Bogotá was our initial destination on our Colombia itinerary. In February of 2020, we bundled up all our belongings in San Francisco, left our corporate jobs, and set off on what was intended to be a year of traveling around the world before deciding where we wanted to settle down permanently (oops!).
It turned out that Colombia was the lone international destination we visited on that trip, but the time spent there was worthwhile. We delighted in Colombia, and Bogotá served as a solid starting point to properly grasp the context and foundation essential for genuinely appreciating the additional areas toured in this lovely and diverse nation. This guide to expending 3 days in Bogotá, Colombia, is nearly entirely based on our personal knowledge gained from exploring the city.
In summary, Bogotá exceeded our modest expectations. We had heard from others the destination doesn`t offer much excitement. While we would concur it may not be the most stimulating place, as a massive urban area it has a diversity of sights, cuisine, drinks and activities available that is essentially unmatched elsewhere in Colombia except locations like Cartagena and Medellin.
Is it the most thrilling city globally? Not especially.
Is it worth a visit for a couple of days? We believe yes.
Read Next: 2 Weeks in Colombia: Complete Guide to Planning an Unforgettable Colombia Itinerary
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Table of Contents
Where to Stay in Bogotá
The second activity here involves a tour of the building led by a guide. They`re currently offered at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Monday through Saturday (times may vary so double check the website) and last an hour. You can make reservations here, and tours are limited to the first 15 people who register.
Most travelers head straight for La Candelaria, which is likely best if you’re on a tight budget, or have restricted time (e.g. 24 hours) in Bogotá.
But with more than a day or two, we highly recommend staying in Chapinero above all else. Specifically, Quinta Camacho, since Chapinero constitutes a fairly sizable area on its own.
We stayed at Aurora Hostel, which is right in the heart of all the action in Chapinero, and really enjoyed it. We will stay there again when we return to Bogotá. Extremely welcoming staff, a great breakfast to start the day off perfectly (arepas, eggs, and coffee), and comfortable rooms – choose from private or dorm-style – make this boutique hostel a no-brainer for budget-minded travelers who still want a stylish, pleasant place to stay.
A suitable option would be Selina Chapinero, another sleek and affordable hostel.
If you preferred spending your time residing in an Airbnb in Bogotá, we would suggest this stylish living space in Zona G, or this beautiful apartment filled with light.
See all Airbnb stays in Chapinero here.
Regarding hotels, Bogotá has an endless number of options for one to select from. We like (though didn’t personally lodge at):
- Mika Suites
- Hotel bh La Quinta (love their hotel in Parque 93 too)
- The Click Clack Hotel (in Parque 93, just to the north of Quinta Camacho)
3 Days in Bogotá: A Complete Bogotá Itinerary
Let’s get down to the specifics that are going to aid you in planning an incredible visit to Bogotá. Below, you’ll find a day by day itinerary for Bogotá, complete with targeted suggestions on activities, cuisine, sights, and beverages. All based on our own experience exploring Bogotá, which was our first stop on our six week long Colombian adventure.
The first thing to understand is Bogotá`s immense size, with dense urban sprawl sometimes making navigation difficult. Generally, most time will be spent in two key districts: La Candelaria and Chapinero.
Day 1: Downtown and La Candelaria (aka Tourist Day)
Spend your first day experiencing the most famous attractions that the city has available. Then you`ll have two full days to explore the parts of the city that are off the beaten path and have fewer visitors.
Morning: Walking Tour with Beyond Colombia
On our initial day in a fresh metropolitan, we almost usually aim to initiate with a walking tour to receive a notion of the city, and commence to get the scheme of the land. Furthermore, the local guide directing the walking tour is usually a good asset for suggestions and tricks to maximize the remainder of your time.
So, on the first day of your time in Bogotá, starting off with a free walking tour with Beyond Colombia would be good.
Remember – “free” is somewhat of a misnomer. You still need to tip your guide, who often rely on your tips. I believe we tipped our guide, Ana, a Bogotá native who was highly knowledgeable about Colombia’s complicated history, something like 25,000 COP (~$8 USD).
We genuinely enjoyed the free War and Peace tour, which served as an amazing introduction to our time in Colombia. Learn all about the ongoing conflict, where it originated, how it has progressed, and where it’s heading, while also seeing many of the main sights in downtown Bogotá, like Plaza de Bolívar and Parque de Los Periodistas. Our guide, Ana, who grew up in Bogotá, was fantastic.
Details for the War and Peace Tour: Meet in front of the Museo del Oro – look for red umbrellas – Monday through Friday at 10am for a three hour walking tour that ends near Plaza de Bolívar. Only offered in English.
Lunch Time
Your tour will leave you near the central plaza in Bogotá, which is a perfect spot to grab lunch. Head to a nearby historic restaurant called La Puerta Falsa, one of the most traditional eateries in the city, and order the Ajiaco, a stew made of chicken, potato, and corn in a light flavorful broth, and a Colombian tamale or three. It’s also a great place to try a “ chocolate completo” which is hot chocolate served with cheese and bread.
If vegetarian or La Puerta Falsa doesn`t appeal, head to nearby Quinua y Amaranto in La Candelaria`s heart, where we chose to dine. It`s a great lunch spot with a set menu daily featuring one choice each for soup, main, and dessert!
Museo Del Oro
To be completely transparent, we weren’t entirely certain about our feelings towards this destination initially. However, it turns out to be really fascinating!
There’s a significant collection of gold artifacts here, all with explanations about their origins and history surrounding the mining of gold in the region. Definitely obtain the guided audio tour for 8,000 COP (~$2 USD), which will provide a more immersive experience. Plan on spending a couple hours learning about the pre-Columbian cultures in the area.
Details for visiting Museo del Oro: 4,000 COP (~$1 USD). Open 9am – 5pm Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10am – 5pm Sundays. Closed Mondays, free admission on Sundays.
Day 2: Monserrate and Paloquemao Market
On your second day in Bogotá, you’ll spend the morning obtaining a workout by hiking to the summit of Monserrate before heading to the largest marketplace in the city to sample all sorts of fruits with a local guide.
Monserrate
The large hill visible above Bogotá is Monserrate. From its summit, sweeping views of the expansive Colombian capital can be observed, illustrating the truly gigantic scale of Bogotá.
To arrive at the highest point, you can either hike up, or take the mechanical transport (in a manner of speaking a blend between a ropeway and a transport).
The hike upwards towards the top isn’t particularly straightforward – it’s approximately a mile, and you gain nearly 2,000 feet in elevation! You are at 8,000 feet altitude, which is definitely going to make the climb even more taxing. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection and take it slow. If you don’t think hiking up is a viable option, you could take the funicular up to the top, and walk back down.
Once at the top, spend some time admiring the views, the church, and wander over to the shops and restaurants at the north end of the complex to get a well-deserved snack before heading back down.
Note: The trail to get to Monserrate is only accessible from 5am to 1pm – it is unsafe to do this hike in the evening. During the early hours, there are many people going up and down the trail, along with a police presence at the bottom and throughout, so it’s considered safe to walk. If you want to go to Monserrate in the afternoon or evening, you must take the funicular up and down.
Details for Visiting Monserrate: The funicular costs 21,000 COP for a roundtrip ticket, or 12,000 COP for a one-way trip, if you choose to hike up and ride down (or vice versa). It’s significantly cheaper on Sunday, but that brings huge crowds, which is decidedly less enjoyable, in our opinion.
Paloquemao Market: A Guided Fruit Tour
Our trip to Bogotá was enriched by the visit to Paloquemao market. The guidance from the local expert was an appreciated bonus.
Throughout our travels, we`ve learned that while enjoying visiting local markets and exploring, we truly don`t have any concept of where to start. Generally, we`ll enter, circulate for a brief time, and leave without really engaging with the individuals or produce there. It can be incredibly overwhelming when uncertain of what we`re doing or searching for.
Colombia is a country that grows every kind of fruit under the sun, from strawberries to passion fruit. However, we didn’t actually know where to begin to sample some of the bountiful fresh produce available.
Enter Sylvia, our neighborhood guide for our directed fruit tour in Bogotá. We were fortunate enough to be just the three of us, and she took us on a dizzying display of unusual fruits, stories, and customs that we still discuss today. We sampled every distinct passionfruit, dragonfruit, new varieties of lime we’d never seen, and far more.
The items pointed out by the local guide were intriguing objects that would have captured our attention even without an explanation, but learning more about them from a resident enhanced our appreciation.
Additionally, it was quite interesting to see the bonds that Sylvia, a college student doing this tour as a supplementary job, had formed with the vendors at the market. One man was determined to learn and practice his English so he could transition into hospitality work at a restaurant, so we had a brief discussion about a produce that apparently has plenty of physical advantages, especially for men.
After spending many nights exploring and relaxing locally at Walt Disney World, I’ve compiled the finest activities available at Disney World, places to lodge, and tips for the perfect Disney honeymoon experience.
Evening in Chapinero
Head to Chapinero for the evening to enjoy dinner and beverages.
For dinner, here are three options:
- Insurgentes Taco Bar: I mean, you know we love tacos and mezcal after our several journeys to Mexico City.
- Deraiz: A excellent plant-based restaurant that is helping save the planet one plant-based burger at a time.
- Mini-Mal: Drawing motivation from traditional Colombian cuisine and ingredients with a modern, global twist. Get the fish in lulo sauce – lulo is a sour fruit that makes superb juice, and in this case, sauce. They’re big on sourcing and utilizing local ingredients as much as humanly possible.
This neighborhood contains many options for an after-dinner beverage, giving you plenty to pick from.
- For beer, consider stopping by either El Mono Bandido, a brewery with excellent outdoor patio seating, or Bogotá Beer Company, which appears to have locations on many street corners, somewhat reminiscent of the ubiquity of Starbucks in the United States.
- For cocktails, visit Huerta, situated directly across the street from Aurora Hostel. Another excellent option is Gringo Cantina, ideal for Mexican-inspired beverages and fare (though for dining, we’d suggest Insurgentes noted above).
Day 3: Coffee, Parque 93 and Usaquén
On your final day, head north to Usaquén to discover the cobblestone roads and excellent food and drinks that became our preferred spot in Bogotá.
One thing to note here: visitors to the area on a weekend should definitely journey up to Usaquén on Sunday, when the incredible flea market occupies the main street in the region, filling it with vendors selling everything from handcrafted jewelry to coffee. It’s worth exploring either way, but it’s even better on Sunday.
Coffee Lovers, Rejoice!
Make the morning of your last day in Bogotá a relaxing one and grab some of the best coffee in Bogotá, which is conveniently located in the area you’re staying in, at least if you took our advice.
Our favorite place was Cafe Cultor, where we met Alysha’s local friend on the day we arrived in Bogotá. We were EXHAUSTED, but still managed to enjoy the beverage and discussion.
Ranking a close second would be Amor Perfecto, located just a few blocks west.
You’ll be traveling north later today, and near Parque 93 is the coffee shop that allegedly started the specialty coffee trend in Bogotá – Azahar 93. With its excellent coffee, interior courtyard filled with greenery, and busy atmosphere, it would be a great choice for your morning coffee. The neighborhood surrounding it is worth exploring too – particularly the finest bookstore in Bogotá, Librería Lerner.
Usaquén
To get to Usaquén, about a 20 minute drive north of Chapinero, take a taxi or the T13 bus along Carrera 7.
The optimum thing to do in Usaquén is wander aimlessly. The cobblestone streets are extremely romantic, and the neighborhood is packed with places to eat and drink to your utmost contentment.
Here are some of our favorites.
The Colo Coffee has a delightful placement in the center of Usaquén (every single day, 8:30am – 10pm) – it`s like stepping into a coffee jungle. Not only do they offer some of the best coffee in Bogotá, but the ambiance couldn`t be better. You`ll discover all kinds of coffee options, including pour over and espresso-based drinks, and even some juices and teas for non-coffee drinkers like Alysha. We could have spent all day absorbing the ambiance, but we had to continue.”
From the airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you can catch a speedy bus or train into the city center in about 30 minutes. It will cost you around 10 Euros. You can find more information here.
The restaurant Abastoserved what was perhaps the finest meal we enjoyed during our time in Bogotá. We dined there around 11am on a Sunday morning, and it was packed with Colombian families relishing their bright weekend mornings. A friend who resides in Bogotá recommended this establishment to Alysha, bringing it to our attention. It`s an excellent choice for a casual sit-down lunch while exploring the area.
The Bogotá Beer Company location in Usaquén has non-alcoholic malt beverages! I have Celiac Disease, which means I need to eat gluten free (here’s my gluten free guide to Bogotá), and beer is UNSUITABLY high in gluten. But I managed to track down literally the sole non-alcoholic malt beverage in Bogotá, which I was appreciative about. It’s called Golden Lion Cider, and it was great. Apparently popularity of cider is increasing in Colombia!
Getting to Bogotá
Arriving flights land at El Dorado International Airport, Latin America`s third busiest air facility, located on the outskirts of Bogotá, a city that continues seemingly endlessly (as seen from the panoramic viewpoint atop Monserrate, if you make it up there).
The bus network failed us for getting to Chapinero, so we opted to take a taxi. That would be our recommendation for you as well. To obtain a cab from the airport, head to the kiosk in the arrival terminal after passing through security and inform them of your destination. It may help to have the address of your hotel or Airbnb ready to display so you can show it to them. There is a set fee into the city from the airport, and they`ll provide you a receipt then direct you to a waiting taxi outside.
Definitely be certain to utilize the approved cabs, which involve talking to the people at the kiosk and obtaining a receipt in advance.
Getting Around Bogotá
While covering over 60% of St. John and surrounding waters, the natural scenery and unique history of the island remain well-protected within the boundaries of the Virgin Islands National Park.
But once you grasp it, it’s truly efficient and trustworthy. Here’s a enhanced guide to public transportation in Bogotá than we could ever assemble.
We also utilized applications like Beat (and Uber, though it`s rather unclear whether or not it`s technically legal) to navigate around.
Safety Tip: Under no circumstances should you take a taxi off the street, particularly during nighttime hours. Instead utilize apps such as Uber and Beat, a local alternative.
Despite the reviews from friends and other travelers we’d received on Bogotá that were rather indifferent, we enjoyed our time there. We likely wouldn’t return to Colombia specifically to visit Bogotá, but we feel it’s worth a trip. There’s something appealing about a city situated high in the mountains, and Bogotá has ample activities, sights, and cuisine to keep you engaged for a couple days before exploring deeper into Colombia.
Planning a trip to Colombia? Don’t miss our other Colombia travel guides that we have written to help you plan your journey. They’re all based on our experiences in the diversified nation that is Colombia.
- A Comprehensive 3-Day Itinerary for Exploring Bogotá, Colombia
- Accommodation options in Medellin, Colombia: A complete overview
- The Best Coffee in Lisbon: 9 Amazing Lisbon Coffee Establishments to Add to Your List
- How to Plan a 2 Week Colombia Itinerary
- The top 5 most compelling spots to visit in Colombia: South America’s best kept hidden gems
- Top places to rest your head in Bogotá, Colombia`s vibrant capital city
