Guatemala City in a day
A one-day plan for Guatemala City: the Relief Map of Guatemala, the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Central Market, then the national archaeology and modern art museums in Zone 13, the Museo Popol Vuh and the Museo Ixchel. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Guatemala City in 1 day
Day 1
Relief Map of Guatemala
Giant open-air relief map of the whole country built in 1905 in Minerva Park, with viewing towers to see it from above.
National Palace Must see
Green stone presidential palace of the 1940s on the main square, now the National Palace of Culture with murals and courtyards.
Cathedral of Guatemala City
Metropolitan Cathedral on the main square, built from 1782 to 1815, with a neoclassical front and memorials to the civil war's victims.
Mercado Central (Central Market)
Largely underground market behind the cathedral, selling food and flowers as well as handicrafts and textiles from around the country.
Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología Must see
National museum in Zone 13 with the country's main Maya archaeology collection, including carved stelae, jade and pottery.
Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno Carlos Mérida
National museum of modern art in Zone 13, named after the Guatemalan painter Carlos Mérida, with Guatemalan art.
Museo Popol Vuh Must see
University museum with one of the world's major collections of Maya ceramics, sculpture and colonial art.
Museo Ixchel
Museum of Maya textiles and traditional dress on the Francisco Marroquín University campus, next to the Museo Popol Vuh.
Watch: Guatemala City
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Guatemala City
The dry season from November to April has sunny days and is the best time to visit. May to October is the rainy season, usually with afternoon downpours. At about 1,500 m the city is mild all year, and Holy Week in March or April brings large processions.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Guatemala City on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Guatemala City on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Guatemala City on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Guatemala from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Guatemala City
- Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps to move between zones rather than walking long distances.
- Visit the historic centre in Zone 1 by day; the pedestrian Paseo de la Sexta links the main sights there.
- The Museo Popol Vuh and the Museo Ixchel of Maya textiles are next to each other on a university campus in Zone 10.
- Many museums close on Mondays; check opening days before planning a visit.
- Antigua Guatemala, the old colonial capital, is about an hour away by road and makes an easy extra day.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cathedral of Guatemala City: Gobierno de Guatemala, Public domain
- Museo Ixchel: Clau.mrossal, Public domain
- Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología: Arielaasturias, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno Carlos Mérida: Bcotton08, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museo Popol Vuh: Tracy Barnett, CC BY-SA 2.0
- National Palace: Rob Mercatante (www.elcanche.com), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Relief Map of Guatemala: Rene Hernandez, CC BY-SA 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
