Culture
Customs
Welcoming to foreigners? Yes LGBTQ friendly? While not illegal, members of the LGBTQ community can face discrimination.
Etiquette tips
If you’re visiting Mayan holy sites and churches in Antigua, make sure you follow the dress code. You should also always ask first before taking pictures of people in Guatemala. Particularly if you’re up in the Highlands where the Maya people live. Mayan people consider photographs without permission offensive, as they impact their spiritual beliefs.
How to great people
Simply saying “hola” is considered too casual. Try “Buenos días” (good morning), “Buenos tardes” (good afternoon), and “Buenas noches” (good evening) instead.
Tipping norms
Tipping is not necessary or expected in Guatemala but is appreciated.
Food
National dish
Chicken Pepian — Chicken in a spicy sauce with pumpkin seeds and sesame.
Must try local food
Turkey soup served with rice and tamales.
A stew with chicken and tomatillo (smaller, green tomato).
Traditional Guatemalan-style tamales.
An edible flower, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America.
A traditional Guatemalan dessert with plantains served with black beans.
Turkey soup served with rice and tamales.
A stew with chicken and tomatillo (smaller, green tomato).
Traditional Guatemalan-style tamales.
An edible flower, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America.
A traditional Guatemalan dessert with plantains served with black beans.
Turkey soup served with rice and tamales.
A stew with chicken and tomatillo (smaller, green tomato).
Traditional Guatemalan-style tamales.
An edible flower, widespread in El Salvador, Guatemala, and other countries in Central America.
A traditional Guatemalan dessert with plantains served with black beans.
Restaurants to visit
Restaurant recommendations from nomads & locals. 4.0+ rating, great atmosphere and good food guaranteed.
Farm-to-table restaurant serving traditional dishes as part of their Caoba farm, hosting fresh produce markets every Saturday.
Traditional Guatemalan dishes with vegetarian options available.
Farm-to-table restaurant serving traditional dishes as part of their Caoba farm, hosting fresh produce markets every Saturday.
Traditional Guatemalan dishes with vegetarian options available.
Farm-to-table restaurant serving traditional dishes as part of their Caoba farm, hosting fresh produce markets every Saturday.
Traditional Guatemalan dishes with vegetarian options available.
Food festivals & markets
Mercado — A local market where you can experience the more authentic side of Antigua and shop anything from fresh produce and meat, to clothes, shoes and pirated DVDs.
Food delivery apps
Art & music
Where to listen to live music
Theatre & film
There are no cinemas in Antigua, but you can easily head to Guatemala City for a movie night.
Visual art
Casa Santo Domingo Museums — As mentioned in the introduction, this is a great hotel option that also has six permanent museums and two art galleries with temporary exhibits on site. This was previously the Convent of Santo Domingo.
