Find places in Guatemala

Must-Haves

• Museo Popol Vuh (Zona 10)
  One of the finest collections of Maya ceramics and pre-Columbian art in the country.
• Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena (Zona 10)
  Beautiful displays of Maya textiles that explain what the patterns on huipiles mean.
• Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología (Zona 13)
  Carved stelae, jade masks and treasures from Tikal and other great Maya sites.

Off the Beaten Path

• Casa MIMA (Zona 1)
  A preserved early twentieth century family home full of period furniture.

Fun for Everyone

• Museo de los Niños (Zona 13)
  A hands-on children's museum that keeps young travellers busy for hours.

Must-Haves

• Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (Zona 1)
  The green stone palace on the main square, with murals, courtyards and guided tours.
• Catedral Metropolitana (Zona 1)
  The grand cathedral facing the Plaza de la Constitución, with memorial columns outside.

Fun for Everyone

• Paseo de la Sexta (Zona 1)
  A pedestrian avenue of restored shopfronts, street food and Sunday crowds.
• Cuatro Grados Norte (Zona 4)
  A walkable creative district of cafés, bars, street art and weekend events.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mapa en Relieve (Zona 2)
  A huge outdoor relief map of the whole country built in 1905, best seen from the viewing towers.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Central (Zona 1)
  Underground stalls of textiles, baskets and cheap comedores right behind the cathedral.

Must-Haves

• Paseo Cayalá (Zona 16)
  A pedestrian shopping and dining district built in a neo-colonial style.

Fun for Everyone

• La Aurora Zoo (Zona 13)
  A leafy, well-kept zoo that is a favourite family outing for Guatemalans.
• Parque Nacional Volcán de Pacaya (San Vicente Pacaya)
  An easier volcano hike with views of lava fields and steaming vents.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pollo Campero (Zona 1)
  The national fried chicken chain that every Guatemalan abroad misses.

Great for Date Night

• Kacao (Zona 10)
  Guatemalan classics such as pepián and kak'ik served under a big thatched roof.

Must-Haves

• Hacienda Real (Zona 10)
  A long-standing steakhouse for churrasco and Guatemalan grills.

Must-Haves

• Café Barista (Zona 10)
  The local coffee chain where Guatemalans grab a cup on the go.

Great for Date Night

• Zona Viva bars (Zona 10)
  The capital's main nightlife strip of bars and clubs, best reached by Uber.

Must-Haves

• Westin Camino Real (Zona 10)
  A long-established business hotel in the safest part of the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Hotel Barceló Guatemala City (Zona 9)
  A large, practical hotel near Zona 10 with a pool for families.

Must-Haves

• Arco de Santa Catalina (Calle del Arco)
  The yellow arch framing Volcán de Agua, the most famous view in Guatemala.
• Parque Central (Centro)
  The leafy main square, perfect for people watching beneath the fountain of the mermaids.

Fun for Everyone

• Finca Filadelfia (San Felipe de Jesús)
  A coffee estate with farm tours, tastings and canopy activities.
• ChocoMuseo Antigua (Centro)
  Hands-on workshops where you make your own chocolate from the bean.

Off the Beaten Path

• De la Gente coffee tours (San Miguel Escobar)
  Coffee tours led by small farmers in a nearby village.

Must-Haves

• Catedral de San José (Centro)
  The restored front of the cathedral with walkable ruins behind it.
• Convento de las Capuchinas (Centro)
  A ruined convent with a striking circular cloister of nuns' cells.
• Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande (Centro)
  A working church with the tomb of Santo Hermano Pedro and atmospheric ruins.
• Iglesia de La Merced (Centro)
  A wedding cake of yellow and white stucco and the town's busiest church on feast days.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ruinas de La Recolección (Centro)
  Huge toppled arches from a convent destroyed by earthquakes, rarely crowded.

Great for Date Night

• Casa Santo Domingo (Centro)
  A hotel inside a ruined monastery, with candlelit corridors and small museums.
• Hotel Casa Encantada (Centro)
  A small boutique hotel with a rooftop view of the volcanoes.

Must-Haves

• Porta Hotel Antigua (Centro)
  A classic colonial hotel with gardens and a pool, a short walk from the square.

Must-Haves

• Cerro de la Cruz (Northern edge of town)
  A short climb to a big cross with the whole town and Volcán de Agua spread below.
• Acatenango Volcano (Near Antigua)
  The overnight hike to watch Fuego erupt, the adventure most visitors remember most.

Off the Beaten Path

• Earth Lodge (El Hato)
  A hillside lodge and avocado farm with treehouses and sweeping views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Municipal de Antigua (West side of town)
  The chaotic local market for fruit, flowers, cheap lunches and everyday goods.

Must-Haves

• Nim Po't (Near the Arco)
  A huge hall of textiles, masks and crafts gathered from across the highlands.
• Mercado de Artesanías (West side of town)
  A handicraft market beside the main market, good for comparing prices.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jade Maya (Centro)
  A jade workshop and museum explaining the stone sacred to the Maya.

Must-Haves

• Rincón Típico (Centro)
  A simple grill for chicken, meat and potatoes cooked over coals.
• Frida's (Near La Merced)
  Lively Mexican food and drinks, a classic among visitors.

Great for Date Night

• Hector's Bistro (Near La Merced)
  A tiny, much-loved bistro with French-leaning cooking.
• Mesón Panza Verde (Southern Antigua)
  Romantic dining in a garden hotel with candlelight.

Must-Haves

• Café Sky (Centro)
  A rooftop terrace with volcano views and sunset drinks.
• Fernando's Kaffee (Northern Antigua)
  Coffee roasted in house plus handmade chocolate.
• Café Condesa (Parque Central)
  Breakfasts in an elegant courtyard right on the main square.

Fun for Everyone

• Doña Luisa Xicotencatl (Centro)
  A bakery and café famous for banana bread and courtyard breakfasts.

Fun for Everyone

• Café No Sé (Centro)
  A dim, famously quirky bar with a hidden mezcal room.

Great for Date Night

• Antigua Brewing Company (Centro)
  A brewery with a rooftop terrace looking at Volcán de Agua.

Must-Haves

• Semana Santa processions (Throughout town)
  Carved floats and carpets of coloured sawdust fill the streets during Holy Week.

Off the Beaten Path

• Day of the Dead kites at Sumpango (Sumpango)
  Giant handmade kites rise above the cemetery on 1 November.

Must-Haves

• San Juan La Laguna weaving cooperatives (San Juan La Laguna)
  Women's cooperatives show how they spin, dye and weave with natural colours.

Off the Beaten Path

• Santa Catarina Palopó painted houses (Santa Catarina Palopó)
  A village repainted in bright Maya patterns, with views across the water.
• Las Pirámides Meditation Center (San Marcos La Laguna)
  Long-running meditation and yoga courses in pyramid-shaped halls.

Fun for Everyone

• Kayaking on Lake Atitlán (Santa Cruz La Laguna)
  Calm morning paddles along the shore before the afternoon wind rises.

Must-Haves

• Indian Nose (San Juan La Laguna)
  A sunrise hike to one of the best views of the lake and its volcanoes.

Off the Beaten Path

• Volcán San Pedro (San Pedro La Laguna)
  A steep morning climb through coffee and cloud forest to a summit viewpoint.

Fun for Everyone

• Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve (San Marcos La Laguna)
  A small reserve with trails, swimming spots and a jumping platform into the lake.
• Reserva Natural Atitlán (Panajachel)
  Butterfly gardens, hanging bridges and spider monkeys just outside town.

Must-Haves

• Maximón shrine (Santiago Atitlán)
  A visit to the folk saint honoured with cigars and liquor in a family house.
• Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol (Santiago Atitlán)
  A historic church with carved altars and a moving memorial to Father Stanley Rother.

Must-Haves

• Calle Santander (Panajachel)
  Panajachel's main street of textile stalls, cafés and travel agencies.
• Chichicastenango market (Chichicastenango)
  The country's most famous market, on Thursdays and Sundays.

Great for Date Night

• Casa Palopó (Santa Catarina Palopó)
  A boutique hotel with dramatic lake views and a calm terrace.
• Laguna Lodge Eco-Resort (Santa Cruz La Laguna area)
  A quiet eco-lodge in a nature reserve on the lakeshore.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Atitlán (Panajachel)
  A garden hotel on the shore with grand lake views.

Off the Beaten Path

• La Casa del Mundo (Jaibalito)
  A cliffside guesthouse reached only by boat, with family-style dinners.

Fun for Everyone

• Lomas de Tzununa (Tzununá)
  Hillside rooms with a pool and big views, good for families.

Must-Haves

• Café Loco (San Pedro La Laguna)
  Excellent specialty coffee from a small café in San Pedro.

Off the Beaten Path

• Crossroads Café (Panajachel)
  A small roaster with the best coffee in Panajachel.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Comedores in Santiago market (Santiago Atitlán)
  Simple stalls for caldo, tortillas and local breakfasts.

Fun for Everyone

• San Pedro bar strip (San Pedro La Laguna)
  Backpacker bars and live music near the Panajachel dock.

Must-Haves

• Fiesta of Santiago (Santiago Atitlán)
  The town's patron saint celebrations in late July, with processions and dances.

Must-Haves

• Tikal National Park (Tikal)
  The greatest Maya city in Guatemala, with temples rising above the rainforest.
• Yaxhá (Yaxhá Nakum Naranjo National Park)
  A large, quiet Maya site between two lagoons, famous for sunsets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Uaxactún (North of Tikal)
  A remote village built around an early Maya site and astronomical complex.

Off the Beaten Path

• El Mirador (Mirador Basin)
  A multi-day jungle trek to some of the largest pyramids ever built.

Fun for Everyone

• Mirador del Rey Canek (Across the lake from Flores)
  A short boat ride and climb to a lookout tower over the island.
• Jorge's rope swing (San Miguel, across from Flores)
  A wooden platform and rope swing into Lake Petén Itzá.
• ARCAS wildlife rescue centre (Near Flores)
  A rescue centre caring for animals taken from the illegal wildlife trade.

Must-Haves

• Flores malecón (Isla de Flores)
  A walk around the island at sunset with swimming docks along the way.

Great for Date Night

• Raices (Isla de Flores)
  A lakeside grill with sunset tables and fresh fish.

Fun for Everyone

• Cool Beans (Isla de Flores)
  A relaxed garden café with a lake view and breakfasts.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Isla de Flores (Isla de Flores)
  A comfortable hotel in the heart of the island.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jungle Lodge Tikal (Tikal)
  Bungalows inside the park, so you can walk the ruins at dawn.

Great for Date Night

• La Lancha (Lake Petén Itzá)
  A lodge with thatched bungalows overlooking the lake.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Los Amigos Hostel (Isla de Flores)
  A long-running, friendly hostel in a jungle garden.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Santa Elena market (Santa Elena)
  The busy local market on the mainland side of the causeway.

Must-Haves

• Semuc Champey Natural Monument (Lanquín)
  Stepped turquoise pools on a limestone bridge over the river.
• El Mirador viewpoint (Semuc Champey)
  A steep climb to the classic view down onto the pools.

Off the Beaten Path

• Grutas de Lanquín (Lanquín)
  A cave system where thousands of bats fly out at dusk.
• Biotopo del Quetzal (Baja Verapaz)
  A cloud forest reserve on the way north where the resplendent quetzal lives.
• Orquigonia (Near Cobán)
  An orchid reserve showcasing the region's remarkable plants.

Must-Haves

• Kan'ba Cave (Semuc Champey road)
  Candlelit swimming and climbing through an underground river.

Fun for Everyone

• Tubing on the Cahabón River (Semuc Champey road)
  A lazy float down the river through the green valley.

Off the Beaten Path

• Utopia Eco Hotel (Semuc Champey road)
  A riverside eco-lodge with cabins and family-style meals.

Great for Date Night

• Zephyr Lodge (Lanquín)
  A hillside lodge with big valley views and an infinity pool.

Off the Beaten Path

• Coffee farms around Cobán (Cobán)
  Visit plantations in the green hills of the cardamom and coffee heartland.

Must-Haves

• Parque Centroamérica (Centro)
  The grand central square ringed by coffee-boom era buildings.

Must-Haves

• Fuentes Georginas (Zunil)
  Steaming hot pools in a misty, fern-filled valley.
• Volcán Santa María (Llanos del Pinal)
  A predawn climb to watch Santiaguito puff ash below.

Off the Beaten Path

• Laguna Chicabal (San Martín Sacatepéquez)
  A sacred crater lake in the cloud forest, still used for Maya ceremonies.
• Volcán Tajumulco (San Marcos)
  The highest peak in Central America, a tough overnight climb.

Off the Beaten Path

• San Francisco El Alto market (San Francisco El Alto)
  A huge Friday market with a livestock section and rooftop views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Almolonga market (Almolonga)
  Mountains of giant vegetables in a famously fertile valley.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cementerio General de Quetzaltenango (Zona 3)
  Grand family tombs and mausoleums from the coffee boom.

Must-Haves

• Pasaje Enríquez (Centro)
  An elegant arcade of cafés and bars on the main square.

Must-Haves

• Café El Cuartito (Centro)
  A friendly café and meeting point for students and travellers.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Xela market comedores (La Democracia)
  Local breakfasts and lunches in the city's busiest market.

Fun for Everyone

• Salón Tecún (Pasaje Enríquez)
  A historic bar that has served students and locals for decades.

Must-Haves

• Feria de Xela (Throughout the city)
  September's independence fair with parades, music and rides.

Great for Date Night

• Pensión Bonifaz (Parque Centroamérica)
  A grand historic hotel on the main square.