Why should you trust me and take my advice?
I moved to Guatemala City to be with my husband, and I’ve been lucky to call this country my new home. We spend all our free time exploring Guatemala City and traveling all over this incredible country. We’ve traveled multiple times to the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala and my advice and travel tips are based on extensive experience.
If you have a long list of questions or if you need help creating a customized Guatemala itinerary then please click here to book a travel consultation with me. For an introduction to traveling to Guatemala, click here for my Ultimate Guatemala Travel Guide.
An overview of Guatemala City
Guatemala City is the capital and the largest city in Central America. Despite the size and the fact that there is much to see and do in the capital, most travelers arrive at the international airport and transfer directly to Antigua, Lake Atitlán, or somewhere else in the country.
Many tourists assume that it’s either too dangerous or not worth the visit to visit Guatemala City. However, I’ve noticed that the capital has been quietly becoming popular amongst tourists. Guatemala City offers both a a fine dining and street food scene, some of the best museums in the country, an underground Central Market, a creative district, and a historical city center which are all worth exploring.
One thing to note is that this is a city of sharp contrasts. With a population of around 3 million in the metro area, there are many different neighborhoods and zones with some offering a luxury scene and others a more local experience. The city is divided into zones which are numbered neighborhoods. In this guide I’ll share information about these different zones, safety in the capital, what to see and do, where to stay, transportation, tours, and the best restaurants.
How to get to Guatemala City
Most tourists will arrive at the Guatemala City international airport. I usually recommend using www.skyscanner.com to book flights because it’s the best website for international routes and budget carriers.
Some travelers might arrive to Guatemala City by bus from Copan, Honduras, San Salvador, San Cristóbal, Mexico, or other locations in Guatemala such as Puerto Barrios, Río Dulce, or Xela. You can book a private bus from any of these locations by searching on the GuateGo website.
It is also possible to arrive to Guatemala City with a private driver from different locations within Guatemala. The company I recommend is GuateDriver and they can pick tourists up in neighboring countries such as Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. They have very professional drivers and some speak English. You can contact them in English or Spanish on WhatsApp at +502-3775-7831 or at info@guatedriver.com.
Another option is to book a tourist shuttle from one of the other major tourist locations in Guatemala. I recommend using the GuateGo platform to search for a specific route. For example, you can book a shuttle from the Guatemala City airport to Panajachel, or from Antigua to San Pedro la Laguna. There are many other routes such as from El Paredón to Antigua or from Quetzaltenango (Xela) to Panajachel and vice versa. The shuttles are available multiple times a day leaving and arriving at Lake Atitlán and you can view all the times on the GuateGo platform.
Just note that sometimes they will drive a bit fast on winding roads. If you struggle with car sickness, then bring dramamine!
Click here to book a shuttle on the GuateGo platform.
Transportation options in Guatemala City
One thing to note about Guatemala City is that the traffic is terrible. If you’re trying to move around the city from 7 am – 9 am or from 4 pm – 7 pm then you should expect to move slowly within the city. Also, if you’re trying to leave the central zones in the capital and move to the suburbs or to Antigua or somewhere else then it can take a lot of extra time during rush hour.
I recommend using the Uber app to get around Guatemala City. I’ve used Uber often and the drivers are 95% of the time very reliable and professional. The price for Uber is great as I usually pay 20-80 Quetzales per ride which is approximately $2.60 – $10.50. I have been able to request drivers 24/7 and it’s been very inexpensive and reliable during the last few years while living in Guatemala City.
Something to note it that Uber doesn’t work everywhere in Guatemala. As of May 2026, you can only use Uber in Guatemala City, Antigua, Xela, and Escuintla.
You can rent a car in Guatemala but I do not recommend driving in Guatemala. This is why.
Most people in Guatemala don’t have driver’s insurance and many don’t follow local driving laws. I’ve seen too many careless motorcycle drivers in Guatemala. Unfortunately, if a driver in a car injures or even worse kills a motorcyclist, then they are automatically at fault and will need to hire a lawyer. It can become a complicated situation.
If you want to rent a car then I suggest comparing prices on getrentacar.com. Some companies in Guatemala are better than others. I recommend Alamo, Guatemala Rent a Car, Avis, Budget, or Europcar. I would avoid Thrifty and Fox Rent a Car. Some companies have scams and will charge hidden fees. I also recommend purchasing full insurance if you plan to drive in Guatemala (for the reasons I listed above with my explanation about why I don’t recommend driving). Lastly, by a 4X4 vehicle if you’re planning to go to places such as Semuc Champey, Huehuetenango, or other remote roads.
I don’t recommend taking the camionetas also known as chicken buses. Some tourists take these buses and they are fine. However, it is a risk because there can be robberies on these buses (especially in Guatemala City and the surrounding areas). Moreover sometimes they drive these buses recklessly. I’ve often seen reports in the news about accidents.