About Venezuela
- At the northern tip of South America, Venezuela covers a larger area than France and Germany combined.
- Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is also the country’s industrial, commercial and educational center.
- A number of Caribbean islands, including Margarita Island, La Blanquilla, La Tortuga, Los Roques and Los Monjes, are within Venezuela’s borders.
- Venezuela is home to Lake Maracaibo, the largest lake in South America, as well as Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall.
- As of 2023, the population of Venezuela is approximately 28 million.
- Venezuela was among the first areas in the region colonized by the Spanish. The country was under Spanish rule from the 1500s to the early 1800s.
- Venezuela effectively declared its independence in 1819 as part of the Republic of Colombia. The country separated from the Colombian federation in 1830.
- Simón Bolívar, who was born in Venezuela, was a key political and military leader who helped lead the independence movements of Venezuela and several other South American countries.
Where is Venezuela?
Venezuela is at the northern tip of the South American continent. It shares land borders with Colombia and Brazil and has coastlines along the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Getting to Venezuela
Turkish Airlines offers both direct and connecting flights from İstanbul to Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, every day of the week. Flights from Istanbul to Caracas take an average of 17 hours and 5 minutes.
When to visit Venezuela
Between December and April, the weather is warm and sunny and there’s relatively little rain. The months from May to December tend to be rainy but, on the other hand, there are fewer tourists and prices can be lower.
Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and other cities
Capital of Venezuela: Caracas
Caracas, Venezuela’s capital and the country’s largest and most populous city, is also known as the Distrito Capital (Capital Region), and is considered the country’s political, economic and cultural center. Some of the highlights of Caracas include the following.
- Mount Avila (El Avila): North of Caracas, this mountain offers breathtaking views. There are walking paths and picnic areas around its base.
- Bolivar Square (Plaza de Bolívar): Set in the city center and surrounded by historical buildings, as well as Caracas Cathedral, Bolivar Square features a statue of Simón Bolívar.
- Miraflores Palace (Palacio de Miraflores): Tours of Venezuela’s presidential palace in Caracas offer information on the country’s history and political structure.
- San Ignacio Shopping Centre (Centro San Ignacio): Massive complex in the city center featuring award-winning contemporary architecture, along with offices, a retail mall, and entertainment and dining facilities.
- Los Caobos Park (Parque Los Caobos): This venerable park dating from the 1920s has walking paths, playgrounds and sculptures, along with a lovely fountain. It is in the same area as the Fine Arts and Natural Science museums and the National Art Gallery.
- Caracas Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes): The museum houses one of Venezuela’s most important art collections, with works from South America and Europe.
Maracaibo
On the western shore of the channel connecting Lake Maracaibo with the Gulf of Venezuela, the port city of Maracaibo is the country’s second largest city and known for its petrochemical industry.
The highlights of Maracaibo include the following.
- Lake Maracaibo (Lago de Maracaibo): One of the South America’s largest lakes and a prominent feature of the city.
- Basilica of the Virgen de Chiquinquirá (Baslica de Nuestra Señora de Chiquinquirá): This 17th-century basilica, one of Venezuela’s most important religious buildings, was declared a National Historical Monument in 1960.
- Vereda del Lago Park (Parque Vereda del Lago): Vereda del Lago, a large park along Lake Maracaibo, has biking and walking paths.
- Baralt Theatre (Teatro Baralt): Also a National Historic Monument and a prominent cultural center in the city, the theater was named for Raphael Maria Baralt, a literary figure and historian born in Maracaibo in 1810. The first iteration of the theater was built in 1883 and it was subsequently rebuilt in the 1930s.
- San Felipe de Neri Church (Iglesia de San Felipe Neri): The church was built in the 18th century, an important building in terms of religion and architecture
- Aquamania Water Park: For those looking for a refreshing day out, Aquamania Water Park has water slides, among other fun pool features.
- Barrio El Saladillo: Discover street art and immerse yourself in Venezuelan culture in El Saladillo, one of the city’s colorful neighborhoods.
- Rafael Urdaneta Bridge (Puente Rafael Urdaneta): It connects Maracaibo and other regions and has impressive views.
For vacation: Margarita Island
A favorite Caribbean holiday destination for Venezuelans is Margarita Island, known for its white sandy beaches, turquoise sea, and sunny weather. In addition, there’s Los Roques, known for its natural beauty and dive spots, and Coche Island, for water sports.
Dining in Venezuela
Some Venezuelan specialties are listed below:
- Arepas: a type of round, thin bread made from maize flour, water and salt.
- Pabellón Criollo: This traditional Venezuelan dish features rice, black beans, meat (carne mechada) and plantains.
- Cachapas: A sweet pancake made from maize flour, sugar, salt and milk; the disk is usually folded in half over white cheese or jambon.
- Pescado Margariteña: Fresh fish prepared Margarita-style – the recipe is specific to Margarita Island.
Practical information about Venezuela
Capital of Venezuela: Caracas
Official language of Venezuela: Spanish
Venezuela currency: Venezuelan Bolivar
Venezuela’s population: 33.7 million
