Where To Stay In Leon Nicaragua: Best Hotels
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Table of Contents
Overview Of Where To Stay In Leon Nicaragua: Best Hotels
Hotel Flor De Sarta
Hotel El Convento
Via Via Hostel
Hostal El Rio
Where To Stay In Leon Nicaragua: FAQs
How Many Days I Leon Are Enough?
Best Places To Eat In Leon
Beaches Near Leon Nicaragua
Is Leon In Nicaragua Safe?
More Tips For Traveling In Central America
When visiting Leon in Nicaragua, I took my time to explore the best hotels for you. I visited each of them, spoke to the staff, and saw their rooms and facilities. Based on that, I’ve selected the best hotels in Leon for you.
This article will guide you on where to stay in Leon, Nicaragua, the best time to visit, how to get there, and further activities you can enjoy in the city. So check it out.
Overview Of Where To Stay In Leon Nicaragua: Best Hotels
Here is my list of where to stay in Leon, Nicaragua for your perfect stay:
The first is a mid-range hotel for those who want more comfort. The second hotel is a luxury one if you want to enjoy even more comfort and beautiful facilities. The last three are hostels for budget travelers, those who want to socialize and prefer to have a kitchen to cook their food.
Each of these accommodations has advantages and disadvantages, which I’ll list below. So check them out, and book yourself a stay in Leon.
Hotel Flor De Sarta
Hotel Flor de Sarta is my top pick for accommodation in Leon. It’s a great hotel that offers included breakfast and comfortable rooms. Temperatures in Leon can get very high, so you can also cool off in their swimming pool, which is a big plus of this property.
It’s suitable for the following travelers:
- couples
- travelers looking for comfort and a good price
- travelers who want to relax & disconnect
The only drawback of this hotel is that it’s slightly far from the center, unlike other hotels and hostels on this list. Nevertheless, it’s a small distance, only 0.5km from the center. But I wanted to mention it for those who like to stay in the center.
It’s a colonial-style accommodation with fancier double rooms, junior suites, or deluxe rooms. They also have a family room.
Wifi works great if you need to work. And they can also organize an airport shuttle for you.
Overall, Hotel Flor de Sarta is beautiful, and you can surely have a perfect stay in Leon if you decide to book it. It’s the ideal mid-range hotel for those, who want comfort, but don’t want to overpay.
Check out more photos and prices for Hotel Flor de Sarta via Booking.com and get the best deals.

Hotel El Convento
Hotel El Convento is one of the unique accommodations in Leon with a touch of luxury. As the name suggests, this property will make you feel like you’re staying in a convent. It’s great for those who want luxury and comfort and want to be in the middle of the city.
It has the biggest advantage of being in the city center. Only 2 blocks away and you can admire the Cathedral of Leon.
What I love about Hotel El Convento is its courtyard and a garden, which makes you feel like you’re in royal times. In addition, it has a small swimming pool and a gym, and breakfast is included.
It’s particularly great for:
- luxury travelers
- travelers who want comfort & quietness
- couples
Book Hotel El Convento if you want to relax in the city center, have some time for yourself, and need a luxury and comfy bed.
Via Via Hostel
Via Via Hostel is my top pick for all travelers who want to socialize and have fun in Leon. It’s located in the city center, close to the cathedral.
This hostel has double rooms for couples and dorms for budget travelers and backpackers.
It has a big restaurant with delicious food, not only local but also International and European food. There is a big space with chairs on the patio for everyone to share, socialize, and chat, which I love about this place. It’s also the spot where you can sign up for the volcano boarding (which you can’t miss when you’re in Leon).
Rooms are separated from the busy restaurant, and a little garden is in the middle. Double rooms are simple yet very clean, and the bed is comfortable. The dorms are mixed and also very clean. It also has a kitchen where you can cook your food.
Via Via Hostel also has a nightclub for everyone who wants to party. But don’t worry; it doesn’t make too much noise if you need to sleep.
It is suitable for:
- backpackers
- party travelers
- travelers who want to socialize
- solo travelers
- couples on budget
Book Via Via Hostel if you feel like meeting new people, are on a budget, and want to be in the city center. They can also organize a few activities for you outside of Leon, so check with them to maximize your stay.

Hostal El Rio
Hostal El Rio is my last hostel pick for your stay in Leon. It’s a beautiful house run by a family with guys and their mum doing their best to satisfy their guests. Everyone is super friendly, and they also let you stay longer until night if you have a night bus connection, and it feels like you are at home.
The best thing about Hostal El Rio is that their dorm rooms only have one bunk bed each. So if you’re on a budget and have to book a dorm room yet still enjoy privacy and quietness, there is a high chance that you’ll be alone.
Their double rooms are great and spacious, one with a private bathroom and the other with a shared bathroom. All the rooms are clean and simple, and the bed is super comfortable.
Breakfast is included, too. Every morning, you can come to the dining area and order 3 types of breakfast (Nicaraguan and American style). It’s prepared by the mum and is delicious.
The only disadvantage of this hostel is that it’s quite far from the city center. But honestly, I didn’t mind it at all. It was only a 15-minute walk to the center. It’s always more important for me to feel well in the accommodation where I stay and that the facilities are clean.
Hostal El Rio is the perfect place to stay because it’s super clean, feels like home, and is also cheap for what it offers.
It’s suitable for the following travelers:
- couples on the budget
- solo travelers
- introverts
- travelers on a budget who want quietness
- backpackers who want privacy
Hostal El Rio is one of my favorite accommodations in Leon, without a doubt. The staff is amicable and always ready to help you. They can also organize day trips and excursions from Leon (like more than 20 are available). Check out Booking.com for the prices and more photos.

Where To Stay In Leon Nicaragua: FAQs
These are my top 4 hotels and hostels in Leon. I’ve picked a variety of hotels so that everyone can choose based on their budget, requirements, and location. Leon is a beautiful city full of life and sparkle. I’m sure you’ll love it.
I guess you might have a few more questions before booking your stay in Leon. So here you have the most frequently asked questions answered:
How Many Days In Leon Are Enough?
I recommend staying 3 to 4 days in Leon. The city is relatively small, so only 1 day is enough to explore it. But reserve a couple of days (2 or 3 days are perfect) to enjoy the surroundings of Leon and go on day trips and various excursions. The top excursions are volcano boarding, a rum factory visit, or a visit to a coffee farm.
Hotels also offer a couple of excursions from Leon, so check out at the reception for more activities you can do. You can also go hiking on a volcano and sleep on an active volcano. Or do a little hike and slide down the volcano.
Leon is my favorite city in Nicaragua because of its endless activities and the places you can explore around it. So take your time and enjoy it to the fullest.
Best Places To Eat In Leon
Leon has several great places to eat delicious food. But what I loved the most about the city was its coffee culture. I fell in love with local cafes and confectioneries.
I recommend eating at the following restaurants:
- ViaVia – International & European food
- Coco Calala – vegetarian restaurant
- Beers & Pallets – hamburgers & beer
- Comedor Lucia – Nicaraguan food
- Sua León Cocina Mediterránea – Mediterranean food
If you’re a coffee and smoothie lover as much as I am, you’ll enjoy the local cafes, too. These are my top places to enjoy the best Nicaraguan coffee and juices. The coffee shops have beautiful setups and are also suitable for working remotely:
- Pan & Paz – French Bakery
- Mañana Mañana Cafe
- Casa del Cafe
- Jugoso
Beaches Near Leon Nicaragua
If you want to enjoy some beach life, you can drive 20 minutes from Leon and spend a night or two on the beautiful beaches of the Pacific Coast.
The best beach near Leon is Las Penitas beach. There is also a small town with shops and hotels where you can stay.
I especially loved the long beach walks on the Las Penitas beach and the stunning sunset.

Is Leon In Nicaragua Safe?
Yes, Leon is the safest city in Nicaragua. So there is nothing to be worried about. Leon feels super safe, the locals are very friendly and helpful, and you don’t have to worry about pickpockets.
Just for extra safety, it’s not recommended to walk around the city after midnight.
More Tips For Traveling In Central America
If you want to see more of Nicaragua, I recommend staying in Granada for one or 2 nights. It’s another colonial town with cute buildings, fabulous hotels, and great cafes and restaurants. Don’t forget to do a boat tour around Las Isletas once you’re there. Check out my article about where to stay in Granada.
Another place you shouldn’t miss is Ometepe. It’s an island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the only lake with sharks worldwide. The island has a volcanic origin, and you can hike one of the highest volcanoes in the country there. Check out the 11 unique things to do on Ometepe Island. Or read about where to stay in Ometepe for your perfect time.
If you love surfing, don’t hesitate to book a stay in Popoyo. It’s one of the best surfing spots in the world. The waves are great for beginners as well as advanced surfers. Popoyo is a little town on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. It’s quiet, has amazing sunsets, and you can enjoy long beach walks. Read my article about where to stay in Popoyo and book an excellent place for your stay.
Get my Nicaragua backpacking itinerary for 7 days to see the highlights of Nicaragua. And get the most out of the country.
If you’re only about to visit Nicaragua and are traveling from Costa Rica, check out my article about how to get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is one of the best countries you can visit in Central America. It’s cheap, has so much to offer, and it’s convenient to travel on local buses. So start planning your trip now.
Happy travels!