Things to do in  Antigua

Yes, Antigua is worth visiting. Ringed by towering volcanoes, Antigua’s cobbled streets are filled with faded churches, earthquake-damaged cathedrals, colorful architecture, and a rich fusion of Maya-Catholic culture. One of Guatemala’s most visited destinations, the 16th-century city also has a lively social scene, with plenty of restaurants, cafés, and bars.

The historic capital of Guatemala, Antigua is known for its colonial architecture, buzzing social scene, and myriad Spanish-language schools. The city draws upon its Maya-Catholic cultural heritage with vibrant festivals like the weeklong Holy Week (Semana Santa), when the entire city is transformed in a blaze of color and celebration.

You could easily spend a week in Antigua Guatemala, but if time is short, you can squeeze all the main highlights into just a couple of days. A lot of visitors also use Antigua as a base from which to climb the Acatenango or Pacaya volcanoes and visit Lake Atitlán.

There are many options for how to spend a day in Antigua, from exploring crumbling ruins and myriad cafés to shopping El Carmen Market and touring jade and chocolate factories. Other highlights include the Hill of the Cross (Cerro de la Cruz) and a trip to Hobbitenango in the hills.

The most popular months for travelers to visit Antigua are November through April. However, due to the city’s relatively high elevation, Antigua is one of those places you can visit all year round. The city enjoys pleasant temperatures and relatively low rainfall, even during the hot and wet summer months.

Yes, Antigua is generally seen as much safer than Guatemala City, especially for solo travelers. However, opportunistic crimes like pickpocketing can happen anywhere in Guatemala, so you’ll still want to exercise caution when walking around the streets, especially when carrying valuables. If possible, try not to walk alone at night.