Things To Do in Tegucigalpa

Parque Morazán downtown is usually the first stop on any tour of Tegucigalpa. This is the colonial heart of the city, and most museums can be found here. Few visitors who come to Tegucigalpa take the time to get to know the city. Usually, they land here or are just passing through, and stick around for no more than a day before hightailing it elsewhere in the country. Rightly so, as apart from museums, there is little to do here for the typical traveler. There are no formal tours of the city, and most of the sites are situated walking distance from each other in the colonial center and can be seen easily in a day.

The baroque Cathedral, on the eastern edge of Parque Morazán, was built between 1765 and 1782, and honors Saint Michael (San Miguel) the Archangel, Tegucigalpa's patron saint. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, a few blocks northwest of the park, was built in 1732 and features an attractive selection of religious art, such as reliefs of the Stations of the Cross, along with a carved altar. The big plaza fronting the church is often packed with artisan stalls and food vendors. Other churches, such as Parroquia San Francisco, the oldest church in the city (it was built in 1592), and Iglesia la Merced, beside the Galería Nacional de Arte, are worth a look when they're open (hours vary).

Attractions Outside Town

The Basílica Nacional de Suyapa (www.virgendesuyapa.hn) is the largest cathedral in the country, but is perhaps better known for being the discovery site of a tiny cedar statue of the Virgin Mary. This statue, discovered in 1747, is famous throughout Honduras for its healing powers. The Virgin has long been the patron saint of the country and, in 1982, was even named by papal decree as the patron saint of all of Central America. The permanent home of the statue is actually the nearby Iglesia de Suyapa, but the statue is brought to this Gothic cathedral, which was built in 1954, for special events like the Feria de la Virgen de Suyapa. The cathedral's grounds are open to visitors every day, but the basilica itself is open only during Mass and holidays. To get here, take a taxi to Suyapa, 7km (4 1/4 miles) south of the center on Boulevard Suyapa, from Parque La Merced; a taxi should cost about L55 to L95.

The most elegant way to spend an evening in the capital is to head to a highbrow performance downtown at the spectacular Teatro Nacional Manuel Bonilla (Av. Barahona, at Parque Herrera; tel. 504/2222-4366), modeled after the Plaza Athenée in Paris. It has been restored every few decades, most recently in 2007. On select nights throughout the year, you will find opera, dance, and concerts featuring some of the best performers in the country. You can ask at the box office or check the local newspapers for dates and prices. If you walk in during the day, there's usually someone there to enthusiastically show you around and give you a bit of the history of the building.

There are several casinos in Tegucigalpa hotels, though the only one that's any good is the Casino Royale at the Honduras Maya. They have table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, as well as a small section of slot machines. Bring an ID to get in and don't even think about wearing shorts -- it's a dressy nightlife spot.

Most of the city's bars and clubs are located in Colonia Palmira, along Boulevard Morazán, and most have covers of about L100. Bull Bar (tel. 504/9781-0246), on Avenidas República de Chile in Colonia Palmira, is a rock club that attracts a diverse, cool crowd. Long lines at the door can be a bit dissuading. On the third level of the Nova Centro mall in Barrio Pueblo Nuevo, there are several sleek nightspots and restaurants, like Baretto's Lounge, Terrazza's Martini Bar, and Nox, that stay open late and lure in all the young and pretty people. Nau, the sushi lounge in the Real InterContinental, also attracts a crowd on most nights. Most of the seating is outside on the patio surrounding the pool, so this is the spot for a laidback lounge experience with an attractive crowd.

Also, don't count out Sabor Cubano (Av. República de Argentina 1933; Mon 11:30am-5pm, Tues-Thurs 11:30am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11:30am-2am) for salsa dancing. Hipsters will want to check out Café Paradiso (Ave. Paz Barahona 1351, in Barrio la Plazuela; tel. 504/2222-3066), a cafe and cultural space with frequent film screenings, poetry readings, and live music.

If you'd like to catch a movie, the best theater is the Cinemark (tel. 504/231-2044; www.cinemarkca.com) at the Multiplaza Mall on Avenida Juan Pablo II.