Practical information : Going out Paraguay
Timetable
We usually go out late in Paraguay. Concerts in bars rarely start before midnight (when it doesn't rain, otherwise they are often cancelled) and discos open until the early hours of the weekend. In the capital, the nightlife is very lively, and you can have fun any day of the week, even on Sundays, especially before the 15th or 20th of the month (after that there is often not much money to go out!). The boliches (dance bars, discos) usually close around 1am from Sunday to Wednesday, 3am on Thursday, 5 or 6am on Friday and Saturday.
Budget & Tips
Going out is not expensive in Paraguay, even in the capital. The prices of tickets to concerts and shows, as well as drinks in bars and clubs are very reasonable. A large bottle of national beer in a bar costs between 2 and 3 €, a little more for a draught homemade beer; a cocktail (trago) between 3 and 6 €, a little more expensive on hotel rooftops and in chic nightclubs. A cinema ticket costs between 20,000 Gs and 75,000 Gs (3/10 €) depending on the schedule and cinemas (the most expensive in 4D), often with discounts at the beginning of the week.
To be booked
The Agenda Cultural website (agendacultural.com.py) is a good source of information on cultural events. To get a ticket for a concert or performance, the best thing to do is to consult and compare the sites of Ticketea (ticketea.com.py) and Red UTS (reduts.com.py), each offering events that the other does not necessarily have
Night transport
Buses do not run between 11pm and 5am, it is in any case highly recommended to take a taxi or an Uber, to return to your hotel at night.
Age restrictions
Alcohol consumption is forbidden for those under 20 years old, even if the majority is 18. It is common to be asked for your papers at the entrance of a bowl, even for those over 40! A photocopy of your passport is enough, so don't go out with the original.
What's very local
To go out in the evening, make an effort to dress up, with at least closed shoes and pants, and an elegant shirt for the most chic clubs. In the bars, you may have to share a large glass of beer (chopp) with a group of friends. You can pass it around like a mate or tereré!
Smokers
Smoking is generally possible on the terraces of restaurants and cafés, and in open-air bars. Concerning closed bars, it is not uncommon to see people smoking inside even though it is not allowed . The use of cannabis (marihuana) is uncommon, illegal and strongly repressed. So you will probably be looked at strangely if you take out your rolling papers (even to put tobacco in them).