View source for Guatemala City

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Guatemala}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Guatemala City
| native_name        = {{lang|es|Ciudad de Guatemala}}
| official_name      = {{lang|es|Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción}}<br> New Guatemala of the Assumption
| settlement_type    = [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
 |caption_align = center
 |border             = infobox
 |total_width     = 300
 |perrow             = 1/2/3/2
 |image1   = Ciudad de Guatemala, CA.jpg
 |caption1 = Skyline of Zone 14
 |image2   = Guatemala National Palace (reflection).jpg
 |caption2 = [[National Palace (Guatemala)|National Palace of Culture]]
 |image3   = 20230915 AI ARRIADA BANDERA NACIONAL 9 (1).jpg
 |caption3 = [[Cathedral of Guatemala City|Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago]]
 |image4   = Post Office Palace in Guatemala City - GT.jpg
 |caption4 = [[Guatemala Post Office Building|Post Office]]
 |image5   = Torre del Reformador Fabriccio Díaz.jpg
 |caption5 = [[Torre del Reformador|Reformer's Tower]]
 |image6   = Plaza de la Republica & Banco Industrial.jpg
 |caption6 = Zone 4 
 |image7   = 31 Aerial view - Zona 10 - Ciudad de Guatemala.jpg
 |caption7 = Skyline of Zone 10
 |image8   = Ciudad Cayalá - Guatemala.jpg
 |caption8 =  Cayala City
 |image9   = Plaza España, Ciudad de Guatemala.jpg
 |caption9 =  Spain Square
 |color        = white
 }}
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Bandera de la Ciudad de Guatemala.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_shield       = Escudo de Armas de la Ciudad de Guatemala.svg
| motto              = "Todos somos la ciudad" (We are all the city), "Tú eres la ciudad" (You are the city).
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = 
| image_map1         = 
| map_alt1           = 
| pushpin_map        = Guatemala#Central America#North America
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{Wikidatacoord|Q1555|region:GT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|Guatemala}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Departments of Guatemala|Department]]
| subdivision_type2  = Metropolitan area
| subdivision_name1  = [[File:Flag of the Guatemala Department.svg|22px|border]] [[Guatemala Department|Guatemala]]
| subdivision_name2  = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1524
|established_title2 = As capital<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mu.muniguate.com/index.php/component/content/article/130|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320225907/http://mu.muniguate.com/index.php/component/content/article/130|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-03-20|title=CONMEMORACION DE LOS DOSCIENTOS TREINTA AÑOS DE FUNDACIÓN DE LA CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA|date=2006-01-01|lang=es}}</ref>
|established_date2 = 1776 
| government_type    = Municipality
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Ricardo Quiñónez Lemus]] ([[Unionist Party (Guatemala)|Unionist]])
| area_total_km2     = 228.7
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 0
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| elevation_m        = 1500
| population_as_of   = 2023 projection
| population_total   = 1,221,739 <small>([[List_of_places_in_Guatemala|1st in Guatemala]])</small><ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/guatemala/admin/guatemala/0101__guatemala/ Guatemala (municipality) - ''City Population'']</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Citypopulation.de">{{cite web |url-status=live |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/guatemala/admin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107024426/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/guatemala/admin/ |archive-date=7 January 2021 |title=Guatemala: Administrative Division (Departments and Municipalities) |date=6 September 2023 |website=City Population }}</ref>
| population_density_km2= 5,552
| population_metro   = 3,230,000<ref name="metro">{{Cite web |title=Guatemala City, Guatemala Metro Area Population|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/21124/guatemala-city/population|access-date=8 June 2025|website=Macrotrends}}</ref>
| population_urban   = 
| population_demonym = Capitalino, guatemalteco
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity
| demographics1_footnotes =<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.ine.gob.gt/sistema/uploads/2021/11/19/202111192139096rGNQ5SfAlepmPGfYTovW9MF6X2turyT.pdf|title=Resultados Censo 2018|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística Guatemala|lang=es|date=Dec 2019|page=113|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815024613/https://www.ine.gob.gt/sistema/uploads/2021/11/19/202111192139096rGNQ5SfAlepmPGfYTovW9MF6X2turyT.pdf |archive-date=15 Aug 2025|access-date=2025-06-06}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1   =[[Ladino_people|Ladino]]
| demographics1_info1     =91.3%
|demographics1_info2 = 7.1%
|demographics1_title2= [[Maya peoples|Mayan]]
|demographics1_title3=Other
|demographics1_info3=1.6%
| demographics_type2 = GDP<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web |url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_gtm.pdf |publisher=Tellusant |title=TelluBase—Guatemala Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series) |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116131437/https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_gtm.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1 = Urban
| demographics2_info1 = US$24 billion (2023)
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = US$7,700 (2023)
| website            = {{URL|www.muniguate.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = [[Central Standard Time|CST]]
| utc_offset         = −06:00
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| blank1_name        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info        = [[Subtropics|Cwa]]
| native_name_lang   = es
}}

'''Guatemala City''' ({{langx|es|Ciudad de Guatemala}}), also known colloquially by the nickname '''Guate''', is the [[Capital city|national capital]] and largest city of the [[Guatemala|Republic of Guatemala]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/pdfs/Guatemala.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040514121733/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/pdfs/Guatemala.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2004 |url-status=live |title=Carlos Enrique Valladares Cerezo, "The case of Guatemala City, Guatemala" }}</ref> It serves as the [[Municipalities of Guatemala|municipal]] capital of the surrounding [[Guatemala Department]]. [[Guatemala City metropolitan area|Its metropolitan area]] is also the [[List_of_cities_in_Central_America|largest in Central America]]. The city is located in a mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita ({{langx|en|Hermitage Valley}}) in the south-central part of the country.

Guatemala City is the site of the native [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] city of [[Kaminaljuyu]] in [[Mesoamerica]], which was occupied primarily between 1500 BCE and 1200 CE. The present city was founded by the Spanish after their colonial capital, now called [[Antigua Guatemala]], was destroyed by the devastating [[1773 Guatemala earthquake|1773 Santa Marta earthquake]] and its aftershocks.<ref>{{Cite web |author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |title=Antigua Guatemala |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/65/ |access-date=7 January 2025 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en |archive-date=7 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107053236/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/65 |url-status=live }}</ref> It became the third royal capital of the surrounding [[Captaincy General of Guatemala]]; which itself was part of the larger [[Viceroyalty]] of [[New Spain]] in imperial [[Spanish America]] and remained under colonial rule until the nineteenth century.

In September 1821, Guatemala City was the site of the famous [[Act of Independence of Central America]], which declared the independence of the region from the [[Spanish Empire]]. It was ratified and enacted on 15 September, now celebrated annually as Guatemala's independence day and called the [[Dias Patrios (Guatemala)|Dias Patrios]]. For the next several decades, Guatemala City was the federation capital of the newly established and independent government of the United Provinces of Central America, which was later reorganized and renamed the [[Federal Republic of Central America]].<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica. (2019). [https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Provinces-of-Central-America United Provinces of Central America]. In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved 26 June 2022. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712204239/https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Provinces-of-Central-America |date=12 July 2022 }}</ref> In August 1847, [[History of Guatemala|Guatemala]] declared itself an independent republic, separate from the larger federation, and Guatemala City became its [[national capital]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quiñónez |first=Edgar |date=15 August 2023 |title=Día de la Asunción: por qué se celebra el 15 de agosto en Guatemala |trans-title=Assumption Day: why August 15 is celebrated in Guatemala |url=https://republica.gt/vive-guatemala/dia-de-la-asuncion-por-que-se-celebra-el-15-de-agosto-en-guatemala-20238141530 |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=República |archive-date=21 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121045337/https://republica.gt/vive-guatemala/dia-de-la-asuncion-por-que-se-celebra-el-15-de-agosto-en-guatemala-20238141530 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Guatemala City and the surrounding region were almost completely destroyed by the [[1917 Guatemala earthquake|1917–1918 Guatemala earthquakes]] and months of continued aftershocks. Reconstructions since have resulted in a more modern architectural landscape, including wider streets and a grid lay-out for new developments, inspired by post-18th century designs of architects in other national capital cities such as Paris, France and Washington, D.C.

Today, Guatemala City is the political, cultural, religious and economic center of the Republic of Guatemala and exerts a wide financial, commercial, and cultural influence on the Central America region and beyond, throughout Latin America.

== Names ==
Guatemala City ({{langx|es|Ciudad de Guatemala}}) is known colloquially by Guatemalans as '''{{Langx|es|La Capital|label=none}}''' or Guate. Its formal name is '''{{langx|es|Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción|links=none|label=none}}'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historia. Historia de la Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción |trans-title=History of the New Guatemala of the Assumption |url=https://www.muniguate.com/historia/ |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=MuniGuate |publisher=Municipality of Guatemala |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316215156/https://www.muniguate.com/historia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  (New Guatemala of the Assumption). The latter name is derived from the fact that it was a new Guatemala after the old one ({{Langx|es|La Antigua|label=none}}) was ruined by an earthquake. Also, Assumption is in honor of the [[Assumption of Mary|Virgin of the Assumption]], whose festivity is 15 August, the [[Calendar of saints|city's feast day]].

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=November 2021}}

===Early history===
[[File:Cerritodelcarmen.jpg|thumb|left|"Cerrito del Carmen" church. First Spanish building in the valley that eventually became Guatemala City.]]
{{Main|History of Guatemala City|Timeline of Guatemala City}}

Human settlement on the present site of Guatemala City began with the native indigenous [[Maya people|Maya]] people, who built a large ceremonial center at [[Kaminaljuyu]]. This large Maya settlement, the biggest outside the Maya lowlands in the [[Yucatán Peninsula]], of southeast [[Mexico]], rose to prominence around 2,300 years ago, about 300 B.C. due to an increase in mining and trading of [[obsidian]], a valuable commodity of volcanic glass ([[Igneous rock]]) for the [[Pre-Columbian America]]n civilizations in [[Mesoamerica]]. Kaminaljuyu then mysteriously collapsed around A.D. 300 for as yet unknown historical causes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wright |first1=Lori E. |last2=Valdés |first2=Juan Antonio |last3=Burton |first3=James H. |last4=Douglas Price |first4=T. |last5=Schwarcz |first5=Henry P. |date=June 2010 |title=The children of Kaminaljuyu: Isotopic insight into diet and long distance interaction in Mesoamerica |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaa.2010.01.002 |journal=Journal of Anthropological Archaeology |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=155–178 |doi=10.1016/j.jaa.2010.01.002 |issn=0278-4165 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

A series of [[1773 Guatemala earthquake|devastating earthquakes]] in 1773 had left the old second [[Spanish Empire|Royal Spanish]] colonial / provincial capital city of [[Antigua Guatemala|La Antigua Guatemala]], and surrounding area in ruins and unusable to the Imperial Spanish colonial authorities. During this period of the late 18th century after the move three years later in 1776 to the current site of modern Guatemala City, that the central plaza in the new town, with its premier landmark [[Neo-classical architecture|neo-classical]] style architecture of the immense  [[Cathedral of Guatemala City|Metropolitan Cathedral]] (officially named: Catedral Primada Metropolitana de Santiago), built 1782–1815, completed / dedicated 1871. Its the center of the country's [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]] and its [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guatemala|Archdiocese of Guatemala]] and the seat (chair) for the serving current [[Archbishop of Guatemala]]. Also erected in that post-1773 Santa Marta Earthquake was the massive regional colonial Royal Spanish government's [[Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, Antigua Guatemala|Palace of the Captain-General]], were constructed in the old second capital of the 1700s, now semi-ruined town  Antigua Guatemala and preserved historic site, which later was partially repaired and maintained, even though the capital had been moved away to the current city in [[Emmita Valley]]. The old monumental palace served then as the headquarters for the colonial government regional jurisdiction of the [[Captaincy General of Guatemala]], from its organization in 1542 to independence in 1821. Today it serves as the site for several current national government offices, national police, several tourism agencies along with galleries / exhibits of the [[National Museum of Guatemalan Art]].

A half-century later, after the ratification / enactment of the [[Act of Independence of Central America]] declaration, the city became the capital of the independent newly organized [[Federal Republic of Central America|United Provinces of Central America]] in September 1821.

The subsequent decades in the 19th century saw the construction of some significant structures in the town, such as the monumental [[Carrera Theater (Guatemala)|Carrera Theater]] in the 1850s, and the modern-day historic executive residence of the [[Casa Crema|Casa Presidencial de Guatemala|Casa Presidencial de Guatemala (Presidential Palace of Guatemala)]] in the 1890s for the former and still occupied by the current [[President of Guatemala|President of the Republic]]. At this time, the capital city was expanding around the 30 de Junio Boulevard and elsewhere, unfortunately displacing [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|native / indigenous peoples]] in the settlements on the peripheries of the growing city. [[1917 Guatemala earthquakes|The early 20th century series of earthquakes]] during the years of 1917–1918 destroyed many historic structures from the era of the late 18th and following 19th centuries of the first period of Guatemala City capital history, erected during the 144 years since the previous devastating tremors in the infamous [[1773 Guatemala earthquake|Santa Marta Earthquake of 1773]], (referred to previously further above), which destroyed the previous nearby [[Kingdom of Spain|Royal Spanish]] and colonial / provincial capital city of [[Antigua Guatemala|La Antigua Guatemala]] (now a historic site with preserved ruins).

A decade later, under former military General, then elected 21st [[President of Guatemala|President]] (later unfortunately becoming an authoritarian  dictator) of [[Jorge Ubico]] (1878–1946, ruled 1931–1944). General / President Ubico after clinging to power for 13 years, was later overthrown in the [[Guatemalan Revolution]] of 1944, a democratic pivotal event in the nation's history that is still celebrated annually 80 years later in the country, alongside the earlier 15 September Independence Day of Central America from 1821.

In the subsequent 1930s decade with the worldwide [[Great Depression]] affecting many nations' economies and commerce / trade during the [[Jorge Ubico|Ubico dictatorship]] era, however using public works projects such as a [[hippodrome]] and many new public buildings were constructed in the period. This was highlighted by the design and construction of the monumental [[National Palace (Guatemala)|National Palace]] (built 1939–1943, as an official residence and offices for the President of the Republic, renovated 2010 and now known as the National Palace of Culture, and used as a national museum).

Although slums that had formed with the major displacement of the city and region's population after the 1917–1918 series of [[1917 Guatemala earthquake|earthquakes]], continued to grow and spread around the edges of the capital city with the lack of civilized normal basic amenities and public services / utilities, such as fresh water piping, sewer drainage systems / filtration plants, electric power lines with paved / lighted streets and highways, etc.

Guatemala City continues to be subject to an unusual amount of natural and climate-related disasters, (especially recurring earthquakes) with the latest being the two disasters that struck simultaneously in May 2010: the eruption of the [[Pacaya]] volcano and, two days later, the torrential downpours from [[Tropical Storm Agatha (2010)|Tropical Storm Agatha]] of 2010.

===Contemporary history===
[[File:Guatemala City Air View.jpg|thumb|Zone 10 of Guatemala City]]
Guatemala City serves as the economic, governmental, and cultural center of the nation of Guatemala. The city also functions as Guatemala's main transportation hub, hosting an international airport, [[La Aurora International Airport]], and serving as the origination or end points for most of Guatemala's major highways. The city, with its robust economy, attracts hundreds of thousands of rural migrants from Guatemala's interior hinterlands and serves as the main entry point for most foreign immigrants seeking to settle in Guatemala.

In addition to a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, shops, and a modern [[Bus rapid transit|BRT]] transport system ([[Transmetro]]), the city is home to many art galleries, theaters, sports venues and museums (including some fine collections of [[Pre-Columbian]] art) and provides a growing number of cultural offerings. Guatemala City not only possesses a history and culture unique to the Central American region, it also furnishes all the modern amenities of a world class city, ranging from an [[IMAX Theater]] to the Ícaro film festival ([[Festival Ícaro]]), where independent films produced in Guatemala and Central America are debuted.

==Structure and growth==
{{More citations needed|section|date=November 2021}}
[[File:Plaza España Cd Guatemala a Noche.jpg|thumb|left|Plaza España at night]]
[[File:guatemala city aerial night b.JPG|thumb|Evening view from a plane]]
[[File:05 Ciudad Cayala Front View.jpg|thumb|{{ill|Cayalá City|es|Ciudad Cayalá (Guatemala)}}, a new neighbourhood of Guatemala City with [[vernacular architecture]]]]
[[File:Aerial view of Zona 14 - Ciudad de Guatemala - Guatemala.jpg|thumb|right|Zone 14 of Guatemala City]]

Guatemala City is located<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-05 |title=Guatemala City {{!}} Population, Map, Antigua, & History {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Guatemala-City |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> in the mountainous regions of the country, between the Pacific coastal plain to the south and the northern lowlands of the Peten region.

The city's metropolitan area has recently grown very rapidly and has absorbed most of the neighboring municipalities of Villa Nueva, San Miguel Petapa, [[Mixco]], San Juan Sacatepequez, San José Pinula, Santa Catarina Pinula, Fraijanes, San Pedro Ayampuc, [[Amatitlán Department|Amatitlán]], Villa Canales, Palencia, and Chinautla, forming what is now known as the [[Guatemala City Metropolitan Area]].

The city is subdivided into 22 zones ("Zonas") designed by the urban engineering of [[Raúl Aguilar Batres]], each one with its own streets ("Calles"), avenues ("Avenidas") and, sometimes, "Diagonal" Streets, making it pretty easy to find addresses in the city. Zones are numbered 1–25, with Zones 20, 22 and 23 not existing as they would have fallen in two other municipalities' territory.{{sfn|Municipalidad de Guatemala|2008|p=}} Addresses are assigned according to the street or avenue number, followed by a dash and the number of metres it is away from the intersection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Layout in Guatemala City |url=https://www.frommers.com/destinations/guatemala-city/city-layout |website=Frommers |access-date=30 August 2019 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808114440/https://www.frommers.com/destinations/guatemala-city/city-layout |url-status=live }}</ref>

For example, the INGUAT Office on "7a Av. 1–17, Zona 4" is a building which is located on Avenida 7, 17 meters away from the intersection with Calle 1, toward Calle 2 in zone 4.

7a Av. 1–17, Zona 4; and 7a Av. 1–17, Zona 10, are two radically different addresses.

Short streets/avenues do not get new sequenced number, for example, 6A Calle is a short street between 6a and 7a.

Some "avenidas" or "Calles" have a name in addition to their number, if it is very wide; for example, Avenida la Reforma is an avenue which separates Zone 9 and 10, and Calle Montúfar is Calle 12 in Zone 9.

Calle 1 Avenida 1 Zona 1 is the center of every city in Guatemala.

Zone One is the Historic Center (Centro Histórico), lying in the very heart of the city, the location of many important historic buildings, including the [[National Palace (Guatemala)|Palacio Nacional de la Cultura]] (National Palace of Culture), the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress, the [[Casa Presidencial (Guatemala)|Casa Presidencial]] (Presidential House), the National Library, and Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Plaza, old Central Park). Efforts to revitalize this important part of the city have been undertaken by the municipal government.

Besides the parks, the city offers a portfolio of entertainment in the region, focused on the so-called Zona Viva and the Calzada Roosevelt, as well as four degrees North. Casino activity is considerable, with several located in different parts of the Zona Viva. The area around the East market is being redeveloped.

Within the financial district are the tallest buildings in the country, including: [[Torre Premier Club|Club Premier]], Tinttorento, Atlantis building, [[Atrium Building (Guatemala)|Atrium]], [[Tikal Futura]], Building of Finances, Towers Building Batteries, Torres Botticelli, Tadeus, building of the INTECAP, Royal Towers, Towers Geminis, Industrial Bank towers, Holiday Inn Hotel, Premier of the Americas, among many others to be used for offices, apartments, etc. Also included are projects such as Zona Pradera and Interamerica's World Financial Center.

One of the most outstanding mayors was the engineer Martin Prado Vélez, who took over in 1949, and ruled the city during the reformist presidents [[Juan José Arévalo]] and [[Jacobo Arbenz Guzman]], although he was not a member of the ruling party at the time and was elected due his well-known capabilities. Of cobanero origin, married with Marta Cobos, he studied at the [[Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala |University of San Carlos]]; under his tenure, among other modernist works of the city, infrastructure projects included El Incienso bridge, the construction of the Roosevelt Avenue, the main road axis from East to West of the city, the town hall building, and numerous road works which meant the widening of the colonial city, its order in the cardinal points and the generation of a ring road with the first cloverleaf interchange in the city.{{sfn|Morán Mérida|1994|p=9}}

In an attempt to control the rapid growth of the city, the municipal government (Municipalidad de Guatemala), headed by longtime Mayor [[Álvaro Arzú]], has implemented a plan to focus growth along important arterial roads and apply [[Transit-oriented development]] (TOD) characteristics. This plan, denominated POT (Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial), aims to allow taller building structures of mixed uses to be built next to large arterial roads, and gradually decline in height and density moving away from such. It is also worth mentioning, that due to the airport being in the south of the city, height limits based on aeronautical considerations have been applied to the construction code. This limits the maximum height for a building, at {{convert|60|m|abbr=off}} in Zone 10, up to {{convert|95|m|abbr=off}} in Zone 1.{{sfn|Municipalidad de Guatemala|2008|p=}}

==Climate==
Despite its location in the tropics, Guatemala City has a monsoon [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cwa''){{citation needed|date=February 2025}} due to its relatively high altitude which moderate the average temperatures. Guatemala City is generally very warm, almost springlike, throughout the course of the year.

It occasionally gets hot during the dry season, but not as hot and humid as in Central American cities at sea level. The hottest month is April. The rainy season extends from May to October, coinciding with the tropical storm and hurricane season in the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, while the dry season extends from November to April. The city can at times be windy, which also leads to lower [[ambient temperature]]s.

The city's average annual temperature ranges are {{convert|22|-|28|C|1}} during the day and {{convert|12|-|17|C|1}} at night; its average [[relative humidity]] is 82% in the morning and 58% in the evening; and its average [[dew point]] is {{convert|16|C|1}}.<ref name="weatherbase.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=14687&refer=&units=metric |title=Guatemala City, Guatemala Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase) |work=Weatherbase |access-date=17 September 2009 |archive-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113054055/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=14687&refer=&units=metric |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto|location = Guatemala City (1990–2011)
|metric first = yes
|single line  = yes
|Jan record high C = 30.0
|Feb record high C = 32.1
|Mar record high C = 32.0
|Apr record high C = 33.9
|May record high C = 33.9
|Jun record high C = 31.2
|Jul record high C = 29.1
|Aug record high C = 30.2
|Sep record high C = 29.8
|Oct record high C = 28.6
|Nov record high C = 29.9
|Dec record high C = 28.8
|year record high C = 33.9
|Jan high C = 24.3
|Feb high C = 25.8
|Mar high C = 26.8
|Apr high C = 27.8
|May high C = 27.1
|Jun high C = 25.8
|Jul high C = 25.4
|Aug high C = 25.5
|Sep high C = 25.1
|Oct high C = 24.7
|Nov high C = 24.2
|Dec high C = 23.9
|year high C = 25.5
|Jan mean C = 17.7
|Feb mean C = 19.7
|Mar mean C = 20.4
|Apr mean C = 22.9
|May mean C = 23.7
|Jun mean C = 22.6
|Jul mean C = 20.8
|Aug mean C = 21.0
|Sep mean C = 20.7
|Oct mean C = 20.3
|Nov mean C = 19.4
|Dec mean C = 17.4
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 13.2
|Feb low C = 13.6
|Mar low C = 14.6
|Apr low C = 16.0
|May low C = 16.8
|Jun low C = 16.8
|Jul low C = 16.3
|Aug low C = 16.5
|Sep low C = 16.4
|Oct low C = 16.0
|Nov low C = 14.7
|Dec low C = 13.7
|year low C = 15.4
|Jan record low C = 6.0
|Feb record low C = 6.8
|Mar record low C = 7.0
|Apr record low C = 8.6
|May record low C = 12.3
|Jun record low C = 11.2
|Jul record low C = 12.1
|Aug record low C = 13.5
|Sep record low C = 13.0
|Oct record low C = 11.4
|Nov record low C = 9.4
|Dec record low C = 7.6
|year record low C = 6.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 2.8
|Feb rain mm = 5.4
|Mar rain mm = 6.0
|Apr rain mm = 31.0
|May rain mm = 128.9
|Jun rain mm = 271.8
|Jul rain mm = 202.6
|Aug rain mm = 202.7
|Sep rain mm = 236.6
|Oct rain mm = 131.6
|Nov rain mm = 48.8
|Dec rain mm = 6.6
|Jan rain days = 1.68
|Feb rain days = 1.45
|Mar rain days = 2.00
|Apr rain days = 4.73
|May rain days = 12.36
|Jun rain days = 21.14
|Jul rain days = 18.59
|Aug rain days = 19.04
|Sep rain days = 20.82
|Oct rain days = 14.59
|Nov rain days = 6.18
|Dec rain days = 2.64
|Jan sun = 248.4
|Feb sun = 236.2
|Mar sun = 245.6
|Apr sun = 237.9
|May sun = 184.4
|Jun sun = 155.3
|Jul sun = 183.4
|Aug sun = 191.8
|Sep sun = 159.0
|Oct sun = 178.0
|Nov sun = 211.7
|Dec sun = 209.2
|Jan humidity = 74.3
|Feb humidity = 73.4
|Mar humidity = 73.2
|Apr humidity = 74.3
|May humidity = 77.3
|Jun humidity = 82.4
|Jul humidity = 80.8
|Aug humidity = 80.9
|Sep humidity = 84.5
|Oct humidity = 82.0
|Nov humidity = 79.2
|Dec humidity = 76.0
|year humidity = 77.8
|source 1 = [[Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia]]<ref name=Insivumeh>{{cite web |url=http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/meteorologia/ESTACIONES/GUATEMALA/INSIVUMEH%20PARAMETROS.htm |title=Ministerio de comunicaciones Infraestructura y Vivienda |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604092515/http://www.insivumeh.gob.gt/meteorologia/ESTACIONES/GUATEMALA/INSIVUMEH%20PARAMETROS.htm |archive-date=4 June 2012 }}</ref> |date=July 2014}}

===Volcanic activity===
Four [[stratovolcanoes]] are visible from the city, two of them active. The nearest and most active is [[Pacaya]], which at times erupts a considerable amount of ash.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/central_america/guatemala/pacaya/gvn/sepgvn.html |title=MTU-VP Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala |publisher=Geo.mtu.edu |date=1 June 1995 |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204191139/http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/central_america/guatemala/pacaya/gvn/sepgvn.html |url-status=live }}</ref> These volcanoes lie to the south of the Valle de la Ermita, providing a natural barrier between Guatemala City and the Pacific lowlands that define the southern regions of Guatemala. [[Volcán de Agua|Agua]], [[Volcán de Fuego|Fuego]], [[Pacaya]], and [[Acatenango]] comprise a line of 33 stratovolcanoes that stretches across the breadth of Guatemala, from the Salvadorian border to the Mexican border.

===Earthquakes===
{{See also|1917 Guatemala earthquake|1976 Guatemala earthquake}}

Lying on the [[Ring of Fire]], the Guatemalan highlands and the Valle de la Ermita are frequently shaken by large earthquakes. The last large tremor to hit the Guatemala City region occurred in the 1976, on the [[Motagua Fault]], a left-lateral [[Fault (geology)#Strike-slip faults|strike-slip]] fault that forms the boundary between the [[Caribbean Plate]] and the [[North American Plate]]. The [[1976 Guatemala earthquake|1976 event]] registered 7.5 on the [[moment magnitude scale]]. Smaller, less severe tremors are frequently felt in Guatemala City and environs.

===Mudslides===
Torrential downpours, similar to the more famous monsoons, occur frequently in the Valle de la Ermita during the rainy season, leading to flash floods that sometimes inundate the city. Due to these heavy rainfalls, some of the slums perched on the steep edges of the canyons that criss-cross the Valle de la Ermita are washed away and buried under mudslides, as in October 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carlos |first=Juan |date=7 October 2005 |title=Mudslide in Guatemala kills dozens |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051007/news_1n7stan.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113053211/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051007/news_1n7stan.html |archive-date=13 November 2011 |access-date=8 July 2009 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune }}</ref> Tropical waves, tropical storms and hurricanes sometimes strike the Guatemalan highlands, which also bring torrential rains to the Guatemala City region and trigger these deadly mudslides.

===Piping pseudokarst===
[[File:Guatemala city sinkhole 2007 composite view.jpg|center|thumb|upright=3.0|2007 Sinkhole]]
[[File:Guatemala City 2010 sinkhole 1.jpg|thumb|The 2010 sinkhole in Zona 2]]
In February [[2007 Guatemala City sinkhole|2007, a very large, deep circular hole]] with vertical walls opened in northeastern Guatemala City ({{Coord|14|39|2|N|90|29|25|W}}), killing five people. This sinkhole, which is classified by geologists as either a "[[piping feature]]" or "[[piping pseudokarst]]", was {{convert|100|m}} deep, and apparently was created by fluid from a [[sanitary sewer|sewer]] eroding the loose [[volcanic ash]], [[limestone]], and other [[Pyroclastic rock|pyroclastic]] deposits that underlie Guatemala City.{{sfn|Waltham|2008|pp=291–300}}{{sfn|Halliday|2007|pp=103–113}} As a result, one thousand people were evacuated from the area.<ref>{{cite news |author=David L Miller |date=4 July 2009 |title=Massive Guatemala Sinkhole Kills 2 Teens |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/massive-guatemala-sinkhole-kills-2-teens/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225092239/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/23/world/main2508879.shtml |archive-date=25 February 2007 }}</ref> This piping feature has since been mitigated by City Hall by providing proper maintenance to the sewerage collection system,{{sfn|Municipalidad de Guatemala|2014|p=}} and plans to develop the site have been proposed. However, critics believe municipal authorities have neglected needed maintenance on the city's aging [[sewerage]] system, and have speculated that more dangerous piping features are likely to develop unless action is taken.<ref>{{cite web |author=Constantino Diaz-Duran |date=1 June 2010 |title=Sinkhole in Guatemala City Might Not Be the Last |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-01/sinkhole-in-guatemala-city-might-not-be-the-last/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603192740/http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-01/sinkhole-in-guatemala-city-might-not-be-the-last/ |archive-date=3 June 2010 |access-date=3 June 2010 |website=The Daily Beast }}</ref>

Three years later, the [[2010 Guatemala City sinkhole]] arose.

==Demographics==
[[File:Guatemala City Metropolitan Area Satellite view.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Guatemala City]]
It is estimated that the population of Guatemala City urban area is about 3 million.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Guatemala: Estimaciones de la Población total por municipio. Período 2008–2020. |trans-title=Guatemala: Estimates of the total population by municipality. 2008–2020 period. |url=http://www.oj.gob.gt/estadisticaj/reportes/poblacion-total-por-municipio(1).pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003849/http://www.oj.gob.gt/estadisticaj/reportes/poblacion-total-por-municipio(1).pdf |archive-date=23 July 2018 |access-date=14 September 2018 |website=Organismo Judicial República de Guatemala |language=es }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=21 October 2018 |title=Productividad y eficiencia: La Municipalidad incorpora tecnología para atender al vecino |trans-title=Productivity and efficiency: The municipality incorporates technology to service the neighbor |url=http://osu.muniguate.com/index.php/obras/40-temas/1868-productividad |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915033749/http://osu.muniguate.com/index.php/obras/40-temas/1868-productividad |archive-date=15 September 2018 |access-date=15 September 2018 |website=Muniguate |language=es }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guatemala/ |title=CIA World Factbook, Guatemala |date=July 2011 |access-date=22 December 2011 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416041152/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guatemala/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The growth of the city's population has been robust, abetted by the mass migration of Guatemalans from the rural hinterlands to the largest and most vibrant regional economy in Guatemala.{{sfn|INE|2013|p=13}} Among inhabitants of Guatemala City, those of Spanish and [[Mestizo]] descent are the most numerous.{{sfn|INE|2013|p=13}} Guatemala City also has sizable indigenous populations, divided among the 23 distinct Mayan groups present in Guatemala. The numerous Mayan languages are now spoken in certain quarters of Guatemala City, making the city a linguistically rich area. Foreigners and foreign immigrants comprise the final distinct group of Guatemala City inhabitants, representing a very small minority among the city's denizens.{{sfn|INE|2013|p=13}}

Due to mass migration from impoverished rural districts wracked with political instability, Guatemala City's population has exploded since the 1970s, severely straining the existing bureaucratic and physical infrastructure of the city. As a result, chronic traffic congestion, shortages of safe potable water in some areas of the city, and a sudden and prolonged surge in crime have become perennial problems. The infrastructure, although continuing to grow and improve in some areas,{{sfn|Morán Mérida|1994|p=14}} is lagging in relation to the increasing population of rural migrants, who tend to be poorer.{{sfn|Morán Mérida|1994|pp=14–17}}

==Communications==
Guatemala City is headquarters to many communications and telecom companies, among them Tigo, Claro-Telgua, and Movistar-Telefónica. These companies also offer cable television, internet services and telephone access. Due to Guatemala City's large and concentrated consumer base in comparison to the rest of the country, these telecom and communications companies provide most of their services and offerings within the confines of the city. There are also seven local television channels, in addition to numerous international channels. The international channels range from children's programming, like [[Nickelodeon (Latin America)|Nickelodeon]] and the [[Disney Channel (Latin America)|Disney Channel]], to more adult offerings, such as [[E!]] and [[HBO (international)#Latin America|HBO]]. While international programming is dominated by entertainment from the United States, domestic programming is dominated by shows from Mexico. Due to its small and relatively income-restricted domestic market, Guatemala City produces very little in the way of its own programming outside of local news and sports.

==Economy and finance==
Guatemala City, as the capital, is home to Guatemala's central bank, from which Guatemala's monetary and fiscal policies are formulated and promulgated. Guatemala City is also headquarters to numerous regional private banks, among them CitiBank, Banco Agromercantil, Banco Promerica, Banco Industrial, Banco GyT Continental, Banco de Antigua, Banco Reformador, Banrural, Grupo Financiero de Occidente, BAC Credomatic, and Banco Internacional.

By far the richest and most powerful regional economy within Guatemala, Guatemala City is the largest market for goods and services, which provides the greatest number of investment opportunities for public and private investors in all of Guatemala. Financing for these investments is provided by the regional private banks, as well as through foreign direct investment mostly coming from the United States. Guatemala City's ample consumer base and service sector is represented by the large department store chains present in the city, among them Siman, Hiper Paiz & Paiz ([[Walmart]]), Price Smart, ClubCo, Cemaco, [[Sears]], and [[Office Depot]].{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
<gallery class="center">
File:Banco deGuatemala.JPG|[[Bank of Guatemala]]
File:Banrural.jpg|Banrural Bank
File:ZONAPRADERA.JPG|Pradera Zone.
File:Banco Agromercantilguate.jpg|Agromercantil Bank
File:BANCO GYT CONTINENTAL.JPG|G&T Continental Bank
File:Credito Hipotecario Nacional.jpg|CHN Bank
</gallery>

==Places of interest by zones==

Guatemala City is divided into 22 zones in accordance with the urban layout plan designed by [[Raúl Aguilar Batres]]. Each zone has its own streets and avenues, facilitating navigation within the city. Zones are numbered 1 through 25. However, numbers 20, 22 and 23 have not been designated to zones, thus these zones do not exist within the city proper.{{sfn|Municipalidad de Guatemala|2008|p=}}

{|class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; font-size:0.9em;" 
|- style="color:white;"
! style="background:#659ec7; width=10%;"|Zone
! style="background:#659ec7; width=30%;"|Main places
! style="background:#659ec7; width=60%;"|Pictures
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 1
|
* [[Centro Cultural Miguel Ángel Asturias|Miguel Angel Asturias cultural center]] (includes the National Theater)
* Museums
* Historic Downtown District
* La Sexta Boulevard
* [[National Palace (Guatemala)|National Palace]]
* [[Biblioteca Nacional de Guatemala]]
* [[Cathedral of Guatemala City|National cathedral]]
* Teatro Abril
* Hogar Rafael Ayau
* Centro Cultural de España en Guatemala
|[[File:Teatro Nacional Guatemala.jpg|center|thumb|upright=0.8|Guatemala National Theater]] 
|[[File:Catedral Metropolitana - Guatemala City - Air View.jpg|center|thumb|National cathedral]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 2
|
* Hipódromo del Norte park
** Guatemala's Relief Map<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.funtec-guatemala.org/page6.html |title=Mapa en Relieve de Guatemala |access-date=25 July 2009 |website=Funtec-Guatemala |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209212714/http://www.funtec-guatemala.org/page6.html |archive-date=9 February 2008 |language=es }}</ref>
** Enrique Torrebiarte Baseball Stadium
* Simeón Cañas Avenue
* {{langx|es|label=none|[[Cervecería Centro Americana]]}} (national brewery)
|[[File:Maparelieve3.jpg|center|thumb|Guatemala's relief map]]
|[[File:Foto aérea Cervecería Centro Americana S.A..jpg|center|thumb|{{langx|es|label=none|Cervecería Centro Americana}}]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 3
|
* [[Guatemala City General Cemetery]]
* City dump
|[[File:Tumbaagapitaguatemala 2014-07-16 15-05.jpg|center|thumb|upright=0.7|Guatemala City General Cemetery]]
|[[File:Basurero de la zona 3 - Guatemala.jpg|center|thumb|City dump]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 4
|
* {{langx|es|label=none|Banco Industrial}} financial center
* La Terminal Market
* [[Cuatro Grados Norte]] borough: a cultural, gastronomic and technologically focused space; with housing, rental spaces, entertainment, and office spaces. 
| [[File:Plaza de la Republica & Banco Industrial.jpg|center|thumb|{{langx|es|label=none|Banco Industrial}} financial center]]
|
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 5
|
* [[Estadio Mateo Flores|Doroteo Guamuch Flores National Stadium]]
* Olympic Villa
* La Limonada ({{langx|es|label=none|[[Asentamiento]]}})
| [[File:Estadio Mateo Flores Guatemala.JPG|center|thumb|National Stadium]]
|
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 6
|
* {{langx|es|label=none|La Parroquia}} church{{efn|Landmark next to which was held the first council meeting in the newly founded Guatemala City in 1776}}
* [[Estadio Cementos Progreso|Cementos Progreso Stadium]]
| [[File:Parroquiavieja fotorex.jpg|center|thumbnail|{{langx|es|label=none|La Parroquia}} church, before 1917]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 7
|
* [[Kaminaljuyú]] Archeological Site
* Erick Barrondo Sports Park
* Peri-Roosevelt Mall
* Megacentro Mall
|[[File:Kaminaljuyu 1979 - Cd Guatemala 06.jpg|center|thumb|Kaminal Juyu]]
|
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 8
|
*Temple of the Divine Providence<br>({{langx|es|label=none|Parroquia La Divina Providencia}}; [[Salesians of Don Bosco|Salesian]] catholic church)
|[[File:Parroquia La Divina Providencia.jpg|center|thumb|Temple of the Divine Providence]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 9
|
* [[Torre del Reformador]]
* [[w:es:Parque de la Industria (Guatemala)|Parque de la Industria]] 
* [[Avenida Reforma]]
* [[w:es:Plaza España (Guatemala)|Plazuela españa]]
* [[w:es:Reloj de flores (Guatemala)|Reloj de Flores]]
|[[File:GT Ciudad de Guatemala 0411 001 (17069314159).jpg|center|thumb|upright=0.65|Torre del Reformador]]
|[[File:Plazuela españa.jpg|center|thumb|Plazuela españa]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 10
|
* [[w:es:Zona Viva|Zona Viva]]
* [[Universidad Francisco Marroquín]]
* [[Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing]]{{sfn|Museo Ixchel|2008|p=}}
* [[Universidad Galileo]]
* [[Museo Popol Vuh]]
* [[w:es:Jardín botánico de Guatemala|Jardín Botánico]], a [[botanical garden]]
* Upscale malls
|[[File:Zona Viva, Guatemala City.jpg|center|thumb|Zona Viva at night]]
|[[File:Panorámica entrada Universidad Francisco Marroquín.jpg|center|thumb|{{langx|es|label=none|Francisco Marroquin}} university]]
|-
|
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 11
|
* [https://museomiraflores.org.gt/ Museo de Miraflores]
* Miraflores Mall
* [[Tikal Futura|Hotel Tikal Futura]] 
* Hospital Roosevelt
* Centro Universitario Metropolitano de la Universidad de San Carlos
* Calzada Roosevelt (highway)
|[[File:Ciudad de Guatemala, night.jpg|center|thumb|{{langx|es|label=none|Calzada Roosevelt}}]]
|[[File:Grand Tikal Futura Hotel - 50805138293.jpg|thumb|Tikal Futura]]
| 
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 12
|
* [[Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala|University of San Carlos]] central campus
*IRTRA Mundo Petapa
|[[File:Rectoria USAC.jpg|center|thumb|University of San Carlos Central Campus]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 13
|
* [[Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología]]
* [[Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno "Carlos Mérida"]]
* [[Guatemalan National Natural History Museum|Museo Nacional de Historia Natural]]
* [[La Aurora Zoo|Parque Zoológico La Aurora]]
* [[La Aurora International Airport]]
|[[File:La Aurora International Airport Guatemala City 31.jpg|center|thumb|La Aurora International Airport]]
|[[File:Museo Arqueologia1.jpg|center|thumb|Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 14
|
* Centro Recreativo Universitario ''Los Arcos''
* {{langx|es|label=none|Avenida Las Américas}}
* Europlaza 
| [[File:Europlaza - Ciudad de Guatemala.jpg|center|thumb|Europlaza]]
| [[File:Avenida las Américas zona 14.jpg|center|thumb|Avenida Las Américas]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 15
|
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] [[Guatemala City Temple]] 
*Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala 
|[[File:Vista Hermosa zona 15 Guatemala City.jpg|center|thumb|Vista Hermosa, zona 15]]
|[[File:Guatemala City Temple by rkuhnau.jpg|center|thumb|Latter Day Saints [[Guatemala City Temple]]]]
|-
! style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Zone 16
|
* [[Universidad Rafael Landívar]]
* Guatemala Military Hospital
* [[Universidad Panamericana de Guatemala]]
* Paseo Cayalá<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrnAsMSwGbg Short documentary about Cayalá, the new district of Guatemala City using vernacular architecture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730101730/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrnAsMSwGbg |date=30 July 2024 }}, 2023 (The Aesthetic City)</ref>
|[[File:Edificios URL.JPG|center|thumb|upright=0.65|Universidad Rafael Landívar]]
|[[File:Cayala1.jpg|thumb|center|upright=0.65|''Paseo Cayalá'', a new district with various landmarks]]
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:Transmetro en Ciudad de Guatemala.jpg|thumb|Transmetro]]
[[File:TRANSURBANO.JPG|thumb|Transurbano]]
[[File:KLM CARGO GUATEMALA.jpg|thumb|La Aurora International Airport]]

*Renovated and expanded, [[La Aurora International Airport]] lies to the south of the city center. La Aurora serves as Guatemala's principal air hub.
*Public transport is provided by buses and supplemented by a BRT system. The three main highways that bisect and serve Guatemala start in the city (CA9 Transoceanic Highway – Puerto San Jose to Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla –, CA1 Panamerican Highway – from the Mexican border to Salvadorian border – and to Peten). Construction of freeways and underpasses by the municipal government, the implementation of [[reversible lane]]s during peak rush-hour traffic, as well as the establishment of the Department of Metropolitan Transit Police (PMT), has helped improve traffic flow in the city. Despite these municipal efforts, the Guatemala City metropolitan area still faces growing traffic congestion.
*A BRT ([[bus rapid transit]]) system called [[Transmetro]], consisting of special-purpose lanes for high-capacity buses, began operating in 2007, and aimed to improve traffic flow in the city through the implementation of an efficient mass transit system. The system consists of five lines. It is expected to be expanded around 10 lines, with some over-capacity expected lines being considered for Light Metro or Heavy Metro.

Traditional buses are now required to discharge passengers at transfer stations at the city's edge to board the Transmetro. This is being implemented as new Transmetro lines become established. In conjunction with the new mass transit implementation in the city, there is also a prepaid bus card system called [[Transurbano]] that is being implemented in the metro area to limit cash handling for the transportation system. A new fleet of buses tailored for this system has been purchased from a Brazilian firm.

A [[light rail]] line known as [[Metro Riel]] is proposed.

==Universities and schools==
{{See also|List of universities in Guatemala}}
Guatemala City is home to ten universities, among them the oldest institution of higher education in Central America, the [[University of San Carlos of Guatemala]].  Founded in 1676, the Universidad de San Carlos is older than all North American universities except for [[Harvard University]].

The other nine institutions of higher education to be found in Guatemala City include the Universidad Mariano Gálvez, the Universidad Panamericana, the Universidad Mesoamericana, the Universidad Rafael Landivar, the [[Universidad Francisco Marroquín]], the [[Universidad del Valle de Guatemala|Universidad del Valle]], the [[Universidad del Istmo]], [[Galileo University|Universidad Galileo]], Universidad da Vinci, and the Universidad Rural.  Whereas these nine named universities are private, the Universidad de San Carlos remains the only public institution of higher learning.

==Sports==
[[File:Estadio Mateo Flores Guatemala.JPG|thumb|Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores]]
Guatemala City possesses several sportsgrounds and is home to many sports clubs. [[association football|Football]] is the most popular sport, with [[CSD Municipal]], [[Aurora FC (Guatemala)|Aurora]], and [[Comunicaciones FC|Comunicaciones]] being the main clubs.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The [[Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores]], located in the Zone 5 of the city, is the largest stadium in the country, followed in capacity by the [[Estadio Cementos Progreso]], [[Estadio del Ejército]], and [[Estadio El Trébol]]. An important multi-functional hall is the [[Domo Polideportivo de la CDAG]].{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The city has hosted several promotional functions and some international sports events: in 1950 it hosted the [[1950 Central American and Caribbean Games|VI Central American and Caribbean Games]], and in 2000 the [[FIFA Futsal World Championship]]. On 4 July 2007 the [[International Olympic Committee]] gathered in Guatemala City and voted [[Sochi]] to become the host for the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] and [[2014 Winter Paralympics|Paralympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rga-online.de/sport/topnews.php?publikation=2&template=phparttext_tt&ausgabe=42929&redaktion=1&artikel=108623013 |title=Topnews – Sport – Remscheid: Remscheider General-Anzeiger |website=Rga-online.de |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605182717/http://www.rga-online.de/sport/topnews.php?publikation=2&template=phparttext_tt&ausgabe=42929&redaktion=1&artikel=108623013 |archive-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2010, it hosted the XIVth Pan-American Mountain Bike Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guatepanamericanomtb2010.com/ |website=guatepanamericanomtb2010.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313233337/http://www.guatepanamericanomtb2010.com/ |archive-date=13 March 2010 |url-status=dead |title=XIVth Pan-American Mountain Bike Championships }}</ref>

Guatemala City hosted the [[2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship|2008 edition]] of the [[North and Central American Futsal Championship|CONCACAF Futsal Championship]], played at the Domo Polideportivo from 2 to 8 June 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Futsal Championship 2008 Recap |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/futsal-championship-2008-recap |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022053056/http://www.concacaf.com/article/futsal-championship-2008-recap |archive-date=22 October 2014 |work=CONCACAF }}</ref>

The [[2024 Senior Pan American Championships]] will be held in the city from 7 to 9 June at Gimnasio Nacional Teodoro Palacios Flores.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIG – Event Detail – 17733 |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/events/detail.php?id=17733#loaded |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=www.gymnastics.sport |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301152822/https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/events/detail.php?id=17733#loaded |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Panoramic views of Guatemala City ==

===1875===
{{wide image|Panoramaguatemala1875.jpg|1100px|align-cap=center|Guatemala City skyline in 1875, by [[Eadweard Muybridge]]|100%|none}}

===2020===
{{wide image|Panorámica de la Ciudad de Guatemala..jpg|1720px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of Guatemala City|100%|none}}
{{wide image|Skyline de la Zona 14 de la Ciudad de Guatemala..jpg|2320px|align-cap=center|Skyline of the zone 14 or residential buildings zone|100%|none}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Central America}}

===International organizations with headquarters in Guatemala City===
* [[Central American Parliament]]

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Guatemala City is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

{|class="mw-collapsible wikitable"  style="text-align:center; background:white; width:50%;" style='font-size:0.9em' align=center
|- style="color:white;"
!style="background:#659ec7;"|City
!style="background:#659ec7;"|Jurisdiction
!style="background:#659ec7;"|Country
!style="background:#659ec7;"|Year
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Caracas]]
|[[Caracas|Capital District]]
|{{VEN}}
|1969
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[San Salvador]]
|[[San Salvador]]
|{{SLV}}
|1979
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Madrid]]
|[[Madrid]]
|{{ESP}}
|1983<ref name="hermanadas">{{cite web |title=Mapa Mundi de las ciudades hermanadas |publisher=Ayuntamiento de Madrid |url=http://www.munimadrid.es/portal/site/munimadrid/menuitem.dbd5147a4ba1b0aa7d245f019fc08a0c/?vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4e98823d3a37a010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=especial1&idContenido=1da69a4192b5b010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004144752/http://www.munimadrid.es/portal/site/munimadrid/menuitem.dbd5147a4ba1b0aa7d245f019fc08a0c/?vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4e98823d3a37a010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=especial1&idContenido=1da69a4192b5b010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 October 2008 |access-date=25 July 2009 }}</ref>
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Hollywood, Florida|Hollywood]]
|Florida
|{{USA}}
|1987<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodfl.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=6&searchTerms=guatemala+city |title=Hollywood Adds Laayoune, Morocco as Sister City |date=10 May 2023 |website=City of Hollywood |access-date=30 August 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1987/07/12/guatemala-capital-may-be-sister-city/ |title=Guatemala capital may be sister city |date=12 July 1987 |website=Sun Sentinel |access-date=30 August 2023 }}</ref>
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Lima]]
|[[Lima]]
|{{PER}}
|1987
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Santiago de Chile]]
|[[Santiago de Chile|Metropolitan Santiago]]
|{{CHL}}
|1991
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Saltillo]]
|[[Coahuila]]
|{{MEX}}
|1993
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[La Habana]]
|[[La Habana]]
|{{CUB}}
|1997
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Bogotá]]
|[[Distrito Capital]]
|{{COL}}
|1997
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[San Pedro Sula]]
|[[Cortés, Honduras|Cortés]]
|{{HND}}
|1999
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
|[[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
|{{ESP}}
|2002
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]
|[[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]
|{{CRI}}
|2005
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Panama City|Ciudad de Panamá]]
|[[Panama City|Panamá]]
|{{PAN}}
|2005
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Taipei]]
|[[Northern Taiwan]]
|{{ROC|Taiwán}}
|2007<ref name="Taipei twinnings">{{cite web |title=Taipei – International Sister Cities |url=http://web.tcc.gov.tw/eng/sister_cities.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102035422/http://web.tcc.gov.tw/eng/sister_cities.htm |archive-date=2 November 2012 |access-date=23 August 2013 |work=Taipei City Council }}</ref>
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Managua]]
|[[Managua Department|Managua]]
|{{NIC}}
|2008
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|Beijing
|Beijing
|{{CHN}}
|2009
|-
!style="background:lemonchiffon;"|[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]
|[[Rhode Island]]
|{{USA}}
|2016<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/135d3fd99b364779951e35e2c6add1f5 |title=Guatemala City now sister city with Rhode Island's capital |date=12 October 2016 |website=AP NEWS |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=18 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818143737/https://apnews.com/135d3fd99b364779951e35e2c6add1f5 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Manuel Colom Argueta]], former mayor of Guatemala City and politician
* [[Álvaro Arzú]], former President of Guatemala and six times mayor of Guatemala City
* [[Miguel Ángel Asturias]], writer and diplomat, Nobel Prize Laureate
* [[Raúl Aguilar Batres]], engineer, creator of Guatemala City's system of avenue/street notation
* [[María Dolores Bedoya]], Central American independence activist<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.agn.com.gt/maria-dolores-la-unica-mujer-que-participo-en-la-independencia-de-guatemala/ |title=María Dolores, la única mujer que participó en la independencia de Guatemala {{!}} Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias |last=AGN |language=es |access-date=2 January 2020 |archive-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102013028/https://www.agn.com.gt/maria-dolores-la-unica-mujer-que-participo-en-la-independencia-de-guatemala/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Marvin Ceballos]], professional footballer 
* [[Sergio Custodio]], professor and writer in logic and metaphysics
* [[Toti Fernández]], triathlete and ultramarathon runner
* [[Alejandro Giammattei]], former President of Guatemala
* [[Juan José Gutiérrez]], CEO of [[Pollo Campero]] and on the board of directors of [[Corporación Multi Inversiones]]. He has been featured on the cover of ''[[Newsweek]]'' as Super CEO and named one of the Ten Big Thinkers for Big Business.<ref>{{cite web |first=Joseph |last=Contreras |title=10 Big Thinkers for Big Business |work=[[Newsweek]] |year=2005 |page=4 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/49842/page/4 |access-date=15 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104120021/http://www.newsweek.com/id/49842/page/4 |archive-date=4 January 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Nicholas Hagen]], professional footballer 
* [[Ted Hendricks]], [[Oakland Raiders]] NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker, 4-time Super Bowl Champion.
* [[Jorge de León (performance artist)|Jorge de León]], performance artist<ref>{{cite web |last=Estey |first=Myles |url=http://mobile.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/110811/art-guatemala-artists-central-america |access-date=11 February 2012 |title=Guatemala: art out of violence |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102192920/http://mobile.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/110811/art-guatemala-artists-central-america |archive-date=2 January 2013 |work=Global Post |date=15 August 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Zipacná de León]] (1948–2002), painter
* [[Ronald MacKay]], YouTuber and voice actor
* [[Carlos Mérida]], painter
* [[Jimmy Morales]], former President of Guatemala
* [[Gaby Moreno]], singer-songwriter
* [[Marco Pappa]], former professional footballer 
* [[Carlos Peña (singer)|Carlos Peña]], singer, winner of Latin American Idol 2007
* [[Juan Carlos Plata]], former professional footballer 
* [[Luis Oliva (Guatemalan actor)|Luis Oliva]], actor, singer and director
* [[Georgina Pontaza]], actress and artistic director of the Teatro Abril and Teatro Fantasía 
* [[Fernando Quevedo]], theoretical physicist, professor of High Energy Physics at the University of Cambridge
* [[Rodolfo Robles]], physician; discovered onchocercosis "Robles' Disease"
* [[Stheven Robles]], professional footballer 
* [[Fabiola Rodas]], winner of The Third TV Azteca's [[Desafio de Estrellas]], 2nd place in The Last Generation of [[La Academia]]
* [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruíz]], former professional footballer 
* Gabriela Asturias Ruiz, neuroscientist
* [[Rodrigo Saravia]], professional footballer
* [[Shery]], singer-songwriter
* [[Federico Urruela]], recipient of the [[Order of Antonio José de Irisarri]] 
* [[Jaime Viñals]], mountaineer; scaled seven highest peaks in the world
* [[Luis von Ahn]], computer scientist, founder of [[Duolingo]], [[CAPTCHA]]'s creator and researcher at [[Carnegie Mellon University]]
* [[Lorena Cabnal]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Guatemala|Cities}}
* [[List of places in Guatemala]]

==Notes and references==

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===References===
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|30em}}
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* {{cite news |author=El País |url=http://www.elpais.com/fotogaleria/tormenta/tropical/Agatha/arrasa/America/Central/elpgal/20100531elpepuint_2/Zes/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218203308/http://www.elpais.com/fotogaleria/tormenta/tropical/Agatha/arrasa/America/Central/elpgal/20100531elpepuint_2/Zes/1 |archive-date=18 February 2012 |website=El País |location=Madrid, Spain |year=2010 |language=es |title=Socavón causado por la tormenta Agatha }}
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* {{cite book |last=González Davison |first=Fernando |year=2008 |title=La montaña infinita;Carrera, caudillo de Guatemala |publisher=Artemis y Edinter |location=Guatemala |isbn=978-84-89452-81-7 |language=es }} 
* {{cite web |author=Guateantaño |url=http://guatepalabras.blogspot.com/2011/10/parques-y-plazas-antiguas-de-guatemala.html |title=Parques y plazas antiguas de Guatemala |website=Guatepalabras Blogspot |location=Guatemala |date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127212910/http://guatepalabras.blogspot.com/2011/10/parques-y-plazas-antiguas-de-guatemala.html |archive-date=27 January 2015 }}
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* {{cite book |last=Hernández de León |first=Federico |author-link=Federico Hernández de León |title=El libro de las efemérides |volume=III |publisher=Tipografía Sánchez y de Guise |location=Guatemala |year=1930 |language=es }}
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* {{cite web |first=José Omar |last=Moncada Maya |url=http://www.ub.es/geocrit/b3w-444.htm |title=En torno a la destrucción de la ciudad de Guatemala, 1773. Una carta del ingeniero militar Antonio Marín |language=es |website=Ub.es |date=n.d. |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-date=23 June 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623235854/http://www.ub.es/geocrit/b3w-444.htm |url-status=live }}
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* {{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/01/storm-agatha-hole-guatemala |location=London, UK |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Tropical Storm Agatha blows a hole in Guatemala City |first=Peter |last=Walker |year=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319204143/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/storm-agatha-hole-guatemala |archive-date=19 March 2013 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Waltham |first=T. |year=2008 |url=http://qjegh.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/abstract/41/3/291 |title=Sinkhole hazard case histories in karst terrains |journal=Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=291–300 |doi=10.1144/1470-9236/07-211 |bibcode=2008QJEGH..41..291W |s2cid=128585380 |access-date=20 June 2010 |archive-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213190555/http://qjegh.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/abstract/41/3/291 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite journal |url=http://www.plumsock.org/mono12.htm |first=Ralph Lee |last=Woodward Jr.|title=Rafael Carrera y la creación de la República de Guatemala, 1821–1871 |journal=Serie Monográfica |issue=12 |publisher=CIRMA y Plumsock Mesoamerican Studies |year=2002 |isbn=0-910443-19-X |language=es |access-date=1 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301140029/http://www.plumsock.org/mono12.htm |archive-date=1 March 2019 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |title=Rafael Carrera and the Emergence of the Republic of Guatemala, 1821–1871 |first=Ralph Lee |last=Woodward Jr.|year=1993 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |location=Athens, Georgia |isbn=9780820343600 |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9780820343600 |access-date=28 December 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105831/http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9780820343600 |url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite news |last1=Romero |first1=Simon |last2=García |first2=Jody |last3=Volpe |first3=Daniele |date=18 January 2024 |title=New Utopian Enclave? Or a Testament to Inequality? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/world/americas/cayala-guatemala.html |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |url-access=subscription }}

==External links==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Commons-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* [http://www.muniguate.com/ Official Website of the Municipalidad de Guatemala] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511203117/http://www.muniguate.com/ |date=11 May 2008 }}
{{refend}}

{{List of North American capitals}}
{{Guatemala Department}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Guatemala City| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Municipalities of the Guatemala Department]]
[[Category:Capitals in Central America]]
[[Category:Capitals in North America]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1773]]