6 Best Sights in Caracas, Venezuela

Arabica is hands-down the best coffee in the city—it also may be the priciest. Choose from the delectable desserts, order a coffee, and sit outside to watch the world go by. The success of this location has led to the opening of three other coffee shops in Beverly Hills, Stanford and Palo Alto, California.

Las Nieves is true old-school Caracas—the same baristas seem to have been pulling delicious, crema-topped espressos here for years. All of the high-quality pastries and goodies are made here: it's a true family affair. Parking can be a pain outside, but be patient, because it's worth the wait.

Le St. Tropez sits right across the street from a massive church in the Castellana neighborhood. The sweet owner serves up yummy couscous dishes on Thursdays, but the real draw here are the simple, fresh sandwiches, desserts, and pastries—not to mention the divine coffee.

One of the city's oldest parks, Parque Los Caobos has towering mahogany trees planted to celebrate Venezuela's independence. The lovely old fountain, ringed by bronze sculptures, is a taste of the Caracas of a century ago.Tourists are often targeted here so keep a careful watch on your belongings and avoid the park after dusk.

Ask most Caraqueños what defines their city the most, and you'll often hear "El Ávila!" The mountains of Parque Nacional El Ávila rise some 3,300 feet over the northern edge of Caracas, then slope down its other side directly into the Caribbean. The national park is a favorite destination for weekend hikers, as its southern side is crisscrossed with trails. Novices prefer the daylong hike that leads to Pico Ávila, while more experienced hikers take the two-day trek to Pico Naiguatá. The park is easily accessible from the Altamira neighborhood in eastern Caracas. If you don't feel like hiking, you can ride up in a cable car.

San José de Galipán, a settlement on the coastal side of Mount Ávila, makes a nice destination if you've been hiking all morning. Horses are available there for further exploring. The town's cool climate makes it perfect for growing flowers to sell in Caracas.

St. Honoré is near the fabulous store Casa Curuba and just across the street from rival café Arabica. This is less hip than Arabica, but just as well loved and scrumptious. Grab a cachito de jamón (a ham-stuffed croissant) and enjoy the friendly hubbub on the outdoor patio. These same owners opened up a bakery called Tisserie in New York City, at the northwest corner of Union Square.