Antigua Tourist Places to Visit in Antigua, Guatemala, America

Antigua Tourist Places to Visit in Antigua, Guatemala, America

Antigua Guatemala or Antigua is a city as well as UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the central highlands of Guatemala, about 32 km from the national capital Guatemala City. It is the capital of Sacatepequez Department and the municipal seat of neighboring municipalities. Antigua is well known for its Spanish Baroque influenced architecture and the ruins of ancient churches.

The economy of Antigua is centered on tourism and coffee-production. Antigua has a university called ‘The University of San Carlos’.

Geography of Antigua:

Antigua is located between latitude 14°34′ in the north and longitude 90°44′ in the west.

History of Antigua:

The present Antigua was formed by Spanish conquistadors on March 10, 1543 and it was known by Santiago de los Caballeros and it served as the headquarters of the military administrator of the Spanish colony of Guatemala for more than 200 years. Antigua was heavily damaged by 7.4 magnitude earthquake on September 29, 1717 and around 3,000 buildings were demolished in that incident.

How to reach Antigua?

Antigua is served by La Aurora International Airport situated at a distance of 36 km with connection to North American, Central American and European cities. It takes around 45-60 minutes to reach Antigua from the airport through roadway.

There are taxis, tuk-tuks and shuttle vans regularly available to Antigua. Shuttle vans cost around Q80 and provide services until 8PM. Buses are cheaper than all these transportation options but buses are not regular and convenient.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Antigua:

Antigua is a historical place housing plenty of archeological sites and cultural centres all around. Guate Linda Center and Escuela de Espanol Cooperacion are local schools best to learn about local culture and language.

Tourists can purchase hand woven cloth, jade jewelry, chocolate and cacao in Antigua’s shops. The major food corners in Antigua are:

Dabbawala Tandoori
Cinema Cafe Bistro
Mono Loco
El Pelícano Dorado

Things to do in Antigua:

Hill of the Cross
El Mercado
Artisan Workshops
Bike tour
Adventure Tours
Coffee Farm Tour
Artisan Workshops

Places to see in Antigua:

Saint Joseph Cathedral:

Saint Joseph Cathedral is a must visit site in Antigua. It was initially built in 1541, later was renovated in 1680 after the 1669 earthquake and it was once again suffered by 1773 earthquake. Don’t forget to take photos of this world class church.

Parque Central:

Parque Central is a beautiful park located in the heart of Antigua. It houses plenty of trees decorated with colorful lights and a stunning fountain in the middle.

La Merced Church:

La Merced Church is a top beauty on the earth and its stunning architecture is really a great treat to the eyes of visitors. The largest water fountain of Antigua within La Merced Church is also must watch.

Other places of interest in Antigua include:

La Recoleccion Architectural Complex
Ruins of old San José
Old weapons Museum
San Francisco Church
Santo Domingo Monastery
The Jade Museum
Casa del Turista
The Santa Catalina arch
Hermano Pedro ancient Hospital

Best time to visit Antigua:

From November to April is the ideal time to visit historical Antigua in Guatemala.

Accommodation Options in Antigua:

Antigua houses many world-class hotels along with world famous archeological sites. Generally budget hotels charge $15/$20 for double per night, mid range- $50 and top end-around $100 per night. The major hotels and hostels in Antigua are listed below:

Budget: