Many travellers ask the same question, when they’re about to visit Colombia: Is Bogotá worth visiting? In many cases, it’s not even a question of a detour, because a lot of travellers arrive in the country via its capital’s international airport El Dorado. So why question checking out the city you’re already in? Well, to tell you the truth, Bogotá isn’t for everyone. For some people, the city could feel rather intense or overwhelming, while its reputation also doesn’t help. On the other hand, there is a significant number of tourists who would argue that the Colombian capital has plenty of treats to offer, whether we’re talking about its people, architecture, general vibes, culture, museums or nightlife.
So is Bogotá worth exploring for you? That obviously depends on your personality, just as well on what you’re into and what are your expectations. This post will aim to help you to determine whether you should involve the Colombian capital in your itinerary, upon your visit to this incredible country. We’ll talk about particular places to visit, hoods to hang around, nightlife, how to get around the city and, of course, we won’t skip the infamous subject of safety. But first, let’s mention a few basic facts and historical events that shaped the character of the Colombian capital.
Contents
Few facts about Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital, or Bogotá DC (Disctricto Capital), is located at 2640m (8661 feet) altitude, which makes it the fourth-highest capital in the world (after Ecuadorian Quito, Bolivian La Paz and Bhutan’s Thimphu). Such altitude makes Bogotá‘s weather rather fresh, with average temperatures being around 15 °C (59 °F). Overall, we’re talking about a huge, vibrating and modern megacity of more than 11 million people with an area that covers a total area of 1 587 km² (613 sq ml), which makes it just a wee bit larger city than for example London or Bangkok.
Like many cities in the Americas, Bogotá is also laid out in a grid pattern made of calles and carreras as well as numerous plazas (squares), located at the base of the mountains of Guadalupe and Monserrate. Except for being the administrative, political and financial centre of the whole country, Bogotá is also home to a large amount of cultural and educational venues and institutions.
In particular, we’re talking about 60+ art galleries, almost an equal amount of museums, nearly 50 theatres, 150 national monuments and plenty of parks and sports facilities, not to mention its rather extensive amount of schools and colleges, for which Bogotá earned its nickname “The Athens of South America”.
A very brief history of Bogotá
Similarly to many other cities in Latin America, the history of Bogotá also goes way beyond the arrival of conquistadors. The city was founded by the Muisca people, who originally called the place Bacatá, which meant either “planted fields” or “The Lady of the Andes”, depending on the interpretation. The first European settlement was founded in 1538, by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada who named the area Santa Fé de Bacatá.
Bogotá quickly picked up the pace to become one of the centres of Spanish colonial power and civilization in South America. At the beginning of the 19th century, the city already hosted 3 universities, while its population reached 30 thousand people. The vibrant independence movement, followed by political instability marked by the 1840 – 1880 Conservative-Liberal struggle, however, slowed the city’s growth.
Bogotá was then severely damaged by the massive riots in 1948 (El Bogotazo), which initiated the tragic period in Colombian history called La Violencia. In 1958, the Liberal and Conservative parties finally reached a settlement, which unfortunately ignored voices represented by several left-wing parties, causing a revolt, that consequently led to the longest-running Civil War on Earth.
This is however more of a subject for the Colombian national history, about which you could learn more in Quaint Planet‘s Guide to Colombia. In case you were interested in learning about the tragic Civil War that’s been devastating the country for more than half of a century, then check out this piece that explains the original causes, history, participants as well as the evolution of this horrible and bloody part of Colombian history.
Things to do in Bogotá
Tip: the links highlighted in red are Google Maps locations to give you an idea about where we're talking about. If you save the locations you're interested in into: "want to go", once in place, it was easier to find those places, once you hit the city ;)
Cerro Monserrate
I guess that the best place to start, when it comes to Bogotá‘s attractions, would be the super-highlights, every usual traveller that stops in the capital for 2-3 days visits. Cerro Monserrate is arguably the most popular “must-do” place in the Colombian capital. Think of it as Bogotá‘s tourist equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, Charles Bridge or Statue of Liberty, if you will, although this is more about the view from the place rather than the location itself.
Having said that, I should stress that the 17th-century sanctuary and a shrine that’s located at the top of the hill at the elevation of 3152m/10 341 ft is still very pretty. Cerro Monserrate is definitely worth a visit but please be aware that we’re talking about a classic tourist hotspot that comes with all the jazz they all usually come with, like being overcrowded, overpriced and rather scammy. You can get there on foot in approximately 50 minutes, by funicular or by cable car. Please note that the pedestrian path is open from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm every day so keep that schedule in mind if you plan to climb the hill and make sure that you’re not alone while doing so.
La Candelaria
Right at Cerro Monserrate‘s foot, there’s the capital’s historical centre La Candelaria. Bogotá‘s downtown is very charming and full of life. The classic colourful streets are lined up with old buildings in Spanish Colonial, Baroque and Art Deco styles, not to mention the number of cool cafés, shops and restaurants, where you can enjoy a meal or a beverage and absorb the atmosphere of the place while taking a little break from your pleasant strolls around La Candelaria. I’d personally recommend finding an outside table at Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo 😉
Among the biggest attractions in the quarter as well as in the city is its main square Plaza Bolívar, which is practically lined up with landmarks. You could see the neoclassical building Palace of Justice that was infamously sieged in 1985 by the leftist guerilla group M-19. Right across the square, there is the National Capitol, the seat bor both houses of the Colombian Parliament.
Furthermore, you can also admire the Palacio Arzobispal with the famous gate, made by Mr Vico Consorti, who also did the Holy Door of Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica. Right next to the Archdiocese of Bogotá, there’s possibly the most photographed building in Colombia Catedral Primada de Colombia and let’s not forget to mention the iconic city hall, AKA Liévano Palace.
Like in many Latin cities, churches in Bogotá also traditionally play a rather dominant role, when it comes to historical landmarks. Among many, a Gothic-style church with some Byzantine and Moorish touches Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen and the city’s oldest surviving church Iglesia de San Francisco (1621) are definitely worth your attention, if you are into old colossal architecture.
Museums
La Candelaria is also a place where you’d find plenty of museums. The most “must-do” of them all is arguably Museo del Oro/website (esp). With over 55 thousand golden artefacts, ranging from simple jewellery up to more complex pieces of art, this museum is among the most popular ones in the whole country. We’re in the capital so let’s not forget to mention the National Museum of Colombia/website (esp), with a large museum with 20+ thousand artefacts, ranging from the 16th century to modern times.
If you are interested in the Independence history in Latin America, perhaps on your way back from Monserrate, consider visiting Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar/website (esp), which is a house-turned museum, where one of the biggest Latin Independence leaders Simón Bolívar used to live.
In case you were into sciences, head to the National University area to check out the Museo de Historia Natural/website (esp), which is conviniently located right next to Museo Geológico Nacional de Ingeominas and National Geological Museum José Royo y Gómez. If you’re fond of old machinery, then perhaps look into the printing evolution-orientated Museo de Artes Gráficas/website (esp). Architecture and urban development fans could consider checking out the small museum Museo de Bogotá – Casa Sámano/info (esp) and Museo de Arquitectura Leopoldo Rother/website (esp).
Fans of the well-known Colombia-related Netflix TV series often seek to visit the bizarre Museo Historico de la Policia, located in the former headquarters of Bogotá’s police force, which concentrates on the cocaine-kingpin Pablo Escobar and his death in 1993. Only a few blocks away, there’s the Military Museum of Colombia/website, which is another rather controversial museum, that is sometimes criticised by those whose family members suffered from the government’s actions during the very complicated and bloody Colombian Civil War.
Art lovers should think about checking out Museo Botero/info (esp) for the 20th-century art of the eponymous Colombian artist from Medellín as well as his contemporary colleagues. Right next door, there’s Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia/info (esp) which holds various exhibitions of contemporary arts. Btw, in case you were a fan of Mr Botero‘s work, consider looking into the listings of Museo de Artes Visuales/website. Fans of colonial art should consider checking out the impressive church-turned museum Museo Santa Clara or Museo Colonial (website/esp).
Other worthwhile museums to consider are the country’s foremost contemporary art spaces Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá/website; the avant-garde Art Museum of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia/website (esp); a Latin American and European art from 20th century-orientated Museo de Arte del Banco de la Republica/website (esp) as well as the popular Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Bogotá/website (esp) that displays the Colombian art from the 60s onward.
Other places to visit and things to do in Bogotá
Being a megacity of 11+ million people, Bogotá offers many treats for pretty much anyone. Let’s mention a few special places and activities from the capital’s rich menu of possibilities here, starting with art lovers. If you are a fan of street art, then do not hesitate to take the popular Bogotá Graffiti Tour/website, that most travellers would rave about. You’ll be able to explore the local underground scene, learn about the local people, current events as well as the city’s troubled past and much more from a special angle.
People keen on arts&crafts should also definitely consider checking out the Sunday weekly flea market Mercado de las Pulgas de Usaquén, or whether it’s just to grab a great cup of coffee, delicious street food or pick a few gems you’ll find in the stalls. Another Sunday arts&crafts market options you could consider would be the Mercado De Las Pulgas De San Alejo or Plaza de los Artesanos.
Whether you are a nature lover or not, one of the places, I’d recommend not to miss out on is the 20-acre Jardín Botánico de Bogotá/website (esp), where you can learn about the different climate zones of this incredibly diverse country. The gardens will provide you with an opportunity to spend a brilliant, relaxing as well information-packed half-day in beautiful and well-maintained gardens.
The majestic east hills of Bogotá present one with an opportunity for a quick escape from the busy city life, while surrounded by lush nature and panoramic views of the city. There are several trekking options to pick from, however, I’ve been told that it’s better to do it with a guide for safety reasons. While we’re at physical activities, if you’re a push bike enthusiast, then consider taking part in one of Ciclovía Sundays, which is a popular city-wide activity with blocked traffic. Here‘s more by Alma Guillermoprieto in the National Geographic magazine.
Places to visit outside Bogotá
One of the most popular day trips from Bogotá is visiting a unique church carved in a salt mine 200 metres underground: The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá/website (esp), which is only about 2 hours from the capital. A popular weekend destination for Bogotians worth mentioning is La Calera, a pretty little town with a great restaurant scene, located about 20 km away from the city.
If you’re keen on trekking, you could opt to visit the highest waterfall in Colombia (590m) in La Chorrera nearby the town of Choachí, about 60+ minutes from Bogotá, which is not far from the stunning Chicaque Parque Natural (website), in case you fancied the local nature. Another and even better trekking destination in close proximity to Bogotá is Páramo of Sumapaz Parque Nacional.
Another great day trip option is to visit the pretty and rather legendary Guatavita with Laguna Dorada, The lake used to be a sacred site for the Muisca people, but the more recent history put the place on the map because of the gold discovery in the area, which created the famous El Dorado legend. You’ll learn about all that as well as about the history and culture of the Muisca from the assigned guide, before taking the light trek to the lake.
Near the western shore of the lake, there’s a theme park Parque Jaime Duque/website (esp), with a zoo, some replicas of the world’s landmarks as well as quite few entertainment options, mostly suitable for the family trips. You could also look into the organized coffee farm tours in the area. To explore your options, I’d recommend checking out this post by Naomi, a Londoner who lives in the Colombian capital on her informative website, when it comes to Bogotá and Colombia.
Culture, going out and nightlife
Bogotá‘s theatre, art and music scene is one of the richest in the whole of Latin America. There are several impressive venes, such as Teatro Colón, Espacio Odeón or Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez. For clubbing and general nightlife, there are several areas to consider, like Zona Rosa that’s also known as Zona T, then there’s Parque 93, Usaquén and La Candelaria. In case you fancied checking out some of Bogotá‘s trendy bars, then you should head to Chapinero.
We’re talking about a big city with plenty of opportunities to have all sorts of fun. FYI, I’ve heard claims that in spite of the fact that most clubs close at 3am, Bogotá has the best nightlife in the whole of Latin America and it wasn’t just locals saying that. Genre-wise, the diversity declines due to the everpresent dominance of reggaeton that’s felt across the whole continent. But you could also find salsa and rumba joints as well as rock, blues, jazz or electronic music if you make a little effort.
I personally prefer wondering around the cool areas and “discovering” places but I understand that some people prefer listings. I’ll therefore drop a few names of the establishments I believe are cool. For an irregular readers, I should perhaps mention that if you were looking for the “everyone must go” places, such as Odem or Andrés Carne De Res, please note that Quaint Planet might not be the right place to seek those but you can find them in every Bogotá guide book.
In case you fancied craft beers and studenty vibe, then consider heading to La 45. Any of the Bogota Beer Company‘s branches is also OK, if you’re into yuppie-ish crowds. For a pleasant drink with a snack, I’d recommend checking out the El Mono Bandito Quinta Camacho or the eponymous El Mono Bandito in Chapinero. A nice, community-like place to socialize and take place in various activities worth mentioning is Meeting House (Fcbk page).
There’s also a considerable cocktail scene. To combine it with great views, consider checking out The Apache Bar. For live music, I’m told that Gaira Café (web/esp) puts on a decent cumbia and other traditional genres and Bolón de Verde (Fcbk page) holds jazz&blues evenings. And last but not least scene to mention is techno. The techno scene in Bogotá is rather complex and lively that it would require a separate article so for now, I’ll leave it to Max Pearl to explain it to you in his piece for the electronic magazine Resident Advisor. In case you wanted another opinion, here‘s Fraser Gilles‘s article in Colture.
Please don’t get me wrong but while is mostly fun but there could be some predators hiding in the shadows. Always try to be with someone you trust – not just someone you’ve met a few shots of mezcall ago, especially if you’ve decided to experiment with drugs as a newbie. People tend to push it a bit while on holidays. I don’t mean to sound patronising. All I want to say is – have fun but watch your back 😉 But that’s more of a subject of the next chapter, where we’ll talk about safety.
Safety
Let’s be honest, safety in Colombia is often among the first questions many people ask about the country. It is due to the very bad reputation the country was infamous for only several decades ago. But many things have changed since then and both cities have improved in several departments, safety included. Well, perhaps I better say that many things have changed a lot and some others haven’t changed much.
When it comes to Bogotá, the city went through an immense growth in the recent history. In less than a half century, the Colombian capital Bogotá grew from about 1/2 million people to a megacity of more metropolis of more than 11 million inhabitants, which increased crime and violence levels adequately up to the point that in the mid 90s, it has been considered one of the most dangerous cities in the whole World.
However, the security policies adopted in 1995 have turned things around quite significantly and Bogotá‘s murder rate had declined from 80 to 23 persons per 100,000 inhabitants by 2005, which is more than 2/3 drop, making Bogotá‘s murder rate lower than for example Washington, D.C. Having said that, there are still some hoods, such as San Cristóbal and Ciudad Bolivar you should stay away from. The safest areas in Bogotá are mainly Chapinero and perhaps the daytime La Candelaria.
Get around
Even when being guarded by the locals, I’ve personally found the public transport in the capital (TransMilenio system) a bit confusing, but due to the city’s grid system, it’s somewhat doable. If you however don’t need to move around the city much, please note that taxis are rather cheap if you avoid the rush hour where you pay for being stuck in the traffic. Just make sure that you are using the official taxis only and that your door is locked. In case you wanted to work out the public transport system, here‘s a piece by Valeria Garbin at Colture that has a go at explaining it.
How to get there and when to visit Bogotá
Bogotá’s international traffic is provided by the El Dorado International Airport with flights that serve taking about 35 million passengers annually (in 2019) to more nearly 90 destinations in 26 different countries, which makes it the second busiest airport in South America after Sao Paulo.
When it comes to picking the best possible time to visit the city, if you have such luxury, think December through March and the warmer perion between June – September as those are the periods with the supposedly driest skies. Due to its altitude, there’s however no guarantee. Temprerature-wise expect are relatively constant, averaging between mid 20s to mid 30s grades Celsius (about mid 60s to mid 70 Farenheit).
Sort of conclusion
Due to its dark past and rather limited media coverage, when you say Bogotá, the first association for quite a few people might not be the most flattering. It’s true that the countless tragedies caused by more than a half-century-long Civil War have left huge scars on the city’s reputation. But Colombia come a long way in the last decade and Bogotá is a different place now.
Although all of the problems of the past didn’t disappear with a single wave of the magic wand, following the 2016 peace agreement between the largest guerilla group FARC and the Colombian government, the 21st century Bogotá has transformed into a vibrant metropolis that provides pretty much everything, such a large city would offer anywhere else in the world.
From the tourism point of view, although Bogotá is not what you would call an ideal place, respectively every tourist dreams of visiting one day, IMHO it still is a rather underrated destination worth your attention, in case a few of the spots or activities mentioned above got your attention. For instance, plenty of travellers opt for visiting the second biggest Colombian city Medellín instead of the capital. Would that be your preference? You could try to find answers here in Quaint Planet‘s Bogotá vs Medellín comparison post.
Useful and interesting links
Official website, demographic and so on
- The official website of Bogotá could be found here (en español)
- El Dorado International Airport website could be reached here
- Bogotá’s demographics: population, city districts and other similar data could be found here, on World Population Review website
- A local’s guide to Bogotá by Alexandra Correa is here on The Washington Post‘s website
History
- Conservative-Liberal struggle: more information about the 1840-1880 conflict could be found here on Encyclopedia Britannica
- El Bogotazo more information about the 1848 city riots could be found here on the CGTN site
- La Violencia: more information about the tragic pre-text to the Colombian Civil War could be found here, on Encyclopedia Britannica
- Colombian history: more general information regarding the national history could be found in Quaint Planet‘s Guide to Colombia here
- Colombian Civil War: a humble attempt to describe the causes, participants and evolution of the very complex Colombian conflict could be found in this piece
Museums and activities
- Museo del Oro: Find out more about Bogotá‘s Gold museum here on its website (esp)
- National Museum of Colombia: More details could be found here on its website
- Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar: read more about Simón Bolívar‘s museum here on its website
- Museo de Historia Natural: Get more info on the Natural History Museum here on its website (esp)
- Museo de Artes Gráficas: Check out the website (esp) of the Graphic Arts museum for more info
- Museo de Bogotá – Casa Sámano: Here‘s more info (esp) about Bogotá‘s city museum
- Museo de Arquitectura Leopoldo Rother: Check out the museum’s website (esp) in for further details
- Military Museum of Colombia: More info about Escobar vs the government-themed museum could be found here on its website
- Museo Botero: Further info about the museum dedicated to a famous Colombian artist could be found here (esp)
- Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia: More details about this contemporary art museum could be found here (esp)
- Museo de Artes Visuales: More info about this modern art museum could be found here on its website
- Museo Colonial: Check out the website (esp) of this rather self-explanatory museum
- Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá More info about this modern art museum could be found here on its website
- Art Museum of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia: More info about the avant-garde museum could be found here (esp)
- Museo de Arte del Banco de la Republica: More info about the 20th-century Latin American and European art museum could be found here on its website (esp)
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Bogotá/website (esp) that displays Colombian art from the 60s onward
- Bogotá Graffiti Tour: Visit the website of this popular attraction to book your tour
- Jardín Botánico de Bogotá: Check out the website of the city’s botanical garden to learn more
- Ciclovía Sundays: Read more here, by Alma Guillermoprieto in the National Geographic magazine
Other popular destinations nearby
Latin American locations covered on Quaint Planet
Santiago de Chile ► Valparaíso ► Santiago de Chile ►Punta Arenas – Ushuaia – Punta Arenas ► Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales ► El Calafate (Perito Moreno Glacier, Arg) ► El Chaltén (Los Glaciares National Park) ► Chile Chico (Ch) – Puerto Rio Tranquillo (Marble Caves) ► Coyhaique – Puyuhuapi – (Carretera Austral) ► Puerto Chacabuco – Quellón/Castro ► Puerto Varas – San Carlos de Bariloche (Arg) ► Buenos Aires ► Colonia (Ur) ► Montevideo ► Punta del Diablo – Cabo Polonio ► Montevideo ► Salto ► Concordia (Arg) ► Puerto Iguazú (Iguazú Falls) ► Salta ► San Salvador de Jujuy ► Tilcara ► San Pedro de Atacama (Ch) ► Uyuni Salt Flats Tour (Bol) ► Uyuni ► Sucre – La Paz (Death Road Tour) ► Copacabana (Lake Titicaca) – Isla del Sol – Copacabana ► Cusco (Per) ► Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) ► Cusco ► Lima ► Máncora – Montañita (Ecu) ► Puerto López ► Quito ► Ipiales (Col) – Pasto ► Tatacoa Desert ► Bogotá ► Medellín ► Villa de Lleyva ► Santa Marta – Cartagena – Rincón del Mar Necoclí ► Capurganá ► Puerto Obaldía (Pan) ► Panama City ► Las Lajas ► Cerro Punta ► David ► Bocas del Torro ► San José (Costa Rica) ► San Juan del Sur (Nic) – Ometepe ► Granada ► Managua – El Rama – Bluefields – Corn Islans ► Léon ► El Tunco (El Salvador) ► La Antigua Guatemala – Lake Atitlán ► Lanquín (Semuc Champey) – Flores (Tikal) ► Belize City ► Bacalar – Tulum – Playa del Carmen – Mérida – Valladolid – Cancún ✈️ .
Featured image by Makalu from Pixabay
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