Top 14 Things to Do in León, Nicaragua: Best City Highlights & Day Trips

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León is one of those places that seems to grow on you the longer you stay. At first glance, it’s a hot, slightly chaotic colonial city, but give it a day or two and you start to notice its charm. It’s Nicaragua’s cultural heart, full of history, cozy streets and fun adventures! I didn’t expect to love this city as much as I did! Many people come here just to do the famous volcano boarding, but I promise there is so much more to León than that!

Best Things to Do in León

Below are my pick of the 14 best things to do in León and beyond. Whether you’re into history, food, art, or adventure, you’ll find plenty to fill your days.

First I’ll go through my favorite things to do in León city and afterwards the best daytrips you can do from León.

Climb to the roof of the León Cathedral

The León Cathedral isn’t just the largest in Central America, it’s also one of the city’s best viewpoints. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the light is softer and the heat is less intense.

Learn from me and don’t save it for your last day! That’s what I did and when I went to see it at sunset I learned that it’s closed on Sunday evenings. So, sadly I missed one of the things I had looked forward to the most.

Keep in mind that you’ll be asked to take your shoes of to protect the white roof.

Visit the Revolutionary Museum

Housed in the former presidential palace, the Revolutionary Museum is a great stop to learn more about the troubled history of Nicaragua and León. The guides are former Sandinista fighters who share their personal stories of the revolution which makes the experience that much better.

Most of the guides here only speak Spanish, but there are a few that can do the tour in English. If you need to do it in English I advice you to book a time with them and come back later to make sure you have a guide you’ll understand. My Spanish was not strong enough to understand all the stories they shared.

Revolutionary Museum, León

Join a walking tour

Walking tours are a great way to get your bearings, learn about the city’s history, and get recommendations from a local. I usually try to do one on my first day in a new city, and I absolutely loved the one in León. I didn’t know that much about Nicaraguas history before visiting, and it was extremely fascinating to learn more about the previous and current political climate in Nicaragua from someone living there.

Book the best guided walking tours of León here

Leon City Walking Private Tour

Small-Group walking excursion of León City

Leon Colonial City Tour

Explore the street murals

León’s streets double as an open-air gallery, with murals that tell stories of the revolution, social struggles, and daily life in Nicaragua. You’ll find them on the walls of schools, markets, and alleys. You’ll see some of this on the walking tour mentioned above, but you can also spend hours just looking for all the fascinating street art.

Snaps from our walking tour in León, Nicaragua

Ortiz-Gurdián Art Foundation

This is easily one of the best art museums in Central America, with works by big international names alongside Nicaraguan artists. It’s spread across two colonial buildings connected by a courtyard. Even if you’re not an art buff, the building alone is worth seeing, and the air conditioning is a nice bonus on a hot day.

Visit Sutiaba

Sutiaba feels like a small town tucked into the city. This neighborhood was once separate from León and has its own strong identity, shaped by its indigenous heritage. Take a walk around to see its quiet streets, local market, and the charming Iglesia de San Juan Bautista. It’s an easy way to step away from the busier center and get a sense of daily life here.

Browse the Central Market

Inside León’s bustling central market you’ll find a maze of stalls selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to piles of second-hand clothes. It’s busy, noisy, and a little chaotic, but it’s also full of life. Stop for a plate of gallo pinto (rice and beans) or a fresh juice. Even if you don’t want to eat or buy anything it’s a super fun place to just wander around as the locals are doing their shopping and checking out all the local dishes.

See the other Churches in León

The cathedral gets most of the attention, but León has over a dozen churches, each with its own style and history. La Recolección has a beautiful yellow Baroque facade, while Iglesia de la Merced offers another rooftop view if you don’t want to climb the cathedral.

León, Nicaragua

Take a Cooking Class

Nicaraguan food is hearty, flavorful, and surprisingly varied, and a cooking class is a fun way to learn more about it. Many local chefs will take you to the market first to pick out ingredients, then guide you through making dishes like nacatamales or vigorón. Plus, you get to eat everything at the end.

Find the best cooking classes in León here

Tlakualli Food Tour

Cooking Workshop in Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Cooking Class with a Local Family in León

Cool of in a pool

León gets incredibly hot, so having access to a pool is a treat. Even if your accommodation doesn’t have one, some hostels and hotels offer day passes for a small fee. It’s the perfect lazy afternoon activity when you don’t feel like sightseeing.

Below are a few hotels in León that offer day-passes with access to pools without booking an overnight stay:

Metria Hotel

Offers a Day Pass for around 30 USD per person, including access to their pool, jacuzzi, towels, and a food credit (10 USD). Children under 12 may join free of charge. It’s recommended to reserve in advance.

Hotel Real de Minas Poliforum

Their Day Pass costs approximately 50 USD for two people and includes access to the pool and gardens, a day-use room (handy to change or leave belongings), and free parking.

Pool at Hotel Real de Minas. Source: Booking.com

Galería Plaza León

They offer a more premium Day Pass at around 100 USD, which includes access to a rooftop pool, a day-use room for up to two adults and two children, 20 USD in food and beverage credit, plus an extra 10% discount on food & drinks.

Best day trips from León

I spent most of my time in León in the actual city, but there are so many amazing spots to visit in the surrounding area if you have the time. Below are some of the most popular ones.

Go Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro

If you’re traveling through Central America you’ve probably heard about volcano boarding in León. I actually skipped this because I wanted to prioritize other things when in Leon, but in hindsight I wish I had made time for it. I’ve heard mixed reviews from other travelers, but most people seem to think it’s lots of fun!

You can choose to do it in the morning or afternoon, just keep in mind that the afternoon option is normally paired with a partybus going back. It sounds like a lot of fun, but if it’s not your thing I would opt for the morning option. I could not find an option for the evening that did not include a party bus.

Book the volcano boarding the suits you here

Volcano Boarding Private Tour

Cerro Negro and Volcano Sand Boarding from León

Popular Volcano Boarding Trip

Spend a day at Las Peñitas Beach

Las Peñitas is a laid-back fishing and surf village just 20–30 minutes outside León. It’s a great place to swim, walk along the beach, or enjoy fresh seafood with your toes in the sand. León is probably the hottest city I visited in Central America so a day at the beach will be a welcome day off from the heat. Many Hostels arrange transport back and forth so just book it with your accomodtion.

Hike Telica Volcano at Sunset

Telica is one of Nicaragua’s most active volcanoes, but it’s also one of the most accessible for hikers. The trek isn’t too steep, and the reward is standing right at the edge of its enormous crater. On clear evenings, you might catch a glimpse of red lava glowing deep inside. Sunset here is also magical and you might even hike by flashlight under a starry sky on your way down.

Book your tour to Telica here

Telica Sunset Tour

6 Hour Excursion to Telica Volcano

Take a Day Trip to Juan Venado Island

Just offshore from Las Peñitas, this long, narrow island is a protected nature reserve. You can take a boat tour through its mangrove channels, spotting crocodiles, iguanas, and all kinds of birds. If you come between August and January, you might even see sea turtles nesting on the beach.

Final Thought: Top things to do in León

León is a city I definitely could’ve stayed much longer in because there is so much to see and do even if it‘s a pretty small city. When you add all the places to visit in the surrounding area you’re sure to fill up your time fast!

I loved my time in León! It’s definitely one of the hottest places I’ve been in Central America, but I will absolutely come back one day!

If you have any questions about León, traveling in Nicaragua or Central America in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media. I would love to connect and help out!

-Ingrid