29 Fantastic Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala, Antigua, Guatemala
Step into ancient ruins, wander cobblestone streets, drink coffee in tranquil courtyards and delight your palate with the scents and flavors of Mesoamerica. Welcome to Antigua Guatemala, the former capital of colonial-era Guatemala.
The city is a mixture of old convents and ruins (battered by earthquakes and centuries), garden cafés, artisan markets, restaurants, hostels, and upscale hotels.
It is touristy, charming, and beautiful. I love revisiting old favorite places as well as discovering new ones to add to my “next time I’m in Antigua” bucket list.
Whether you’ve never been to this gorgeous colonial town, or are looking for a few new spots to check out, this list should help! Here are 29 fantastic things to do in Antigua Guatemala.
Antigua Guatemala is bursting at the seams with history, colorful fabrics, traditions, food, music, and legends. Here are my favorite cultural things to do in Antigua Guatemala.
One of the best cultural things to do in Antigua Guatemala is to visit La Merced church. The ornate baroque facade is one of the city’s main points of interest, and the stalls in the adjacent gardens offer all manner of delicious typical food. Go on a Saturday or Sunday for the largest selection and try a variety of snacks and drinks, such as “atol de elote” (a sweet creamy corn drink) or a crunchy “tostada con guacamole.” I also love “chiles rellenos” and “chuchitos”. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
The city is a mixture of old convents and ruins (battered by earthquakes and centuries), garden cafés, artisan markets, restaurants, hostels, and upscale hotels.
It is touristy, charming, and beautiful. I love revisiting old favorite places as well as discovering new ones to add to my “next time I’m in Antigua” bucket list.
Whether you’ve never been to this gorgeous colonial town, or are looking for a few new spots to check out, this list should help! Here are 29 fantastic things to do in Antigua Guatemala.
Antigua Guatemala is bursting at the seams with history, colorful fabrics, traditions, food, music, and legends. Here are my favorite cultural things to do in Antigua Guatemala.
One of the best cultural things to do in Antigua Guatemala is to visit La Merced church. The ornate baroque facade is one of the city’s main points of interest, and the stalls in the adjacent gardens offer all manner of delicious typical food. Go on a Saturday or Sunday for the largest selection and try a variety of snacks and drinks, such as “atol de elote” (a sweet creamy corn drink) or a crunchy “tostada con guacamole.” I also love “chiles rellenos” and “chuchitos”. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
How it works: The full article is featured in the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Download the app to your mobile device to read the article offline and create a self-guided walking tour to visit the sights featured in this article. The app's navigation functions guide you from one sight to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: 29 Fantastic Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala
Guide Location: Guatemala » Antigua
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Yvonne Mcarthur
Read it on Author's Website: https://www.guateadventure.com/things-to-do-in-antigua-guatemala/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Guatemala » Antigua
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Yvonne Mcarthur
Read it on Author's Website: https://www.guateadventure.com/things-to-do-in-antigua-guatemala/
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- La Merced
- Convento las Capuchinas
- Chocolate Antigua
- Mercado de Artesanias
- Nim P’ot
- Mercado de Artesanias El Carmen
- Salsa con Gloria Dance Academy
- Hobbitenango
- Alta Mira
- Choco Museo
- Fernando’s Kaffee
- MonoLoco
- Valhalla Macadamia Farm
- Finca Filadelfia
- La Azotea
- Old Town Outfitters
- Cerro de la Cruz
- The trail
- Fuente de las Sirenas
- Calle del Arco
- Casa del Jade
- Cathedral of Santiago
- Luna de Miel
- Meson Panza Verde
- Cerveceria Catorce
- Las Palmas
- Cafe Condesa
Insider Tips for Antigua, Guatemala
7 Great Restaurants in Antigua Guatemala
If you’re visiting Antigua Guatemala and are looking for good restaurants to try both local and international food, look no further. I tried all these places and had amazing meals at each one of them. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly!
Top Things to Do in Antigua
Antigua has suffered from many earth quakes since its establishment in the 1500’s. The 1773 earth quake turned out to be so devastating that a few years later the capital was moved to Guatemala City. There are, however, remains of several churches and convents that are very cool to explore.
Exploring Colonial Antigua, Guatemala
Located in the shadows of Agua Volcano, the colonial city of Antigua has the perfect setting. With its mix of colourful colonial homes and 17th century church ruins under the perfect cone-shaped volcano, it’s no wonder that Antigua is Guatemala’s most visited city. If you like visiting quaint, colonial Old Towns, you will love exploring Antigua, Guatemala.
The Historic City of Antigua, Guatemala (In Pictures)
Earlier this month, I traveled to Guatemala with my teenage daughter to attend the Giant Kite Festival in Sumpango during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1 (you can watch the spectacular video I shot and edited HERE). Just under a three hour flight from Fort Lauderdale and bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the territory of modern Guatemala once formed the core of the Maya... view more
4 Stunning Colonial Ruins You Must See in Antigua Guatemala
If you visit Antigua Guatemala, you must check out these impressive colonial ruins. Some better preserved than others, these ruins represent a stunning testimony of Antigua’s rich history.
Antigua's Parks, Churches, and Ruins
Antigua, located in the central highlands of Guatemala, was settled as the third capital of Guatemala in 1543 by Spanish conquistadors after indigenous uprisings took place in the first capital and after a volcano destroyed the second capital over a 20 year time period.
Insider Tips Overview
