Zone 10 (Zona Viva)

Zone 10 is Guatemala City's tourist bubble - safe but expensive and lacking local character. It's the only area where walking at night is reasonable, with constant security and English-speaking staff.

Zone 10, or Zona Viva, is the only part of Guatemala City where walking around at night is reasonably safe. It's full of upscale restaurants, international hotels, shopping centers, and the better museums. During the day you'll see business people in suits, and at night (especially weekends) it becomes the main nightlife area with bars and clubs open until 2am. Security guards are on almost every corner, plus regular police patrols. Restaurant and bar staff generally speak some English since they deal with tourists and wealthy locals. The action centers around Avenida La Reforma between 10a and 16a Calle - international hotels, chain restaurants, expat hangouts. It's safe but feels generic, like an upscale district in any city rather than Guatemala. Eating alone is normal here, you'll see women working on laptops in cafes. The price for safety is paying 2-3 times what things cost in local areas.