Antigua, Guatemala: The Ultimate Travel Guide
Antigua is the former capital of Guatemala and an absolutely gorgeous travel destination, with vibrant buildings, stunning courtyards, cobbled streets and even glimpses of an erupting volcano, it’s no wonder it’s such a tourist hotspot.
Antigua is about an hour away from Guatemala City and a great starting or ending place for your travels in Guatemala as it’s well connected to the main airport and borders heading down to El Salvador/Honduras.
I want you to enjoy your time in Antigua as much as we did, so keep reading to discover all you need to know about Antigua before you visit.
Antigua Travel Guide
How to Get To Antigua, Guatemala
Most people when they land at Guatemala City airport head straight for Antigua as supposed to staying in Guatemala City. Antigua is around 25 miles from the airport but can take anywhere between 1 and 3 hours depending on traffic.
From the airport the simplest and safest option is to get a shared shuttle, which will cost between £15-20, you can book ahead with GuateGo here. Your other options are private taxis or Uber, just note the price could add up if the traffic is bad which it often is, so make sure to agree on a price beforehand. There are also local chicken buses however as the safety of Guatemala City is a bit sketchy for tourists I wouldn’t personally do this.
If you are coming from a different place in Guatemala such as Lake Atitilan, Xela, Lanquin, Rio Dulce, Flores or El Paredon you will also be able to find a shuttle service. During nearly 2 months in Guatemala we never once had a problem finding a shuttle, either we found a tour guide office or our hostel/hotel could arrange this for us. Just make sure to shop around for the best price and always add on a few hours to the time they say it will take.
Where to Stay in Antigua, Guatemala
As a tourist hotspot, there are endless accommodation options in Antigua and something for everyone’s budget. But as always we were trying to keep our costs down for this trip throughout Central America, so don’t expect any super fancy recommendations.
Maya Papaya
As hostels go this place was high quality, it had a calm but still very friendly atmosphere, perfect for backpackers who don’t want to party every night but still like to meet others. Also, it had a kitchen which isn’t common for hostels in Antigua but a necessity for us and it also helps to save a little on eating out.
We stayed here over New Year’s and prices were so high, I feel a little sick thinking how much we paid for a 14-bed dorm room, there are definitely more budget-friendly hostels in Antigua.
Casa Capirucho
We found this gem on Air BnB and if you are travelling as a duo and want some more privacy than a hostel, I fully recommend Casa Capirucho. We paid £29 a night and it was a fantastic location for exploring, it had a well-equipped shared kitchen and the room and the ensuite were spot on. The best part about this place was its rooftop terrace, the views of Antigua and its surrounding volcanoes made for an unreal breakfast view.
If you’re on a backpackers budget here are some other hostels we heard other travellers love:
If you’re looking for a party hostel Tropicana is for you. To connect with other travellers and have more authentic experiences check out The Purpose Hostel. And although I think Maya Papaya is great for digital nomads, the Selina hostel is popular for its co-working spaces.
Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala
Visit the Artesanal Market
Located a street over from the craziness at the Central Market in Antigua, you’ll find this slightly more calm and artsy market. With locals selling paintings, handmade jewellery, bags and much more. Even if you’re not looking for souvenirs to take home, it’s a really lovely market to wander around and there are even some gorgeous courtyards to see within the market as well.
Take a Free Walking Tour
We decided to do a walking tour when we first arrived to get our bearings of Antigua and I highly recommend doing the same, our guide Klaudia was hilarious.
The tour began at the Iglesia de la Merced and ended at the Iglesia de San Francisco, I felt like I learnt a lot about the history of Antigua and Guatemala in general. Book your spot on Klaudia’s walking tour here ->
Explore the City’s Courtyards and Cobbled Streets
One of the best things you can do in Antigua is to just wander the vibrant cobbled streets and stick your head in a courtyard or two. The architecture here is certainly one of the charming qualities of Antigua.
The famous Santa Catalina Arch is a great place to start your wondering, around here you will find quite a few courtyards open to the public.
Take a Coffee Tour at Finca la Azotea
This was one of my favourite things we did whilst in Antigua, it was such an in-depth tour and this small coffee plant actually exports its beans to none other than coffee giant Starbucks.
The tour explained the full process of making high-quality coffee and went into depth about how different cultures brew coffee. I found it all so fascinating and if you’re a coffee lover this is the perfect activity for you. It cost us 50Q each for the tour and this included a free coffee tasting at the end, we even got to try the coffee beans whilst walking around the plantation.
If coffee isn’t your thing Finca la Azotea offer’s so much more like horse riding, chocolate-making classes, shops, bicycle trails, restaurants and different bars. Just a 20-minute walk outside of Antigua and close to the village of Jocotenango make sure to add it to your Antigua to-do list.
Roast Marshmallows on Volcano Pacaya
Volcano Pacaya is one of the many volcanoes you can explore around Antigua, it was about 1 hour and a half on the shuttle before we arrived at the starting point for the hike. It was a steep hike, but nothing too strenuous, unfortunately, the day we went the visibility was rubbish so we didn’t actually see an awful lot.
However the terrain towards the end of our hike was so unique, it felt like we could have been on a different planet like something I would see on Doctor Who. If you get lucky you may catch a lava flow or two in the evening. But if not, fear not, because you’ll be kept busy searching for the gas vents/hot spots to roast a few marshmallows on, pretty unique experience if you ask me.
We went with CA travellers and it cost us 150Q per person and then there was also an extra 50Q entrance fee per person at the start of the hike. If you want to get your bearings with a volcano hike before taking on Acatenango I highly recommend Pacaya.
See the Views Over the City at Cerro De La Cruz
The mirador of the city, Cerro De La Cruz is a steep 20-minute walk from the centre of Antigua, but you’ll be rewarded with some lovely views of this colonial city. It would also be a lovely spot to watch the sunset from and just so you know it’s completely free to visit.
Relax and Treat yourself at Oasis Spa
This was such a treat for me, but it was Christmas so I decided to get a gel manicure at Oasis Spa. They did such a fantastic job, it lasted well over 2 weeks and the nails even survived a volcano hike. It’s a bit more spenny here than some other places, but you pay for that spa environment, think lovely smells, relaxing music and gorgeous interiors, another plus was the staff were extremely friendly.
They offer all sorts of treatments like massages, body scrubs and facials so if you find yourself needing a little TLC Oasis Spa in Antigua is the place for you.
Visit Hobbitenango
I’m not too sure why I put this on my things-to-do list, because personally, I didn’t like it. But it’s for sure unique and you do get some amazing views of Antigua and the surrounding villages and volcanoes.
To be honest I just didn’t get Hobbitenango. Was it meant to be for Lord of the Ring Fans or is it just a large selfie attraction? Other than a few gorgeous viewpoints, we spent most of our time drinking an overpriced beer wondering why we came out here.
I’m sure I REALLY made you want to visit with that speech, but it’s a popular spot with tourists.
Check out the Museo de Arte Colonial
I can’t say I know the first thing about art, but I do love an art museum and especially when they are free which the Museo de Arte Colonial is. You’ll find the entrance just round the corner from Central Park.
There’s some amazing artwork obviously and the museum exhibitions take you through a timeline of the changing art styles throughout history. I found it fascinating and there were some gorgeous courtyards and a terrace with a view of central park to see along the way.
Take a Chocolate Making Class
You’ll find chocolate museums and chocolate-making classes all over Central America, or at least we see this in nearly every destination we go to. The Choco Museo at Central Park in Antigua is no different, they offer 2-hour chocolate workshops where you will learn about how it’s made and even get a chance to make some of your own.
If you don’t fancy the workshop you should at least pop your head into the shop as they will be more than willing to give you a free sample of a few of their chocolate products…
Do the Overnight Hike up Volcano Acatenango
Arguably one of the most popular activities in Antigua this will see you climbing high into the sky to see the very active Fuego volcano shoot buckets of lava into the starry skies. You can opt to do this as a day trip, but I would recommend the 1-night 2-day option otherwise you won’t see the lava show.
Read my full guide to hiking Volcano Acatenango here —>
People Watch in Antigua’s Parks
A fun and free activity who doesn’t love those? Central Park will undoubtedly be part of your Antigua itinerary, located right in the heart of the city, you will find a bustling environment here with people feeding pigeons (honestly I will never understand this), water fountains, greenery and plenty of benches for people watching. On different days of the week and holidays, you’ll also find a lot of food stalls and stands selling all sorts of different souvenirs and products.
A more tranquil park to watch the world go by in is Tanque de la Union not far from Central Park. Here on a clear day, you will have incredible views of Acatenango and Fuego and if you get lucky you may even see them erupt.
Fun Fact
We were told by our tour guide from Pacaya that “tenango” translates as the place of, which is the reason why there are many places in Guatemala ending in “tenango” e.g. Quetzaltenango, Jocotenango and even Hobbitenango.
Where to Eat and Drink in Antigua, Guatemala
There are so many fabulous cafes, restaurants and bars in Antigua I think the list of where to go out to eat and drink could be endless. Still reeling from Josh’s allergic reaction we opted mainly to cook in our Air BnB, so unfortunately my restaurant recommendations are lacking, but I’ll make up for it with the where-to-drink options.
My Favorite Cafe in Antigua
Artiste de Café
Originally my plan in Antigua was to explore quite a few cafes, but as soon as I visited the Artiste de Café I was hooked. The coffee was a 10 out of 10, the vibes were immaculate, the wifi was great and therefore it became my spot.
I highly recommend it, these guys know how to make good coffee and it’s a brilliant place to get some work done.
A Fantastic Brunch Spot in Antigua
Luna de Miel
This was actually Josh’s finding and it was an absolutely delicious finding, Luna de Miel is mainly known for its crepes with nearly any filling you could ever imagine.
We ended up here a few times as there was so much I wanted to try, it’s a great spot for brunch with a really cute terrace and incredibly rapid service even though it always seems busy here. I recommend the Nutella and Oreo crepe, honestly, I’m craving one so bad writing this now. We also stopped by here for dessert and again their ice cream sundaes did not disappoint.
Don’t miss Luna de Miel if you’re visiting Antigua, it would be a crime.
Bars to Check out in Antigua
I just couldn’t pick one so here are 3 instead…
Antigua Brewery Company
We spent probably a bit too much time here whilst we were in Antigua, but for good reason. They had a gorgeous terrace looking over the city, delicious drinks, tasty food and even live music. With local and foreign brews they’ll certainly be something to your taste. The best way to discover their offerings is with one of the beer flights they offer so you can sample what they have to offer. Josh says look out for the spicy one though, don’t think he enjoyed that.
And if you want to discover a hidden gem of this place head through the red phone box located just at the entrance to the bar. Walk in to find a hidden speakeasy-style cocktail bar with no menu, just tell the bartender what kind of drink you like and watch them work their magic.
El Barrio
More of a nightlife destination, you can expect it to get wildly busy during the weekend or holidays, with DJs and live music. It’s a collection of different styles of bars, I think there was 5 open when we were there, some are just drinks but other were offering food as well.
I recommend Mahalo, it was the cocktail bar downstairs on the right when you walk in. The cocktails there were absolutely delicious, a classic Cosmo was my favourite.
Tabacos y Vinos
A one for my fellow wine lovers, this place had the largest selection of wine I have seen in a bar in a while. Located just underneath the Santa Catalina arch it’s the perfect place to stop off for an afternoon tipple. The more you drink the cheaper it gets, so win-win really!
Where to Visit After Antigua
There is an endless amount of things to see and experience in Antigua, there’s a reason it’s Guatemala’s most visited destination by tourists. Coming in just underneath Mexico City, Antigua is one of the best cities we have visited on our Central American trip so far!
So I hope this guide convinced you to visit or helped you to plan your visit to Antigua, Guatemala.
If you have already been to Antigua let me know what your thoughts were in the comments below.
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