Antigua, Guatemala Travel Guide: Things to Do, Food and Tips

(Last updated: October 2026)

After Mexico, we finally made it to our second country on this trip: Guatemala. We flew from Cancún to Guatemala City and took a shuttle to Antigua. Once we arrived, we immediately understood why Antigua is so popular.

This Antigua Guatemala travel guide covers the 10 best things to do, where to stay, what to eat, how to get there from Guatemala City, what things cost and the tips we wish we had known before arriving. If you prefer our travel stories, read our Antigua travel story.

First Impressions of Antigua

Antigua is a city where you can easily spend a few days without a strict sightseeing plan. The historic centre is full of colourful colonial buildings, churches, ruins, cafés, restaurants and artisan shops.

What we liked most was that many buildings look quite simple from the street, but often hide beautiful gardens and courtyards behind their entrances. The volcanoes surrounding the city make the setting even more impressive.

We also discovered that Antigua might have the prettiest Starbucks and McDonald’s we’ve ever seen, both fitting surprisingly well into the city’s colonial architecture.

Where is Antigua, Guatemala?

Antigua, Guatemala is located in the department of Sacatepéquez, around 40 kilometers southwest of Guatemala City.

The city lies in a volcanic landscape surrounded by Volcán de Agua, Acatenango and Volcán de Fuego.

Why Visit Antigua?

Antigua was the capital of the Spanish colonial Kingdom of Guatemala until a series of earthquakes in 1773 severely damaged the city and led to the capital being moved to what is now Guatemala City. Today, the historic centre remains remarkably well preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO – Antigua Guatemala

You can explore the colonial center, visit churches and ruins, shop for traditional handicrafts, visit coffee farms, hike a volcano or take Spanish lessons.

For us, learning Spanish became one of the main reasons to stay longer. Antigua is well known for Spanish schools, and you can choose between group courses, private lessons and homestays.

We eventually chose private lessons at Antigüeña Spanish Academy, studying outside in a beautiful garden with local teachers. I had Marina, a 70-year-old teacher, who quickly understood my level and adapted the lessons to me. What made the experience particularly interesting was that she also shared stories about her life, Guatemalan traditions and the country’s more recent history. Antigüeña Spanish Academy

So if you are travelling through Guatemala and want to improve your Spanish, Antigua is a particularly good place to slow down for a week or two.

Best Time to Visit Antigua

The dry season, roughly mid-October to late April, is the best time to visit, and December to February is the driest stretch. The rainy season runs from around June to September, with June to August the wettest. Clear mornings matter most if you plan a volcano hike, because clouds hide the views of Fuego. Our own weather was not good enough for Acatenango, which is why we hiked Pacaya instead.

10 Best Things to Do in Antigua

1. Wander Around the Historic Centre

The best way to discover Antigua is simply to walk.

The historic centre is compact and full of colourful buildings, cobblestone streets, churches, cafés, shops and hidden courtyards. You can cross much of the old town in around 20 minutes, so it is easy to explore without using transport.

If you want to learn more about the city, though, you shall join a free walking tour. We usually book through GuruWalk and for Antigua we recommend Pablo.

2. See the Santa Catalina Arch

The Santa Catalina Arch is probably Antigua’s most recognisable landmark.

It was originally built to connect the Santa Catalina convent with a school, allowing the nuns to cross the street without being seen in public.

Today, it is one of the city’s most photographed places, particularly with the volcanoes in the background.

3. Visit La Merced and the Churches

Antigua is full of churches, monasteries and ruins.

Iglesia de La Merced is one of the best-known churches and is particularly convenient if you stay in the northern part of the old town.

We recommend simply walking between the different churches and ruins rather than trying to see everything according to a strict itinerary.

4. Visit the Artisan Markets

Antigua is a good place to look for traditional Guatemalan textiles, handicrafts, artwork and souvenirs.

The city’s markets and smaller artisan shops are a good opportunity to see the country’s traditional crafts, including textiles, woodwork, pottery and other handmade products.

One thing we particularly noticed during our time in Antigua was how visible Mayan culture still is in everyday life. Many local people, especially women, continue to wear traditional clothing, which we really enjoyed seeing.

5. Hike Volcán Acatenango

One of the most famous experiences from Antigua is the Acatenango volcano hike.

The hike takes around 4–6 hours to reach the upper areas and climbs to almost 4,000 metres. Most tours spend the night on the volcano before hiking back down the following morning.

The highlight is the neighbouring Volcán de Fuego, which can often be seen and heard erupting during the night. Fuego is the active volcano and continues to show frequent eruptive activity. Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program – Volcán de Fuego

It is a demanding hike because of the altitude, steep terrain, weather and cold temperatures. Your fitness, tolerance of heights and the weather conditions are all worth considering before booking.

We also wouldn’t recommend doing it alone. There are experienced local guides and tour companies that organise the complete experience, including food and camping equipment.

We looked at operators such as Soy Tours and OX Expeditions, which offer organized Acatenango trips.

Book your Acatenango Hike here!

We ultimately decided against Acatenango because the weather wasn’t good enough during our stay and we probably wouldn’t have seen much of Fuego.

6. Hike Volcán Pacaya

Instead, we chose Volcán Pacaya.

It is still a proper hike, but easier than Acatenango and a good alternative if you don’t want to spend a night at almost 4,000 metres.

The volcanic landscape is completely different from a normal mountain hike. And the best part for us was the way back down: we could run through the volcanic sand, which was surprisingly fun.

The guided Pacaya day trip lasts approx. 6 hours. You leave in the morning and get back in the afternoon. The price per person starts at 25 USD.

Book your Pacaya day trip here!

7. Learn Spanish

Spanish lessons are one of Antigua’s most popular activities, and for us they became one of the highlights of our stay.

You can find private and group lessons, often combined with homestays or cultural activities.

We chose private lessons because we wanted to focus on our individual levels. Having a local teacher also meant that our lessons became much more than grammar exercises.

8. Visit a Coffee Farm

Guatemala is famous for its coffee, and the area around Antigua has many coffee-growing farms, or fincas.

A coffee tour is a good way to get outside the city and learn about how coffee is grown, harvested and processed.

9. Enjoy the Gardens, Cafés and Restaurants

You don’t need an organised activity every day in Antigua.

Some of our favourite days were simply spent walking around, having coffee, eating somewhere new and discovering another beautiful courtyard.

There are also plenty of healthy, vegetarian and international restaurants, so the food scene is much more varied than you might expect from a relatively small city.

10. Visit Cerro de la Cruz

For a different perspective of Antigua, walk up to Cerro de la Cruz, a viewpoint overlooking the city.

The walk from the centre takes about 20 minutes and entry is free. Clear days at sunrise or sunset are best, and one guide advises leaving soon after sunset because the path is listed as closing at 6 pm. Please confirm from your own visit.

From here you can see the historic centre and the surrounding volcanoes.

Ask locally about current conditions before walking outside the center, particularly if you are travelling alone, and visit during daylight.

Tours and Experiences

You can see most of Antigua on your own, but some experiences are easier with a guide or a tour, especially the volcano hikes.

• Free walking tour: we usually book through GuruWalk. Free tours are tip-based.
• Acatenango overnight hike: organised trips include food and camping equipment, for example Soy Tours.
• Pacaya day hike: a guided half-day trip from Antigua.
• Coffee farm tour: a day out among the fincas around Antigua.

Spanish lessons: private or group lessons, often with a homestay

Here is a comprehensive comparison between the Acatenango and Pacaya hikes:

	Acatenango	Pacaya
Difficulty	Demanding: altitude, steep terrain, cold	Still a proper hike, but easier
Time	4 to 6 hours to the upper areas, overnight on the volcano	Guided day trips listed at about 6 to 8 hours
Height	Almost 4,000 metres	lower altitude
Highlight	Seeing and hearing Fuego erupt at night	Volcanic landscape and running down the sand
Our choice	Skipped: weather too poor to see Fuego	Done, and worth it

Antigua Itinerary: How Many Days Do You Need?

We wandered for two days with no plan, then stayed a week for Spanish lessons. Here is how we would do three days, based on what we liked.

Day 1: Historic centre

• Join a free walking tour with GuruWalk.
• See the Santa Catalina Arch and Iglesia de La Merced.
• Browse the artisan markets and find a hidden courtyard café.

Day 2: Volcano day

• Hike Pacaya in the morning, or Acatenango overnight if the weather allows.
• Run down the volcanic sand on the way back.
• Dinner at Ulew, and look for the telephone booth.

Day 3: Slow day

• Visit a coffee farm, or take a Spanish lesson in a garden.
• Walk up to Cerro de la Cruz in daylight.

With more time: book a week of Spanish lessons like we did, and use the afternoons for cafés, walking and day trips.

Where to Stay

There is accommodation for almost every budget in Antigua, from hostels and simple guesthouses to boutique hotels and more luxurious colonial-style properties.

We stayed at Casa Capirucho, close to the Santa Catalina Arch and Iglesia La Merced. The location worked really well for us because we could walk almost everywhere, and our host Rodrigo was very helpful with recommendations.

One of the rooms has a nice view of Volcán de Agua, and there is also a good view from the terrace.

For a first visit, we recommend staying somewhere within the old town. The centre is compact, and having restaurants, cafés and sights within walking distance makes things very easy.

Accommodation Prices

Antigua has options for different budgets:

As a rough guide for current prices, you can expect:

• Hostel dorm: around US$10–20 per person/night
• Private hostel or guesthouse room: around US$20–40/night
• Budget hotel: around US$30–55/night
• Comfortable mid-range hotel: around US$55–100/night
• Boutique / higher-end hotel: around US$100–200+ per night
• Luxury hotels: US$180–350+ per night is possible

Our Hotel Picks in Antigua

Budget

• One Day Trip Hostel: a friendly, social hostel a few minutes’ walk from the Santa Catalina Arch and Parque Central. Shared kitchen, terrace, laundry and 24-hour security make it a good base for backpackers. Dorm beds from about US$8, private rooms from about US$32.
• Casa de Leon: an adults-only guesthouse with a garden, sun terrace and shared kitchen, close to the San Francisco church. Very well rated for the price (9.0 on Booking.com), with shared bathrooms. From about US$27 to US$30 per night.

Mid-range

• Hotel La Galeria: a 3-star hotel about five minutes’ walk from Parque Central. Guests praise the breakfast and the friendly staff (9.0 on Booking.com). Family and triple rooms are available. From about US$58 per night.
• Casa Capirucho: our own base. A small, quiet place close to the Santa Catalina Arch, with a sun terrace, a bar, mountain views and a private bathroom in every room. Booking.com scores its location 9.6. From about US$50 per night.

Upper mid-range and luxury

• Hotel Aurora: 20 rooms around a garden, steps from Parque Central and the Santo Domingo museum. The location scores 9.8 and the overall rating is 9.4. From about US$86 per night.
• Cacao Boutique Hotel: a boutique hotel in the Santo Domingo quarter, a short walk from the ChocoMuseo, Casa Santo Domingo and Parque Central. It has a garden, a terrace, free breakfast and rooms from Double to Premier. Rated 9.2 on Booking.com. From about US$119 per night.
• Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo: our splurge pick, a 5-star hotel built in a restored convent, with a pool, spa, restaurant and a museum on site. From about US$170, often US$230 or more.

For accommodation, we usually check Booking.com and Airbnb to compare different options in the destination.

Food and Drinks in Antigua

Antigua surprised us with how many good restaurants, cafés and bars there are.

Ulew

Ulew was one of our favorite places for drinks. You tell them which flavors you like and they create a secret cocktail for you. It is not a bar, it is an experience.

Even finding the entrance is part of the experience — look for the London-style telephone booth.

Café Boheme

For coffee or brunch, we particularly liked the terrace at Café Boheme.

Fernando’s Kaffee and Café Café

Both Fernando’s Kaffee and Café Café are good choices for coffee, breakfast or a relaxed break during a day of sightseeing.

El Bowl

For a healthier lunch, El Bowl is worth checking out.

Samsara and La Bruja

For dinner, we liked Samsara and La Bruja.

Restaurante Zócalo

If you start missing Mexican food, Restaurante Zócalo is a good option.

Other Places

We also came across:

• Café El Portal
• Siena Luz

How to Get to Antigua and Get Around

Guatemala City to Antigua

We flew from Cancún to Guatemala City and then took a shuttle to Antigua. We did not stay in Guatemala City.

The journey was supposed to take around 40 minutes, but traffic turned ours into more than two hours.

This is worth keeping in mind when planning airport transfers or onward connections.

Guatemala tourism information

Getting Around Antigua

The old town is very easy to explore on foot.

You can get from one side of the historic centre to the other in roughly 20 minutes, so we barely needed transport while staying there.

There are also small taxis and tuk-tuks if you don’t want to walk.

Getting Outside Antigua

For coffee farms, volcanoes and nearby villages, you can use taxis, organised tours or local buses.

Antigua is also an important tourist hub, so it is well connected with other destinations in Guatemala and with neighboring countries.

Leaving Antigua

Our next stop was San Marcos on Lake Atitlán. Read our Lake Atitlán travel guide for the villages, boats and where to stay.

Money, Payments and Cards in Antigua

Cards are accepted at hotels and larger restaurants, but you will need cash to get around.
You will find several ATMs easily. Always select local currency for the conversion.

For travelling in Guatemala, we recommend having a travel-friendly card such as Revolut or Wise, especially if you want to pay in quetzales while keeping track of your spending.

Tipping is generally not expected here, unless you are in a more touristic or expat friendly cafe or restaurant. But you might want to round up or consider a 5 to 10% for good service.

Travel Safety & Essentials in Antigua

A little preparation can make travelling easier and give you some extra peace of mind. Here are some travel essentials worth considering before your trip.

Phone, Internet and SIM Card

The most convenient way to stay connected is through an e-sim. We typically use Airalo or Holafly, depending on our need for Data at a specific country or location. Alternatively you can also check out Saily or Ubigi. In case you do not want to use an e-sim, for Guatemala we recommend Tigo or Claro. Beware of scams, though, as you might get charged a higher price for an internet package.

Travel Insurance

Before travelling, it is worth checking your travel insurance options and making sure the policy covers the activities you plan to do. This matters here: a volcano hike at altitude is the kind of activity some policies exclude. World Nomads offers travel insurance for travelers and different types of trips and activities. Always check the current policy wording, coverage limits and exclusions before purchasing.

Protect Your Belongings

For extra security when travelling, Pacsafe offers anti-theft backpacks, bags and travel accessories that can be useful when staying in hostels or travelling by bus and other public transport.

Protect Your Cards

If you carry several cards while travelling, an RFID-blocking wallet, like mywalit, can be a useful extra precaution. It also keeps your cards, cash and travel documents organized while you’re on the move.

Use a VPN and a Password Manager

A VPN can be useful when connecting to public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels, cafés or other shared networks. NordVPN is one option to consider if you want an additional layer of privacy while travelling. They also offer a password manager that can help you securely store and manage your passwords while on the road.

Is Antigua Safe?

Antigua was safer than we thought. Nevertheless, some caution is needed in Guatemala, including Antigua. At night, prefer to stay around crowded places. Also be cautious about getting outside of the city on your own and avoid taking photos of locals and especially of children. It is considered at least rude doing so without their concession.

Travel Tips

• Stay near the historic centre if you want to walk everywhere.
• Allow extra time for traffic when travelling to or from Guatemala City.
• Bring layers, especially if you are planning to hike.
• Take altitude seriously on Acatenango.
• Check weather and volcanic conditions before hiking.
• Use an experienced guide for major volcano hikes.
• Don’t hike alone if you are unfamiliar with the area.
• Ask locally about safety before going on less-travelled routes or walking around late at night.
• Respect local traditions. Traditional Maya clothing is still part of everyday life in Antigua and throughout Guatemala.
• Ask before taking photographs of people, especially children.
• Try Spanish lessons if you have the time. Even one week can make a noticeable difference to your confidence.
• Keep some cash with you, particularly for smaller cafés, markets, transport and excursions.

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Antigua Guatemala FAQ

How many days do you need in Antigua?

Three days cover the historic centre, a volcano day and a slower day. We stayed a week because we also took Spanish lessons.

Is Antigua, Guatemala safe for tourists?

We found it safer than we expected. Stay around crowded places at night, be careful when leaving the city on your own, and ask before photographing people.

Can you walk around Antigua?

Yes. You can cross the historic centre in roughly 20 minutes, so we barely needed transport. Taxis and tuk-tuks are available.

How long is the transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua?

Our shuttle was supposed to take around 40 minutes. Traffic made it more than two hours, so allow extra time.

Which currency is used in Guatemala?

The Quetzal (GTQ), at about 8 per US dollar. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but carry cash.

Acatenango or Pacaya: which volcano hike should you choose?

Acatenango is the overnight hike with views of Fuego, and altitude matters. Pacaya is shorter and easier to fit into a day. We chose Pacaya because the weather was poor for Acatenango.

Is Antigua good for learning Spanish?

We think so. We had private lessons in a garden for a week, and our teacher also told us about Guatemala’s traditions and history.

Final Thoughts on Antigua

For us, it was probably one of the prettiest towns we had seen in Latin America. Colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, hidden gardens, cafés, restaurants and volcanoes surrounding the city make Antigua a very special place.

We loved the combination of the beautiful historic centre, volcanoes, food and cafés, but especially enjoyed having enough time to slow down and learn Spanish.

Save this Antigua Guatemala Travel Guide for later!

As one picture equals a thousand words, visit our Instagram for more images from Antigua Guatemala.

Continuing through Central America? Read our Lake Atitlán travel guide, our Ometepe guide for Nicaragua’s twin-volcano island, or see all our Central America posts.

Our Antigua Travel Story

Want to know how our week in Antigua went, from Spanish lessons to volcano views? Read our Antigua travel story