branch of the in León Nicaragua Spanish SchoolsThe school is in Casa de Cultura. The quality of the teaching depends very much on the teacher who is assigned to you. It is worth insisting on a slightly older, more experienced teacher, otherwise a week can be relatively frustrating. Furthermore, you should not pay for more than a week in advance, so you remain flexible and there are definitely enough teachers to hang on for more weeks According to the school's own website, they only offer lessons in Granada and San Juan del Sur.
But there is also the option of taking private one-to-one tuition, which is paid by the hour and has a good reputation. The hostels can help you here. But it is also worthwhile to talk to other foreigners who may be in town for longer and have a good tip. Ileana is a very good and affordable private Spanish teacher. Information about their lessons can be found at http://www.clases-de-espanol.com.
Work
There are a multitude of opportunities to get involved in voluntary work in the city:
- Quetzaltrekkers Nicaragua. Here you can lead trekking tours to volcanoes in the area. The money goes to the street children project Las Tias too good, in which one can also work. Nothing has to be paid in either project, except for your own living expenses.
The most important university in Nicaragua, UNAN (universidad nacional autonoma de Nicaragua) has one of its offices in León and is looking for language teachers from time to time.
security
León has a reputation for being one of the safest cities in Central America. In fact, there are hardly any problems in the city center and you can still walk home at night. Of course, caution is not required here either. If you go outside at night, it is better to take a taxi.
health
City heat can be a problem for some. It is important to make sure that you drink enough. The tap water is drinkable.
Practical advice
Internet cafes, some with VoIP options, are a dime a dozen in the city. Internet costs around 10 Cordoba per hour and to Europe it costs around 4 Cordoba per minute.
trips
Anyone who wants to escape the heat of Leon can go to Poneloya drive to the beach. There are actually two places, Poneloya and Las Peñitas, but they merge along a street. The buses that go to both places leave from the Mercado de Subtiava in the south of the city. Since many Nicas spend their vacation on the beach on public holidays, especially Semana Santa (Easter week) as well as Christmas and New Year, it can get crowded and expensive in Poneloya and Las Peñitas. While hotel reservations are not otherwise necessary, they are advisable during these peak times.
