Asunción shops in two speeds: the chaotic, cash-only sprawl of Mercado 4 and Calle Palma's pavement vendors, and the polished boutiques of Villa Morra. Between them sit Paraguay's genuine crafts — ñandutí lace, ao po'i embroidery, hand-tooled leather and silver-rimmed guampas.
Asunción's sprawling street market fills dozens of blocks around Pettirossi and Rca. de Colombia. Open roughly 06:00–18:00 daily; herb stalls sell pohã ñana remedies by the bundle from Gs. 5.000, yerba mate from Gs. 15.000/kg, guampas and bombillas Gs. 40.000 up.
The market's food row runs along Pettirossi with chipa so'o, mbeju and empanadas griddled to order from about Gs. 5.000–12.000 apiece, plus tereré served from thermos flasks. Cash only, standing room, busiest 11:30–13:30 with market traders.
The state craft body on Avenida Mariscal López runs a showroom of certified artisan work — ñandutí lace, ao po'i shirts, Tobatí woodcarving and Itá pottery — with maker names attached. Typically weekdays 07:00–15:00; fixed prices, card accepted, no bargaining.
The pavement stalls ringing the Panteón Nacional and along Calle Palma sell ñandutí doilies, ao po'i blouses, leather sandals and hammocks from mid-afternoon until dusk. Small ñandutí discs start around Gs. 35.000; a good hammock runs Gs. 250.000–450.000.
An open-air complex on Av. España where Paraguayan designers sit beside cafés and terraces. Shops generally 10:00–20:00 Mon–Sat; expect Gs. 250.000–900.000 for locally made dresses and leather bags, with ao po'i reworked into contemporary cuts.
A break between boutique blocks near the Santa Teresa/Aviadores del Chaco junction, with espresso, tostados and cold tereré. Handy staging point between Carmelitas and the mall, and one of the few places nearby with reliable free wifi and air conditioning.
Asunción's long-running mall at Aviadores del Chaco and Prof. Delia González, open 10:00–21:00 daily. Strong on Paraguayan labels, a supermarket for yerba and Paraguayan honey, and electronics priced well below Argentine and Brazilian equivalents.
The glassy tower complex on Santa Teresa holds international labels, a cinema and a rooftop-level food deck that fills after 19:00. Prices sit above the rest of the city, but it is the one place with consistent stock of larger European clothing sizes.
Thirty kilometres east on Lake Ypacaraí, Areguá's main street is lined with open-fronted ceramics workshops selling planters, tableware and painted figures. Strawberry season runs Aug–Oct. Buses from Asunción take about an hour; a taxi is Gs. 150.000–200.000 each way.
The small covered market beside Areguá's plaza sells strawberries by the punnet in season, plus local honey, cheese and cheap ceramics seconds. A good lunch stop for asado and mandioca before heading back toward the capital in the early afternoon.
A long-standing craft shop in the historic centre stocking ñandutí from Itauguá, ao po'i from Yataity, silver-mounted guampas and leather goods under one roof at fixed prices. Usually 08:00–18:00 weekdays, shorter Saturdays, closed Sunday; cards accepted.
An upmarket grocery that doubles as the easiest place to buy edible souvenirs: Paraguayan yerba brands like Kurupí and Pajarito, Ka'a He'ê stevia, Paraguayan honey and dulce de mamón, all boxed, priced and card-friendly for the flight home.