How Long to Spend in Antigua

When considering how long to spend in Antigua, keep in mind that even though the colonial center of Antigua is small, it’s filled with restaurants, artisan cafes, shops, and boutique hotels. So with only two days, you’d have to make some trade-offs. You can pack in a good portion of the sights in that time, it just might be overwhelming and tiring. These are the top 9 sights to prioritize. To soak up more of Antigua’s unique culture on a short trip, eat at these local favorites for traditional Guatemalan food.

If you want to experience most of what Antigua has to offer, from its sights to its artisan cafes and shops, at a busy but enjoyable pace, I recommend spending at least three but preferably four days there. With that amount of time, you get the most bang for your buck. You can relax at an atmospheric cafe for an hour with a world-class coffee, enjoy some of the best shopping in Guatemala, or see more than one or two of the city’s ruins. Antigua’s ruins are one of its most unique and charming features to explore if you have the time and interest. Here’s my list of best ruins, ranked in order of how to prioritize them.

With five or more days in Antigua, you can dive deeper into the culture, taking advantage of the unique things to do. You’d have the spare time to carve your own piece of jade jewelry, make artisanal chocolate from scratch, visit a coffee farm, do a workshop on traditional textiles, or take a cooking class. In addition to the sights, cafes, shopping, and cultural activities, Antigua is a great place to relax, thanks to the picturesque volcanoes surrounding the city and the beautiful boutique hotels at every price range. If you’re staying at the iconic Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, built within the 16th-century ruins of a convent, I recommend budgeting more time to take in the historic grounds, relax in the lovely courtyards, swim, or hit the spa. Spending 5+ days in Antigua is best for those looking for cultural immersion or a relaxing trip.