Referred to as simply ‘Guate’ by the locals, this sprawling city is the cultural, political and commercial hub of Guatemala as a whole, not to mention one Central America’s largest urban areas. It’s actually the country’s third attempt at establishing a capital, with two of the former settlements completely destroyed by natural disasters. Nonetheless, it’s been going strong since 1776, and today is a hub for tourists looking to experience the cultural wealth of this fiercely diverse Mesoamerican nation. 
Most visitors coming into the city head straight for the Parque Central at Zone 1, a patchwork of palaces and religious sights around a plaza that shouldn’t be missed, while any Guatemala tourist guide is usually quick to recommend the fascinating ruins at Kaminal Juyú – an early pre-Colombian Mayan settlement - in zones 7 and 8.
While safety and caution is highly recommended, after dark the joints and eateries around Cuatro Grados Norte and Viva come alive with nightlife, while the increasing popularity of the city as a stop-off on the Central American trail has given way to a new range of top-class hotels and worldly eateries to enjoy.