Places / North & Central America / Guatemala
Guatemala City
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At a glance
- Country
- Guatemala
- Region
- Guatemala Department
- Population
- 1.2 million
- Best time to go
- November to April
- Main airport
- La Aurora International (GUA)
- Coordinates
- 14.63°N, 90.51°W
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Overview
Most travellers land in Guatemala City and leave for Antigua the same day, but Central America's largest city repays a night or two. Its museums hold some of the finest Maya and textile collections anywhere.
The city is divided into numbered zones. Zona 1 is the old centre, Zona 4 has been reborn as a creative quarter, and Zonas 10 and 14 are where you will find most hotels and restaurants. Use apps or hotel taxis rather than hailing cars in the street.
Things to see
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Photo: Leon petrosyan, CC BY-SA 4.0 Plaza de la Constitución
The main square, framed by the Metropolitan Cathedral and the green-stone National Palace.
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Photo: Andrea_GR, CC BY 2.0 Museo Popol Vuh
A superb collection of Maya ceramics, figurines and colonial art on the campus of Francisco Marroquín University.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Clau.mrossal, Public domain Museo Ixchel
Next door to the Popol Vuh, a museum of highland weaving that explains the meaning behind village patterns.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kaminaljuyu
The grassy mounds of a major Maya city, now surrounded by the modern capital.
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Mapa en Relieve
A huge outdoor relief map of the whole country, built in 1905, seen from viewing towers.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: USGS, Public domain Climb Pacaya volcano
An afternoon hike up an active volcano south of the city, with lava fields and views to Agua and Fuego.
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Photo: Rudy Cano, CC BY-SA 2.0 Eat in Zona 4
Converted warehouses around Cuatro Grados Norte now house cafés, bars and some of the city's best kitchens.
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Photo: Luisfi, CC BY-SA 3.0 Browse the Mercado Central
The underground market behind the cathedral is packed with textiles, baskets, flowers and food stalls.
Where to stay
Zona 10
The safest, most convenient base, with business hotels, restaurants and the Zona Viva nightlife strip.
Hotels in Zona 10Zona 4
Smaller design hotels and a younger, creative crowd.
Hotels in Zona 4Near the airport (Zona 13)
Practical guesthouses for a late arrival or early flight.
Hotels in Near the airport (Zona 13)
Getting around
Uber and other ride-hailing apps are the easiest way around. The TransMetro bus lanes link the centre with the southern zones.
La Aurora is inside the city in Zona 13, around 15 minutes by car from Zona 10; shuttles to Antigua take about an hour depending on traffic.
When to go
The dry season from November to April brings warm days and cool nights. From May to October afternoon storms are common. Semana Santa, the week before Easter, brings processions and carpets of coloured sawdust.
Plan your trip to Guatemala City
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.