Buses depart from different parts of the city depending on the destination, so it's worth checking before heading out. If you're continuing further into South America, Guatemala City is well connected by bus to the rest of the country, Mexico, Belize and beyond. To reach the city centre you'll need to take a taxi. La Aurora International Airport is a major airport with flights coming from Europe and America. You can also take a tour of Cervecería Centroamericana, where Guatemalan beer has been brewed since 1886.

Five art spaces built to mimic the surrounding volcanoes feature dance, drama and music. The National Theatre, also known as the Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Centre, is the place to see modern Guatemalan arts at their best. For culture, take your pick of museums showcasing Mayan crafts. One of the city's more unusual sites is a huge 3D map of the country (Mapa en Relieve) in Parque Minerva, where you can view Guatemala's varied geography. For nightlife, head to Zona Nine, Guatemala's most up-market neighbourhood, nicknamed Zona Viva for its after-dark alter ego. Cuatro Grados Norte is considered the gastronomic centre of the city, so come here to taste the unique blend of Mayan and Spanish flavours.

South is Zona Four, an off-beat neighbourhood full of coffee shops and bars.

There's great shopping on the pedestrianised Calle 6a and plenty of Spanish-style architecture on Plaza Mayor. Zona One (downtown) is lively 24 hours a day. Guatemala City is divided into Zonas (zones), spiralling out from the centre. In some Guatemala City hostels you'll have a free breakfast and most have a communal kitchen. For a slightly unusual experience, choose a capsule hostel with individual 'pod' beds. Yet you can still stretch out in tropical gardens, take a dip in an outdoor pool or share beers with new friends on a rooftop terrace. Hostels in Guatemala City are mostly in Zones One and Four, so very central. Guatemala City doesn't feature on every traveller's list, so you'll find the handcrafts are generally lower priced than other parts of the country. The museums of Guatemala's capital city display Mayan culture with pride, while the downtown area has seen a flood of new businesses and fresh ideas. Full of colonial buildings, technicolour street art and lively markets, Guatemala City is a window into a country in transition.

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