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Palacio Nacional
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Palacio Nacional

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Palacio Nacional
4.5
459 reviews
#10 of 93 things to do in Guatemala City
Historic Sites • Art Museums • History Museums
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Monday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
The elaborate interior of this former presidential palace houses paintings and sculptures by famous Guatemalan artists.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
459 reviews
Excellent
232
Very good
155
Average
55
Poor
11
Terrible
6
andy y
24 contributions
Wonderful architecture and great guided tour
Apr. 2023 • Solo
Great place to visit! Guatemalans enter free; foreigners pay Q40. Regardless you have to join a 45-minute guided tour.

I took the tour in Spanish but my tour guide spoke really good English as well and was eager to answer my questions.
Written April 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Myo M
Coquitlam, Canada23,767 contributions
An interior with "sights of splendor" :)
Feb. 2020
On a "guided tour" for about 45 minutes, it was "fairly impressive" to see the 2 levels of this great building (one of a "pretty long" length to see from outside before entering) starting from its "inner courtyard" (also another similar one later on) to the great-sized & colorful murals beside 2 stairways (of which I was quite impressed by the one depicting a battle scene or such between the Spanish & the natives which is just "quite a detailed one" with plenty of human figures) to 2 rooms on the 2nd level each with "a fair amount of splendor" inside (one room with like a perfectly-kept big national flag on the wall straight ahead & an impressive dome above, and the other room with a number of beautiful stained-glass drawings on windows) back to the 1st level to go through some gallery-like area (with modern art paintings) and finally finishing the tour at the museum-like area back near the entrance (where on display some more paintings, a number of antique-type items & a "pretty-good-sized" miniature of this palace which I would also describe as a smaller "identical version" of this building due to its impressive craftsmanship!). And, it was overall a "nice work" by the lady who conducted the tour making sure that we saw all needed to be seen, and yes such a tour is a good idea I would say for this building with its interior kind of "spread out" (compared to the 2 other "national palaces" visited later in Mexico, namely in Merida & Mexico City, with their interior settings more-or-less similar to this palace but with "more limited" areas to walk around which can be done easily on one's own).

Located on the north side of the city's "main plaza" Plaza Mayor de la Constitucion, also to have a worthwhile time is on the "nicely spacious" plaza itself (with a fountain & a big national flag in the middle where there's also a "raised platform" to go up, and also with just plenty of pigeons seen at the time spread out all over its ground), and yes definitely should not be missed along with the Palace & Plaza is the city's "main cathedral" Catedral Metropolitana on the Plaza's east side (with its "main aisle" one of greatness lined with nice-sized paintings & "super-sized" medals of such never seen at any other cathedral). And if you're for some souvenir shopping & "local meals", a very nice place for those is Mercado Central in just a close vicinity to the Plaza (by turning left onto the "pedestrian street" from the far-left corner after the walk across the Plaza from this palace).
Written December 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,621 contributions
A monumental eclectic building at the heart of Ciudad de Guatemala
Nov. 2019
At the very heart of "Ciudad de Guatemala", at its historical "Plaza de Armas" (now known as "Plaza Mayor de la Constitución"), you will find the monumental "Palacio Nacional de la República de Guatemala". Designed by Guatemalan architect Rafael Pérez de León, it was inaugurated on November 10th, 1943 and housed the national presidential palace. The eclectic building, with characteristics of different architectural styles (neo plateresque, Spanish baroque, Spanish renaissance and neo mudejar), was converted, in the beginning of the years 1990's, into a museum and is now known as "Palacio Nacional de la Cultura", as well as "Palacio Verde" (Green Palace, in English). The palace is also known as the origin point of "all" roads in the Republic fo Guatemala and, even inside of one of its halls, one will find the sign of the very initial "Km 0". An amazing curiosity! As a museum, collections of paintings, sculptures and temporary exhibitions can be visited. Furthermore, the magnificent building houses also some government offices, as the "Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes" and the "Secretaria de Comunicación Social de la Presidencia". Guided tours, at expensive 40 quetzals (for foreigners), are available. Enjoy!
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chillsOntario_Canada
Ontario, Canada189 contributions
An hour + well spent learning some of the history of Guatemala.
Mar. 2020
This palace is of historic interest. Built (in 1937) on the site of a Chinese Pagoda . It has a spot known as Kilometre Zero, where all roads in the country begin. It is till used for major government functions, but also serves as a museum documenting Guatemala's history (from the Spanish perspective) Beautiful architecture!
Written April 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
trevelyon
oakland255 contributions
Great experience
Feb. 2020 • Friends
Checked out this landmark while in Guatemala City. Nothing facy. Good place to take a photo to memorialize a trip to Guatemala.
Written March 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana C
Mexico City, Mexico39 contributions
Nearby restaurants and more. At night the view is a dream
Feb. 2020 • Family
I had the amazing pleasure to attempt to a wonderful event organized in el Palacio de la Cultura. The building is already pretty impressive from the outside, the plaza with the font and the spectacular show from the doves. But from the inside, you can feel the history and transport yourself automatically to years and years of Guatemala's history. In my personal experience i did not use a tour or guide. I did it by myself by reading and previously searched for information. Is a place you should definitely visit in Guatemala city.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
José R
Guatemala City, Guatemala23 contributions
Majestic
Mar. 2019 • Business
The type of architecture were you can enjoy standing for hours around the halls and rooms and every piece of art being shown.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Panamajoe2017
Sechelt, Canada319 contributions
Don’t bother
Dec. 2019 • Solo
I’m sorry, but 40 Q for a mandatory guided tour, only in Spanish, is a bit much. I’m sure it is great to see, but if you are going to target foreigners with higher prices, at least have the decency to have tours in English.
Written December 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LUCILA T
New Orleans, LA175 contributions
the Palacio
Oct. 2019
we admired the Palacio from the outside and also got to see the changing of the guards. it was amazing, the history was awesome.
Written October 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sierrita
Guatemala City, Guatemala1,761 contributions
Lovely place
Jul. 2019 • Business
This is a national palace where the president and many diplomatic staff have meetings. But is also open for the public on specific hours. They have museums and relics everywhere.
Written September 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PALACIO NACIONAL - 2023 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Palacio Nacional
Palacio Nacional is open:
  • Mon - Fri 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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We recommend booking Palacio Nacional tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 10 Palacio Nacional tours on Tripadvisor