Welcome To Antigua, Guatemala’s Most Charming City
Nestled within the highlands of Guatemala, Antigua is a charming colonial city and one of the gems of Central America. In this travel blog, we’ll go over the 14 best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala so you can enjoy your visit to Antigua as much as we did!
This UNESCO World Heritage site, framed by imposing volcanoes, has attracted tons of digital nomads, American ex-pats, and vacationers in recent years – and for a ton of great reasons. From the centuries-old cobblestone streets to the panoramic viewpoints offering vistas of majestic peaks, Antigua captivates visitors at every turn.
Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a cultural enthusiast, or someone seeking a serene escape, Antigua has something to offer. Get inspired to explore the city’s historic landmarks, embark on thrilling hikes to volcanic summits, indulge in the rich flavors of local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the authentic Mayan art. Without further ado, let’s get into the best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala!
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14 Best Things To Do In Antigua, Guatemala
1. Explore The City On A Walking Tour
Take in the captivating sights of historic Antigua on a free walking tour through the dreamy cobblestone streets. Admire the well-preserved Spanish Colonial architecture, visit historic churches and absorb the vibrant local culture that Antigua proudly displays. Make sure to do a walking tour one of the first days you get there so you can further explore the amazing things mentioned later on! We recommend going with Alfredo’s Free Walking Tour; Alfredo was very knowledgeable and spoke great English.
2. Challenge Yourself With The Acatenango Volcano Hike
Summiting 1200 meters for this 2-day volcano hike is an amazing experience that for many, is the highlight of Guatemala. While this is no easy feat, you will be heavily rewarded for your difficult trek with breathtaking views. From the neighboring Volcán de Fuego erupting, to the views of the rainforest and alpine forests, to the farmlands and small cities of greater Antigua, this is something you CANNOT miss.
Read Our Post on The Acatenango Volcano Hike
3. Hike Cerro de la Cruz
This 10-15 minute hike up to a cross with beautiful panoramic views of Antigua is absolutely worth it. The massive Volcán de Agua behind Antigua makes the perfect backdrop to a marvelous viewpoint. We recommend going on a clear day, when you can see an unobstructed view of the Volcán de Agua. The best part? It’s free!
4. Unleash Your Inner Nerd At Hobbitenango
Hobbitenango is a Lord of the Rings-inspired amusement park perched atop a mountain just outside of Antigua. Wander through charming Hobbit homes, enjoy the many scenic viewpoints, live music, activities such as archery, mini-golf, and a rope-swing, go souvenir-shopping, get the perfect Instagram flick, and much more! You can even stay in a hobbit home, but make sure to book far in advance as there are only 3 on the property!
You can pay 95 GTQ ($12.15) for a shuttle service to and from Hobbitenango as well as the entrance fee. Just show up to their Antigua office at 7:45 am, 9:45 am, 11:45 am, or 1:45 pm to purchase your rides and ticket! We recommend going as early as possible so that you beat the crowds. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants here, which makes spending 3-5 hours very doable!
5. Roast Marshmallows Atop Volcán Pacaya
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience to Volcán Pacaya, where an easy 2-hour hike leads to spectacular views of Volcán de Agua, Volcán de Fuego, and Acatenango. In addition to this, you can roast marshmallows or make a pizza using the heat from the volcanic rocks. This is an active volcano so you’ll see some volcanic smog, but you won’t see any lava!
6. Shop Antigua’s Artisanal Market
Antigua’s Artisanal Market has handmade souvenirs ranging from hand-woven textiles to Christmas ornaments. The small shops surrounding the colonial-style courtyards makes the experience worth doing, even if you don’t plan on buying anything! The main market is next to this, which has cheaper but less authentic souvenirs.
7. Make Your Own Chocolate
Guatemala is famous for their delicious chocolate, so why not learn how to make it! Choco Museo and Ek Chuah are two popular shops that both offer express and 1.5-2 hour classes. If you want to support an Antiguen family business AND enjoy a very authentic experience, we recommend going with Ek Chuah.
8. Get Brunch & Much More At Caoba Farms
Caoba Farms is a 100% organic farm and restaurant with amazing food and large portions. The best part is the restaurant is actually at the farm! You can walk around the farm to see the various fruits, vegetables, livestock, and they even have a butterfly garden! If that isn’t interesting enough, they also have acrobatic yoga, which would certainly be interesting to try!
9. Grab A Beverage At Ulew Cocktail Bar
Ulew Cocktail Bar is probably the most interesting bar we’ve ever been to. This speakeasy is inside of Antigua Cerveza :: Cerveteca, and you get there by going through a phone booth! While this is already cool enough, there is no menu at this bar. You just vaguely say what you’re in the mood for and the extremely talented bartenders will put together a delicious concoction for you to enjoy. Maddie asked for “something flowery with gin” and I asked for “something mango-flavored with rum” and we were extremely happy with what they made us!
10. Sample Craft Beer At Antigua Cerveza
You don’t even have to like beer to enjoy Antigua Cerveza :: El Bosque. However, it is a huge plus! Antigua Cerveza :: El Bosque is a huge park with tons of greenery surrounding the restaurants and bar area. This seems like it belongs in Bend, Oregon and definitely gives Bend breweries a run for their money! The area is complete with bocce ball courts, a fire pit, corn hole, two restaurants, an open-air tap room, an art gallery, walking paths, and both secluded and in-the-action seating. There’s even live music and trivia depending on the night.
11. Take a Coffee Tour
Delve into Guatemala’s coffee culture with a guided tour that explores the entire coffee production process from bean cultivation to brewing. Visiting local coffee plantations in the greater Antigua area will make you appreciate how much effort goes into making your coffee! Interacting with these proud farmers and tour guides is a great way to get the full Guatemalan experience!
12. Explore Antigua Via ATV
While Antigua is fairly walkable, accelerate your exploration of this colonial city by taking an ATV tour! Many tours go to other villages, off-road-accessible nature, beautiful viewpoints, and we even saw ATVs at Hobbitenango! If you don’t have much time in Antigua, this is a perfect way to make sure you don’t miss anything.
13. Take a Guatemalan Cooking Class
The food in Guatemala is great, and we especially enjoyed the meat soups and stews such as Kaq’ik, Jocon, and Pepián. Many skilled chefs offer cooking classes where they show you the inner-workings of these Guatemalan delicacies. The traditional Guatemalan cuisine involves unconventional cooking techniques, dishes going back to the Mayan ages, and meals you’ll regret not trying sooner!
14. Indulge in Antigua’s History
While on your walking tour, your guide will likely point out some of the amazing museums and historic sites. However, you don’t fully explore these (if at all), so you might want to check these out on your own! If you enjoy art, MUNAG (the national art museum) and the art gallery next door are both free to enter. We loved the Catedral de Santiago, which was damaged by an earthquake, and you can explore these historic ruins for 20 GTQ (~$2.50). However, the front of the cathedral is still intact and active! The best thing about Antigua is you will accidentally stumble across ruins from the 1500s and before, so it makes sense why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Where To Stay In Antigua
Antigua Accommodations
Where To Eat In Antigua
There are tons of amazing place to eat in Antigua, so I’m sure we’re missing a few. However, these were some of our favorites!
- Rincón Antigueño: Cheap, authentic Guatemalan cuisine
- Mr Taco: Delicious Birria Tacos and incredibly unique ambiance
- Cafe Sky: Drinks with an amazing view of Antigua
- Fonda Baruch: Pupusas! Not on Google maps, but is next to Monchis cafe.
- Chemitas: Shucos, Guatemala’s delicious twist on hot dogs
- Exit Inn: Live music and a hipster vibe
- McDonald’s: This isn’t ironic, McDonald’s in Antigua has an amazing view of the Volcán de Agua, an art gallery and a 231 year old water fountain!
- Wine Habanos: Wine, coffee and chocolate
- Chocolalala: Delicious chocolate and art
- Santo Gyro Antigua: Huge portions, Guatemalan touch to Mediterranean food, décor makes you think you’re in Santorini!
- Cafe Rainbow: A traveler-friendly bookstore cafe with delicious food
- Saberico: Great ambiance and even better Pepián (meat stew)
How To Get To Antigua
Unfortunately Antigua doesn’t have an airport so you may end up flying into Guatemala City (book your flights here) and renting a car or taking a shuttle to Antigua.
Many people take shared shuttles from other places in Guatemala, (which is what we did from Semuc Champey). Here are prices from common destinations.
- 250 GTQ from Semuc Champey ($31 USD)
- 120 GTQ from Atitlan ($15 USD)
- 120 GTQ from Guatemala City ($15 USD)
- 325 GTQ from Flores ($41 USD)
You can also take public transportation, which takes a little longer but costs about a third of what shared shuttles cost.
Check out our post on how to get to Antigua from Atitlan and back!
Keep Exploring Guatemala…
- The Best Things to do in Guatemala
- Guatemala Itinerary: An Epic 2 Week Adventure
- The Ultimate Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike
- From Antigua to El Salvador By Bus: Your Ultimate Guide
- Complete Guide to Semuc Champey: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- Lake Atitlan: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- Incredible Things to do in Flores
- The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Tikal in Guatemala
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
Antigua, Guatemala FAQs
What is Antigua Known For?
Antigua is especially known for being a charming colonial town that has a beautiful backdrop of massive volcanoes. Antigua has a rich history, is full of ruins, and boasts exciting day trips to various nature activities.
How Long Should I Stay In Antigua?
Due to all of the day trips from Antigua, the hundreds of amazing restaurants, and the easy-going vibe of the locals, we recommend staying a week in Antigua, including a potential overnight stay at Acatenango. However, if you are a digital nomad, you could stay much longer.
Is Antigua Guatemala Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Antigua Guatemala is the highlight of many travelers trips to Guatemala, including us! Antigua is by far our favorite city in Central America (at the time of this writing at least), and we cannot wait to go back!
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Antigua?
The best time of year to visit Antigua is in Guatemala’s dry season, which is from November to April. While you certainly don’t want it to rain when you explore Antigua, you also don’t want the clouds to block your views of the amazing volcanoes.
