La Paz

La Paz is Bolivia's seat of government and its main administrative centre, even though Sucre remains the constitutional capital. The city fills a dramatic canyon below the high Altiplano at roughly 3,640 metres, framed by the Cordillera Real and the snow-capped Illimani, which gives it a striking setting and makes it one of the world's highest major cities.

Founded in 1548 as Nuestra Señora de La Paz, the city retains a strong colonial and indigenous character. Around the historic centre, visitors find Plaza Murillo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the San Francisco Church and the narrow, museum-lined Jaén Street, while Aymara culture remains visible in daily life and in markets such as the famous Witches' Market.

Neighbourhoods range from the busy central grid and bohemian Sopocachi to the quieter, lower Zona Sur districts of Calacoto and San Miguel. The Mi Teleférico cable-car network connects many of these areas with El Alto and offers sweeping views of the bowl-shaped city, while the Valle de la Luna and nearby mountain viewpoints add easy outdoor escapes.

As the seat of government, La Paz hosts embassies, public institutions and much of Bolivia's administrative and financial activity, and it supports a strong events calendar that includes festivals such as Alasitas and Gran Poder. Its food scene combines street staples such as salteñas and api with market lunches and contemporary restaurants, and Sopocachi and the Zona Sur are known for nightlife and dining.

For leisure and business travellers alike, La Paz offers a memorable mix of high-altitude scenery, living indigenous traditions, historic landmarks and practical connections to destinations such as Lake Titicaca and the Yungas.