Guatemala City
Guatemala City, the capital, sits quietly surrounded by mountains, but the streets never quite sleep. You will hear the bus horns before you see the buses. Some travelers swear the best tortillas are found in a tiny market near the central square, but nobody remembers the name. In the morning, local people line up for coffee so strong it could wake the ancient ruins nearby. The travel destination popular things to do or visit range from open-air art to museums with more guards than visitors. Ask a taxi driver for the best hotel in Guatemala City and you might get a wink instead of an answer. Watch your step on the old cobblestones; they surprise even locals. A pigeon once tried to steal my snack near the Palacio Nacional, so keep an eye on your food and your hat.
Local weather in Guatemala
SPRING
mild & temperate
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
mild & temperate
WINTER
cool
Accommodations in Guatemala City
Discover the best accommodations for Guatemala City and start planning your holiday.
Travel destination popular things to do or visit in Guatemala City
The city tells stories through its markets, where bargaining is almost a language. If you follow the crowds, you sometimes end up in a textile shop, sometimes on a city bus that seems to operate on its own mysterious schedule—missing your stop is almost a rite of passage here; I did it three times on my first day. Locals say Zone 1 is the heart, but sometimes the heart skips a beat. There are museums where history gets tangled, and street food stalls where the menu is a suggestion, not a law.
Looking for the best hotel in Guatemala City, you might find rooftop views of volcanoes that appear and disappear with the clouds. Sometimes the wifi is faster than the traffic, sometimes not. The airport sits oddly close to the city center, so you can watch planes while eating ice cream in a park. When the rain falls, it falls hard and quick, washing the streets clean and then moving on, like most visitors eventually do. You should try the local breakfast, but don't ask for ketchup unless you want a long story. Travel humor goes something like this: "If you get lost in Zone 10, just follow the coffee aroma. If you get found, share your pastry." There's always something to discover, or to forget, in Guatemala City.
Other cities around Guatemala
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
