In this guide
Mercado 4 is Asunción's biggest popular market, in barrio Pettirossi around Rodríguez de Francia and Perú, selling medicinal herbs for tereré, fruit and vegetables, cheap clothes, electronics and home-style food (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Go on a weekday morning with small guaraní notes and one or two sections in mind; you won't see all of it in one visit.
Where is it and how is it laid out?
The market fills the blocks between Perú, Pettirossi, General Aquino and Rodríguez de Francia, with an extension towards Ana Díaz, and spills into parts of San Roque, Ciudad Nueva and Pinozá (Infonegocios, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). The market's management counts about 2,400 to 2,500 licensed stallholders plus around 800 shop tenants in the surrounding streets.
Don't mix it up with the Mercado de Abasto, which is the wholesale market elsewhere in the city. For retail shopping and wandering, Mercado 4 is the one.
Paseo de los Yuyos: herbs for tereré
This is the market's best-known corner and the best place to start. It sits in the middle of the market at República Francesa and José Asunción Flores, where some forty families sell pohã ñana, the medicinal herbs Paraguayans crush into their cold tereré (ABC Color, 2014 (opens in a new tab)).
- Tell the vendor what you want the mix for (heat, digestion) and let her make up the bundle.
- Go early, before the midday heat.
- Ask before photographing the vendors.
The market's management runs guided walks that have started here (Infonegocios, 2024 (opens in a new tab)); dates are posted on the Asunción municipality's social media.
Where to eat inside the market
The food hall is on the first floor of the new building on Avenida Pettirossi, rebuilt with money from Itaipú and the municipality. When it opened it had 67 stalls serving tortillas, empanadas, sandwiches, picadito, puchero and locro all day (La Nación, 2020 (opens in a new tab)). It's the place to try everyday Paraguayan food at market prices.
The Mercado 4 and San Vicente area is also where Asunción's first Korean restaurants opened (Pausa (opens in a new tab)), so walk along Perú if you want something different.
What to buy: produce, clothes and electronics
- Fruit, vegetables and groceries. The heart of the market and what locals mostly come for.
- Clothes and shoes. The cheapest in town, and bargaining is normal. Try things on before you pay.
- Electronics and accessories. Plenty of choice, but also fakes and goods of unclear origin; Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab) advises always asking for a warranty or certificate. Test the item at the stall.
In December 2025 the municipality ran the first «Battilana de noche»: more than 30 stalls on Calle Battilana, between Rodríguez de Francia and República de Colombia, opened 5:00 to 21:00 selling fruit, chicken, clothes and electronics, with plans to repeat it every two weeks or monthly (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Around the holidays, check whether a night edition is on.
How to get there from downtown
- Bus: lines 2, 21, 25, 27, 29 and 133 run from Calle Haedo downtown to the market. Fares are G. 3,400 with air conditioning and G. 2,300 without, paid with a JAHA or Más card sold at supermarkets, kiosks and pharmacies (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Take care getting off: many buses barely stop.
- Ride-hailing or taxi: ask to be dropped on Avenida Pettirossi by the food-hall building and agree a pick-up point before you go in.
Opening hours and safety
There is no single official timetable: each stall keeps its own hours. Your safest bet is Monday to Saturday in the morning; on a Sunday or late in the day, expect many stalls to be shut.
The National Police and Grupo Lince motorbike officers patrol the area in coordination with the municipality and volunteer firefighters (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). In crowded aisles, still look after your things:
- Backpack on your front, phone away while you walk.
- Small notes in a separate pocket; almost everything is cash.
- Leave jewellery and big cameras at the hotel.
- If you get lost, head back to Avenida Pettirossi and reorient from there.
FAQ
What can you buy at Mercado 4 in Asunción?
Herbs for tereré at the Paseo de los Yuyos, fruit and vegetables, cheap clothes and shoes, electronics and accessories, and home-style meals in the first-floor food hall.
Which bus goes to Mercado 4?
From Calle Haedo downtown, lines 2, 21, 25, 27, 29 and 133. You pay with a JAHA or Más card.
What are Mercado 4's opening hours?
There is no single official timetable; each stall sets its own. Go Monday to Saturday in the morning, when everything is open.
Is Mercado 4 safe for tourists?
Police patrol the area, but in crowded aisles keep your backpack in front, your phone away and little cash on show.
