Guatemala City is the capital and largest city of Guatemala, a highland metropolis of around 3 million people in the greater urban area, founded in 1776 after the capital was moved from Antigua following devastating earthquakes. Set at about 1,500 metres above sea level in a valley ringed by volcanoes, it’s best known as the country’s transport and cultural hub, with a modern, zone-based layout. Highlights include the Historic Centre around Parque Central and the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the museums and leafy streets of Zone 10 and Zone 13, where you’ll find the excellent Museo Popol Vuh and the nearby National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Green space comes via the relief-map park (Mapa en Relieve) and the city’s zoo and parks, while day trips head to Antigua, Lake Atitlán and the volcano trails. Getting in and around is straightforward via La Aurora International Airport (GUA), close to the central zones, with traffic-heavy roads making travel times vary widely.
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