Historical streets, mountain trails, trendy markets, and one-of-a-kind museums coexist in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, located 2600 meters (8530ft) above the sea.
In Bogotá, you can start your day with a walk in the local cloud forest, spend your afternoon meandering through the 18th-century streets of La Candelaria, and enjoy dinner at a restaurant that turns into a raucous dance club.
It’s a busy city of 8 million people, but the main sites are located just a short taxi ride from each other. Make the most of your visit with our roundup of the best things to do in Bogotá.
1. Get a Bird’s Eye View of Bogotá at Cerro de Monserrate
Visit this green mountain that towers above the city center and get a sense of Bogotá’s colossal size – all while you breathe fresh air from the cloud forest and nibble on some local treats.
Most people take a cable car to the top of Monserrate, but if you’re up for the challenge, there’s a well-marked trail with hundreds of steps that takes about an hour to complete. Once you’re at the top, you can stroll through market stalls selling souvenirs, coca tea, arepas, and fruit juices, as well as hearty lunch and breakfast platters.
There are also a couple of gourmet restaurants with panoramic views of the city and a church that is visited by thousands of pilgrims on Sundays – skip the crowds by visiting on a weekday.
Local tip: Arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds at the cable car stop. The best times for photos are before 8am, when the sun rises over the mountains, or after 5pm, when the sun begins to set over Bogotá.
2. Gawk at Centuries-Old Jewelry at the Museo del Oro
Colombia’s aboriginal people didn’t construct massive pyramids like their peers in Mexico or Peru. However, they were experts at working with gold and bronze and produced carefully crafted jewelry that has survived for centuries.
At the Museo del Oro, hundreds of earrings, nose plates, necklaces, breastplates, and small sculptures depicting birds and mammals provide a window into life in Colombia before the arrival of European colonizers.
The museum, run by Colombia’s Central Bank, has gathered more than 34,000 gold items from the Pre-Columbian era, making this one of the world’s largest collections of gold artifacts.
The first item ever purchased by the museum can be found on the fourth floor—a golden gourd topped by four spheres known as a poporo. Indigenous people would store lime in these gourds and then mix it with coca leaves while chewing on the sacred plant.
3. Take a Stroll through La Candelaria, Bogotá’s Historic Neighborhood
Walk along narrow streets lined by colorful homes with clay roof tiles in La Candelaria, one of Colombia’s best-preserved colonial-era neighborhoods. Start at Plaza de Bolívar, where you can see the neoclassical congress building, the Baroque era cathedral, and the modern supreme court building. Then walk towards the mountains along steep Calle 11, where you will find local art shops, restaurants selling tamales and hot chocolate, and the circle-shaped Gabriel Garcia Marquez cultural center whose terrace provides a good view of the neighborhood.
La Candelaria is also home to the Museo Botero and El Chorro de Quevedo, Bogotá’s original public square. Many houses in the neighborhood have been converted into coffee shops and bars frequented by students. On weekends, buskers play live music in the streets.
4. Try a Game of Tejo at Barrio San Felipe
Throw back a couple of beers and test your aim as you play tejo, a sport that was born in rural Colombia and has become increasingly popular in Bogotá.
The sport consists of throwing an iron disk at a board that is covered with clay and topped off with small paper triangles packed with gunpowder. Hit one of the triangles in the center of the board and boom! You get extra points.
While tejo competitions exist, most people do it just for fun. The San Felipe neighborhood has a couple of tejo venues that are easy to get to and popular with locals and visitors.
Detour: If you visit one of the tejo spots in San Felipe, check out the neighborhood park lined with trendy cafés and restaurants, and several art galleries. It’s a five-minute walk from Tejo La Embajada, on Calle 75 and Carrera 22.
5. Trek through the Cloud Forest that Carpets Bogotá’s Cerros Orientales
If you’re tired of Bogotá’s hustle and bustle, head to the mountains on the eastern edge of the city where you can walk along several trails that cross the quiet cloud forest. Currently, five trails are open to the public and free of charge, including Quebrada La Vieja, which starts just a 15-minute walk from the financial district on 72nd street and will lead you to a viewpoint where you can appreciate the northern half of the city.
The cloud forest itself is teeming with eucalyptus trees, pines, ferns, and local bird species. This is a favorite spot for locals trying to get some exercise or seeking a respite from the noise of the city.
6. Visit Museo Botero for a Unique Take on Modern Art
Fernando Botero is not your typical 20th-century artist. While his peers experimented with cubism or more abstract forms, his work celebrates life with lively tones and round, voluminous characters with tiny eyes and delicate hands.
You can check out some of Botero’s most famous paintings and sculptures at Museo Botero, located inside a stately historical building in La Candelaria. As you wander through the different exhibits, notice how Botero even manages to make fruits, trees, birds, and musical instruments look large and lively.
7. Join the Late-Night Crowd at Theatron, Colombia’s Most Raucous Nightclub
Dance to Cher and Abba under a giant disco ball in this former movie theater that’s now a club, and spend the night wandering between its 17 rooms as DJs spin reggaeton, Latin music, electronica, and gothic trance.
The massive five-story club has long been the prime party spot for Bogotá’s LGBTIQ+ community and describes itself as “the largest gay-themed nightclub in Latin America.” However, it is also becoming increasingly popular with straight folks who don’t want to miss out on the fun.
There are drag queen shows on weekends, usually in the room modeled after a Mexican cantina. Theatron can fit up to 6000 people and runs later than most dance clubs in Bogotá, closing at 5am on weekends.
8. Hit the Dance Floor at One of Bogotá’s Salsa Clubs
Bogotá might be chilly, but that doesn’t mean its residents are strangers to tropical rhythms. You can see locals busting their best moves at one of the city’s salsa clubs, where people of all ages dance to tunes by Grupo Niche, Celia Cruz, and Hector Lavoe.
In the city center, check out El Goce Pagano, where DJs have been spinning old salsa tunes for over three decades. For live acts, make sure to stop by Quiebra Canto, a Bogotá musical institution that has hosted local salsa bands before they became famous.
9. Try Colombian Comfort Food and Dance Off the Calories at Andres Carnes de Res
With lively music and over-the-top décor, Andres Carne de Res has become the place in Bogotá for celebrating birthdays and showcasing Colombian culture to visitors from abroad. Try pizza made from fried plantain and down it with a tangerine vodka cocktail known as the Mandarino, or go for a locally brewed beer accompanied by portions of pork rinds, sweet corn arepas, and chorizos with lime.
The three-story restaurant turns into a dance club at night, with DJs belting out Latin pop favorites and rock en español.
10. Explore Trendy Usaquén and Go Shopping at Its Crafts Market
The quaint neighborhood of Usaquén buzzes with activity on weekends as dozens of artisans set up small stalls on its narrow streets selling a variety of goods. At Usaquén’s craft market, find gold-plated earrings shaped like toucans, colorful hand-painted mugs, wooden carvings, and skincare products made from Amazonian fruits.
There are also trendy restaurants nearby when you’re ready for a break from shopping, along with a rum bar and a coffee shop that roasts its own grains.
11. Go on a Tropical Fruit Safari at Mercado Paloquemao
This massive market to the west of the city center receives fresh produce from all over Colombia each day. Take a walk through its busy corridors and spend a few pesos tasting brightly colored tropical fruits with unique names like lulo, guanabana, and pitahaya. The market is busiest on weekends, so for a quieter experience, consider visiting on weekdays.
12. Rent a Bike and Explore the City During the Sunday Ciclovia
On Sunday mornings, cars are banned from many of Bogotá’s main roads, allowing them to be enjoyed exclusively by pedestrians and cyclists. This weekly ritual, known as the ciclovia, is a good excuse to exercise, enjoy the fresh air, and experience the city in a family-friendly atmosphere. Rent a bike, strap on a helmet, and join the crowd to see some of the city’s sights or stop at fruit juice stands along the way.
13. Take a Graffiti Tour and See the Modern Side of Bogotá’s Historical Center
Back in 2011, a tragic event led to protests that reshaped how the local government approached urban art. Bogotá decriminalized street art, creating a permissive environment for artists to decorate the city’s walls. One of the best places to see this eclectic mix of urban art is in La Candelaria, where artists offer walking tours of the murals.
Check out colorful pieces depicting indigenous motifs and vibrant murals that mix modern expression with historic architecture, making an interesting backdrop for your city exploration.
