The Best Hotels in Managua, Nicaragua, for Every Traveler

On the road to the active volcano Masaya, Hotel Contempo is small but packed with bright design detail in 28 comfortable rooms. The small outdoor pool is perfect for beating the midday heat and is artfully illuminated in the evenings. Gourmet dishes cooked with organic ingredients are available at the elegant glass-fronted Restaurante Azul, and there are several restaurants and fast food options within walking distance. Downtown Managua and the lakeshore area are about 20 minutes away by taxi, and the Masaya volcano is the same.

Refurbished in 2016, this mid-level hotel doesn’t look like much from the outside but has an inviting central swimming pool set in an attractive palm-shaded courtyard. Simple but spotless rooms look onto the pool and gardens. A complimentary Nica breakfast is served in the thatched El Ranchon restaurant and bar, a popular spot considering other nearby restaurants are a taxi ride away. Profits from the hotel support a number of educational and responsible tourism initiatives in Nicaragua through an NGO.

A few minutes’ shuttle from Augusto Cesar Sandino Airport, this international-style hotel offers a place to relax after a long flight. Comfortable rooms have free wifi and air conditioning, while the breakfast buffet is extensive and includes traditional Nicaraguan dishes. A large pool is the perfect hangout spot on hot days, and the Pharaoh’s Casino is a short walk away if you fancy a flutter in the evening.

Close to the Metropolitan Cathedral and Metrocentro shopping mall, in an area often referred to as “the new center” of Managua, this mid-range hotel is popular with business travellers, as it’s safe and has large rooms (some with kitchenettes for longer stays) and a small pool. Lots of dining options are within walking distance, and a Nica-style breakfast of eggs and gallo pinto, juice and coffee is included.

A modern colonial-style building decorated with folk art, the Colonnade is a mid-range hotel near Metrocentro mall. Family-friendly, and with a cooked breakfast included, it’s a solid option and just 20 minutes from the airport by taxi. Some of the rooms and bathrooms look a bit dated, but the hotel is saved by a pleasant outdoor pool area with a rustic hacienda vibe and a kidney-shaped pool offering respite from the Managua heat.

With an elegant exterior and bright lobby, the Hilton Princess is a solid, affordable option with the comforts of a five-star international chain hotel. Rooms are spacious, beds big and comfortable, and the marble bathrooms are stocked with conditioners and creams. The pool area at the back is big enough for family fun or a sporty workout, and there’s a gym. Go easy on the breakfast buffet, which has enough fruits, cereals and cooked Nica options to keep you there a while, and leave room for an evening of fine dining at the Garden Court hotel restaurant.

Conveniently positioned by the Metrocentro shopping mall, this 157-room hotel is one of the best five-star hotels in Managua. Popular with commercial travelers for the onsite business center, the hotel is also family-friendly, and the rooms and suites are impeccably furnished with large beds and plasma screen TVs. There’s a well-equipped gym, stylish outdoor pool and three restaurants offering everything from informal burgers and ceviche to sushi, steaks and gourmet creations.

From the terracotta roof tiles and ornate wrought-iron window grilles, to the inner courtyard with a central fountain, this three-star hotel exudes elegant colonial charm. Tucked away in a quiet street, a short taxi ride from the Metrocentro mall, it’s a tranquil haven from the heat and bustle of Managua; an outdoor pool is the place to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Nearby attractions include the Momotombo Chocolate Factory and restaurant Cocina de Doña Haydée – explore authentic Nicaraguan flavors in the latter.

Small but stylish, this modern boutique hotel in the Metrocentro mall area is fresh, airy and smart, with large rooms themed around the elements. There’s a swish restaurant and a lounge bar serving cocktails, and the hotel is close to a supermarket. The breakfast comes with a fruit plate plus the Nica staples of gallo pinto, plantains and eggs, all served on a deck overlooking the garden. The outdoor swimming pool is a real bonus in Managua and is large enough for short lengths.