Calle Real is the pedestrianised street that runs through the heart of old León, lined with low colonial buildings painted in bright colours, artisan workshops, cafes, and the occasional political mural. It is the most pleasant street in the city for a slow walk, and in the evenings it comes alive with vendors and students from the nearby university.
The murals are worth paying attention to — León has some of the most politically charged street art in Central America, much of it dating from the 1980s and celebrating the Sandinista revolution. More recent work adds commentary on contemporary politics. Walking the length of Calle Real takes twenty minutes but you will likely stop many more times than that.