One to two days covers the main sights. See the Old Cathedral and the lakefront in the old center, take in the view from Loma de Tiscapa, visit the Acahualinca footprints and browse Mercado Roberto Huembes. Many travelers also use Managua as a base for Masaya and Granada.

Most addresses are given from a landmark rather than a street number. People say how many blocks to go toward the lake (north), up (east), down (west) or toward the mountains (south). Some landmarks no longer exist, so directions often begin from where a building used to be.

No, the interior has been closed since the 1972 earthquake damaged the building. You can still see the neoclassical facade and its stone angels from the square outside, in the old center near the lakefront. Restoration work has been under way for years, so the building is viewed from outside.