Visitors learn about the Mayas at the Museum of National Identity in Tegucigalpa on December 14, 2012. The beginning of a new Mayan era on December 21 will be marked with celebrations throughout southern Mexico and Central America. Honduras is one of five countries preparing to observe the date, which marks the end of a more than 5,000-year era, according to the Mayan "Long Count" calendar, which began in 3114 BC. AFP PHOTO/Orlando SIERRA (Photo credit should read ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Museo para la Identidad Nacional

Top choice in Tegucigalpa

LoginSave

If you hit only one sight in Tegus, head here. The museum is housed in the gorgeously renovated 19th-century former Palace of Ministries. It's a superb overview of the nation's history and identity through modern exhibits. Displays are in Spanish, but there are free tours in English by excellent guides four times a day (also ask for French or German tours).

Other great features include a virtual video tour of Copan four times daily and free 2pm movies on various themes every Saturday (hint: June is all about gay pride).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Cold rain forest

    Parque Nacional La Tigra

    9.01 MILES

    A short distance northeast of the capital, Parque Nacional La Tigra covers 238 sq km of rugged forest, with cloud forest and dry pine forest, numerous…

  • Parque Naciones Unidas El Picacho

    Parque Naciones Unidas El Picacho

    2.97 MILES

    This small hilltop park 6km from downtown has busy walking trails, but the main reason to visit is to stand at the feet of the approximately 20m high El…

  • Plaza Morazán

    Plaza Morazán

    0.24 MILES

    At the center of the city is the Plaza Morazán, often called Parque Central by locals – this is Tegucigalpa's hub. A statue of former president Francisco…

  • Centro de la Cultura Garinagu de Honduras

    Centro de la Cultura Garinagu de Honduras

    0.25 MILES

    It's well worth dropping by this cultural center, and situated right on the Parque Morazán, which is handicrafts, clothing and tools on display, as well…

  • Basílica de Suyapa

    Basílica de Suyapa

    3.85 MILES

    The most important church in Tegucigalpa – and therefore in Honduras – is this neo-Gothic basílica. La Virgen de Suyapa is the patron saint of Honduras;…

  • Iglesia Los Dolores

    Iglesia Los Dolores

    0.15 MILES

    This striking church, which dominates an otherwise unremarkable plaza, has some attractive religious art. Its facade contains figures representing the…

  • Iglesia La Merced

    Iglesia La Merced

    0.28 MILES

    In 1847, the convent of La Merced was converted to house Honduras' first university; the country's national gallery was established there in 1996, but…

  • Palacio Legislativo

    Palacio Legislativo

    0.29 MILES

    This unusual modern building on stilts (next door to the Parque La Merced) is the Palacio Legislativo, where congress meets. It was here in December 2009…

View more attractions

Nearby Tegucigalpa attractions

1. Iglesia Los Dolores

0.15 MILES

This striking church, which dominates an otherwise unremarkable plaza, has some attractive religious art. Its facade contains figures representing the…

2. Plaza Morazán

0.24 MILES

At the center of the city is the Plaza Morazán, often called Parque Central by locals – this is Tegucigalpa's hub. A statue of former president Francisco…

4. Iglesia La Merced

0.28 MILES

In 1847, the convent of La Merced was converted to house Honduras' first university; the country's national gallery was established there in 1996, but…

5. Palacio Legislativo

0.29 MILES

This unusual modern building on stilts (next door to the Parque La Merced) is the Palacio Legislativo, where congress meets. It was here in December 2009…

6. Monumento a La Paz

0.97 MILES

This monument, inside Tegucigalpa's largest park, was erected in 1996 in the name of eternal peace between the 'fraternal nations of Central America.'

7. Monumento a Simón Bolívar

1.51 MILES

This monument to Latin America's great liberator straddles a busy junction in Tegucigalpa's well-to-do Colonia Palmira area.

8. Parque Naciones Unidas El Picacho

2.97 MILES

This small hilltop park 6km from downtown has busy walking trails, but the main reason to visit is to stand at the feet of the approximately 20m high El…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "honduras/tegucigalpa/attractions/museo-para-la-identidad-nacional/a/poi-sig/432468/358466",
  "destination": "Tegucigalpa",
  "continent": "Central-America",
  "country": "Honduras",
  "city": "Tegucigalpa",
  "position": "superzone"
}