In a nutshell
- Bogotá is the capital of Colombia and a popular stop on a Colombia road trip.
- In this article, we cover the 9 best things to do in Bogotá — the highlights that are genuinely worth your time, plus what you can skip.
- We also share our hotel recommendations, give you the honest picture on safety, and explain how to get around once you’re there.
- Ready? Let’s dive into our tips for Bogotá.
Orientation: Map of Bogotá’s Top Sights
We’ve marked all 9 of our recommended things to do in Bogotá on the map below so you can plan your route at a glance.
What Are the Must-Sees in Bogotá?
Here are our 9 favorite things to do in Bogotá. The top 5 highlights are all close together and you can visit them on foot in one day:
- La Candelaria
- Cerro Monserrate
- Plaza Bolívar
- Museo de Oro
- Museo Botero
If you’d rather not explore on your own, your best bet is to book a guided tour of Bogotá — you’ll hit all 5 highlights in one go:
Book the guided sightseeing tour of Bogotá
If you have two or more days, these attractions are also well worth your time:
- Jardín Botánico & Parque Simón Bolívar
- Zona Rosa
- Day trip to the Salt Cathedral
- Day trip to Laguna Guatavita
La Candelaria: Bogotá's Old Town
What do you need to know? Bogotá’s historic center is called La Candelaria. With its colorful architecture and charming alleyways, it’s the most beautiful neighborhood in the city. A great starting point is the Chorro de Quevedo square, with plenty of bars and street art.
Is La Candelaria worth visiting? Absolutely!
Our tip for La Candelaria: Book a walking tour through the old quarter. The tours are really affordable and you’ll discover cool spots you’d never find on your own.
Book the walking tour through La Candelaria
Viewpoint Cerro Monserrate
What do you need to know? Monserrate hill is THE viewpoint in Bogotá. It sits near the old town, about 500 meters above the city. You have three options for getting up: a hiking trail, the cable car, or the funicular railway.
Is Monserrate worth visiting? Yes — the panorama over Bogotá is fantastic, and the church at the top is seriously beautiful too.
Hiking trail info: The trail is open daily (except Tuesdays!) from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s 2.35 kilometers long with 1,115 steps. Admission is free.
Cable car & funicular info: A round trip costs 32,000 COP (7 euros). You can decide on the spot which mode of transport to take — we recommend going up on one and coming back on the other.
You’ll find full ticket and opening hours info on the Monserrate website. Buy your ticket online in advance to skip the line.
Get your online ticket for the Monserrate cable car
Main Square Plaza de Bolívar
What do you need to know? Plaza de Bolívar, with its magnificent buildings and mountains in the background, is truly impressive — it reminded us a little of a grand square in France. The cathedral, the Palacio Liévano city hall, and the congress center are especially stunning.
Is Plaza de Bolívar worth visiting? Absolutely!
Our tip for Plaza de Bolívar: Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, the Mercado Campesino takes place on the square — local farmers sell their fresh produce right here.
Nightlife District Zona Rosa
What do you need to know? Zona Rosa is Bogotá’s upscale nightlife district, lined with cool bars, stylish restaurants, and nightclubs.
Is Zona Rosa worth visiting? Yes — but only in the evening, and mainly if you enjoy going out.
The Best Museums in Bogotá
Bogotá is a fantastic city for learning about Colombian culture and history. Visiting at least one museum is genuinely worth your time.
Museo del Oro
What do you need to know? The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) is Bogotá’s most famous museum, housing over 35,000 gold pieces. It’s one of the best things to do in Bogotá if you want to understand Colombian culture and the role gold played in its history.
Is the Museo del Oro worth visiting? Yes — the gold collection is seriously impressive.
Our tip for the Museo del Oro: Admission is free on Sundays. Otherwise, entry costs 5,000 COP (1 euro). It’s closed on Mondays.
Museo Botero
What do you need to know? Fernando Botero is Colombia’s most celebrated artist. In 2000, he donated 208 works of art to the country, now on display at the Museo Botero — making his work accessible to Colombians after years of being shown only in North America and Europe.
Is the Museo Botero worth visiting? Yes — Botero’s sculptures in particular are extraordinary.
Our tip for the Museo Botero: Admission is free. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
The Most Beautiful Parks in Bogotá
Need a break from the city buzz? Bogotá’s parks are a great escape.
Jardín Botanico & Parque Simón Bolívar
What do you need to know? Bogotá’s Botanical Garden is home to an enormous variety of plant species — entry costs 7,000 COP. Just nearby is the large Simón Bolívar city park, perfect for sports and picnicking.
Are the parks worth visiting? Yes, if you’re craving some greenery. That said, if you only have one day in Bogotá, you’re better off prioritizing other attractions first.
Our tip for the parks: Both parks are near the central Salitre bus terminal. If you’re just passing through Bogotá for a connection, it’s super easy to make a quick detour here.
The Best Day Trips from Bogotá
Spending a few days in Colombia’s capital? It’s really worth venturing out to some of the highlights in the surrounding area.
Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá
What do you need to know? The Salt Cathedral is located in the town of Zipaquirá, about 42 kilometers north of Bogotá. It sits approximately 180 meters underground inside a salt mine. The Catedral de Sal is one of the most popular attractions in Colombia and makes for a great day trip from Bogotá.
Is the Catedral de Sal worth visiting? It’s so-so. The church itself is unique, but it can feel pretty touristy and not particularly authentic.
Our tips for the Catedral de Sal: A real highlight is the church service held every Sunday at noon inside the cathedral. The town of Zipaquirá itself is also lovely and well worth a look around.
Get your fast-track ticket for the Salt Cathedral
Book the guided day tour to the Salt Cathedral from Bogotá
Guatavita
What do you need to know? Laguna Guatavita sits at an elevation of 3,100 meters, about 60 kilometers from Bogotá. You reach it via a roughly 30-minute hiking trail that you’re only allowed to walk with a guide. The trail is open from 9 AM to 4 PM. The ticket, which includes a guide, costs 28,000 COP (7 euros) and can be purchased at the entrance.
Is Guatavita worth visiting? We think so. The lake makes for a stunning photo, and your guide will share the fascinating legend of “El Dorado.”
Our tip for Guatavita: Book a guided tour to Laguna Guatavita. If you’re short on time, you can easily combine it with the Salt Cathedral in one day.
Book the guided tour to Laguna Guatavita and the Salt Cathedral
Where to Stay in Bogotá?
Bogotá is enormous, so staying in a central neighborhood makes a real difference. Our two top picks are La Candelaria and Chapinero.
See all our hotel recommendations for Bogotá
Our Hotel Tips for La Candelaria
La Candelaria is the better choice if you’re only in Bogotá for a short time and your focus is sightseeing. The most important attractions are all walkable from here. Just keep in mind that the old town can be unsafe in many areas after dark — avoid walking around here at night.
Our Hotel Tips for Chapinero
Chapinero is a more upscale and safer neighborhood. For a longer stay, it’s the better option — the surroundings are more pleasant and there’s a huge selection of restaurants. It’s also a great base if you enjoy going out at night.
How Safe Is Bogotá?
Bogotá doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to safety — but how safe you’ll actually feel depends a lot on which part of the city you’re in.
Popular neighborhoods like La Candelaria, Zona Rosa, and Chapinero are safe during the day. You can do your sightseeing on foot here without any problems. That said, always keep a close eye on your belongings — wherever crowds gather, pickpocketing is common. Keep valuables close to your body, not in a backpack on your back.
For longer distances, especially through unfamiliar neighborhoods, take a taxi or Uber. At night, don’t walk through Bogotá on foot. On lively bar streets you can hop between venues, but avoid all other areas after dark.
As a tourist, it’s best to stick to the well-visited parts of the city and stay away from the poorer, less-touristed neighborhoods.
Also read our safety tips for Colombia
Getting to & Getting Around Bogotá
Direct flights to Bogotá are available from major European hubs including Madrid, Paris, and London.
El Dorado Airport is the largest airport in Colombia and is excellently connected to all major Colombian cities such as Cartagena, Medellín, and Santa Marta, as well as other countries in South America. We’ve written a dedicated article about Bogotá’s airport for you.
Read our tips for the airport in Bogotá
If you’re arriving by long-distance bus, you’ll most likely pull in at the central Salitre bus terminal. From there, take a taxi to your accommodation — it costs around 25,000 COP. You can book buses most easily through Bookaway.
Most of Bogotá’s best things to do are close together, so you can cover a lot on foot. For longer distances, a taxi or Uber is your most convenient and affordable option.
Buses in Bogotá
Bogotá doesn’t have a metro, but it does have an extensive bus network. You pay for bus rides with the Tarjeta Tullave. You can pick one up at the stations of the red TransMilenio buses — it costs 8,000 COP (1.80 euros). A single ride on Bogotá’s public buses costs 3,200 COP (70 cents).
Bogotá’s buses are color-coded:
- Red buses (Troncal/Transmilenio): They run along Bogotá’s main roads and have dedicated lanes and stations. You pay for rides (3,200 COP) with the Tarjeta Tullave at the stations.
- Blue buses (Servicio Urbano): Also run along the main roads in Bogotá. They stop at fixed stops and you pay for rides ($3,200) on the bus with the Tarjeta Tullave.
- Green buses (Alimentador): Connect the red bus stations with more remote neighborhoods. When you board a green bus, a few pesos are deducted from your Tarjeta, and then again when you transfer to a red bus at the stations.
- Orange buses (Complementario): They operate within neighborhoods. You pay for rides with the Tarjeta Tullave on the bus.
- Dark red buses (Especial): Connect outlying areas with the city. You pay for rides on the bus with the Tarjeta Tullave.
More Travel Tips for Bogotá
Looking for more essential pointers for your city trip to Bogotá? These articles are worth a read too:
