Palacio Nacional
On the north side of Parque Central is the magnificent Presidential Palace. Once the home of the infamous dictator General Jorge Ubico, today this palatial building is a museum, and visits are by guided tour (available in English). Take a few hours to explore the quirks of the Palacio Nacional; the grand banquet hall, with its ornate stained-glass panels, ironically represents the virtues of good government. Make sure to step onto the presidential balcony, where you can pretend you’re a maniacal dictator surveying your troops.
6A Calle, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala +502 2239 5000

Palacio Nacional, Guatemala City © Fernando Reyes Palencia / Flickr