15 of The BEST Things To Do in Antigua, Guatemala
Looking for the best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala? You’re in the right place.
Antigua is colorful, charming, and packed with character. Think cobblestone streets, pastel buildings, Baroque Antigueño architecture, cozy cafes, cute boutiques, and dramatic ruins left behind from past earthquakes.
Beyond wandering the streets, you can shop for handmade treasures, sip cocktails on rooftops, chase viewpoints, and hike actual volcanoes (highly encouraged).
I spent six days here and still didn’t see everything, so consider this a solid hit list to help you plan your time. It’s hard not to fall in love with Antigua.
Table of Contents
- Quick Lowdown on Things To Do in Antigua, Guatemala
- How to Get to Antigua, Guatemala
- 1. See Cerro de La Cruz
- 2. Do The Pacaya Volcano Day Trip
- 3. Shopping Around Antigua
- 4. See El Arco de Santa Catalina (Most Famous Thing to Do in Antigua)
- 5. Acatenango and Fuego Hike (BEST Adventurous Thing To Do in Antigua)
- 6. Stroll Cooperación Española
- 7. Visit Corazón de Agua Ecological Park
- 8. Rooftop Bars
- 9. Get Choco at The Chocolate Museum
- 11. Spot Tanque la Union
- 12. Take a Coffee & Culture Tour
- 13. See Palacio del Ayuntamiento
- 14. Visit The Antigua Guatemala Cathedral
- 15. Take a Cooking Class
- Best Day Trips From Antigua
- Where To Stay in Antigua, Guatemala
- Where To Eat in Antigua
- Getting Around Antigua, Guatemala
- Tips for Booking Your Trip:
- More Around Guatemala
Quick Lowdown on Things To Do in Antigua, Guatemala
Planning Your Trip NOW?
Here is the quick lowdown for your itinerary!
🗺️ Top Experiences and Tours
- Pacaya Volcano Trek – Hike an active volcano and see flowing lava fields.
- El Arco de Santa Catalina – Antigua’s most famous photo spot.
- Acatenango Overnight Hike – Camp with front-row views of erupting Fuego Volcano.
- Rooftop Bars – Antigua Brewing Company is a favorite for views + beer.
- Coffee & Culture Tour – City highlights + coffee plantation visit.
- Wander the City – Churches, ruins, parks, markets, and colonial streets all within walking distance.
🏨 Where to Stay
🚘 Looking for a way to get around?
Check buses and shuttles here
🛟 Safety
Travel insurance is a must, and it doesn’t have to cost much—Here’s what I use.
How to Get to Antigua, Guatemala
Most travelers go straight from Guatemala City to Antigua, usually from the airport. It’s about an hour away (traffic depending).
- Uber: easy and affordable (around $18 from the airport)
- Pre-booked airport transfer: simplest option
- Chicken bus: cheapest (~$3) but not recommended for most travelers
1. See Cerro de La Cruz
Cerro de la Cruz means “hill of the cross,” and yep — there’s a massive cross sitting on top of a hill just outside the city.
The reward? Sweeping views over Antigua with Volcán de Agua looming in the background. It’s one of the easiest and most rewarding viewpoints in town.
You can walk or drive here. I walked since the base was only about 10 minutes from my hotel, and the uphill climb took roughly another 10–15 minutes. Easy win.
2. Do The Pacaya Volcano Day Trip
One of the most popular adventures from Antigua is taking a day trip to Pacaya Volcano. It’s one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes and a fantastic intro to volcano hiking.
The hike takes around two hours and offers great views, volcanic terrain, and plenty of steaming, smoking reminders that you’re on an active volcano.
You can’t reach the true summit, but the experience is still awesome. Lava isn’t always visible, so don’t panic if you don’t see glowing rivers. I didn’t, and it was still 100% worth it.
Yes, you can roast marshmallows using the heat from volcanic rock. Yes, it’s as cool as it sounds.
Pacaya sits about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Antigua and is more approachable than some of the heavier hitters nearby (hello, Acatenango).
👉 BOOK IT: The exact tour I did: Pacaya Volcano Trek
TIP: I did this tour the day after landing and met people immediately. It turned into an easy way to make friends and fill the rest of my Antigua days with plans.
RELATED: Your Perfect Guatemala Itinerary: 1-3 Weeks + Tips!
3. Shopping Around Antigua
Start with Nim Po’t, one of Antigua’s most iconic handicraft shops. It’s big, colorful, and overflowing with handmade goods from all over Guatemala.
You’ll find everything from wooden carvings and ceramics to bags, jewelry, art, and musical instruments, which are great for souvenirs or gifts.
For a more local feel, wander the market on the west side of town, where you can browse produce, snacks, and everyday items alongside souvenirs.
Centro Comercial La Fuente is another nice stop with small shops and cafes in a courtyard setting.
TIP: Save your souvenir shopping for the end of your time in Guatemala so you’re not hauling everything around for weeks.
TRANSPORTATION TIP
If you’re looking for buses and shuttles around Central America and Mexico, this is what I use.
4. See El Arco de Santa Catalina (Most Famous Thing to Do in Antigua)
If you’ve ever Googled Antigua, you’ve seen it: the Santa Catalina Arch. It’s that iconic yellow arch stretching across the street that basically screams, “Hi, welcome to Antigua.”
There’s not really a “tour” or an “activity” here. It’s more of a stroll, take photos, and enjoy the vibe.
On a clear day, you’ll catch Volcán de Agua in the background, plus there are tons of cute shops, cafes, and restaurants right in this area, so it’s an easy place to wander for longer than you planned.
5. Acatenango and Fuego Hike (BEST Adventurous Thing To Do in Antigua)
Okay. If you want the “holy crap, I can’t believe I did that” experience in Antigua, it’s the Acatenango overnight hike.
It’s tough, it’s steep, and your legs will absolutely have opinions about it… But it’s also one of the most unforgettable things you can do in Guatemala.
The hike takes you through totally different landscapes. Farmland, forest, cloud forest, and then straight-up volcanic terrain.
And when you finally get to camp, you’re basically posted up with a front-row seat to Volcán de Fuego (which is very much active and very much dramatic).
If you get lucky with the weather, you’ll see Fuego throwing lava at night like it’s performing for you specifically.
If you’re feeling strong (or love type 2 fun), you can add on the extra hike to get closer to Fuego once you’re already up there.
👉 BOOK IT: The exact tour I did: Acatenango Overnight
READ MORE: Hiking Acatenango and Fuego Volcano: Is it Worth It?
6. Stroll Cooperación Española
If you want a calm little break from the busy streets, Cooperación Española is an easy win. It’s a cultural center built into old ruins, and it somehow manages to feel peaceful and interesting at the same time.
Sometimes there are exhibits or events happening, and even if there aren’t, it’s still worth popping in just to wander.
Bonus: it’s free, central, and super easy to squeeze in between coffee, wandering, and whatever else you’re doing that day.
7. Visit Corazón de Agua Ecological Park
Want nature without committing to another volcano mission? Corazón de Agua Ecological Park is a great escape just outside Antigua. It’s quieter, greener, and way less crowded.
The trails here are solid and well-marked, and you can reach the top in a few hours. On clear days, you can even catch views toward Lake Atitlán and the surrounding hills.
You can also camp at the top for a small fee, but it’s pretty rugged (don’t expect luxury facilities).
👉 BOOK IT: Corazón de Agua Ecological Park
8. Rooftop Bars
Antigua is basically built for rooftop sunsets. Between the volcano views and the golden light hitting the buildings, grabbing a drink up high is almost mandatory.
A few favorites:
- Cafe Sky (elite sunset views)
- Lava Terrace (more party-ish but still fun)
- Rooftop Antigua (great all-around vibe)
- Los Tres Tiempos (go for the pepián)
- Antigua Brewing Company (craft beer + volcano views… I literally watched lava spew while drinking a beer here).
9. Get Choco at The Chocolate Museum
For a delicious, low-effort activity, hit the Antigua Chocolate Museum. It’s part museum, part experience, and part “how did I end up buying chocolate again?”
You’ll learn about cacao (yes, you’ll see real pods), how chocolate is made, and why Guatemala takes this very seriously.
If you want the full hands-on version, the Bean-to-Bar workshop is the move. You make your own chocolate and leave with something you can actually eat later.
Short on time? There are smaller mini workshops too, so you can still get the experience without committing to the whole thing.
👉 BOOK IT: Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop
11. Spot Tanque la Union
Tanque la Unión is one of those spots you can breeze past… until you realize what it used to be. This was a public laundry area, where locals washed clothes in the water.
Now it’s a quick, easy historic stop, especially pretty in the evening when it’s lit up and feels a little extra dramatic in the best way.
12. Take a Coffee & Culture Tour
If you want to knock out a bunch of Antigua highlights and learn about Guatemalan coffee in one easy day, this coffee & culture tour is a great option.
The day starts with a stop at Cerro de la Cruz for those classic city-and-volcano views, followed by a guided walking tour of Antigua’s historic center, including churches, plazas, and iconic streets like the Santa Catalina Arch.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit a coffee plantation to learn how Guatemalan coffee is grown, processed, and roasted — and yes, there’s tasting involved. Because obviously.
This is an easy, well-rounded intro to Antigua if you’re short on time, or if you prefer having logistics handled for you instead of piecing everything together yourself.
👉 BOOK IT: Coffee & Culture Full-Day Tour
13. See Palacio del Ayuntamiento
Palacio del Ayuntamiento (Antigua City Hall) is all arches and stone columns, and it’s packed with history. It’s been everything from a seat of Spanish colonial government to a jail.
A lot of it is still used for business, but you can sometimes peek inside if you visit the Museo del Libro and Museo de Santiago.
One has a replica of Central America’s first printing press, and the other has weapons on display in the old prison area, which is… a vibe.
14. Visit The Antigua Guatemala Cathedral
Right on Parque Central, the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings in the city and it’s even more interesting once you realize how many times it’s been rebuilt after earthquakes.
And here’s the part that gets people: only the “important” parts were fully restored, so sections of the church are still in ruins behind the main facade.
RELATED: 17 Adventurous Things To Do in Guatemala + Tips For Your Visit!
15. Take a Cooking Class
If you want a fun Antigua activity that isn’t “walk past another pretty church” (no shade, I love them), book a Guatemalan cooking class. It’s hands-on, social, and you get a full-on meal out of it… because you literally make it.
You’ll cook traditional dishes with local ingredients, learn the stories behind them, and then sit down and eat everything you just made (the best part, obviously).
You can pick the class level based on how ambitious you’re feeling, ranging from 3-7 dishes. Wear your stretchy pants.
👉 BOOK IT: Authentic Cooking Class
TRANSPORTATION TIP
If you’re looking for buses and shuttles around Central America and Mexico, this is what I use.
Best Day Trips From Antigua
Antigua is an excellent home base. If you’re short on time, these easy day trips let you see some of Guatemala’s biggest highlights and still sleep in the same bed at night.
- Iximche Day Trip – Ancient Maya ruins that were once the capital of the Kaqchikel Kingdom. Easy half-day trip and best with a guide so you know what you’re looking at.
- Lake Atitlan Day Trip – One of Guatemala’s most famous places, surrounded by volcanoes and colorful lakeside towns. Expect big views and instant regret you didn’t plan more time.
- Chichicastenango Market Tour – Huge traditional market (Thursdays & Sundays) with textiles, food, and everyday local goods. Busy, colorful, and very authentic.
Where To Stay in Antigua, Guatemala
There are tons of cute spots to choose from in Antigua. From cheap hostels to lux rooms! Here are a few recommendations from around the city to chose from.
- Cesar’s Guesthouse – Simple spot for a great price, awesome rooftop with volcano views, and the sweetest owner! This is where I crashed during my stay.
- Socialtel Antigua – Delightful Art Deco hostel with rainbow buildings and a creative vibe.
- Yellow House – A short walk from the Santa Catalina Arch, with a terrace with views of the volcano.
- Posada San Sebastian – Centrally located BnB featuring traditionally decorated rooms and a great rooftop patio.
👉 More Accommodation in Antigua
Where To Eat in Antigua
One of the best things to do in Antigua is eat. Like, aggressively.
The food scene is a mix of cheap local eats, cute cafes, bakeries, breweries, and nicer sit-down spots so you can keep it budget-friendly or go full “vacation me deserves this.”
A few solid picks to keep on your radar:
- Los Tres Tiempos – Nice local food!
- Cafe Cafe Guatemala – Amazing breakfasts and coffee!
- Sat Nam – Best spot for vegetarian food.
- El Viejo Cafe – Great food and bakery.
- Cafe Boheme – Good coffee, drinks, health bowls, and nibbles with a rooftop.
- Guateleria – Candy, cakes, and local food.
- Cafe Sky – Hot chocolate, cocktails, and food with a view!
- La Bruja – For vegan food
- Antigua Brewing Company – Craft beer, bar food, and volcano views!
- Parque La Merced – A few ladies have super easy and cheap food carts out here serving up local quick meals.
Getting Around Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua is very walkable. Most people get around on foot and use tuk-tuks when they’re tired, it’s raining, or they’re in a hurry.
Tuk-tuks are easy to find and inexpensive for short rides around town. Taxis exist, but you usually won’t need them inside Antigua.
- Typical tuk-tuk fare: ~15 quetzals (about $2)
- Tip: ask the price before hopping in
Tips for Booking Your Trip:
TRANSPORTATION
The best way to get bus and shuttle tickets around Central America and Mexico. Check here.
THINGS TO DO
You’ll want to book a few tours! I use Viator and GetYourGuide!
Don’t forget insurance!
Get a quote with the best and easiest travelers’ insurance: Safety Wing
GET DATA EVERYWHERE
Get an eSIM before you take off!
Hope this helped you plan what to do in Antigua and gave you some ideas on how to best enjoy your time!
