In this guide
Getting around Asunción comes down to three tools: the city bus with a prepaid card (Gs. 3,400 with air conditioning, Gs. 2,300 without), the electric buses from the Port to San Lorenzo, Luque and the airport, and a ride app for late nights, luggage or when the bus doesn't show. The historic centre is walkable; everywhere else, plan around traffic rather than distance.
How much is the bus and how do you pay?
- Fare: Gs. 3,400 on air-conditioned (differential) buses and Gs. 2,300 on conventional ones (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab); Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Electric buses charge the same as the differential, Gs. 3,400 (Última Hora, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
- Card: pay with a JAHA or Más card, sold at supermarkets, kiosks and pharmacies (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Buy and top it up on day one.
- Transfers: since June 2026, if you tap in on one of 39 participating lines you can board an electric bus without paying again within 120 minutes of the first tap, with up to two transfers (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Tap on every bus so the system counts it.
There are no official route maps: use a route app such as Moovit or ask at the stop. The destination is shown on the windscreen, you can flag a bus almost anywhere except big intersections, and drivers often slow down rather than stop, so step off carefully (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
Electric buses: the most comfortable corridors
In June 2026 there were 70 electric buses in service (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Lines E1, E2 and E3 start at the Puerto de Asunción and link the capital with San Lorenzo and Luque along the Eusebio Ayala, Mariscal López and Silvio Pettirossi corridors (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). If your trip runs along those avenues, they are the air-conditioned, flat-fare option.
How do you get to and from the airport?
- E3 electric bus: runs from the Oficinas de Gobierno at the Port to the Silvio Pettirossi airport roundabout for Gs. 3,400 (ABC Color, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). It started in March 2026 on reduced hours, so check the timetable in a route app before relying on it at night.
- Taxi: the airport rank charges a flat Gs. 100,000 to the centre (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Bus 30-A: stops about 200 m from the terminal, takes around an hour, doesn't run from 23:00 to 05:00 and isn't suited to large luggage (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- App: Bolt, Uber or MUV; order from arrivals and check the plate matches.
What about at night? Red Búho and taxis
The Búho night service runs from 22:00 to 03:30 with police officers on board (Última Hora, 2026 (opens in a new tab)):
- B1: downtown–San Lorenzo, via Fernando de la Mora.
- B2: Asunción–Limpio, via Avenida San José and Ruta PY03.
- B3: Colón–Ñemby, via Ruta PY01.
- B4: Asunción–Luque.
Taxis add a 30% surcharge after 22:00 and on Sundays; insist on the meter or agree the fare before getting in (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
Ride apps: when they make sense
Bolt (opens in a new tab), Uber (opens in a new tab) and the Paraguayan app MUV (opens in a new tab) all operate in Asunción. Use them in strong heat, with luggage, at night or when the bus is late: in May 2026 ABC Color reported waits of up to half an hour at metropolitan stops during rush hour, with passengers paying for Bolt to avoid arriving late (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Check the price the app shows before you confirm.
Traffic, roadworks and the coach terminal
- Rush hours: weekdays 06:30–09:00, around noon and 15:30–19:30 (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Roadworks: in September 2026 the city's Plan ASU 400 had 138 blocks under works, on Mariscal López, España, San Martín and Avenida De la Victoria (Municipalidad de Asunción (opens in a new tab)).
- On foot: the historic centre, roughly between Colón and Antequera, is easy to walk (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Coach terminal: long-distance buses leave from the terminal at República Argentina and Fernando de la Mora (Frommers (opens in a new tab)), about 5 km from the centre. Buses 8 or 38 run there from downtown; on arrival, follow the SALIDA signs to the taxi rank instead of going with touts inside (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
New in town? See also our first week in Asunción guide and how to pace meals around the heat.
FAQ
How much is a bus fare in Asunción?
Gs. 3,400 on air-conditioned and electric buses and Gs. 2,300 on conventional ones, paid with a JAHA or Más card.
Is there a bus from the airport to central Asunción?
Yes: electric line E3 links the airport roundabout with the Port for Gs. 3,400, and bus 30-A stops about 200 m from the terminal. Taxis at the rank charge a flat Gs. 100,000.
Are there night buses in Asunción?
Yes, Red Búho runs from 22:00 to 03:30 on four lines to San Lorenzo, Limpio, Ñemby and Luque, with police on board.
Which ride apps work in Asunción?
Bolt, Uber and the Paraguayan app MUV.
