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Colombia Bogotá travel guide
14 things to do in Bogotá, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Bogotá
- Gold Museum — pre-Columbian archaeology museum in Bogota, Colombia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Primary Cathedral of Bogotá — national monument of Colombia (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Colombian National Museum — national museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Plaza de Bolívar — main square of the city of Bogota, capital of Colombia (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Botero Museum — museum in Bogota, Colombia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Bogotá Museum of Modern Art — museum in Colombia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Teatro Colón — theatre in Bogtoá, Colombia (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Children's Museum of Bogotá — museum in Colombia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Monserrate Sanctuary — church (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Santamaría Bullring — national monument of Colombia (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Simon Bolivar Park — park in Bogotá (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Planetarium of Bogotá — science museum, Planetarium in Bogotá, Colombia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museum of Colonial Art — art museum in Bogota, Colombia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Bogotá — church building in Bogotá, Colombia (visit ≈ 30 min)
2-day Bogotá walking itinerary
Starting point: La Candelaria. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 4.6 km · 6,210 steps · 1 h 1 min on the way): Botero Museum → Teatro Colón → Primary Cathedral of Bogotá → Plaza de Bolívar → Gold Museum → Bogotá Museum of Modern Art
- Day 2 (≈ 8.0 km · 10,790 steps · 1 h 46 min on the way): Colombian National Museum → Monserrate Sanctuary
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Bogotá
- Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá — A huge illuminated cathedral carved deep inside an old salt mine. (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Guatavita Lagoon — The round crater lake where the El Dorado legend was born, seen from a hillside trail. (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Paloquemao Market — The city's biggest, most colourful market, with exotic fruit and an early-morning flower market. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Quinta de Bolívar — Early-19th-century country house museum in gardens at the foot of Monserrate, furnished in period style. (visit ≈ 45 min)
Where to stay in Bogotá
- La Candelaria: Colonial streets, museums and the Monserrate cable car nearby; quiet at night.
- Chapinero / Zona G: A lively area near the centre with many good restaurants.
- Zona T / Zona Rosa: Malls, bars and nightlife; safe and busy.
- Parque 93: Cafés and restaurants around a park; calm and upmarket.
- Usaquén: Old square with a village feel; Sunday flea market.
Getting from the airport to Bogotá
- El Dorado (BOG): Official taxi rank or ride-hailing app ≈ 30–45 min (traffic dependent); a TransMilenio connection is also available.
Getting around
TransMilenio is quick but crowded. Don’t hail taxis on the street; use Uber, Cabify or DiDi, especially at night.
Classic places to eat
- La Puerta Falsa: Open since 1816; tamales and hot chocolate with cheese.
- Pastelería Florida: Since 1936; Santa Fe-style hot chocolate and pastries.
- Andrés DC: Four-floor, colourful, noisy Colombian restaurant with a party vibe at night.
- Casa Santa Clara: Ajiaco with city views on top of Monserrate.
- Café Pasaje: Old-style café-bar opposite Rosario University.
- Abasto: Colombian breakfast and lunch with farm produce in Usaquén.
Romantic views
- Monserrate (Sunset): From the mountaintop all of Bogotá lights up at sunset.
- Chorro de Quevedo (Evening): This little square in La Candelaria's colourful lanes is lively in the evening.
- Bogotá Botanical Garden (Early morning): A calm walk among Andean plants and greenhouses.
- Usaquén (Afternoon): The old village square and lanes buzz with a craft market on Sundays.
Football stadiums in Bogotá
- Estadio El Campín: Home of Millonarios, Independiente Santa Fe
Good to know before visiting Bogotá
- Fine: Drug offences carry severe penalties.
- Warning: Drink spiking (scopolamine) and dating-app robberies happen; keep your drink in sight.
- Warning: Agree prices upfront with beach vendors.
- Bogotá sits at about 2,640 m; take it easy at first.
- Use apps instead of hailing taxis on the street.
- Restaurant bills include a suggested service charge, which is optional.
- Emergency: 123
- Plugs: A/B, 110V
- Tap water: Tap water is generally fine in Bogotá and Medellín; elsewhere prefer bottled.
- Tipping: About 10% is customary.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Colombia, Wikivoyage — Colombia, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Bogotá travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Bogotá?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 3 days for the top 12 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Bogotá?
- Highlights: Gold Museum, Primary Cathedral of Bogotá, Colombian National Museum, Plaza de Bolívar and Botero Museum. The map has 14 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Bogotá?
- La Candelaria: Colonial streets, museums and the Monserrate cable car nearby; quiet at night. Other options: Chapinero / Zona G, Zona T / Zona Rosa, Parque 93 and Usaquén.
- How do you get from the airport to Bogotá city centre?
- El Dorado (BOG): Official taxi rank or ride-hailing app ≈ 30–45 min (traffic dependent); a TransMilenio connection is also available.
- How do you get around Bogotá?
- TransMilenio is quick but crowded. Don’t hail taxis on the street; use Uber, Cabify or DiDi, especially at night.
- What is the emergency number in Bogotá?
- Emergency: 123.
- Do you tip in Bogotá?
- About 10% is customary.
Nearby cities
Medellín · Cartagena · Quito · Panama City · Caracas · San José · Kingston · Port of Spain
Colombia travel guide: all cities · All cities