The Frugal Explorer’s Guide To Antigua, Guatemala

Last fall, I spent 2 weeks on a Spanish Immersion program in Antigua, Guatemala. This looked like living with a local host family and attending daily Spanish classes! I wished I booked longer as I had the best experience in Antigua and have been planning a return trip since I left.

I spent my two weeks in Antigua hopping around coffee shops, immersing myself in the culture and I just so happened to be visiting during Independence Weekend which was an amazing thing to get to see.

Here’s everything you need to know before you visit Antigua, whether just for a quick visit or on a Spanish Immersion program like me…

How To Get There

If you are arriving via plane your best option is to fly into Guatemala City airport and then make the 45-minute journey to the smaller town of Antigua. A pre-booked private transfer is going to cost you in the region of $30-$45. Alternatively you can get an uber direct for around the same price, or chance a collectivo (a shared uber) for much cheaper.

It is possible to catch a local bus from Guatemala City to Antigua but this will cost in the region of $25 to $30 anyway and take approximately 2hrs. Alternatively, if you are travelling to Antigua to study at a Spanish school they will often include an airport transfer as a perk. This was how I got from the airport to Antigua. On the way back, I pre-booked a private transfer through the company Guinness Travel which cost me $30 and they picked me up at my homestay.

I bagged a super cheap JetBlue flight down to Guatemala City from New York’s JFK through Trip.com for just £65.70 which was an insanely good price! Plus I couldn’t believe it when my £65 flight included baggage, in-flight entertainment AND snacks!!!

Where To Stay

During my two weeks in Antigua, I stayed with a local family in a private double room with a shared bathroom. I paid £20 a night for this room which also included breakfast and dinner, bargain! I organised this experience through the Spanish school I attended as part of a Spanish Immersion program.

Alternatively, if you’re not planning on doing a Spanish Immersion program, Antigua has a good range of hostel, hotels and airbnb to stay in instead. Some good hostels I came across were the Adra Hostel, Ojala Hostel and Selina.

Food & Drink in Antigua

Antigua has a thriving food & drink scene with a fun and vibrant nightlife scene too. Here are a handful of the best coffee shops, bars and restaurants I came across…

Coffee Shops

The coffee shop scene in Antigua is next level! This is one of the reasons why it makes such a great base for digital nomads.

You’ll find cute coffee shops on every street serving excellent local coffee and yummy food. Plus each one I tried had great wifi and a least a handful of people already set up working in there.

Here were some of best ones I found…

☕️ Artista de Café

Probably the top of my list, Artista de Café, is a super cute spot to grab a table and crack on with some work. The staff in there are super friendly and the food is delicious. Plus they have a nice outside area for when the sun is shining.

☕️ 12 Onzas

I casually walked past this place and literally walked backwards to check it out. From the outside, it looks really cute and with a couple tables gets busy quickly BUT they have a secret (not so secret) outside terrace area with a dozen or so more tables.

It’s the perfect spot to hide away and crack on with work or studying. Plus their smoothies are really good!

☕️ Cafe Boheme

I had lunch at this place one day and it was lovely! Especially because we sat on their cute and cosy rooftop. Although the heavens did open whilst we were eating and it absolutely lashed it down.

Thankfully half the rooftop is under cover so we were fine. This place has a great smoothie selection and you can also grab one to go if you don’t have time to eat in.

☕️ Ojala Cafe

Ojala is a hostel in the centre of Antigua and they have a gorgeous courtyard with a bar/cafe inside. One afternoon, I went in and grabbed a fresh lemonade then sat in courtyard and did a couple of hours of work. It was lush!

I stayed with a host family whilst on this trip but if I was to go back I would definitely consider staying here. The rooms looked lovely and from a quick search online not too expensive.

☕️ Starbucks

I couldn’t share my Antigua coffee shop recs without mentioning the insane Starbucks. Which is quite possibly the prettiest Starbucks in the world!

The courtyard is gorgeous with tonnes of comfortable seating plus they have a couple side rooms with a mix of comfy seating and desks. With great wifi and plentiful plug sockets, this is a great place to set up shop for the day.

Bars & Speakeasys

The nightlife in Antigua was thriving! Plenty of bars selling cheap booze and playing live music. Plus a few good spots to learn some salsa moves…

🍸 Charleston

This is your classic speakeasy – the entrance is through a mirror in a tailors shop! Once you are through the mirror, the bar is super cool and the menu is very unique. You won’t find any of your classic beach cocktails in this place!

🍸 Antigua Brewing Company

On my first day in Antigua I took an orientation walking tour with my Spanish school and our guide pointed this place out as a good but expensive for Antigua place to grab dinner.

I ate here one night after salsa classes with a group of new friends and we sat on the rooftop and had a decent meal.

🍸 Ulew

Another cool speakeasy! This time through the phone box just inside the entrance of Antigua Brewing Company. They had a great marg!!! Plus all the drinks came on the quirkiest coasters – I mean just look at these things!

🍸 Las Palmas

This one is a salsa bar that offers free lessons everyday from 5-6pm. It’s also good place to watch locals dance in the evening, they are just so cool!

🍸 La Cashba

Every Wednesday night is ladies night at La Cashba and that means only one thing in Antigua, free drinks!! This place is a mix between a club and a bar set over a couple of different levels.

We went on Ladies Night and they had a DJ on. The free drink was your choice of anything off the bar. I ended up getting a free gin & tonic – lovely!

🍸 Wig shop next to La Cashba

The wig shop next to La Cashba is a front to another speakeasy! We unfortunately didn’t get to try this place out as I was with a group of about 10 people and the bouncers didn’t have room for us in there as the tables are mostly for 2 people.

This is actually how we ended up in La Cashba instead! When the speakeasy bouncers said no the bouncer next door invited us in there and sold us on the option with the free drinks.

🍸 El Barrio

Probably my favourite bar I went to during my two weeks in Antigua! This place is a crazy mix of pub, bar and club. Set over two floors with a few off rooms, this place is great for a range of different nights out.

When we first went, we ended up upstairs in the club type zone. But then went back on a Wednesday night which is karoke night in the dive bar bit just off the entrance.

The margaritas in this place were great and cheap at only Q50/£5. They also had an extensive range of shots that were super cheap.

🍸 Adra Hostel

I found this place on @gabsexplorers instagram stories and after seeing a glimpse of the view I immediately added it to the list. Adra Hostel has a great bar, restaurant and rooftop area that is open to the public.

The rooftop has amazing views of one of the three surrounding volcanoes. We sat admiring the views enjoying passionfruit margaritas.

Restaurants/Street Food

All the coffee shops mentioned above serve good food – mostly brunch/lunch options! But here are a couple other restaurant recommendations…

🍽️ Caoba Farms Restaurant

This is a farm to fork place on the edge of town, more spenny but great food! I didn’t personally eat here but had friends who did and they highly recommend the place.

🍽️ Adra Hostel

Another mention for Adra but for a good reason! On Tuesday nights you can indulge in all you can eat tacos for just Q80/£8. A group of us took advantage of this offer after salsa class and had a few margaritas whilst enjoying the delicious tacos. We all left stuffed!

🍽️ Rincon Tipico

If you’re looking for an authentic Guatemalan dining experience, you won’t find a better place than Rincon Tipico. This place is cash only and serves local dishes like the most famous local dish pepian. Pepian is like a tomato soup with chicken and potatoes in it, usually served with rice and bread.

They have a set dish of the day here for each day of the week and it’s cheap at only Q40/£4 for your main dish, a side and a drink.

🍽️ Mercado Central

Mercado Central is the big market on the edge of town. This place is a maze and full of local traders and authentic Guatemalan food stalls. I ended up doing a guided food tour of the city and we ate some amazing food in the market. You could easily head in and explore the plentiful food options without forking out for a guide.

Must Sees in Antigua

These are the absolute must sees for anyone visiting Antigua…

🌋 Cerro de la Cruz

The famous viewpoint of the whole city and stunning Volcano Agua, Cerro de la Cruz is about a 30/35 min walk from the centre but completely worth it for the views!

If you’re not up for the walk, it is possible to reach the viewpoint by taking an uber or tuk tuk up to the top and around the back of the entrance.

🌋 Arco de Santa Catalina

Acro de Santa Catalina is the official name of the famous yellow archway that you will probably have seen in any photos of Antigua. If you view the arch from the left hand side it has a great view of the cities volcano backdrop.

Mornings are the best time to find the area quiet and get some good photos with the classic Antigua backdrop.

🌋 Iglesia de la Merced

One of the most famous Catholic churches in Antigua, Iglesia de la Merced is beautiful from the inside and out. It is free to pop in and have a look around plus they often have craft stalls and food vendors in the courtyard outside making it a nice area of town to visit.

🍟 McDonalds

Like with the Starbucks mention, I couldn’t write a guide to Antigua without mentioning the insane McDonalds!! Honestly, this has to be the prettiest McDonalds in the world!

It’s worth a visit, even to just look at the courtyard but they do have some good meal options and the wifi is actually pretty good.

Things To Do In Antigua

Here are a loads of cool things you can do whilst in Antigua, here’s just a couple…

🏊‍♀️ Finca el Pilar

Finca el Pilar is a natural water swimming pool, located around 20 mins from Antigua. You won’t find many tourists here as it’s a local spot up in the mountains. You pay Q25/£2.50 for an all day entry pass to the pools and nature reserve which has hiking trails.

This is a place I never would have found if it wasn’t for a local we made friends with at salsa class. They suggested we spend the afternoon here and took the trip with us.

👩‍🏫 Maximo Nivel

This is the Spanish school I went to and it is amazing!!! They run Spanish Immersion courses where you are placed with a local family and then attend Spanish Lessons during the day which was a brilliant experience. You can read more about my experience here.

Alternatively, they do offer one off lessons too or shorter packages if you’re looking to get your own accommodation but still want to improve your Spanish.

🌋 Hike Acatenango

A very popular thing to do from Antigua, is to tackle the Acatenango Volcano hike. There are multiple tour companies based out of Antigua that offer tours up the volcano. They will organise the whole hike from start to finish, and some even provide transport halfway up the volcano making the hike more beginner friendly.

Another popular trip from Antigua, is to head to Lake Atitlán. If I’d have had more time in Guatemala, Lake Atitlán would’ve been my next stop. I will just have to plan another trip soon!

🏛️ Chocomuseo

I heard some great things about this place from friends I’d made in Antigua. You can find the Chocomuseo on the main plaza and it’s open from 10am to 7pm every night. They host workshops starting from $15 where you can learn more about the process from bean to bar and get to make your own chocolate bar.

🏛️ Casa del Jade

Another popular attraction in the city centre is the Jade Museum called Jade Maya. You can take a tour of the museum, learn all about the process and even make your own piece of jewellery. They run 2-hour workshops everyday at 9.30am, 1pm and 4pm with prices starting from $69 and reservations essential.

🏛️ MUNAG

MUNAG is the national art museum based in the main square of Guatemala. Entrance is free and the museum is open everyday from 10am till 6pm, except on Monday’s when it’s closed all day.

🌳 Parque Central

Parque Central is a central point in the city! It’s a big public square with plenty of places to sit and often a place for vendors to set up their sales and sell all types of things. It’s a cool place to sit and people watch for a while.

Important Things To Know

Here are a handful of random important things to know before you visit Antigua…

💸 The currency is Quetzal (Q10 ~ £1)

1 Quetzal is approximately worth £1 (at the time of writing in July 2025). You may also see the currency written out as Q50 meaning 50 Quetzals which would be the equivalent of £5.

💸 Go to the right place to exchange/withdraw money

There are only two places the locals recommend you exchange/withdraw money when you are in Antigua. Both are located on the main square and both have armed security. BAC is the place to withdraw money from an ATM. Banco Industrial is where you are safe to exchange money. They will only exchanged USD and you’ll need your passport to do so.

💸 Tipping is not customary

Tipping is not customary in Guatemala but is appreciated if you have good service. You won’t see a tip or service charge added to your restaurant bill so you can decide whether to tip and how much yourself.

🚕 Uber is very common

Uber works in the entire city of Antigua and is pretty cheap! I used to commute from my homestay to the city centre, which is about a 45 minute walk, and it was always less than Q20 each way which is an affordable £2.

There are also plenty of registered taxis and independent tuk tuks as well in the city centre. The one piece of advice I got from my local hosts was to pre-agree on a price with the tuk tuk driver before getting in as they are known to overcharge on arrival.

🚍 Chicken Buses are the local form of public transport

All the locals get around on the chicken buses which are old American school buses completely decked out. They are super cheap, like Q4 on average for a one-way journey which is approx. 40p. But they are very unreliable and it often depends on the driver what route and times they take.

👗 Guatemala is a very catholic country

Guatemala is a very catholic country so modesty in clothing is highly recommended. Shorts and short sleeves are fine you just want to be careful their not super short or showing off a lot of boob.

📿 LOTS of street sellers

There are lots of street sellers in the city and they will approach you but “no gracias” is enough to get them to stop bothering you. They can get a little pushy but remain polite and stern with a no and they will move onto someone else.

💬 English isn’t widely spoken

Knowing some Spanish basics will be super helpful when visiting Antigua as English isn’t widely spoken fluently. I found a lot of servers in restaurants and bars had basic English but appreciated it when you a least tried to order in Spanish.

Downloading google translate would also be a massive help! Or if you are planning on spending extended time in the city, maybe look into taking some Spanish lessons through a school like the one I attended.

🧻 You can’t put toilet roll down the toilet!!

You cannot put toilet roll down the toilets so look out for a little bin next to the toilet which is where you should put it. As far as I know this goes for all toilets in Guatemala as the plumbing systems are not equipped to take toilet roll.

🚿 Watch out for the electric showers

Most of the showers you will come across in Antigua will be electric powered and you will often find open wires connected directly to the shower head. So watch out when stretching your hands above your head as you may get a little shock.

Also because the water is heated directly as needed, you need to turn the showers on a tiny bit, let the water warm a little before turning the shower all the way on. This was a top tip I got from a local.

Bonus Tip: Try to time your trip around a local holiday!

I just so happened to be visiting Antigua through their independence weekend and had no idea until I arrived. The celebrations were super cool to see with flags everywhere and parades daily. Independence Day is the 15th September with celebrations lasting around a week.

Another good time to visit is during Semana Santa or Holy Week which is held in late March/early April. The streets are lined with carpet decorations made from rice with loads of parades.

And that’s a wrap on my ultimate guide to Antigua, Guatemala. I only spent two weeks in this place but fell absolutely in love and have been plotting my return ever since! Maybe in 2026 I’ll block out a few months and base myself there?!

Have you ever been to Antigua? Is it on your list?