• Home
    • About
      • About Brianna
      • Contact Me
      • Work With Me
    • Destinations
    • Travel
      • Budget Travel
      • Short Term Travel
      • Travel Gear & Tech
    • Stories From Abroad
      • Travel Fails
      • Stories
    • Travel Resources
  • Archives

    • November 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
  • Home
  • About
    • About Brianna
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
  • Destinations
  • Travel
    • Budget Travel
    • Short Term Travel
    • Travel Gear & Tech
  • Stories From Abroad
    • Travel Fails
    • Stories
  • Travel Resources

12+ Fun Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala

September 9, 2016

Roughly a one hour drive away from the country’s capital sits the city of Antigua, Guatemala. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a beautiful colonial city filled with picturesque architecture, artisan markets, and rich Guatemalan history. A trip to Guatemala is not complete until you’ve spent a few days in Antigua.

Because it’s a more touristy town in Guatemala, travelers have experienced mixed feelings when staying in Antigua. Before going, I read several complaints about there not being many things to do in Antigua, Guatemala. But after visiting myself, I think perhaps these people didn’t look hard enough. I really enjoyed Antigua and found enough things to do to fill up several days!


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and purchase one of these items, I will get an itty bitty (no, really…) commission at no cost to you! Thanks!


An Introduction to Antigua

Antigua has seen a number of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods which have caused damage and forced the city to rebuild time and time again. Because of this, Antigua is a city that contrasts old and new in a beautiful way. Colorful colonial buildings sit flush against crumbling stone walls that bear the dirt and dust of time. In 1979 the city was named as a UNESCO World Heritage site in order to preserve the lovely Spanish colonial architecture and promote tourism.

If it’s your first time in Central America, Antigua is the perfect place to go. There is a good mix of local culture and tourist comforts in the city so you can ease yourself into Central American travel. Antigua is the place to get fresh handmade tortillas on the street, and also get a McDonald’s fix if you need a little taste of home. In addition, if you’re nervous about your Spanish speaking skills, most people in Antigua speak enough English that you don’t have to bury yourself in Google Translate.

Getting to Antigua: It’s very easy to get to Antigua. From Guatemala City, you can catch a local chicken bus to Antigua for very cheap. But if you’re not familiar with local transportation in Central America, I’d suggest hiring a shuttle. You can find shared shuttle vans at the Guatemala City airport heading straight to Antigua for less than $30USD. You can also find shuttles to Antigua from all over Central America, as it’s a pretty popular place to visit.

Is it Safe to Visit Antigua, Guatemala?

As with most visits to Central America, traveling to Antigua brings up the question of safety: Is it safe to visit Antigua, Guatemala? Compared to the crime rates in other Guatemalan cities, I’d say that Antigua is very safe. The city has a specific Tourist Police which helps keep crime down. Visitors do still run the risk of petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing. It’s also commonly advised not to wander around the city at night. But like anywhere else, if you stay aware of your belongings and surroundings and take normal precautions, you can often avoid any issues.

As a female traveler, I felt very safe walking around in a group, but when venturing out solo I did get a few uncomfortable whistles and catcalls. This is not an uncommon occurrence in this part of the world, so just be aware that it could happen.

READ » Do I Really Need an Anti-Theft Purse?

Fun Things to do in Antigua, Guatemala

Okay, let’s get down to it. Antigua’s a great city and it’s very popular with travelers to Central America. I would recommend planning at least three to four days in Antigua, with more time added if you plan on doing day tours that leave from the city. If you’re wondering what you can do to fill up your time in Antigua, here are some suggestions on fun things to do in Antigua, Guatemala!

Wander Around Antigua

Antigua, Guatemala is a small city, and it’s incredibly easy to navigate. The city is laid out in a simple grid pattern, with roads running north to south and east to west. Just pick a direction, start walking, and see what you find! The city is so picturesque and colorful, it’s easy to spend a few hours just wandering around. You may just happen upon some warm, homemade tortillas being sold out of someone’s house! Remember to stay aware of your surroundings and take your walks in the day time. The city is not well-lit at night, and the sidewalks can be uneven or altogether non-existent!

Visit the Artisan Market

Antigua is one of the best places in Guatemala to get your souvenir shopping done. The artisan market has just about everything you could want to bring home for your friends and family. From the ever hilarious “Guats-Up” T-shirts, to scarves, woven bags and backpacks, magnets, jewelry, toys, you name it. Make sure to practice your haggling skills! These vendors will drive a hard bargain for their goods.

READ » The Top 10 Things I Heard from Guatemalan Market Vendors

Sample Some Guatemalan Chocolate

If you’re a sweets lover like me, chocolate may be one of the best reasons to visit Guatemala! The ChocoMuseo in Antigua is a great place to start your Central American chocolate extravaganza, by learning about the farming, harvesting, and production of chocolate. In addition, you can learn about the important role of chocolate in Central American history. But more importantly, there are free samples and the museum itself is completely free to visit!

Hang Out in Parque Central Like a Local

There are many parks throughout Antigua, but Parque Central is the main square of the city. The park is always alive with market stands, kids playing, couples making out on benches, and many many walking vendors selling things for “one dollar”. There’s also a huge fountain in the middle, open for… artistic interpretation. Parque Central is just a great place to grab a bench, enjoy a bit of shade, and just watch life in Antigua happen around you.

Make a Bakery Run

There are a handful of bakeries in Antigua, Guatemala, but the best one is Dona Luisa Xicotencatl. It’s one of those bakeries where you walk in, and the delicious smell just slaps you in the face. With a limited menu, they are known mostly for their breads. You may have to fight your way to their teeny counter to place your order, but it’s SO worth it. Order the banana bread at the beginning of your time in Antigua, and munch on it for the next few days. I hear their coffee beans are also good.

Learn Something New

Antigua is a hub of culture and learning. Many people come to Antigua and stay for several weeks or months, attending immersive Spanish classes. If you’re interested in improving your Spanish, check out some of these great Spanish schools in Antigua:

  • Antigüeña Spanish Academy
  • Ixchel Spanish School
  • Cambio Language School

But Spanish isn’t the only thing to learn in Antigua. You can sign up for a cooking class and learn to make delicious Guatemalan dishes. Why not check out a dance class, or maybe even go on a coffee plantation tour to learn about Guatemalan coffee!

Check Out the Arco de Santa Catalina

This pastel yellow arch is the symbol of Antigua, and cannot be missed when you visit! The story behind the arch is quite interesting. The building on the west side of the arch used to be a convent where nuns lived. However, in the late 1600s the convent ran out of space so they acquired the building across the street. But because the nuns that lived there were meant to live in isolation, the arch was built as a bridge between the two buildings where the nuns could pass between buildings without interacting with the outside world.

The arch has since seen its fair share of damage and rebuilding from earthquakes. The clock tower at the top of the arch was added in the 1800s and the convent is now a large hotel. But the arch still stands as a popular stop for visitors in Antigua!

Explore Some Ruins

There are dozens of ruins all over Antigua, Guatemala! You could easily spend a day hopping from one ruin site to another. Many will charge entry fees, but these sites are just fascinating to visit. Some of the best ruins around Antigua include:

  • The Ruins of Santa Rosa
  • Church of Santo Domingo
  • Capuchins Monastery
  • San Jeronimo Ruins
  • Ruins of Santa Clara
  • La Merced
  • La Recoleccion

READ » Roaming the Ruins of Santa Clara in Antigua, Guatemala

Visit Beautiful Churches

Along with the many church and convent ruins around Antigua, there are also several stunning churches in working order. Between the bright colors and intricate architecture, exploring the churches around the city is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just remember that these are sacred places for many locals, so please be respectful and quiet when you enter the buildings. Do note that some have small entrance fees for visitors. Some of the most popular churches to visit in Antigua include:

  • Church of San Francisco
  • La Merced
  • San Jose Cathedral

Savor Delicious Dishes

The foodie scene in Antigua is awesome. The city has a diverse mixture of cuisines, so if you’re sick of the traditional beans and rice, Antigua is a great place to head. Not only can you get some incredibly tasty guacamole, tacos, fried plantains, and fresh tropical fruits, you can also get pizza, crepes, Indian curry, and more! You can even try out Pollo Compero: Guatemala’s own fast-food chicken restaurant!

Hike the Cerro de la Cruz

The Cerro de la Cruz (or Hill of the Cross) is an iconic site in Antigua. At the very north end of town is an uphill path that will take you to this scenic overlook. The hike is not that bad, taking about 15-20 minutes. You can also drive or take a tuk tuk to the top- just be prepared to pay a Q15 parking fee. It’s best to go on a day that is less cloudy to increase your chances of getting a full volcano picture.

READ » Hiking the Cerro de la Cruz Antigua, Guatemala

Hike a Volcano

There are a number of volcanos that surround the city of Antigua. This makes it a great base for hiking any one of these volcanos! If you do choose to hike a volcano when in Antigua, it is recommended to hire a guide or join a group tour, due to safety concerns. Here are some options for volcano hiking around Antigua:

  • Volcan de Agua is an extinct volcano (meaning there are no records of it erupting). It generally takes 4-6 hours to get to the top and offers beautiful views of Antigua and the surrounding villages.
  • Acatenango Volcano offers a pretty intense hike. It takes between 4-7 hours to summit the volcano. Most hikers like to do the hike in the evening hours or camp overnight on the volcano. In the dark of the night, you can often see neighboring Volcan de Fuego spewing red hot lava into the air.
  • Pacaya Volcano is probably the most popular hike from Antigua. Due to its fairly recent volcanic activity, you probably won’t get to fully summit the volcano. But you will come across a few places where the heat escapes the volcano and you can roast marshmallows. The hike generally takes between 4 and 6 hours.

Antigua is a great place to get your Central America bearings and begin your journey. One of the greatest things about Antigua, Guatemala is that if somehow you’ve found you have run out of things to do, there are many travel agencies in the area that will hook you up with transportation to another place to explore in Central America. Take a bus and be at beautiful Lake Atitlan in only 2.5 hours! Or move on to Tikal or Semuc Champey or another country altogether! If you’re looking to explore more of this beautiful country, check out this guide to backing Guatemala!

Visiting Guatemala? Check out my Guatemala page for more posts and travel tips!

HOVER OVER THE IMAGES BELOW TO ADD TO PINTEREST

Looking for places to travel in Guatemala? You must visit Antigua, Guatemala! This post has 12+ ideas for things to do in Antigua, Guatemala, plus a brief introduction to the city and some Antigua, Guatemala travel safety tips! #Guatemala #GuatemalaTravel #AntiguaGuatemala #CentralAmericaTravel #CentralAmerica #Antigua
Looking for places to travel in Guatemala? You must visit Antigua, Guatemala! This post has 12+ ideas for things to do in Antigua, Guatemala, plus a brief introduction to the city and some Antigua, Guatemala travel safety tips! #Guatemala #GuatemalaTravel #AntiguaGuatemala #CentralAmericaTravel #CentralAmerica #Antigua

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter to get updates on my adventures! Or check out my Instagram for pretty pictures!

Share50
Tweet
Pin663
Share
713 Shares
AntiguaAntigua Guatemala Travelarco de santa catalinaCentral AmericaGuatemalaGuatemala travelThings to do in Antigua GuatemalaThings to do in Guatemalatravel safety
Share

Central America  / Guatemala  / Guides

You might also like

Travel Safety in Central America: 26 Tips for Staying Safe While Traveling
February 1, 2019
13 Fun and Cheap Things To Do in Merida, Mexico
June 8, 2018
How to Deal With Chafing While Traveling: Or, The Time I Wanted To Saw Off My Own Legs
March 30, 2018

29 Comments


Roaming the Ruins of Santa Clara - Archives of Adventure
September 9, 2016 at 9:32 am
Reply

[…] you love exploring old church ruins, Antigua, Guatemala is the perfect place for you. It seems like every other corner presents you with another church, […]



Hiking the Cerro de la Cruz - Archives of Adventure
September 9, 2016 at 9:33 am
Reply

[…] the far north end of Antigua, Guatemala sits the Cerro de la Cruz (or, the Hill of the Cross). With some of the very best views of the […]



Top 10 Things I Heard From Guatemalan Market Vendors - Archives of Adventure
September 9, 2016 at 9:38 am
Reply

[…] the best souvenir shopping you can do in Central America. While in Guatemala, I visited markets in Antigua, Panajachel, and Guatemala City. While I enjoyed strolling through, making my purchases and […]



Mike
September 10, 2016 at 12:48 am
Reply

Looks like a gorgeous place! I’d love to get to the top of that mountain



    Brianna
    September 10, 2016 at 10:23 am
    Reply

    It was a gorgeous hike too!

Majesta Zea
September 10, 2016 at 1:02 am
Reply

The photo of the church is amazing! Guatemala is something that has been on the outskirts of my travel radar, but maybe I should give it a closer look!



    Brianna
    September 10, 2016 at 10:24 am
    Reply

    I felt the same way, but gave it a shot. I loved Guatemala and wish I could have seen more of it!

Victoria
September 10, 2016 at 4:37 am
Reply

Nice types and things to do. I liked it and also liked pictures. Thanks 🙂



    Brianna
    September 10, 2016 at 10:24 am
    Reply

    Thanks, Victoria!

Samantha
September 10, 2016 at 7:28 am
Reply

Guatemala looks beautiful! I would love to check out the Artisan market…and explore the ruins! Thanks for posting 🙂



    Brianna
    September 10, 2016 at 10:25 am
    Reply

    It certainly is beautiful! The markets were fun, but exhausting too 😛

Nancy
September 10, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Reply

Okay, you got me with the bakery and shopping! But that church and the streets are amazing! It’s so clean there and beautiful.



danik the explorer
September 10, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Reply

After reading this, I want to hit up Antigua. Great post and love the photos



Rebecca
September 10, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Reply

Seems like there is a lot to do in the city. Would love the hike, the artisan market, and the ruins. And cathedrals are my favorite things to visit in any city. They’re always so beautiful with stained glass and intricate architecture.



    Brianna
    September 15, 2016 at 2:35 pm
    Reply

    Yes! I love looking at all the ceilings when I visit cathedrals!

Lisa
September 11, 2016 at 7:42 am
Reply

It looks like you found plenty to explore. I would definitely take advantage of the hiking after visiting the markets and ruins. Sometimes you have to be creative in exploring.



Emily
September 11, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Reply

Looks like it’s got everything I love; markets, scenery, hiking, ruins! On my bucket list… Thanks for sharing.



Nic
September 11, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Reply

Wow, I never knew much about this area of the world but there is so much colour, adventure and history here. South America is in the plans after we have done Asia!!



Panajachel Is Not My Favorite Place - Archives of Adventure
September 14, 2016 at 10:58 am
Reply

[…] Guatemala without seeing it for myself. So with a free day, I left at 5:30am on a shuttle bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan’s gateway town, […]



Kallsy Page
September 14, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Reply

Thank you for this all-inclusive list. This truly looks like a place we would love visiting. Did you find it safe in all areas? We’ve heard mixed reviews about South America!



    Brianna
    September 15, 2016 at 2:48 pm
    Reply

    Safe is a relative term. I felt safe because I stayed aware of my surroundings and chose to travel using my head. I heard a lot about it being dangerous in Central America, but I was there over 3 weeks and never had any problems.

Christine K
September 15, 2016 at 9:31 am
Reply

Such a great list. All of these options sound like things I would like to do. I have not been to this area but Guatemala is definitely on my list so will tuck this away for future reference when I travel to central America.



    Brianna
    September 15, 2016 at 2:48 pm
    Reply

    Awesome! Check out my other Central America posts (there are TONS more coming) for more info!

Subhadrika Sen
September 16, 2016 at 6:13 am
Reply

From your post i figure out that there are lots of diverse things to do in this place. I would personally enjoy taking long walks especially in the morning and at night. i also try to cover most of the places on foot unless theres a hop on hop bus service around the city. i would love the colours of the artisan market and the ruins. Great places to shoot some nice frames.



Erika Bisbocci
September 16, 2016 at 11:56 am
Reply

Antigua is a beautiful city that I’d love to return to. Your photography is beautiful wanderlust-inspiring! Exploring the churches and artisan markets are definitely highlights of Antigua. The views look fantastic. I wish I’d known about it when I visited!



    Brianna
    September 16, 2016 at 12:24 pm
    Reply

    Oh no! I guess you’ll just have to go back some time 🙂

Renne Simpson
September 20, 2016 at 10:50 am
Reply

I like how diverse your list is. It can be a struggle to find good things to do in a city that aren’t super touristy. I really like your suggestions – and thanks for the bakery recommendation. Will help keep me from wasting my time at the sub-par ones 🙂



Natasa
September 20, 2016 at 11:48 am
Reply

Gorgeous place. From pictures it seems as a place where you can spend really great time. I may consider adding this place on my “to go” list in near future:)



Hostel Takeover: A Review of Hostal Berakah - Archives of Adventure - Travel For The Average Person
September 27, 2016 at 10:40 am
Reply

[…] After leaving Antigua, I was so happy to have a place that did not play thumping music until the wee hours of the […]



Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • I’m Brianna and I’m possibly the funniest person I know. I’m a total goofball who loves to travel. I fell in love with the world in 2007, when my family and I moved to Sydney, Australia. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to see the world. I'm an ordinary adventurer here to show you how the average person can travel the world.

    Get To Know Me More

     
  • Aching For More Adventure?

    Sign up today for instant notifications of new posts and EXCLUSIVE travel tips!
    * = required field
  • Find Me On Instagram

    instagram
  • Sleep on the Cheap

  • Top 1000 Travel Blog

  • As Seen On…

  • Where I’ve Been




© Copyright 2017 Archives of Adventure // LetsBlog Theme - Theme by ThemeGoods // View this site's Privacy Policy / Disclosure Policy // We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

 

Loading Comments...
 

    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side.

    Click here for our full Privacy Policy

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.