SucreCapital
Bolivia · Country profile
Sucre is the elegant constitutional capital of Bolivia, the gleaming white city of the high Andes that spreads its timbered balconies, its whitewashed walls and its serene colonial plazas across the green bowl of the valley, at more than two and a half kilometres of altitude. Founded by the Spanish as the city of the silver and long the seat of the royal audiences, it became the cradle of the independence when the revolution of 1809 began here, and today the symbol of the nation still arrives for its sittings while the larger government works from the other metropolis. The cathedral, the freedom house, the museums of the sacred and the indigenous art, the markets and the dinosaur tracks of the region anchor the essential visits. White, refined and wonderfully preserved, Sucre is the graceful soul of the Bolivian republic.
About Sucre
Sucre is the capital of Bolivia. The city's documented population is around 300,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +591.
The House of the Freedom and the Cathedral of the Plaza
The city is a white, balconied town of plazas, churches and museums that rewards walking and slow coffee rather than speed. The essential circuit moves between the broad central plaza with its cathedral and its arcades, the famous freedom house where the independence began, and the churches and the convents with their wealth of silver and their sacred art, while the markets of the town and the cemetery of the hill give the everyday life. The surrounding valley, with its dinosaur tracks, its quarries and its indigenous villages, fills the day trips, and the whole city runs the refined, ceremonial rhythm of Bolivia at an unhurried altitude pace.
The Museum of the Indigenous and the Markets of the Highlands
The altitude is the first fact of the city, and the first days ask for a light step, water and acclimatisation, while the climate stays mild and springlike through the year with the warm, rainier summer and the crisp, sunny winter of the high plateau. The boliviano is the currency, the Spanish the language and the Quechua the great indigenous tongue. The centre, the museums and the cathedral district make the core visits, and the sights of the valley need a short taxi or an organised trip. Warm layers for the cool evenings, sun protection for the bright altitude and comfortable shoes for the cobbles complete the practical kit.
The Tracks of the Dinosaurs and the Villages of the Valley
The freedom house of the city, the famous house of the liberty with its courtyard, its cannon and its independence chamber, is the birthplace of the Bolivian revolution and the sacred civic monument of the citizens, while the cathedral of the town, the great cathedral of the plaza with its baroque altars, its paintings and its silver, anchors the religious wealth of the diocese. The museum of the indigenous art with its extraordinary textiles, the sacred art of the convent with its paintings of the masters, and the great market of the town with its fresh produce and its crafts carry the cultural life. The dinosaur footprints of the nearby quarry, the largest known trackway of its kind climbing the grey cliffs above the valley, and the white-washed villages and the wine runs of the region fill the wider days. White, lofty and elegant, Sucre remains the ceremonial heart of the Bolivian state.
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- Country
- Bolivia
- Population
- 300,000
- Coordinates
- -19.0477, -65.2594
- Capital
- Sucre
- Region
- South America
- Currency
- Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +591
- Country code
- BO
Getting to Sucre
The nearest airports we list:
Cities in Bolivia
Other cities we cover in Bolivia:
Frequently asked questions
Is Sucre the capital of Bolivia?
Yes — Sucre is the capital of Bolivia.
What currency do I need in Sucre?
The local currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB). Languages spoken in Bolivia include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Bolivia?
The international dialling code for Bolivia is +591.
Which airport is nearest to Sucre?
The nearest airport we list is Viru Viru International Airport (VVI), about 273 km away.
How far is Sucre from the nearest airport?
Sucre is about 273 km from Viru Viru International Airport.
Flying out of Sucre? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.