Bogotá is a vibrant metropolis that blends colonial charm, modern energy, and breathtaking Andean landscapes. As someone who has explored its streets, markets, and cultural hotspots, I can confidently say this city is an underrated gem for travelers seeking history, gastronomy, and adventure.
Whether you’re strolling through the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria, taking in panoramic views from Monserrate, or indulging in Colombia’s famous arepas and ajiaco, Bogotá offers a unique mix of tradition and innovation.
One of the best ways to experience the city is by immersing yourself in its rich history and culture. The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) is home to one of the world’s largest collections of pre-Columbian gold artifacts, while the Botero Museum showcases the whimsical works of Colombia’s most famous artist. For nature lovers, a visit to the Andean cloud forests of Chingaza National Park or the lush Jardín Botánico is a must.
Safety and convenience are key, and with an expanding TransMilenio bus system, getting around is easier than ever. Whether you’re here for the lively street art, the buzzing nightlife in Zona T, or the traditional Sunday Ciclovía, where the city turns its streets into pedestrian and cycling havens, Bogotá will surprise you at every turn. In this guide, I’ll break down the best things to do in Bogotá, ensuring you get the most out of your visit.
What to see and do in Bogotá
We're not going to say that it's a super friendly and pleasant city, where you can relax taking morning walks, but it's definitely worth spending several days touring some of its dynamic neighborhoods and getting to know its cultural and gastronomic scene.
1. Free tour in Bogotá
Take a free tour ! Or two, or three… It’s a great way to get a feel for Bogotá and discover its nooks and crannies with the help of a local guide (it’s free, but remember to tip at the end). There are several, here we tell you more about the best free tours in Bogotá .
Is it safe to travel to Colombia ? Colombia is a country that suffered excessive violence, but little by little it is re-emerging and thanks to understanding and unity it is ensuring a very promising future. Also, if you are worried about the issue of security, we want to reassure you: as Colombians say, the biggest risk today is wanting to stay. Of course there are areas where it is better not to go, but with common sense you will not have problems.
2. Gold Museum, one of the best things to see in Bogotá
A must-see in Bogotá is the Gold Museum , in Santander Park, where you can lose yourself among thousands of pieces created by pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Quimbaya, the Tayrona and the Calima (they say there are more than 50,000 pieces!). In addition, the temporary exhibitions are a real treat. Admission costs 4,000 pesos and is well worth it. It is open every day except Mondays, so keep that in mind.
3. Journalists Park
Head to Parque de los Periodistas , just a block away, where a statue of Simón Bolívar , one of South America's most beloved figures, is on display. This Venezuelan was key to Latin American independence, so much so that he is known as the Liberator of America.
The park is also a reference point for exploring La Candelaria, as from here you can access emblematic places such as Chorro de Quevedo or Avenida Jiménez, a historic street in the city. It is also home to the Plazoleta del Templete , where a replica of the original temple where the first mass was celebrated in Bogotá in 1538 stands.
4. La Candelaria, one of the most interesting neighborhoods to see in Bogotá
If you only have a few hours in Bogotá, we would recommend taking a stroll through the La Candelaria neighborhood , the historic center and one of the most beautiful corners of the city. Cobbled streets, colorful houses and a constant hustle and bustle are the ingredients that characterize it.
You will surely pass through Plaza de Bolívar , where the most important buildings in this area of Bogotá are located: the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception , in neoclassical style, the Palace of Justice , the City Hall , the National Capitol or the Liévano Palace .
Note: We were told that La Candelaria is very safe during the day, but not so much at night.
5. Street Art Route in Bogotá
In La Candelaria you can't miss a street art tour . We were amazed by the quality of the street art works: some of them are really good! There are thematic tours that take you to visit the most important ones, although you can also go on your own to Callejón del Embudo , next to Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo , where the most famous works are. It is one of the best plans in Bogotá without a doubt 🙂 By the way, this square is very, very pretty: they say that Bogotá was born right here.
6. Botero Museum, another must-see in Bogotá
Another iconic place in the capital of Colombia is the Botero Museum . It is located in a beautiful colonial house, where you can admire more than 100 paintings and sculptures by the Colombian artist and a few more by painters such as Chagall, Dalí, Miró or Picasso. Those voluptuous mountain bodies! Our favorite work? His version of the Mona Lisa. It is open every day except Tuesdays and one of the conditions that Fernando Botero set for donating his works is that… the museum was free! Yas!
7. G Zone
Are you getting hungry? Then head to Zona G , the foodie favorite (if you're wondering, the G stands for Gourmet ). The hard part here is choosing a restaurant from the countless, though not always cheap, options on offer. The truth is that the Colombian gastronomic scene is gaining strength at a dizzying pace, in fact it was one of the great surprises that Bogotá gave us.
8. T Zone
But if you want to party , then you have to go to the Zona T (also known as the Zona Rosa). This neighborhood has tons of restaurants, pubs and trendy venues where you can go out and have fun, and we found it to be very safe.
9. Enrique Olaya Herrera National Park
Bogotá is a somewhat chaotic city with terrible traffic, but it is not without green areas to slow down your heart rate. Our favorite is the Enrique Olaya Herrera National Park , at the foot of the eastern hills and surrounded by several faculties. So its most common inhabitants are students who come to spend their free time in the extensive gardens. The park has several monuments, among which the one dedicated to the activist Rafael Uribe Uribe stands out.
10. Montserrate Hill, one of the best things to see and do in Bogotá
The best views of Bogotá are probably those from the top of the Cerro de Monserrate , at no less than 3,100 meters high. If the altitude is already suffocating you, imagine going up on foot! You can do it, but there are other more comfortable ways to do it. We are talking about the cable car (which was closed when we visited) and the funicular . To visit it with a guide, you can sign up for this free tour of the Montserrate hill .
Both leave from the same point and cost the same (21,000 pesos round trip), and they leave you at the top of the hill. There, in addition to the excellent viewpoints, you can visit a sanctuary where a figure of the “Moreneta”, the black virgin of the Montserrat Monastery, is kept. We were also recommended to go up to the Cerro de Guadalupe , although due to lack of time we didn’t go, but it looks really nice (apparently from here there is a 4 km walk to the highest point in Bogotá!).
→ Tip : If you don't have too much time to waste in Bogotá and you want to make the most of your visit , we suggest this guided tour of the city that includes the cable car to Montserrate.
11. Colpatria Tower
If the views from Montserrate have whetted your appetite for photography, another place to have an unforgettable panoramic view of the city is the Torre Colpatria . The viewing platform, obviously, is on the top floor (50), and if you're wondering, no, it's not the tallest building in Bogotá. That honor goes to the BD Bacatá building , which, like other projects in Bogotá, has not been completed (and is hardly expected to be).
12. Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center
The Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Centre will delight lovers of architecture and culture: not only does it house a huge library, but it is also a centre where there are always exhibitions, galleries and cultural activities. We don't think it's a must-see, but if you have time, it's a nice place to spend a few hours.
13. Drinking coffee, something to do in Bogotá and in Colombia!
Between visits, there is nothing better than taking a break and having a coffee (especially in Colombia!). Some of the best coffee shops in Bogotá are Café San Alberto, Azahar Café and Varietale. Although you can't miss a visit to the well-known Juan Valdez chain.
14. Bogotá Beer Company
Or a nice cold beer . The best craft beer in Bogotá is from Bogotá Beer Company , there are several local establishments and others where it is also served. We tried the red ale and the coffee stout . If you are a big beer drinker, try the ones from Chelarte as well. It is definitely one of our favorite things to see and do in Bogotá hehe.
15. The most beautiful churches to see in Bogotá
If there's one thing that Bogotá doesn't lack, it's churches. You have the option to visit each one you come across, although we recommend three: the Church of San Francisco , the oldest in the city, the Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen , in the La Candelaria neighborhood, and the Iglesia Museo de Santa Clara . The latter was built in 1647, and is one of the great colonial jewels of Bogotá, in baroque style and with more than 100 paintings inside. The entrance fee is 4,000 pesos, which in our opinion was well spent.
16. Usaquén neighborhood
As you can see, Bogotá is divided into completely different and interesting neighborhoods. Another one of them is the Usaquén neighborhood , which used to be a town on the outskirts of Bogotá, but was swallowed up by the expansion of the city. It is an area with a lot of personality, with colonial houses, restaurants, a very pretty church (Santa Bárbara), a vintage movie theater (Cinema Paraíso) and a somewhat posh shopping center (Plaza Central de BOHO). If you visit Usaquén on a Sunday, don't miss its market. We couldn't see it but we still enjoyed a wonderful morning there. For us, a must in Bogotá without a doubt!
17. Wilborada Bookstore 1047
A tip for bookstore geeks: write down this name: Librería Wilborada 1047. It's gorgeous and a great place to shop! It even has a cafe. If you like this type of visit, this is one of the best things to see and do in Bogotá for you.
18. Eating, one of the best things to do in Bogotá
Try some of the local specialties , such as ajiaco , a soup made with chicken and potatoes, mmm, delicious! Here we recommend 7 restaurants where to eat in Bogotá .
And if you want to delve deeper into Colombian cuisine, sign up for a gastronomic tour of the Chapinero neighborhood or La Candelaria ( more info ). Or better yet, a Colombian breakfast tour ! Another foodie experience that many recommend is eating at the Andrés Carne de Res restaurant , famous for its meat and for the crazy decoration of its premises.
The bad thing? The original is in the middle of nowhere , in Chia , north of Bogotá. There are even organized tours to get there, but we don't know if it's really worth it. The good thing? There is another Andrés Carnes de Res restaurant in Bogotá. And of course, you have to try the
19. Excursion to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
One of the most popular excursions from Bogotá is the one that takes you to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral . If you don't want to mess with buses, you can take a guided tour . To be honest, we weren't interested in it so we didn't visit it.
Tip: If you do the tour, make sure it includes a stop at Laguna de Guatavita , which many say is the lagoon of the legend of El Dorado.
20. Getaway to Villa de Leyva
And finally, if you are travelling north from Bogotá, stop at one of the prettiest colonial towns in Colombia: Villa de Leyva . If you want to take the excursion from Bogotá, you can book it here .
Due to lack of time we had to skip it, but it is clear to us that, next time in Colombia (because we will return for sure), we will stop by there.
Tips for visiting Bogotá
- Bogotá is 2,640 meters above sea level , so take it easy on the first day. Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and eat lightly to avoid altitude sickness .
- The weather in Bogotá is totally unpredictable . You can go out in the sun and within 10 minutes be in the middle of a storm. Always carry a rain jacket or an umbrella and dress in layers.
- In Bogotá, as in any big city, it is important to take basic precautions to avoid theft . Some recommendations are: keep your cell phone away when walking down the street and avoid taking it out in crowded places. If you go out at night, try to move around in well-lit areas with a flow of people, avoiding lonely streets. In crowded places, such as the TransMilenio or markets, carry your backpack in front of you for greater security.
- Spend at least 2 days in the city if you want to see its main tourist attractions.
These are, for us, the best things to see and do in Bogotá . We hope this article can help you in planning your trip in discovering this colorful Colombian city.
