🧭 Field Guide · Antigua Guatemala
Best Things to Do & Eat in Antigua Guatemala
Quick Answer (TLDR):
We spent about 4 days in Antigua, and it wasn’t enough. I could see us coming back for a month and settling in. The whole city is walkable in about 20 minutes, and it’s packed with cafes, ruins, volcano views, and really good food.
This guide is organized by category so you can pick and choose. If you want a day-by-day plan instead, check out our 3-day Antigua itinerary.
My top picks if you only do a few things:
- Do: Hike Pacaya, catch sunset at Cerro de la Cruz, and walk the ruins and convents
- Eat: Dinner at Itzam, chocolate cake at Siena Luz, and a post-hike burger at The Burger House
- Drink: Craft cocktails at Gerty’s and rooftop beers at The Snug with a view of Fuego
Where to Stay and How to Get Around
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Anywhere in town works because you can walk from edge to edge in about 20 to 25 minutes. We stayed at this really cute little guest house (Villa Cafe) and loved it: it was walkable, had a cute vibe, and was very affordable.
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You’ll find tuk-tuks on almost every corner, especially on the main streets, and they’re easy to flag down. We grabbed Ubers when we needed to shlep our luggage from the bus stop to check in.
| Ride | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Tuk-tuk | ~Q10 to Q25 per ride |
| Uber | ~Q25 to Q35 |
Things to Do: Ruins, Churches & Convents
Antigua is so beautiful that you’ll bump into ruins just by wandering around. You can’t go inside every one in an afternoon, so either speed-walk past them all and pick one to explore, or choose your top 2 and take your time.
If you follow the order below, it ends right at the Cerro de la Cruz trailhead, perfect for sunset. Budget about 3 hours.
| Stop | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1. San Francisco El Grande Church | Church free; ruins, gardens & museum small fee (cards OK). | Open 8am to 5pm |
| 2. Convento Santa Clara | ~Q40 | Opens at 9am. Optional guided tour ~Q200 |
| 3. Cathedral ruins (San José) | Small fee | Ruins behind the active church, with underground passages. 20 to 40 min |
| 4. Compañía de Jesús | Free | Facade, small exhibits, clean restrooms |
| 5. Iglesia de La Merced | Church free; rooftop ~Q30 to Q35, cash only | |
| 6. Arco de Santa Catalina | Free | Open 24 hrs, 2 blocks south down 5a Avenida Norte |
| 7. Convento Capuchinas | ~Q40 | Open 9am to 5pm. The museum is closed on Sundays. |
| 8. Candelaria Ruins | Free to view | Likely fenced for restoration. See it from the basketball court next door. |
Things to Do: Volcanoes & Views
Hike Pacaya Volcano
This was the big adventure of our trip. You can get picked up at your hotel bright and early, head out to Pacaya National Park, and be back in Antigua around 1pm. It’s a beautiful but challenging hike, so plan a shower and a nap for the afternoon.
You can find my whole review of the hike here with more booking information.
Sunset at Cerro de la Cruz
Walk up the stairs for about 20 minutes to the viewpoint over the city and the volcanoes. Depending on the time of year, you can catch the sunset before heading back down.
Heads up: the gates close at 6pm every single day. Plan accordingly!
Watch for Fuego From a Rooftop
From almost any rooftop bar in the city, you might catch an eruption of Fuego in the distance. See the rooftop list in the drinks section below.
Things to Do: Chocolate, Culture & Shopping
Bean to Bar Workshop at Choco Museo
Choco Museo isn’t just a chocolate shop. It’s where you learn how chocolate goes from bean to bar, and you can’t miss how important cacao is to Maya culture.
- Bean-to-bar workshop: 2 hours, daily at 11am and 3pm
- Truffle-making workshop: 45 minutes, daily at 5pm
- Just stopping in: walk in to taste and shop locally made chocolate
After, look for a cup of traditional cacao at cafes across the city.
Jade Shopping
Antigua is full of beautiful jade, between the Jade Museum and all the local shops. I went home with a ring that I’ll pass down to my niece, whose name is Jade.
Postcards & Mooching Around
Save a slow morning for postcard shopping and wandering with no plan. It’s one of the best ways to soak up the town.
If You Have More Time
A cooking class or a proper walking tour are great adds if you can stay an extra day without feeling rushed.
Where to Eat: Cafes & Breakfast
There are truly too many cafes to choose from, and I don’t think you can go wrong. Here’s where we ate and where we’d go next time.
Where we went:
- Union Cafe: our pick for a cute breakfast spot
- Siena Luz: great for breakfast and coffee, and home of the chocolate cake (more on that below)
On our list for next time (all highly rated):
- Cafe Condesa
- CafeCafe Coffee Shop
- Paty’s Cafe
Itzam also does morning coffee and pastries if you want a taste without committing to the full dinner.
Where to Eat: Lunch, Dinner & Sweets
Dinner at Itzam (Our Splurge)
Itzam does a beautiful job of honoring traditional Maya cooking while giving you an upscale experience. We tried the corn croquettes and the Queen’s Bite, a sweet cake with berries that was my personal favorite. Make a reservation ahead of time and be open to trying a few things on the menu!
Traditional Guatemalan With a View: 27 Adentro
If you want a sit-down lunch with a stunning view, check out 27 Adentro for traditional Guatemalan food.
Pupusas (For the Hungry Salvadorans): El Carbonero
Are you a hungry Salvadoran looking for pupusas? I can recommend this pupusa place for a quick lunch, with pupusas made right in front of you.
Quick & Healthy: El Bowl
If you want something familiar, nutritious, and quick, El Bowl is a solid pick. We ate here the night before our Pacaya hike for extra fuel. I got the teriyaki bowl, and all the other options looked tasty.
Post-Hike Burgers: The Burger House
Even with snacks on the hike, I was starving when we got back from Pacaya. Head straight to The Burger House and slam as many burgers, fries, and milkshakes as you want.
Chocolate Cake at Siena Luz
If you’d rather save room for something sweet, the chocolate cake at Siena Luz is worth the trip. Fair warning: cake coma is real.
Where to Drink: Bars & Rooftops
Craft Cocktails at Gerty’s
Start your night at Gerty’s for craft cocktails and light bites, then let yourself explore. There are tons of bars and restaurants with live music and cool vibes.
Rooftop Beers at The Snug
I love a good Irish pub, and this one has a rooftop with stunning views. Go in the late afternoon, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see Fuego erupt in the distance while you sip your beer.
More Rooftop Bars
- Cafe Sky
- Frank & Fre
- Los Tres Tiempos
- Aqua Antigua
What to Skip (If You’re Short on Time)
- Acatenango: Amazing, but it will take up the majority of a short trip
- Iximché: I don’t think it’s worth the effort and travel time if you only have a few days
Where to Next?
Antigua has so much to offer, and we’d happily come back for a month. When you’re ready to move on, there are more adventures waiting. Will you head to Lake Atitlán? Guatemala City? Tikal?
Follow our 3-day Antigua itinerary to put it all together.
Who This Guide Is For
Travelers who would rather pick and choose what to do, eat, and drink in Antigua by category than follow a day-by-day plan.