In this guide
In Concepción, most shops and services in the centre are on Calle Presidente Franco and Calle Mariscal Estigarribia, a few blocks from Avenida Pinedo, and fresh food is bought at the Mercado Municipal. Property registry and mediation errands are handled at the Palacio de Justicia. Group your errands by area, do them in the morning and ask for an invoice every time.
Where are the shops in Concepción?
- Presidente Franco and Mariscal Estigarribia: most of the centre's shops are on these two streets (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). The historic centre, about 25 blocks on a straight grid, is easy to walk (Senatur (opens in a new tab)).
- Mercado Municipal: a covered market open every day with fruit, vegetables and fish, on Presidente Franco about 100 metres west of Avenida Pinedo (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Producers' market: the Concepción producers' association has its own site in barrio Itacurubí, selling fruit, vegetables, meat, farm eggs, cheese and honey, according to ABC Color (2015) (opens in a new tab).
- Post office: the post office still works from an elegant 1915 corner house at Presidente Franco and Curupayty (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
For the weekly shop, see our guide to supermarkets in Concepción, and for clothes, clothing stores in Concepción.
Where do you handle paperwork?
- Public Registry: since 2021 there has been an office on the second floor of Concepción's Palacio de Justicia for registry documents, used by notaries, lawyers and the public (Poder Judicial (opens in a new tab)).
- Mediation: the judiciary runs mediation offices in Concepción and Horqueta (Poder Judicial, 2026 (opens in a new tab)), useful for settling with a shop, a tenant or a debtor before going to court.
- Brazilian Vice-Consulate: at Presidente Franco 972 (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)), by appointment only, booked by phone or WhatsApp; it handles passports, CPF, civil registration and legalisations (Itamaraty (opens in a new tab)).
What is changing with Paracel and the new works?
Infrastructure works for Paracel, the largest private investment in Paraguay, began in May 2026 at Paso Horqueta (Hoy, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). The Concepción traders' and industry association expects growth in restaurants, hotels, retail, real estate and services, and estimates that about 10,000 people could need housing in the area at the construction peak (InfoNegocios, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
For you, that means more demand for services in town:
- If you need an electrician, plumber or removal van, book days ahead and get the quote in writing.
- If you are looking to rent, compare several places before paying a deposit.
- If you run a shop or a service, get your invoicing in order: companies and contractors will ask for it.
Expo Concepción at Campo Nanawa is the city's big trade fair; in 2026 it ran from 31 August to 6 September (Última Hora, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
How to pay and what to ask for
- QR: in April 2026, 7 in 10 electronic payments on the Bancard network were made by QR code (ABC Color, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Still carry some cash for the market and small stalls.
- Invoice: Sedeco, the consumer agency, reminds shoppers that every sale requires an invoice and that sale signs must show the previous price, the discount percentage and the current cash price in guaraníes (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
- Price with taxes: Law 1334/98 (opens in a new tab) requires prices to include taxes and be shown in legal tender (Article 10). If you are quoted in dollars or reais, ask for the total in guaraníes.
- If something goes wrong: complain to the shop in writing first; then Sedeco takes complaints by web form and on the free line 0800 11 88 99 (Hoy, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
When to run errands
In summer highs can reach 42 °C, and November to January is the wettest period (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Do your errands in the morning, starting with the market, and leave air-conditioned stops for last. The centre fills up around the 25 May anniversary and during the Expo, so get paperwork done before those weeks.
Is it worth shopping in Pedro Juan Caballero?
Pedro Juan Caballero is 212 km away on Route PY05, on the Brazilian border (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). It is one of the border cities covered by the Shopping Tourism Regime for selling imported goods to foreigners (DNIT (opens in a new tab)). For a big electronics purchase the trip can pay off, but add the fare and the lost day, get an invoice and written warranty, and compare with what you can find in Concepción first.
FAQ
Where are the shops in central Concepción?
Most are on Calle Presidente Franco and Calle Mariscal Estigarribia, near Avenida Pinedo. The Mercado Municipal is on Presidente Franco about 100 metres west of the avenue.
Is there a Public Registry office in Concepción?
Yes. Since 2021 an office on the second floor of the Palacio de Justicia handles registry documents.
Is there a Brazilian consulate in Concepción?
Yes, a vice-consulate at Presidente Franco 972. It works by appointment only, booked by phone or WhatsApp.
Can I pay by QR code in Concepción?
Yes. QR is the most used electronic payment in Paraguay, 7 in 10 Bancard payments in April 2026. Carry cash for the market and small stalls.
