Looking to have an unforgettable time in Bogotá, Colombia? You’ve arrived to the perfect travel guide.

Bogotá was the place in Colombia that I never expected to love. What was originally supposed to be a short stay to recover from jet lag turned into a week-long cultural immersion full of new food, dancing, art and great views. I can now wholeheartedly say: if you skip Bogotá, you are missing out. Bogotá is definitely worth a visit, and domestic flights onward are cheap and abundant.

Nestled on a plain among the peaks of the eastern arm of the Colombian Andes, Bogotá is now a bustling commercial and cultural hotspot and one of the best cities in South America for food, culture, art and nightlife.

Bogotá is a great introduction to Colombia for anyone, and especially wonderful for foodies, culture enthusiasts, dancers and music lovers. With a history of cartels, revolutions and the mingling of indigenous, Spanish, and Afro-Colombian culture, the city feels both edgy and charming, artistic and beautiful. If you’re wondering what to do in Bogotá, keep reading — this guide covers the best things to do in Bogotá to make the most of every day you’re there.

Where to stay in Bogotá

The safest and most beautiful part of Bogotá is the La Candelaria neighbourhood, hands-down. Get accommodation in this neighbourhood among the beautiful architecture, libraries, museums, bustling cafés and universities to experience the best of the city.

How long to stay in Bogotá?

2-3 days is perfect – unless you need to recover from jet lag like me! In which case it would be a great idea to factor in another day or two.

What you need to know about safety in Bogotá

As a solo female traveller, I felt safe in Bogotá. That said, pickpockets are around, and you do need to keep your guard up. Seek local advice before visiting unknown neighbourhoods. Don’t be out alone after dark, and don’t flash your valuables.

See my Complete Colombia Travel Guide to find out what steps I took to stay safe on my trip, and Colombia must-know travel tips!

The best things to do in Bogotá

Hike or take the funicular up to Cerro de Monserrate 

La Monserrate is a steep hill with a stunning white cathedral at the top that provides the cultural La Candelaria neighbourhood with its iconic backdrop. You can walk up, or take the cable car or funicular. Don’t underestimate this walk! I am generally fit, but at the altitude I had to take frequent breaks. It took me about an hour and a half to get to the top, and just under an hour to walk down. 

You can easily walk to the start of the trail or take an Uber from there. I left at the crack of dawn, and I would recommend going early to enjoy the views without crowds; however, it is beautiful at any time! I would just recommend avoiding walking up or back in the dark alone, for safety reasons.

At the top, there is a beautiful white church and a panoramic view of the city. During the day, there are little shops at the top and on the way where you can buy snacks and drinks. Bring a little cash, as some of them charge for use of the toilet!

The cable car and funicular run from 7 am to 9 pm, and from 6 am to 4 pm on Sundays. It costs about $10 USD for a round trip, or only around $6 USD on Sundays. Plan your visit here. 

Experience indigenous music and try local food

Visiting a restaurant called NATIVA Arte y Comida Natural turned out to be a highlight of my time here. This café is a hidden gem and the perfect place to bring a book or something creative to do; it is easy to strike up a conversation with interesting locals and travellers at neighbouring tables. I loved it so much that I went many times.

On weekend nights, they often have live indigenous music around the fire, in the middle of the semi-open-air restaurant! The menu is entirely vegan, so it is a great way to try traditional food if you don’t eat meat. But trust me, if you do eat meat, you won’t feel like you are missing out, as everything is delicious there!

Dance and sing bullerengue at Ritmo Moderno

I highly recommend having a cultural night out at Ritmo Moderno. In this bar, they host bullerengue nights – a traditional Afro-Colombian music and dance style. On bullerengue nights, there are live musicians drawing the crowd into what feels almost like a trance, with a call-and-response in heartfelt song, recounting stories of traditional life and community struggles. Everybody forms a circle with a space in the middle, and people from the audience get up (typically a man and a woman) and perform a flirtatious dance.

You can join in and dance too, or just sing with everybody else and watch the magic unfold! Find them on Instagram here for details on the latest events. They are open from Wednesday to Saturday.

Paloquemao fruit market

Going to an indoor market is a great way to experience the bounty of tropical fruit and fresh produce Colombia has to offer! Markets like Paloquemao are also by far the best way to buy fresh produce (including fruit, meat, dairy products, and eggs) if you are in self-catered accommodation. Even if you are not self-catering, it is a fun morning out tasting exotic fruits, and the market itself is a colourful sensory delight.

Things to try at the market

• “Jugo de lulo” (juice of the quito orange). There is a little juice stall in the middle of the market where you can ask for this. It’s juice from a tropical fruit called quito orange or “lulo” in Spanish, which has an acidic, sweet-and-sour taste, like pineapple and lime.
• “Maracuya”. Spanish for passionfruit. Colombia has big, juicy passionfruits!
• “Uchuvas”. These are delicious and look like little yellow cherry tomatoes, but they are very different! They grow in little papery pods, which easily peel off before you eat them.

Get there by Uber from La Candelaria, as you need to pass through a red-light district, which is not safe to walk through. Go in the morning for the best experience and the freshest produce. You can also find guided tours online, but it is easy to go there yourself with some very basic Spanish. Here is a Google Maps link.

Learn about ancient gold work

While you are here, taking in the ancient beauty of the indigenous goldwork is a must-do! The Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) recounts the story of indigenous pre-Colombian people and their cultures and is a feast for the eyes! What I wish I knew before going is that the second floor is the most interesting!

The first floor is basically just a timeline. If you want to learn about the symbolism of the gold and its place in indigenous cosmology, shamanic rituals and daily life, go to the second floor first! Hot tip: go on a Sunday, as it’s free.

See the works of famous Colombian artists

If you are interested in art and history, visit the Museo Nacional. Here, you can learn about Colombia’s history and cultural heritage and view the works of famous Colombian modern artists such as Botero and Obregón. Visit between 2pm and 5pm on a Wednesday or the last Sunday of the month for free entry!

Dance some salsa!

Bogotá cannot compete with Cali for salsa culture. But to get a taste of salsa in Bogotá, Quiebra Canto was recommended to me by the locals as the best place to go out social dancing. If you are looking for classes, there are plenty of dance schools in Bogotá, such as Rumba Y Salsa, a reputable international school with locations across Colombia and Switzerland. Contact them via WhatsApp: +57 321 694 0502.

Check out my article on the best things to do in Cali to add some salsa flavour to your Colombia trip!

Get acquainted with local snacks and street food

• Try arepas. Corn breads made with maize dough, which come with many different fillings!
• Snack on a pan de bono. Delicious Colombian cheese bread, made from cassava starch, cheese, and eggs.
• Taste a bocadillo de guayaba. You can find vendors selling this in little square parcels made from dried leaves on the hike up to Monserrate and at the entrance, as well as in supermarkets. It is a traditional sweet paste made from guava fruit. You can eat it with a mild cheese or on its own. I prefer it with cheese!

Have you been to Bogotá?

What are the best things to do in Bogotá? Anything you’d add to this Bogotá bucket list?

Esme Heath

Esmé is a slow traveller, writer, Latin dancer and surfer. She is an English as a foreign
language teacher, and an avid language learner herself – every new language learned is like joining a club! Since graduating with her degree in psychology and sociology, she has loved travelling the world and sharing her reflections and tips on culture, slow travel, language immersion, dancing around the world, and alternative ways of being human on this wild and singular planet of ours! Check out Esmé’s website here.