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Destinations / Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala

Cobbled colonial town ringed by volcanoes

historyarchitectureadventurebudget
Plan your trip to Antigua GuatemalaSee the top 10
46,054Population
SpanishLanguage
GTQCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$90-150Typical day

Antigua is a colonial town of pastel houses, ruins and cobbles below three volcanoes. Spanish schools, cafes and markets draw long stays. Volcano hikes like Acatenango are popular. Holy Week here is spectacular.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A yellow arch built in the 1690s so nuns could cross the street unseen. Volcan de Agua rises behind it. It is the city's best known image.

    20 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Viewing the arch from the street is free.

    Tip. Go soon after sunrise for empty streets and soft light.
    See on the map

  2. The main square with a fountain and shady trees. It is lively day and night. The cathedral and palace face it.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  3. A cathedral partly in ruins after earthquakes. The front part is still used. Visitors can tour the ruined back.

    45 minutesTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    See on the map

  4. A hill with a large cross and views over the city. It takes about 20 minutes to walk up. Go in daylight with others.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to visit.

    Tip. Go in the morning with a group or by taxi; avoid walking up alone.
    See on the map

  5. A tough overnight hike up Acatenango volcano for views of erupting Fuego. Book with a guide. It is very cold at the top.

    Full dayTime needed
    yesBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Guided only.
    See on the map

  6. An active volcano with lava fields and views. The hike takes a few hours. It is about 1.5 hours away.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Book a morning or afternoon shuttle from town, about 2 hours each way including the climb. Check conditions first.
    See on the map

  7. A yellow Baroque church with ornate stucco. Its ruined convent has a large fountain. It is a center of Holy Week.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Small fee for the cloister and tower; the church is free.

    Tip. Visit outside service times to see the cloister quietly.
    See on the map

  8. A busy local market with produce and crafts. It is west of the center. It is busiest on market days.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  9. Tours show coffee growing and roasting near town. Many include tastings. Some farms have museums.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Book a morning tour when the farm is most active.
    See on the map

  10. A lake ringed by volcanoes and Maya villages. It is about 2.5 hours away. Boats link the villages.

    Full dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Costs depend on transport and boat hops; price not verified.

    Tip. Shuttle about 2.5 to 3 hours.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Antigua in three days

Day one town, day two Pacaya, day three Lake Atitlan.

  1. Santa Catalina Arch20 minutes · Free
  2. Central Park30 minutes · Free
  3. Cathedral of San Jose45 minutes
  4. Cerro de la Cruz1 hour · Free
  5. Acatenango Volcano HikeFull day
  6. Pacaya VolcanoHalf day
  7. La Merced Church30 minutes · Free
  8. Antigua Market1 hour · Free
  9. Coffee Farm TourHalf day
  10. Lake AtitlanFull day · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Chichicastenango

Market.

68 mi · Shuttle, about 2.5 hours

Tikal

Maya ruins.

311 mi · Flight to Flores

Acatenango Volcano overnight hike

Famous for night views of the erupting Fuego volcano.

12 mi · Tour van, then a steep hike; two days one night

Iximche Maya site

A Kaqchikel Maya capital with plazas and ball courts.

37 mi · Shuttle or private car, about 2 hours each way

Guatemala City

Museums and a big city contrast.

28 mi · Shuttle or bus, about 1 to 1.5 hours

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: November to April. Dry season.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.410.2JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

78°F
Typical daily high
Average67°F
Rain0.2 in
About1 rainy days
Sun strength5.2 kWh/m²

Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Mar

Semana Santa

Holy Week, March or April

Processions over carpets.

Nov

Day of the Dead and giant kites

November 1

Huge kites are flown in nearby villages such as Sumpango, a short ride from town.

Dec

Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil)

December 7

Bonfires are lit across town to start the Christmas season.

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Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

Guatemala is at US State Department Level 3 (reconsider travel); citing crime; Antigua is calmer but use guided volcano hikes and avoid night travel.

4/5
Walkability

Compact grid with cobbles.

2/5
Public transport

Chicken buses and tuk tuks.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Central Antigua

$$

Best for: first-timers

Central.

2. Near Arch

$$$

Best for: couples

Views.

3. Jocotenango

$

Best for: budget

Cheaper.

4. Calle del Arco and La Merced area

$$$

Best for: couples, photographers

Quiet colonial streets with boutique hotels near the main arch.

5. San Cristobal El Alto and outskirts

$

Best for: budget travelers

Cheaper hostels and guesthouses a short tuk tuk ride away.

6. Hotel gardens on the edge of town

$$$

Best for: families, luxury seekers

Large grounds and pools with views of the volcanoes.

Getting there and around

Main airportLa Aurora International Airport (GUA), 28 mi from the center
To the centerShuttle about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Around townWalk; shuttles for trips.
Ride appsUber
Taste it

What to eat

Pepian

Spiced stew.

Tamales

Corn dough parcels.

Guatemalan coffee

Try a cupping at a farm or a cafe in town.

Rellenitos

Fried plantain parcels filled with sweet black beans.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V
Tap waterUse bottled water
TippingAbout 10 percent, often included.
PaymentsCash is common.
EtiquetteDress modestly in religious sites and greet people with a simple hello.
  • Use registered shuttles.
  • Hike volcanoes with a registered guide or group; trail robberies have been reported.
  • Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water, including for ice.
  • Cobblestones are hard on suitcases and shoes.
  • Holy Week brings road closures and very high prices.
  • Altitude is about 1,500 m, so evenings are cool.

A short history

Antigua was founded in 1543 as Santiago de los Caballeros, the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala, after the previous capital was buried by a mudslide from Volcan de Agua. Over two centuries it filled with churches, convents and one of the first universities in the Americas. The Santa Marta earthquakes of 1773 badly damaged the city. The crown ordered the capital moved to present day Guatemala City in 1776, and Antigua was partly abandoned, which preserved its colonial layout. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Antigua Guatemala