Guatemala City – worth a visit?
Like many other noisy and stressful Latin American cities, Guatemala City is one of the places many travellers avoid during their trip around Guatemala. Since the country has a variety of breathtaking locations to offer and you usually run out of time before you manage to see everything you want to, Guatemala City seems like one of the places you can skip without missing too much.
But for those of you who want to get to know the "real" Guatemala, away from the tourist magnets like Antigua, Lago Atitlan or Tikal and for those who have enough time, I highly recommend this city to all of you. Do not be fooled by the first impression, this city has so much more to offer than you might think!
Here is my list of the places you should definitely visit during your stay in Guatemala City:
Parque Central & Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (Zona 1)
For those staying in a hotel in Zona 1 (Zona 1 and Zona 10 are the most popular hotel zones in Guatemala City), be sure to visit the Parque Central and Palacio Nacional de la Cultura first. This place in the heart of the city cannot be missed on any visit to Guatemala City. The Catedral Metropolitana and the impresive Palacio Nacional should also be viewed from the inside. The Palacio Nacional de la Cultura also offers an hourly inexpensive tour through the interior of the palace and provides you with interesting background knowledge.
Within walking distance, you will find the famous shopping street Sexta Avenida, the Mercado Central and several small museums. So it definitely pays off to look for a hotel in the Zona 1, as a lot of the sights are nearby and you do not necessarily need a taxi to get around.
However, caution is advised at night, as the streets empty quickly in the dark and raids can occur in some areas. If you are planning to go out at night, be sure to ask the hotel staff about the security situation first.
Paseo Cayala
Paseo Cayala was built on the outskirts of Guatemala City as a small settlement just a few years ago, has been growing ever since and is planned to be transformed into a city of its own. Large all-white buildings and Spanish colonial-style apartments, green spaces, boutiques and promenades characterize the cityscape and offer residents and visitors a safe and exclusive environment.
Theater & Museums (Zona 13)
Apart from the smaller museums in Zona 1, the two museums Museo Nacional de Arqueologia and Museo Nacional de Arte in Zona 13 are highly recommended. Nearby you will also find the zoo and the Mercado de Artesanias. If you don’t like the stress in Mercado Central too much, you can search for souvenirs here in a much calmer environment.
I also recommend a visit to the National Theater which is located on a small hill near the Zona 1, in the Centro Cultural Miguel Ángel Asturias.
4 Grados Norte (Zona 4)
Many students live in this young and hip area which is characterized by alternative cafes, restaurant and painted house walls. If you plan to visit Zona 4 it’s best to get there by taxi and tell the taxi driver to drop you off in 4 Grados Norte. This area best reflects the flair of this zone and is also very safe compared to other areas of Zona 4.
Mirador Carretera a El Salvador
Even though the Mirador of Carretera a El Salvador isn’t part of the city itself, it’s probably the place with the best view above Guatemala City. It’s possible to get there by taxi and especially at sunset highly recommended.
Steemit Worldmap:
!steemitworldmap 14.6349149 lat -90.5068824 long Guatemala City - Worth A Visit? D3SCR
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nice @ninolatino i just spotted you on the steemit world map as the only other posts for Guatemala. great to have some company. nice post. i actually love guate city...despite that it gets slagged of a bit. looking forward to seeing more of your content.