Guatemala City Introduction Walking Tour, Guatemala City

Guatemala City Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Guatemala City

Guatemala City is the capital city of Guatemala and the largest city in Central America. The history of the city dates to 1500 BC when the land was part of the Mayan civilization. The city was known as Kaminaljuyu, which collapsed for unknown causes around 300 AD.

Guatemala City as it stands today was established in 1776 following the Spanish conquest as the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala. Spanish conquistado Pedro de Alvarado declared the land for Spain and established a small town near the old ruins of Kaminaljuyu. The Cathedral of Guatemala, now a popular tourist attraction, was built at this time.

Guatemala was a member of the Kingdom of Guatemala for nearly 330 years. This kingdom included a part of Mexico, and present-day nations Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The kingdom became independent from Spain in 1821. In 1841, Guatemala declared itself an independent republic and retained Guatemala City as its capital.

Guatemala City is the cultural and economic center for the country, which makes it an excellent choice for a visit. The city boasts numerous museums and historical places. Some of these include the National Palace of Culture, San Francisco Church and the National History Museum.

Shopping is a popular activity for tourists to the city. Local markets offer wonderful opportunities to interact with locals, find great souvenirs and sample traditional cuisine.

Guatemala City is ideal for those who love exploring on foot. The city's relatively high altitude moderates average temperatures. Its climate is almost springlike throughout the course of the year, which makes sightseeing on foot a pleasant activity.

Take this self-guided walking tour to see the most memorable attractions in Guatemala City.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Francisco Anzola.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Guatemala City

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Guatemala City Introduction Walking Tour
Guide Location: Guatemala » Guatemala City (See other walking tours in Guatemala City)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Guatemala City?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Guatemala City Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Guatemala City?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Create Your Own Walk in Guatemala City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Guatemala City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Guatemala City Culture Venues

Among other things that a tourist may find interesting in Guatemala City are a number of cultural venues, such as museums, that provide an opportunity to discover some important and sometimes curious historical artifacts about the capital of Guatemala.

One such venue is the Guatemala City Railway Museum, located within the former railway station, offering thrilling exhibitions and a wealth of... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Religious Buildings Walk

Guatemala City's religious scene, while also embracing other faiths, is centered predominantly around Catholicism. The local churches are quite impressive in terms of architecture and are an integral part of the local culture and everyday life. Nestled amid the city's bustling streets and modern architecture, the multiple sacred sites reflect the deep spiritual roots of the Guatemalan... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles