The Best Way to Spend 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala

Quick Answer (TLDR):

We spent about 4 days here, and it wasn’t enough time for us. I could see us returning and spending a month and settling in. It is such an easy city to walk through in about 20 minutes, and there are plenty of cafes to explore, volcanoes to look at, and food to eat. There is a beautiful and rich history in Antigua. If you only had 3 days, this is what I would recommend.

Best for:

• First-timers in Guatemala & Antigua
• Those who can’t commit to a full week and still want to experience what Antigua has to offer
• If you want a mix of outdoor adventure, stunning views of the city, local food, and experiences, and love cafe culture

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Base:

We stayed at this really cute little guest house (Villa Cafe), and we loved it because it was walkable, had a cute vibe, and was also very affordable. Truthfully, you could choose any accommodation because the town is so small you can walk from edge to edge in about 20-25 minutes. Every part of town is walkable and well located.

Day 1 - Cafes, Explore Ruins & Old Buildings

Day 2 - Pacaya Hike & Dinner

Day 3 - Postcard Shopping & Jade Museum after Cafe Breakfast & Head Out

❌ Skip: With limited time, I would save these for your next trip.

• Acatenango, unless you want this to take the majority of your time there
• Iximché: I don’t think this is completely worth the effort and time to get there, especially if you only have 3 days

Day 1: Cafes, Chocolate, & Ruins

8:30 am to 11:00 am - Cafe Breakfast & Digestion Walk

There are truly too many cafes to choose from, and I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. Here are a few of my top picks for breakfast and a good coffee that are highly rated. We loved Union Cafe for a cute breakfast place. The others on this short list are ones we would love to try next time!

• Siena Luz
• Union Cafe
• Cafe Condesa
• CafeCafe Coffee Shop
• Paty’s Cafe

11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Bean to Bar Workshop @ Choco Museo

Choco Museo is not just a chocolate shop but a way to learn about the process of how chocolate is made from bean to bar. They have 2 different workshops you can participate in. Every day at 11 am & 3 pm they have a 2 hr bean-to-bar workshop. Or you can check out their 5pm daily 45-minute chocolate truffle-making workshop.

You can also just walk in and taste and shop for authentically and locally made chocolate. While their workshops are more focused on how the chocolate is made, it can’t be missed how important cocoa is to Maya culture. You can find a cup of traditional cacao at cafes across the city.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Lunch

Are you a hungry Salvadoran looking for pupusas? If you want a quick lunch and some Salvadoran food. I can recommend this pupusa place for delicious pupusas that are made right in front of you.

If you want a sit-down lunch with a stunning view, you can check out 27 Adentro for traditional Guatemalan food.

If you want something a little more familiar, nutritious, and quick, I can recommend El Bowl. We ate here before our Pacaya hike for some extra fuel for the night before. I got the teriyaki bowl, and all the other options looked tasty.

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Ruins & Convents

The city is so beautiful that you can just stumble around and bump into these places, but if you want the most efficient route, this is the order I would go in. It would be impossible to go through all of these and go inside and check out the museums. I would either do a speed walk tour and pick one to go inside or pick your top 2 and spend your time going through those. If you followed this order, it would take you right to the viewpoint of Cerro de la Cruz that I recommend ending at.

Speed Walk Tour Version:

1. San Francisco El Grande Church is free; ruins/gardens/museum: small fee (cards OK). Open 8–5.
2. Convento Santa Clara ~Q40. Opens 9. Guided tour optional (~Q200).
3. Cathedral ruins (San José): small fee. Ruins behind the active church, underground passages. 20–40 min.
4. Compañía de Jesús Free. Facade, small exhibits, clean restrooms.
5. Iglesia de La Merced Church free; rooftop ~Q30–35 CASH ONLY.
6. Arco de Santa Catalina: free, open 24 hrs., 2 blocks south down 5a Avenida Norte.
7. Convento Capuchinas ~Q40. Open 9–5. The museum is closed on Sundays.
8. Candelaria Ruins likely fenced for restoration; there is a view from the basketball court next to it.

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Cerro de la Cruz Viewpoint @ Sunset

Walk up the stairs for about 20 minutes to the viewpoint and enjoy the view. Depending on the time of year, you should be able to catch the sunset before heading back down. The gates close at 6 pm every single day. Plan accordingly!

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Drinks & Dinner

There are so many cool bars, lounges, and restaurants. I would start at Gerty’s for some craft cocktails and light bites. Let yourself explore and bop around. There are tons of bars and restaurants with music and cool vibes.

Day 2 - Pacaya Hike & Mayan Dinner

6:00 am to 1:00 pm - Pacaya Hike & Return to Antigua

You will get picked up at your hotel bright and early and head out to Pacaya National Park. You can find my whole review of the hike here if you want more booking information. Enjoy a beautiful but challenging hike and return back to Antigua around 1ish.

1:00 pm to 1:45 pm - Slam a Burger @ The Burger House

Even with some snacks on the hike, I was starving when we got back. Head straight to The Burger House and slam as many burgers, fries, and milkshakes as you want. Or save your post-hike sweet treat for the chocolate cake at Siena Luz.

1:45 pm to 4:00 pm - Shower & Nap

Enjoy some downtime before heading back out to explore the rest of Antigua in the evening.

4:00 pm to 6:30 pm - Rooftop drinks @ The Snug

Catch some stunning views at the top of an Irish pub or any of the other rooftop bars in the city. If you are lucky, you might see an eruption of Fuego in the distance as you sip on your beer. I don’t know about you, but I love a good Irish pub.

Antigua Rooftop Bars:

• Cafe Sky
• Frank & Fre
• Los Tres Tiempos
• Aqua Antigua

6:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Dinner @ Itzam

This restaurant does a beautiful job of honoring traditional Maya cooking while providing an upscale experience to its guests. You can go for a morning coffee and pastry or enjoy the full dinner experience. We tried the corn croquettes and the Queen’s Bite, which was my personal favorite.

I would make a reservation ahead of time and be open to trying a few things on their menu!

Day 3: Cafe & Mooch Around

8:30 am to 9:30 am - Cafe Breakfast @ Siena Luz

9:30 am to 11:00 am - Postcard & Jade Shopping

If you didn’t get a chance to go to the Jade Museum, now would be a great time to check out all the beautiful jade in all the local shops. I went home with a beautiful ring that I will pass down to my niece whose name is Jade.

11:00 am to 3:00 pm - Catch a shuttle to….

Well, there are many more adventures to be had… Will you go to Lake Atitlán? Guatemala City? Tikal?

Getting Around & What It Costs

You will find tuk-tuks driving around on almost every corner, especially on the main streets. Usually, you can pretty easily flag one of them down. We also had luck grabbing Ubers when we needed to shlep our luggage to check in after leaving the bus stop.

TukTuk ~ 10Q - 25Q per ride

Uber ~ 25Q-35Q

So, are 3 days enough?

YES!

I am really glad that we added a few days of staying in Antigua before we left Guatemala. It’s truly such a beautiful place with so much to offer. I think 2 nights and 3 days is enough to get a good sense of the place. If you could add another day, you could add a cooking class or a proper walking tour without feeling rushed.

Who This Guide Is For

First-timers in Guatemala and Antigua, travelers who can't commit to a full week but still want to experience what Antigua has to offer, and anyone who wants a mix of outdoor adventure, stunning views of the city, local food, and cafe culture.