What to do in Antigua with kids? In this super atmospheric, former capital of Guatemala, there is plenty to explore with kids. Cozy streets, old colonial buildings, buskers, numerous stores, good restaurants and lots of color. This city is located at a high altitude between 3 volcanoes, which makes a visit to this city really worthwhile! Don’t visit this city in 1 day, but set aside a few days for it. In this blog, we list the best children’s activities in Antigua.
Best travel time Antigua with kids
In Guatemala, it is actually always hot. Nevertheless, this country has two seasons and the best travel time is from November to May when it is the dry season. That doesn’t mean you can’t visit Guatemala in our summer months, but you can expect more rain. Because Antigua is fairly high up, it is a little cooler here than other places in Guatemala, but overall it is still a nice spring temperature.
Transportation in Antigua
Antigua you will probably visit by car or by bus. Transportation to Antigua is well arranged. Buses go to Antigua very regularly. From Guatemala City, you’ll be in Antigua in about 1.5 hours. From Lake Atitlan, you’ll be in Antigua in about 3 hours. In downtown Antigua, everything is within walking distance and even if you are traveling with kids, it is all within easy reach.
For activities on the outer ring of the center, you can easily arrange a cab or a tuk tuk. Those are generally not super expensive in Guatemala.
Children’s activities Antigua
#1 Central square Antigua
Antigua’s central square is the heart of the city. This centrally located square, also called Parque Central is a real meeting place between both locals and tourists and it is great to hang out here for a while. In the center of the square is a fountain and around it are several benches nice and shady.
When you take a seat on one of the benches you can take it all in. Women in traditional clothing walk there with all their colorful merchandise on their heads. When interested, they roll it out into a small market stall with all the typical souvenirs. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings, including the old Cathedral.
There is also a very tasty bakery in the square, where you should definitely go get some with kids. The people of Antigua, or actually all of Guatemala, are very family-friendly, which means you’ll make contact fairly easily while traveling in Antigua with kids.
#2 City Walk
As mentioned earlier, the city of Antigua is really very atmospheric. You immediately feel and see that you are in Latin America. It is a fairly small town, so ideal for exploring on foot. Take a stroll through the cozy, old and colorful streets and be sure to also sample the various street food offerings along the way.
What we liked about this city was that you can actually see the daily life of the people here. Locals do their shopping at the market and use the various squares as meeting places. In addition, Antigua has several churches, such as the beautiful yellow La Marced Cathedral and several monasteries and ruins that are worth a visit or at least a photo.
If you like to shop for souvenirs, you have plenty of choice in the various cute little stores and in the larger market hall right in the center.
#3 Photo stop Arco de Santa Catalina
This iconic yellow building with its arch and clock tower is the first picture you see when you google the city of Antigua. The volcano in the background completes the picture. The contrast with the other buildings on this street is great. Consequently, it is a real photo spot for many tourists. The Arco de Santa Catalina was built in the 17th century to connect monastery spaces. In this way, the nuns could get into all rooms without having to go outside the convent.
#4 Visit the ruins
In 1773, Antigua was hit hard by an earthquake. You can now visit the ruins of many buildings that collapsed then. You see many ruins already on the streets, but there are two that are definitely worth visiting. The first is Convento Santa Clara, a ruined monastery from the 17th century. There is also a very nice courtyard garden here.
The second is the ruins of Catedral de Santiago from the 15th century. The one we found impressive anyway. So much has been destroyed and at the same time so much beauty has been preserved. You really can still behold the beautiful architectural structure. To visit this ruin you must go to the side entrance of the cathedral. Here are entrance gates where you have to pay a small entrance fee of 8 Quetzal (+/- €1).
#5 Climb Cerro de la Cruz
For a beautiful panoramic view of Antigua and the mountainous surroundings with its various volcanoes, visit Cerro de la Cruz, or “The Hill of the Cross. This hill is on the outskirts of the city and although it can be reached perfectly well on foot, we opted to take a cab because of the not-so-interesting and uphill road.
The starting point of the hike is clearly marked. You make a short climb to the top of the hill. The route is fine when traveling with kids. You walk mostly in the shade and are about 30 minutes. Once you arrive, you will see the large stone cross, but most of all you can enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the city and of the partially still active volcanoes Aqua, Fuego and Acatenango.
With us, the cross was in scaffolding, but maybe you guys will have better luck.
Family-friendly restaurant Antigua
You can have a great snack and drink in Antigua with kids at the various restaurants downtown. You have plenty of choices, but once in a while it’s nice to eat something different from traditional dishes. We’ve put below some standard options that are usually liked by kids.
Ta’Cool Taco shop: this family-friendly restaurant is in the middle of downtown Antigua and you can eat delicious tacos in a nice location with fast service. Of course, this is especially nice with young kids!
McDonald’s: you might not expect this in this list, but it really belongs there. This McDonald’s has a beautiful courtyard garden, where you can be very cozy. There is also an indoor playground for kids, which was not much else to be found in Antigua.
Family-friendly hotel Antigua
You can stay in Antigua with kids just fine. You have a number of family-friendly accommodations located in the city. We have listed the best rated accommodations in Antigua and do so in different price ranges so there is an option for everyone’s budget. Press the blue link for more information!
Budget hotel: Hotel Nolasco
Mid-range hotel: Hotel Posada San Pedro
Luxury hotel: Camino Real Antigua
Don’t the above 3 options include a suitable accommodation in Antigua for your family? Then check out the full list of family-friendly accommodations in Antigua.
About the author: this adventurous family took a 5-month trip around the world in 2022 and have visited more than 20 countries together. You can follow their adventures on their Instagram page fouropeenreis.
