Where to stay in La Paz — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
La Paz is the highest administrative capital in the world, sitting at roughly 3,640 metres above sea level in a dramatic canyon carved into the Andean Altiplano. Brick houses climb the steep valley walls like a giant amphitheatre, with the snowcapped Illimani peak (6,438 m) anchoring the skyline from almost every corner. What makes La Paz truly unique is Mi Teleférico — the world's largest and longest urban cable-car network, ten colour-coded lines that glide over the canyon instead of buses. Add the Witches' Market with its Aymara charms, the legendary "Death Road" (Yungas Road) once called the world's most dangerous, and you have a city built for travellers who want raw Andean culture, low prices, and mountain views found nowhere else.
Why stay in La Paz
Ride the world's biggest cable car
Mi Teleférico spans 10 colour-coded lines and 36 stations, floating over the canyon with panoramic views. At about 3 bolivianos per ride, it's cheaper and far more scenic than a taxi.
Living Aymara culture
The Witches' Market sells herbs, amulets, and dried llama foetuses for offerings, run by Indigenous yatiri healers — Andean spirituality that's still very much alive.
Mountain views everywhere
The 6,438 m Illimani peak forms a permanent backdrop. From Killi Killi viewpoint and the cable cars you can take in the whole bowl-shaped city framed by the Andes.
Among the cheapest cities in South America
Food, lodging, and tours in La Paz are some of the most affordable on the continent — ideal for backpackers and solo travellers stretching their budget.
Pick an area first — where to stay in La Paz
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
SopocachiTrendy bohemian quarter packed with restaurants, cafés, bars and nightlife. Walkable and relatively safe — best for mid-range and up.
Coming soonCentro / San PedroThe old town core, near Plaza San Francisco, Calle Sagárnaga and the Witches' Market. Lots of tour offices and cheap hostels.
Coming soonZona SurThe wealthiest, safest district to the south. Lower altitude makes breathing easier, with mansions, parks and international-standard hotels.
Coming soonCalle Jaén & around Plaza MurilloQuiet colonial streets clustered with museums, near the government palace and political heart. Easy base for exploring the old town on foot.
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in La Paz
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Local dishes to try in La Paz
- 1🥟
Salteña
A baked empanada filled with beef or chicken, potato, peas, hard-boiled egg, raisins and olives in a sweet-spicy juicy sauce. Locals eat them mid-morning — mind the gush of juice when you bite in.
📍 Bolivia's signature snack - 2🍲
Plato Paceño
The dish of La Paz: lima beans, corn, potatoes and fried cheese served hot for lunch or dinner. A satisfying vegetarian-friendly classic.
📍 La Paz's namesake plate - 3🍢
Anticucho
Skewered beef heart marinated in garlic, vinegar and spices, grilled at night-time street carts and served with potatoes and a spicy peanut (aji) sauce — a local favourite after dark.
📍 Late-night street food - 4🌽
Api con Pastel
Api is a thick hot drink made from purple corn spiced with cinnamon and clove, paired with pastel — fried cheese-filled dough dusted with sugar. The classic high-altitude breakfast warmer.
📍 Warming breakfast - 5🍗
Sajta de Pollo
Chicken simmered in a yellow aji amarillo sauce with onion, tomato and peas, served over potatoes and chuño (freeze-dried Andean potato). Bold, spicy and deeply satisfying.
📍 Andean chicken stew - 6🍺
Cerveza Paceña
The local lager from a brewery founded in La Paz back in 1886 — clean and light, found everywhere. The go-to drink alongside meals and in Sopocachi's bars.
📍 The city's beer
- 1🚡
Mi Teleférico (cable car)
The world's largest and longest urban cable-car network — 10 colour-coded lines gliding over the canyon between La Paz and El Alto. Ride at sunset for the best city-and-lights views, all for around 3 bolivianos per trip.
📍 City icon - 2🧙
Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas)
Along Linares and Sagárnaga streets, stalls sell herbs, charms, clay figurines and dried llama foetuses for offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth), run by Indigenous female yatiri healers.
📍 Aymara culture - 3🚵
Death Road (Yungas Road)
Once dubbed the "world's most dangerous road," it drops from the high Andes into the lush Yungas cloud forest. Downhill mountain-bike tours are La Paz's most popular adrenaline rush.
📍 Cycling adventure - 4🌑
Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
About 10 km from the centre, eroded clay-and-sandstone spires form a lunar-like landscape you can explore on marked trails — said to be named after Neil Armstrong remarked it looked like the moon.
📍 Otherworldly terrain - 5⛪
San Francisco Church
A colonial church and convent built 1743–1772, blending Spanish Baroque with Andean motifs like snakes, dragons and tropical birds. Includes a museum and catacombs, fronting the central Plaza San Francisco.
📍 Colonial-Andean fusion - 6🏛️
Plaza Murillo
The city's main square and home to the government palace and congress, flanked by the cathedral. Pigeons and locals fill the plaza — the natural starting point for an old-town walk.
📍 Political heart - 7🏔️
Mirador Killi Killi
A panoramic lookout taking in the entire bowl of La Paz with snowcapped Illimani behind. It's about a 30-minute uphill walk from Plaza Murillo and stunning at sunset.
📍 360° viewpoint - 8🗿
Tiwanaku
A pre-Incan archaeological site around 70 km from La Paz, with the Gate of the Sun and monumental stone carvings — the capital of the Tiwanaku civilisation that flourished AD 300–1000.
📍 UNESCO World Heritage
Things to do in La Paz
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for La Paz — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 La Paz hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 9.3LuxuryStannum Boutique Hotel & Spa
#3 central boutique · Illimani mountain view
★ 9.2LuxuryAtix Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels
#1 design hotel · Zona Sur
★ 9.1Luxuryโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในLa Paz
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
Hotel Rosario La Paz
#5 Heritage Boutique · in the heart of Centro
Camino Real Aparthotel & Spa
#6 long-stay/family · Sopocachi district
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🚆 Getting around La Paz
El Alto Airport (LPB)
The international airport sits at ~4,060 m in El Alto above the city, about 25 minutes from the centre. A taxi runs roughly 50–80 BOB; the GoTransTur minibus or line 212 costs about 5 BOB.
Mi Teleférico (cable car)
The main and most enjoyable way to move — 10 colour-coded lines, 36 stations, around 3 BOB per ride. It connects La Paz with El Alto and beats traffic on the steep slopes.
Minibuses / Trufis
Vans and small cars follow fixed routes shown on windshield placards and coloured flags. Fares run about 2–3 BOB — cheap, but ask locals which one to take.
Taxis / Radio Taxi
Within the city, use a radio taxi with a company name and phone number on the car for safety. Agree a fare first since most have no meter, or use the Uber / inDrive apps.
Cash & currency
Bolivianos (BOB) rule — carry small notes. Markets and public transport are cash-only; ATMs are in the centre and Zona Sur. Cards work only at larger shops and hotels.
Where to go next near La Paz
SucreBolivia's whitewashed constitutional capital — a UNESCO old town with mild weather and low prices.
See this city's guide →
UyuniA small high-altitude town in southern Bolivia — gateway to the Uyuni salt flat, the world's largest natural mirror, and a desert of vivid colored lagoons.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in La Paz
Do I need to worry about altitude sickness?+
Yes — La Paz sits at ~3,640 m and the airport at ~4,060 m. Rest on day one, move slowly, drink plenty of water, skip alcohol, and sip coca-leaf tea (mate de coca) to ease symptoms. If you're coming from sea level, allow 1–2 days to acclimatise.
Is La Paz safe for tourists?+
Generally reasonably safe by day, but watch for pickpockets in markets and crowds. At night take a radio taxi rather than walking. Sopocachi and Zona Sur are safer areas. Avoid unmarked taxis — use cars with a visible company name.
Which neighbourhood should I stay in?+
For a hip base with restaurants and bars, pick Sopocachi. For old-town sights and budget prices, choose Centro / San Pedro. For upscale, safe and easier-breathing (lower) lodging, go to Zona Sur. Backpackers favour hostels around Calle Sagárnaga near the Witches' Market.
Ready to book your La Paz stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking