Things to Do in Cartagena: Top Attractions, Beaches & Tips

Orientation: Map of Cartagena’s top attractions

To give you a clear picture of where everything is, we’ve marked all the main sights on a map for you.

The sights you absolutely can’t miss

A city trip to Cartagena is a must on any Colombia vacation — it’s the most historically rich and fascinating city in the country, and its history stretches back centuries.

The city doesn’t have a huge number of attractions, but the ones it does have are genuinely exciting and beautiful. You can easily tick them all off in a single day and spend the rest of your time relaxing at one of the stunning beaches nearby.

Our top 5 things to do in Cartagena:

• Old Town
• City Walls
• Monumento Torre del Reloj
• Getsemaní
• Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

City tours of Cartagena

You can absolutely explore Cartagena on your own — the Old Town and Getsemaní are safe neighborhoods to wander through. That said, we really recommend doing at least one guided tour.

It would be a shame to walk past all those monuments without knowing their stories. Every corner of Cartagena has something to say, so having a knowledgeable guide makes a real difference.

Guided walking tour of Cartagena

Sightseeing tour of Cartagena by bike

Street food tour of Cartagena

Old Town of Cartagena

What do you need to know? Unlike most historic centers in South America, Cartagena’s Old Town genuinely won us over. You feel more like you’re wandering through a romantic city in Spain than a Colombian metropolis.

Is the Old Town worth visiting? Absolutely! It’s the top highlight in Cartagena and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Colombia.

Our tips for the Old Town: Just wander through the gorgeous alleyways and let yourself get lost. The streets are lively and safe during the day. Make sure to check out the central Plaza de Santo Domingo and the Santuario de San Pedro Claver church.

City Walls

What do you need to know? After a pirate attack in the 16th century, a city wall was built around Cartagena’s Old Town — though it wasn’t completed until two centuries later. Today you can take a leisurely stroll along the “Murallas” and soak up the views.

Are the city walls worth visiting? Definitely! Walking the Murallas is a lot of fun. You can’t walk the entire length in one go, but you’ll get lovely views from every section.

Our tip for the Murallas: If the heat gets to you, Café del Mar is the perfect pit stop. It sits right on the city wall by the sea — grab a fresh-squeezed juice and enjoy the panorama.

Monumento Torre del Reloj

What do you need to know? Torre del Reloj means “clock tower,” and it sits on the section of the city wall that forms the main entrance to the Old Town. The old stone gateway stands between the Plaza de los Coches (inside the walls) and Parque Centenario (outside the walls).

Is the Torre del Reloj worth visiting? It’s fine. Honestly, the square in front of the gateway felt a bit too touristy for our taste — tourists snapping photos everywhere, tours being sold on every corner. That said, you’ll pass by it anyway on your way from the Old Town to Getsemaní, so you won’t miss it.

Our tip for the Torre del Reloj: Beyond the obligatory photo, check out the street performers out front — they really liven up the atmosphere.

Getsemaní

What do you need to know? Getsemaní is Cartagena’s second major tourist neighborhood, right alongside the Old Town. Walk through the gate at the Torre del Reloj and you’ll reach Getsemaní in about ten minutes on foot.

Is Getsemaní worth visiting? We loved it. The neighborhood is a maze of pretty alleyways splashed with color — it’s seriously impossible not to be in a good mood walking through here.

Our tip for Getsemaní: The central meeting point is the Plaza de la Trinidad. It’s touristy, yes, but packed with cool bars and restaurants. In the evenings it turns into a real party strip — if you want to go out in Cartagena, this is where to start.

Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

What do you need to know? In 1657, the Spanish built the fortress of San Felipe de Barajas to protect Cartagena from attacks and pirates. It’s only about a ten-minute walk from Getsemaní.

Is the fortress worth visiting? Yes — the views are great, you can explore the old catacombs, and get up close to the cannons.

Our tip for the fortress: Don’t miss the former sick quarters inside. A 20-minute video plays there explaining the history of the fortress, with English subtitles.

The most beautiful beaches near Cartagena

Cartagena is hot — seriously hot. After a day of sightseeing you’ll be thoroughly sweaty, and the next day you’ll probably just want to hit the beach. Luckily, some of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia are right on Cartagena’s doorstep.

Islas del Rosario

The Islas del Rosario are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Cartagena. Made up of 28 small dream islands, they’re reachable by boat in just under an hour.

Some islands are open to visitors, others aren’t. The largest, Isla Grande, is home to about 750 people. The big draws here are snorkeling, lounging on paradisiacal Caribbean beaches, and doing absolutely nothing.

Day trips from Cartagena to the Rosario Islands

You’ll find tours to the Rosario Islands sold all over Cartagena, but it’s easy to book in advance online:

Catamaran tour to the Rosario Islands

Private boat tour to the Rosario Islands

Staying overnight on the Islas del Rosario

Most tourist accommodations are found on Isla Grande.

Our hotel pick: Pao Pao Cartagena

Islas de San Bernardo

A great alternative to the Rosario Islands are the San Bernardo Islands — a two-hour boat ride from Cartagena, made up of ten islands.

Our two favorites are Múcura and Tintipán, both absolutely stunning. Not quite as dreamy, but genuinely unusual, is Santa Cruz del Islote. This tiny island is packed with tightly squeezed houses and is one of the most densely populated places in the world.

Our tip: Visit either the Islas de San Bernardo or the Islas del Rosario — not both. They’re both beautiful, but also quite similar, so one is enough.

Staying overnight on the Islas de San Bernardo

Both Múcura and Tintipán have some really lovely hotels. Our absolute favorite is on Tintipán:

Our hotel pick: Hotel Puntanorte

Playa Blanca on Isla Barú

If you’d rather not spend too long at sea, Playa Blanca on the Barú Peninsula is the perfect option. You can get there from Cartagena by bus.

As the name suggests, the beach has white sand and turquoise blue water. Sounds like a dream, right?

Well, almost. Playa Blanca gets very crowded, and the beach is lined with accommodations. Don’t come here expecting a peaceful nature escape.

How to get to Playa Blanca

The cheapest option is the bus. Hop on a bus to Pascaballos at the India Catalina monument in central Cartagena — the fare is 3,600 COP (80 cents), paid in cash on board. From Pascabellos, a taxi or mototaxi will get you to the beach in about half an hour.

Alternatively, boats to Playa Blanca depart from Muelle la Bodeguita for around 60,000 COP (14 euros). The easiest option, though, is to book a guided tour — that way you don’t have to figure out the logistics yourself.

Tour to a beach club at Playa Blanca

Staying overnight at Playa Blanca

There’s a wide range of accommodation right on the beach, though most hotels here are fairly simple.

Our hotel pick: Hotel Calamari Baru

City beaches of Cartagena

Cartagena’s city beaches aren’t paradise beaches by any stretch — but they’re great for cooling off after a day of exploring.

The beach at Bocagrande is genuinely impressive, with skyscrapers rising up behind the sand. The neighborhood sits west of the Old Town on a peninsula.

Less exclusive but more authentic is the beach at Manzanillo del Mar, on the opposite side of the city. The area is noticeably poorer, which makes the beach feel less touristy and more local.

There are also a few small beach sections right in the center — these we really can’t recommend.

Staying overnight in Bocagrande

If you want to be close to the beach in Cartagena, Bocagrande is your best bet.

Our hotel pick: Oz Hotel Cartagena

Where to stay in Cartagena

We recommend staying in either Getsemaní or the Old Town. Both are centrally located with all the main attractions within easy walking distance.

Getsemaní has more going on in the evenings, which actually makes it feel safer at night. The flip side is that some corners can get noisy. The Old Town is quieter after dark, but it does get a bit deserted — and therefore a little less safe.

If you’re in Cartagena mainly for sightseeing and want a peaceful base to rest, we’d suggest the Old Town:

If you want a nice dinner followed by a few drinks, you’ll be happier in Getsemaní. It’s also the more affordable option:

Practical tips for Cartagena

Here are a few things worth knowing before your trip.

Safety in Cartagena

The tourist areas are safe during the day, but you need to keep a very close eye on your belongings — pickpockets are everywhere. At the beach especially, never leave anything unattended.

At night, only get around by taxi, Uber, or Didi. Didi is a ride-hailing app similar to Uber and is super widely used in Colombia. Walking around or taking public transit after dark is too risky.

Non-touristy areas — and especially the poorer neighborhoods — should be avoided even during the day. The risk of being robbed is simply too high.

Best time to visit Cartagena

The weather in Cartagena is hot and humid year-round. You’ll work up a serious sweat no matter when you visit — daytime temperatures are almost always above 86°F (30°C). Beyond that, the city has a dry season and a rainy season.

The dry season runs from December to April. This is the best time to visit — it’s less humid, it barely rains, and you’ll usually get bright sunshine. These months are ideal for hitting the beaches.

The rainy season runs from August to November. We don’t recommend traveling then. It usually only rains in the afternoon, but the humidity is extreme all day long, and heavy tropical storms are common.

The months from May to July are transitional months and also a solid time to visit. It rains more than in the dry season, but most days are still sunny.

Getting to Cartagena

The easiest way to get to Cartagena is by plane. The city has its own international airport. Direct flights from Europe are limited, but there are plenty of domestic connections from cities like Medellín, Bogotá, and Cali.

The airport is only about 15 minutes by car from the Old Town, so getting to your hotel by taxi, Uber, or Didi is quick and easy. A private transfer is even more convenient.

Private airport transfer in Cartagena

You can also arrive by long-distance bus. Cartagena’s bus terminal is a bit outside the center, but taxis run frequently into downtown.

If you’re coming from Santa Marta, we recommend booking a group transfer through MarSol. These are only slightly more expensive than buses but run city center to city center — much more convenient.

Book your buses for Colombia through Bookaway

Buses in Cartagena

A bus ride costs 3,600 COP (80 cents), paid in cash on board. There are no fixed timetables and reliable route info online is hard to find — ask at your accommodation if you’re planning to use the bus.

Destinations are displayed on the front of the bus. To flag one down, just stick out your arm.

Note: Buses don’t go into the Old Town or Getsemaní — they stop at the edges of these neighborhoods. You’ll always need to walk a short distance from the bus stop.

Taxi, Uber, and Didi

If public transit feels too complicated, getting around by private vehicle is easy. As in many other countries in South America, ride-hailing apps are safer than hailing a random cab.

We recommend using Didi in Cartagena — it works just like Uber and is the most widely used app in Colombia.

If you do take a taxi, make sure you use an official provider and don’t just hop into any car off the street.