Guatemala City, Guatemala: travel guide
Guatemala's capital and largest city; gateway hub with the National Palace, colonial Centro Histórico (Zona 1) and the upscale dining and nightlife of Zona 10 (Zona Viva).
- Country
- Guatemala
- Currency
- GTQ
- Time zone
- America/Guatemala
- Nearest airport
- GUA
Top places to visit in Guatemala City
Catedral Metropolitana
Church · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h
Neoclassical cathedral (completed 1815) whose pillars are engraved with names of the disappeared from the civil war.
Palacio Nacional de la Cultura
Heritage · about 1 h · entry GTQ 50
Grand green-stone presidential palace on the main square, now a cultural museum; guided tours cover murals, courtyards and the Km 0 marker.
Plaza de la Constitución
Heritage · about 0.5 h
The capital's civic heart in Zona 1, flanked by the National Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral, busy with weekend events.
Museo Popol Vuh
Museum · about 1.3 h · entry GTQ 60
Universidad Francisco Marroquín museum with one of the finest collections of Maya and colonial art, including painted ceramics.
Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena
Museum · about 1.3 h · entry GTQ 60
Museum devoted to Guatemala's Maya textiles and traditional dress, with hundreds of huipiles and weaving demonstrations.
Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología
Museum · about 1.5 h · entry GTQ 70
National archaeology museum in La Aurora park holding major Maya stelae and jade from Tikal, Piedras Negras and beyond.
Mapa en Relieve
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry GTQ 50
Giant open-air relief map of Guatemala built in 1905, showing the whole country's topography to scale.
Zona Viva (Zona 10)
Nightlife · about 2 h
The city's upscale district of restaurants, rooftop bars, clubs and hotels; the main nightlife hub for visitors.
Paseo Cayalá
Market · about 1.5 h
Modern white-stone pedestrian city-within-a-city with plazas, boutiques, restaurants and evening entertainment.
La Aurora Zoo
Wildlife · about 2 h · entry GTQ 50
Well-regarded zoo in La Aurora park with African savanna, Asian and Mesoamerican wildlife sections.
Mercado Central
Market · about 1 h
Multi-level covered market behind the cathedral selling textiles, leather, jade and handicrafts from across the country.
Things to do
- Guatemala City Historic Centre & Museums Tour City Tour · 5 h · from GTQ 260 per person
- Guatemalan Cooking Class Cooking Class · 4 h · from GTQ 320 per person
Where to stay in Guatemala City
- Zona 10 (Zona Viva) about GTQ 900 per night
Safest and most convenient district for visitors, with hotels, dining and nightlife.
- Zona 14 about GTQ 850 per night
Quiet upscale residential area near Cayalá, good for business travellers.
Hotels
- Barceló Guatemala City 5-star
- Clarion Suites Guatemala 4-star
- Theatre International Hostel 2-star
Where to eat
- Kacao Guatemalan · about GTQ 150 per person
- Arrin Cuan Guatemalan · about GTQ 120 per person
- Jake's International, Seafood · about GTQ 260 per person
- Rey Sol Vegetarian · about GTQ 55 per person
- Ambia Asian, Fusion · about GTQ 300 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Unregistered street taxis
Zona 1 and around bus terminals
Unofficial taxis may overcharge tourists or take long routes, and street-hailed cabs at night carry a robbery risk.
How to avoid it: Use Uber or a hotel-booked taxi; avoid hailing taxis on the street after dark.