Best Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

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Antigua Guatemala or Old Guatemala reigned as Guatemala’s colonial capital for over 200 years, until an earthquake destroyed the city in the 1700’s. Today, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is best known for its colonial architecture, volcanic views and delicious food! This post covers the best things to do in Antigua Guatemala!

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Explore Ruins

In the year 1773, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Antigua leaving the city in ruins. The worst hit was the religious community especially Antigua’s many convents and churches. Not waiting to re-build the city, the Spanish moved Guatemala’s colonial capital from Antigua to what is known as Guatemala City today.

You can still explore some of these ruins and this is one of the best things to do in Antigua. Capuchinas Convent and Santa Clara are both prime examples of these ruins. Even midst the ruins you can see how vast and grand these complexes would have been in its hay day. Both of these locations are used as wedding locations today. Some wonder if they need to visit both or if one will suffice but I think you should definitely visit both!

Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo is also very interesting! This 5 start hotel was built around ruins! The hotel even has a ruined church inside which still holds service for hotel guests today! They also have a silver museum with some interesting artifacts. The hotel itself is absolutely stunning! Even if you don’t want to see the ruins, I think you should visit just to see the hotel. They have a good bar where you can grab a drink if you want to.

Learn All About Chocolate

Learn all about chocolates and take part in a chocolate making class from bean to a decorative slab at either Choco Museum or Maya Cacao. If you are interested in a class, then you definitely should book in advance as these tend to sell out. If you don’t have time for a class, you can still go to the Choco Museum and sample their products. My favorite was the passion fruit chocolate spread!

Visit the Famous Sites and Views

This is one of the best things to do in Antigua and you cannot go to Antigua and not visit the Arch. Formally known as Arco de Santa Catalina, this is Antigua’s most famous landmark. On a clear day, you can see one of the volcanoes surrounding Antigua perfectly framed by the arch. If you want to see the arch with very little interruptions from people or vehicles, you should plan to go there early morning, during sunrise.

Go to Cerro de La Cruz for incredible views of the city and the towering volcano in front of it. You will need to catch an Uber from Antigua to get here. You can see all of Antigua from this slightly higher vantage point.

Relax at a Cafe or Coffee Shop

The coffee culture is strong in Antigua! I don’t drink coffee so I don’t have any specific recommendations for you but if you are into coffee, definitely check out some cool coffee shops. Some have known for their cool vibes and good views.

Go Shopping

From handwoven textiles to paintings and homemade honey, you can find some really good souvenirs to take home. You can find shops all over Antigua but if you are looking for everything in one place then Plaza del Arco, Mercado de Artesanias or Mercado de Artesanias El Carmenare are ideal places to shop at.

Visit a Church or Two

Iglesia de la Merced is one of Antigua’s famous churches and landmarks and is a must visit. Built in the 1700s this church was completed in the baroque style and is a huge part of Antigua’s Holy Week celebrations. Next to the church is a ruined convent that you can visit for a fee. It’s worth a visit for the rooftop views and giant fountain in the courtyard.

Other notable churches to visit are the San José Cathedral and Iglesia de San Francisco el grande. San José Cathedral also has some interesting ruins on the side of the current church that is worth exploring.

People Watch at a Park

If you want to catch a break, sit on a bench at Parque Central. This park is busy from morning until day time.

Learn About Guatemalan History and Art

The Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala or MUNAG museum is one of the best museums that you can visit in Antigua. And the best part is that it is completely free to visit. You do need to present some sort of government issued id card so take your passport or driver’s license.

This museum houses artifacts from Guatemala’s pre-Hispanic, colonial and republic eras and is great for anyone who loves art, history and culture. The courtyard also has amazing volcano views which is a nice added bonus for your visit.

Eat Your Way Through Antigua

Antigua Guatemala is known for its amazing food options and this is one of the best things you can do here! From vegan food to mouth watering steaks, Antigua has all the foodies covered. I wrote a detailed post covering the best restaurants and bars in Antigua Guatemala. Check it out HERE.

One of the best parts about Antigua is that you get to eat with views of volcanoes. I also cover what restaurants have great views in this post.

Walk Around

Another one of the best things to do in Antigua Guatemala is to walk around its colorful streets with its beautiful colonial architecture and volcano views!

Take a Cooking Class

The food in Guatemala is so good and one way to experience it is to take a cooking class. This highly rated class is a good option for those who want to learn more about how to make some classic Guatemala dishes.

Go on a Day Trip

One of the best day trips and best things you can do from Antigua is to go to Hobbitenango. This little amusement park is ideal if you have kids but is also perfect for those looking for some Instagram worthy views and photo spots.

Some people also opt to drive to Lake Atitlan for a day but I think Lake Atitlan deserves at least 2 days and should be done separately. But, if one day is all you have then you can start your day early from Antigua and visit San Juan and San Pedro.

How to Get Around

Antigua Guatemala is very walkable and almost all the best things to do in Antigua is within walking distance. The only ones that you may need transport for are Cerro de La Cruz and any of the day trips. Uber is actually relatively cheap in Antigua and is an option if you are looking for short distance drives. For example the ride from Antigua to Cerro de La Cruz cost me USD $3.

Where to Stay

There are lots of options to stay in Antigua from luxury hotels to hostels. I stayed at two amazing hotels that I definitely can recommend. I chose these for the location and also because I had a car and needed a place to park. Parking can be a hassle in Antigua and it was nice that these 2 hotels had parking. If I visit Antigua again, I will definitely stay at these 2 locations.

Porta Hotel Antigua

This hotel is absolutely stunning! and you would never be able to tell how big it is just by looking at it from the outside. It occupies both sides of the street it’s on and has a top rated Restaurant and even a heated pool. Best part are the views from its well manicured garden.

See it HERE.

Posada de Don Rodrigo Antigua

This hotel is very conveniently located right near the Arch. It has a colonial look and feel to it with courtyards and big rooms with antique furniture. It also has a very popular restaurant that is full any time of the day and a rooftop with views of Acatenango and Fuego.

Check it out HERE.

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