Things to do & places to visit in Guatemala Department, Guatemala

Guatemala Department #2 destination in Guatemala 2023. The average rating score is 4.42 based on 7.737 traveler reviews, of 43 attractions. Timezone: America/Guatemala, current date and time: Thursday, May 09, 2024, 3:25.

Top things to do (35)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Descubre Nuestra Cultura (22 reviews)
- I recommend Eric as a guide
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Visitor Centers

Discover the beauty of our country Guatemala land of eternal spring. beautiful people, places and culture of more than 1,000 years the Maya still alive. See more..
5.0 Zona Portales (15 reviews)
- Zona Portales mall is close to the robot's park and Metronorte mall. Is big, beautiful, big with a lot of nice shopping malls li
Thursday: 4:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Shopping Malls

Nice, beautiful and big shopping mall with a lot of stores like cemaco, krispy kreme and children friendly big playgrounds. See more..
5.0 Centro Comercial Metrosur (2 reviews)
- Familia
Spent More than 3 hours Shopping Malls
Buen trato, amabilidad y comprensión en sus locales y trabajadores, la caminata estuvo bien y me gusto See more..
4.5 La Aurora Zoo (1.282 reviews)
- The best zoo in the region
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Zoos

The Zoo la Aurora is located just in the heart of Guatemala City, is one of the largest gardens in the city with 287 species and more than 2100 animals in the entire collection The Zoo has different areas that show to the visitors the collections divided by continents The Zoo was founded in 1924 by José Maria Orellana Government. The Zoo La Aurora receive more tan 1 5 millions of visitors yearly All the efforts are focus on the education innovation and renovation of the park The Zoo covers over an área of 15 hectares with animals from around the world some species like Humboldt Penguins chimpanzees big cats Asian elephant giraffes and the new project “El Reino Kan y sus Reptiles” that is the biggest project of the zoo history with an herpetary with more than 50 species divided by reptiles, amphibians and spiders, all of them with the ideal conditions of living. See more..
4.5 Paseo Cayala (1.118 reviews)
- A mall or a small town within Ciudad de Guatemala?
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Shopping Malls

The heart of Cayala City, 63 acres of land that combine housing, dining, shopping, entertainment and business districts. With over 90 commercial concepts from coffes, shops and restaurants, a special place to share with a cultural agenda and activities all year round. See more..
4.5 Mundo Petapa Irtra (711 reviews)
- Best Amusement Park in Central America
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Amusement & Theme Parks

Have been two times to this great place and kids love it! Lots of attractions and hours of fun for the entire family. Great maintenance and place very clean. A couple of great restaurants as well. Your kids will love it. Check for hours and days of operations previous to your trip. Have fun! See more..
4.5 Catedral Metropolitana (522 reviews)
- A symbol of faith and devotion to Santiago de Guatemala!
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Religious Sites

Built between 1782 and 1868 on the edge of Plaza Mayor, this Baroque-styled church contains ornate altars, statues and colonial artwork. See more..
4.5 Palacio Nacional (458 reviews)
- Nearby restaurants and more. At night the view is a dream
Thursday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Historic Sites • Art Museums • History Museums

The elaborate interior of this former presidential palace houses paintings and sculptures by famous Guatemalan artists. See more..
4.5 Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena (333 reviews)
- The Mayan textile tradition at the Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena!
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

Textiles and clothing of the Mayan people, Guatemala's indigenous community, are displayed at this outstanding museum, which also contains paintings, interactive weaving exhibits, a bookstore and gift shop. See more..
4.5 National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (287 reviews)
- Mayan relics in Guatemala City
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Natural History Museums • History Museums

The National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is a public institution and is part of the Directorate General of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Protects and disseminates the most important collection of archaeological artifacts of Mayan Culture, as well as a collection of ethnological material showing the cultural diversity of Guatemalan society. The permanent exhibition occupies 3500 square meters including pieces of jades, pottery, textiles and masks. Two rooms for temporary exhibitions present general topics of Mayan Culture and Guatemalan Archaeology. See more..
4.5 Oakland Mall (278 reviews)
- Nice big mall.
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Shopping Malls

Focused in providing a unique shopping experience from the moment you enter the mall, its 4 floors of retail, convenience parking with two thousand spaces, unique stores, fast food, cafes and restaurants make Oakland Mall a unique, surprising and different place. See more..
4.5 Museo Popol Vuh (262 reviews)
- Magnificent collection of exquisite objects
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Natural History Museums

This is one of Central America's most famous Maya art museums. Its collection is renown due to its large number of funerary urns. It also includes unique Maya pottery pieces and other artifacts spanning from 2000 B.C. through colonial times. See more..
4.5 Plaza Fontabella (180 reviews)
- Food & entertainment
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Shopping Malls

Fontabella is a very good place to hang out and chill with your friends. Many good restaurants and bars inside, apart from stores. We went to Terraza El Zapote for some drinks and we had a great time. Very good beer and food. Will come back definitely. See more..
4.5 Mercado Central (167 reviews)
- Best artesanías in Guatemala
Flea & Street Markets

For really good deals on Guatemalan handicrafts, especially leather goods, woolen blankets and masks, check out the underground stalls here, where fresh produce is also available. See more..
4.5 Edificio de Correos Central (139 reviews)
- Historic center at its best
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Government Buildings

The cantaloupe-colored post office is one of the loveliest buildings in the city. See more..
4.5 La Merced (123 reviews)
- CHURCH LA MERCED
Religious Sites

This beautiful church contains artwork that was moved from La Merced in Antigua after that building was destroyed by earthquakes. See more..
4.5 Museo Miraflores (100 reviews)
- Small view of Guatemalan History
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Children's Museums • History Museums

Miraflores Museum is the first Site Museum in Guatemala City. Located right where the Ancient Maya City of Kaminaljuyu was. It has one of the best archaeological collections of Guatemala's Valley. The Museum has 2 halls with permanent exhibitions -displaying archaeological artifacts- one showroom for temporary expositions -devoted mostly to contemporary art- and a big garden where local botanical species can be seen, while you breath fresh air in a peaceful and safe environment. A Precolumbian burial was reproduced underground, just below the pyramid, making the visit a whole new experience. There is also a living collection of spiders and snakes, with species that were very important for the Ancient Maya. At the entrance, the Museum welcomes you with a reproduction of a Precolumbian canal and a scale model of the Great City of Kamnialjuyu. The scale model is displayed in such a way that the visitor may relate the ancient buildings -buried under the actual city- with the nowadays streets and avenues. Kaminaljuyu was one of the most importat cities due to commerce, obsidian was the most important product of trade throughout Mesoamerica. Miraflores Museum is the place to visit if you want to know the origins of Guatemala City and more about our history. See more..
4.5 Museo del Ferrocarril (91 reviews)
- Great
Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums

This is a great little museum with lots to see. A bunch of engines and different types of rail cars, many of which you can walk through. Admission is only 2 Q, a deal at double this price. Highly recommended. See more..
4.5 Museo de los Niños de Guatemala (79 reviews)
- Amazing Educational Opportunity
Children's Museums

While living in Guatemala, I escorted students from my high school while they took children from a local orphanage to this museum. It is full of hands on educational, and especially science, activities. It is as good as any museum like this in the US. The children from the orphanage simply ran from one exhibit to the next. Highly recommended! See more..
4.5 National Museum of Modern Art (65 reviews)
- If you like art, worth a visit
Art Museums

Directly across from the museum or archaeology and ethnology, this little museum makes a good stop for people who like art. I particularly enjoyed the sculpture and found several of the pieces very moving. No photos allowed, which is a shame. This place definitely gives you a sense of modern Guatermalan art, and left me with a corresponding perspective on the culture and history that inspired some of the works. See more..
4.5 Iglesia de San Francisco (56 reviews)
- Nice church
Religious Sites

The intricately carved wooden altar and the statue titled Jesus Nazareno del Perdon are the highlights in this church built between 1800 and 1851 See more..
4.5 Iglesia Yurrita (50 reviews)
- Gothic-Baroque church/museum
Churches & Cathedrals

Constructed in 1929 (at the time of the US stock market crash and beginning of the Great Depression) by the Yurrita family as a private church, this captivating structure has an ornate maroon tower and stonemasonry. The architecture is a mélange of styles from neo-Gothic to Baroque. Many think it resembles the work of Antoni Gaudí, the famous Spanish architect, particularly in Barcelona. This church is also known as La Capilla de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias (the Chapel of Our Lady of Anguish). There’s no admission charge for the 20-minute tour of the architecturally significant interior, though some think the mishmash is a bit gaudy. See more..
4.5 Kawilal Spa Guatemala (43 reviews)
- very nice in beautiful surroundings
Spas

The word SPA has been associated with latin phrase “Sanitas Per Aquam”, meaning “health through water”. Beyond great body massages, Kawilal Spa assures health benefits derived from its thermal water springs emerging from Pacaya volcano's underground watercourses.Visiting Kawilal Spa in Guatemala is the perfect combination after touring Pacaya Volcano or Antigua Guatemala, you will relax and be treated as you deserve with body massages, hydrotherapy with thermal water and much more. See more..
4.5 Centro Cultural Miguel Angel Asturias - Teatro Nacional (43 reviews)
- Guatemala's cultural finest
Theaters

Named for a Nobel Prize winner, this theater is a popular venue for opera, theater and ballet performances. See more..
4.5 Iglesia Santo domingo (35 reviews)
- Not to miss if you come to Guatemala
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

Impressive church from a couple of centuries ago. Beautiful as all Spanish constructions were. The month of October, the best time to visit, as its the month consecrated to the Virgen del Pilar. Beautiful, don't miss it See more..
4.5 Volcan de Fuego (31 reviews)
- erupting every few minutes!
Volcanos

if you have never seen a volcano erupting, this is it. it last erupted 2018 killing 3000 inhabitants. and making the nearby areas uninhabitable. See more..
4.5 Mall Pradera Concepcion (13 reviews)
- Nice Mall
Spent More than 3 hours Shopping Malls

This Mall is one of my favorites, has all you need, almost all banks, great and delicious restaurants like Friday's and Pizza Hut, and in the food court you can find all kind of food, lile McDonald's, sushi, salads, chinese food, Carl's Jr, and more. You can also find movie theater and a lot of cloth stores and a store called Cemaco, where you can find almost everything for DYS projects, stuff for pets and home furniture. See more..
4.5 Naciones Unidas National Park (3 reviews)
- Wonderful place for a hike
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours National Parks

This is a beautiful park full of nature and different replicas of the most significant tourist sites in Guatemala. Parque Naciones Unidas has 2,375 hectares and is an ideal place to enjoy the nature or have a breathtaking hike in the heart of Guatemala. It is simply a site where you can have a good time with your friends and family. See more..
4.5 Finca Cienaguilla (2 reviews)
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Farms

See more..
4.0 Zona Viva (335 reviews)
- Safe area with a little bit of everything
Neighborhoods

A swinging nightlife kicks in when the sun goes down in this cosmopolitan part of town, which by day is filled with business crowds. See more..