20 Best Things to Do in Bogota, Colombia (2023)

Top 5 Bogota city tours & experiences

1. Bogota Graffiti Tour in La Candelaria: Walking tour of the murals in La Candelaria urban art district (from $12).
2. Bogota Bike Tour: Half-day sightseeing tour of La Candelaria, including street art, fruit markets and a coffee factory (from $20).
3. El Paraíso Neighbourhood Tour: Social transformation tour and cable car ride with a local guide (from $50).
4. The Bogota Food Experience: Bogota food tour visiting 7 family-run restaurants for Colombian specialty food and street snacks (from $28).
5. Specialty Coffee Workshop: Tour of Bogota’s trendiest coffee shops with plenty of tastings (from $34).

Bogota video: Bogota in 2 minutes!

Check out my Bogota City Tour video then read on to find out where it was filmed!

Audio track courtesy of Nekzlo – Bloom (Vlog No Copyright Music).

Whenever I arrive in a new city, my first inclination is to go somewhere high up to get a view and find my bearings. The best place for a city view in Bogota is obviously the city’s highest point, Monserrate.

At 3,152 metres above sea level, Cerro de Monserrate (Monserrate Hill) soars above the city. The mountain was considered auspicious by the area’s indigenous Muisca people (more about them a little later) long before Spanish settlers erected a chapel at the summit in 1640.

The sweeping views of Bogota you get from the top of Cerro Monserrate are unmatched and unmissable. Believe it or not, it’s not possible to get a full panorama – there are parts of Bogota that can’t be seen from Monserrate because the city is just that big.

The best way to visit Monserrate is to ride the funicular up (try to stand in the last compartment to get the best views). In the afternoons, the funicular is swapped out for a cable car. Or, if you’re game enough to follow in the footsteps of countless pilgrims before you, you can walk up the hill.

The trail starts from the base of the mountain and goes all the way up to the sanctuary, signposted with the Stations of the Cross towards the top. A word of warning: The climb involves 1,500 stairs and a gain of 400m, so some preparation may be required if you’re not used to hiking at high elevations. It takes around 3 hours to complete.

2. Make a pilgrimage to Monserrate Sanctuary

While it’s worth visiting Monserrate just for the city views, you shouldn’t descend the mountain without first going inside the 17th-century Monserrate Sanctuary. Legend has it the neo-Gothic Catholic church that dominates the site was completed with the aid of eager pilgrims, each of whom carried a single brick for the 2.5km walk up the mountain.

The church’s spartan interior is a match for its all-white facade. On either side of the nave, lavishly decorated nooks conceal icons including a Statue of the Black Madonna (also known as the Morena Virgin), Patron Saint of Catalonia.

It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to cover the church. If you’re lucky, you might end up sharing the pews with a group of modern-day pilgrims like we did.

Just as we were entering, a group of religious devotees who had apparently summited Monserrate on their hands and knees entered through the doors and formed a final procession down the aisle. It was quite a sight to behold.

The sanctuary is open from 10am daily. Entrance is free.

Being Australian and having grown up with the Gold Rush narrative, I was fully expecting the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) to focus on Colombia’s colonial history and the so-called New World quest for God, Gold and Glory. In fact, the museum examines Pre-Columbian Colombia – that is, the Colombia that existed before the conquistadors arrived.

If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating chapter of Colombian history, the Gold Museum is the perfect place to do it.

Never heard of the Muisca? You’re not the only one. Colombia’s most prominent indigenous group did pioneering work in metallurgy that is nothing short of breathtaking considering the resources available to them at the time. It should have earned them a name akin to the Zapotecs, Mayans or Aztecs – but alas, sadly not.

Housing the world’s largest collection of gold artefacts (there are more than 6,000 individual pieces of gold on display at any one time), the Gold Museum is your chance to learn about Muisca culture through the ritual objects they crafted from gold and other alloys. The highlight for us was hearing about the ‘real’ El Dorado and seeing an interactive exhibit that simulates the ritual that led credence to the myth.

If you’re visiting alone, definitely opt for the audio guide – it’s worth the extra cost.

History isn’t the only thing the Gold Museum is good for: According to our guide, the museum cafe serves some of the best Colombian coffee in town. Exit through the gift shop for a beautiful range of handicrafts.

The Gold Museum is open daily from 9am-6pm (from 10am on Sundays). Entrance costs 3000 COP.

Tip: Entrance to the Gold Museum is free on Sundays, but it is always very crowded so it’s best to visit on a weekday instead.

The only way to explore La Candelaria district is by foot. Take your time as you wander the cobblestones; soak up every little detail of the crumbling architecture and picture-perfect street scenes.

The next few items on this list of must-sees in Bogota are located in the La Candelaria area.

Undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Bogotá is to stroll along the narrow street known as Callejón Embudo. Located in the oldest part of Bogotá, it captures the uniquely Bogotano mix of historic charm and modern urban culture with a touch of grunge.

You’ll find Callejón Embudo just off of the Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo, the plaza where the Spanish established the first settlement in what became Bogotá, not far from Plaza Bolívar in La Candelaría. This area is one of the popular areas to stay in Bogotá for backpackers as there are many hostels.

While you can do this as a guided tour either as part of a larger tour of La Candelaría or a graffiti tour, it’s also possible to do on your own since it’s an easy detour from the other sites in La Candelaría. Just head down the narrow alleyway to the right of the small church on the Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo.

You can see lots of neat street art as you walk along the couple blocks of this tiny street. The name ‘Embudo’ literally means bottleneck in Spanish. You can also duck into one of the little bars to enjoy a drink, or check out Casa Galería to enjoy some of that famous Colombian coffee and maybe a sweet treat.

Suggested by Adam from Cartagena Explorer

Tip: If you love street art and cafe culture, another cool neighbourhood to check out in Bogota is Zona Rosa (AKA Zona T) in El Espartillal on the north-east side of the city. It too has pedestrianised streets, and plenty of bars, restaurants and nightclubs to enjoy.

The Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center lies in the middle of the La Candelaria neighbourhood. The building was a gift from Mexico to honour Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian-born writer known for his literary works all over Latin America and the world.

This is just one of many tributes to García Márquez you can find in Colombia. It is unique because it showcases the special relationship between Mexico and Colombia, hence why there is a huge Mexican flag that pays homage to the country where the author spent the majority of his life.

Forget the usual concerns about safety in Bogota: This is one place in the city where you’ll feel welcome and totally at ease.

The building has an intriguing design that consists of two giant circles, one with a tranquil fountain in the centre. When you walk up the stairs, you come to a huge open space where you can relax and admire the views of Bogota’s oldest neighbourhood as well as epic views of the mountains towards the east. This is one of the best places for photos of La Candelaria and the famous Calle 11.

On the bottom floor, there is a bookshop which is unrelated to the attraction per say but has some great novels for sale and a coffee shop where you can enjoy a drink or a snack. There are sometimes exhibitions on the first floor too, but you must walk up the stairs to the upper floor of the building to really connect with the story of this landmark.

The Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center is open daily from 9.30am (10am on Sundays). Entrance is free.

Suggested by Daniel from Layer Culture

The Botero Museum (Museo Botero) is one of the most popular places for art lovers to visit in Bogota. The museum was founded in the year 2000 and has over 200 art pieces including 123 works by Botero himself.

Medellin-born Fernando Botero is one of Colombia’s most famous artists and a keen art collector. His works have been exhibited all over the world and can be found in parks and plazas as far away as Yerevan in Armenia, Barcelona, Singapore, Bamberg and Jerusalem.

The most unique feature of Botero’s work is his characters’ shape: They are all larger than life with rounded figures. Some are humorous, others represent political criticism.

The Museo de Botero is housed in a two-storey colonial mansion with a beautiful courtyard. Apart from Botero’s own paintings and sculptures, you can also see other pieces that used to belong to his private collection. This includes works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Claude Matisse, Henri Monet and other world-famous artists.

The Museum is located in La Candelaria, close to other popular tourist attractions. Entry is free of charge and you should spare at least two or three hours to enjoy the galleries and relax in the courtyard.

The museum is open Wednesday to Monday from 9am-7pm (from 10am on Sundays). Closed on Tuesdays.

Suggested by Pedro from Travel With Pedro

If you want to understand Colombia’s violent past better, do not miss a tour of Barrio Egipto. This district is only a street away from La Candeleria, the popular hub of Bogota’s nightlife and cultural scene. Until a couple of years ago, a wall separated it from downtown so that even policemen could not enter.

Much like Comuna 13 in Medellin, Barrio Egipto was once the most dangerous and poorest part of Bogota. Not all that long ago, rival gangs ruled the district and crime was a part of daily life.

Tired of the constant violence, the people of Barrio Egipto decided to put the past behind them and make peace. They converted the district into a touristic place, where symbolic graffiti recalls both the cruelty and the hope for a better future. A group of former gang members founded Breaking Borders and now share their experiences in Barrio Egipto with visitors as tour guides.

Bogota’s second-oldest church, the Church of Our Lady of Egypt, stands at the entrance to the barrio. This is where the annual celebration of Three Kings Day takes place on 6th January every year.

Suggested by Agnes from Voice of Guides

Markets provide a window onto local culture and commerce, which is why I always recommend visiting at least one when you arrive in a new city. Bogota is home to some excellent local markets and flea markets where you can shop Colombian handicrafts and rummage for second-hand treasures. 

Located directly opposite the Gold Museum, the Galeria Artesanal de Colombia is a permanent undercover handicraft market that’s mainly designed for tourists. Dozens of stalls stretch out under glass-roofed corridors, each selling a colourful array of local products.

Among the offerings, I spotted some beautiful molas (indigenous textiles), leather goods and painted masks. Unlike the San Alejo Handicraft Market, one of my favourite places in Medellin, there is definitely a mix of handmade and mass-produced goods here (the hats and ponchos, for example, aren’t the best quality). So it pays to take your time and shop around before committing to buy.

A few blocks away, I happened upon the Mercados Campesinos de Cundinamarca, a pop-up produce market organised by the local government. More than 114 producers from 46 municipalities of Cundinamarca Department (the area surrounding Bogota) gather for the occasion, selling fresh fruit and veg as well as locally made dairy products, sweets and coffee.

Read next: 3 local markets you can’t miss in Medellin.

In the Plaza Bolivar, I encountered a very special market, the PaZiempre Fair. Organised by the Mayor’s Office of Bogota and the High Council for the Rights of Victims, Peace and Reconciliation, this market is designed to promote entrepreneurship and cultural revitalisation. Stallholders here are primarily former victims of armed conflict. A good mix of food and handicrafts is on offer.

A few blocks from Plaza de Bolivar, I paid a quick visit to one of Bogota’s oldest marketplaces, Pasaje Rivas. This maze of undercover shops connected by narrow alleyways was the biggest and most atmospheric market I visited in Bogota.

Stallholders here mainly sell handicrafts, including wicker baskets, carriel bags, wooden kitchen utensils, and wool ponchos. Again, it takes a good eye to sort the handmade items from the mass-produced, but I felt the range here was a lot better (and less touristy) than at Galeria Artesanal.

Other weekly markets in Bogota include the San Alejo Flea Market (9am-5pm on Sundays) and Usaquen Flea Market (every Saturday and Sunday).

Despite what the size of their dinner plates might tell you, Colombians are grazers. In Bogota, street snacking is an activity in itself. Everyone has their favourite roaming vendors and hole-in-the-wall bite bars. Food can be found all over the city – the tricky thing is deciding what chow to try.

My street food rule of thumb holds true in Bogota: Choose a spot that’s busy, and always go for something that’s cooked fresh. Of course if you’re travelling on a tour, your guide will point out the cream of the crop.

Chances are whatever you choose is going to be fried (at least once, maybe twice!). Arepas and empanadas are crowd pleasers (Pro tip: Always pair a hot, salty empanada with a glass of cool, sweet orange juice).

But my favourite snack is buñuelos. Pillowy on the inside and crispy on the outside, I first tried these cheesy balls of goodness in Medellin.

More intrepid travellers might be tempted to stop for a cup of coca tea. Brewed in large silver pots with different herbs and spices added, it purportedly assists with acclimatising to Bogota’s high altitude.

Walking into Plaza de Bolivar is like stepping into a living museum. No where in Bogota can you find more history and legacy concentrated in one place.

The historic centre of Colombia’s capital, the plaza itself is a classic Spanish Square – the same you see in small towns such as Jardin and Jerico. But unlike most other Colombian towns and cities, Bogota’s main square is enormous.

There’s a funny story behind the discrepancy: Squares were measured out using a ‘Spanish Stick’ in an effort to keep them uniform. Evidently no one thought to establish a standard length for the sticks first, so each square turned out to be a different size.

It’s easy to miss the petite statue of Simon Bolivar that sits atop a raised platform at the centre of the square. Instead, it’s the buildings on the periphery that vie for visitors’ attention, positively dwarfing Bolivar with their grandeur.

Along the southern border, the grand National Capitol building houses Colombia’s National Congress. The neoclassical Lievano Palace on the western side was completed at the turn of the century and now serves as the City Hall. At the head of the square is Bogota’s main cathedral, aptly named Catedral Primada de Colombia.

In the middle distance, you can spot the rooftop of Colombia’s oldest school. One building on the square sticks out like a sore thumb – the Palace of Justice, site of the infamous 1995 siege, is a hulking modernist block.

Plaza de Bolivar is a place where Bogotanas of all stripes gather to commune. It’s a must-visit if you want to get right into the thick of it and pursue some seriously good people-watching opportunities.

There are often markets and live music events happening in the square, which makes it all the more lively.

The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Bogotá on Bolivar Square might be the city’s biggest and most impressive church, but there are scores of smaller churches to discover in the backstreets and alleys around the city centre.

My favourites include the lavishly decorated, 17th century Iglesia San Agustin La Candelaria, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Carmen (Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen), a Florentine Gothic church with a distinctive striped facade near the Botero Museum, and the Iglesia de San Francisco.

For something different, the 1647-built Santa Clara Church (Iglesia de Santa Clara) has been transformed into a gallery, the Museo Santa Clara, housing a huge collection of original artworks from the 17th-20th centuries.

Ever heard of Colombia’s national sport, tejo? Tejo is a traditional throwing game, mainly played in local bars. It is one of the oldest sports in the country dating back to the time of the Muisca.

The tejo game consists of throwing a steel disc (called a tejo), onto an angled board that is covered with clay. The goal of the game is to hit one of the mechas, exploding paper triangles located inside a ring (bocin) that contain gunpowder. As soon as the tejo collides with its target, a small explosion occurs. And this – accompanied by a loud bang and lots of cheering, of course – makes for points.

If you want to feel local for a night and play the tejo game yourself, you want to go to Tejo la Embajada in Bogota. It’s a fun place where you can enjoy artisanal beers, bites, and a good game with old and new friends! The energy is something you won’t soon forget.

Remember the rules of tejo are honestly a bit complicated, but you just have to go with the flow and learn from the locals.

Suggested by Deborah from Passport The World

Sunday is usually a day of rest – but in Bogota, Sunday means Ciclovia. Join the locals and get on your bike for this weekly celebration of all things cycling.

Colombia is a great country for cycling, but bustling Bogota is not exactly bike-friendly. That’s until Sunday (and every national holiday) when more than 75 miles (120 km) of public streets are closed to motorised vehicles.

A Bogota institution since 1976, Ciclovia is a weekly party in the streets. Locals use it for socialising and exercise, so it’s a great way for tourists to experience a slice of Bogota life and see some sights along the way. While cycling through parks, past landmarks, neighbourhoods, and city streets, you’ll encounter joggers, dog walkers, yoga classes and more. Ciclovia is certainly a Bogota bucket list experience.

Plan in advance for Ciclovia by booking a Sunday morning cycling tour. A general tour will take you to top city attractions, or a graffiti tour showcases Bogota’s exemplary public art.

Alternatively, rent a bike from one of the many vendors out for Ciclovia and ride wherever you want. With 75-plus miles of open road, you can see Bogota safely while cycling its car-free streets.

Ciclovia runs every Sunday and on public holidays from 7am-2pm.

Suggested by Melinda from Mel On The Go

Located just over 3 hours’ drive from the Colombian capital, the colonial town of Villa de Leyva is one of the most popular day trips from Bogota.

A tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa de Leyva is prized for its original colonial architecture – much of which dates all the way back to the 16th century. The town centres on a magnificent cobbled square, the Plaza Mayor, which is surrounded by beautiful low-slung white buildings.

A full-day guided tour to Villa de Leyva is a great way for those on a tight travel timeline to experience this beautiful small town. Ideally though, you’ll want to spend a night or two at one of the cute boutique hotels, enjoying the serenity of Villa de Leyva after hours when the day trippers have gone home.

Other things to do in the area include the Muisca astronomy observatory, while outdoor enthusiasts can explore the nearby cloud forests and La Periquera waterfalls.

Another of the best side trips from Bogota is the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, a 200-metre-deep cathedral built completely inside a salt mine. Known as the ‘First Wonder of Colombia’, the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral is a marvel of engineering and an amazing example of what humanity can create when faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

The salt cathedral was originally built around 1932 as a small altar that miners used to pray at before starting a day of treacherous work. Throughout the years, the altar expanded more and more, and the cathedral you see today dates to 1995.

The underground cathedral is massive and takes a few hours to explore. At the end of the walking route, you’ll find the three naves representing the three stages of Jesus’s life – his birth, life and death, and Resurrection. In the main nave, you’ll see what is considered the biggest underground cross in the entire world.

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral is a must on any Bogota itinerary, but it can be quite challenging to get to. The easiest way is to travel with a local tour company. Public transportation is also an option, as there are buses that go directly to the town of Zipaquira. The two bus stations where you can get a bus from Bogota to Zipaquira are Portal Norte and Terminal del Norte.

Either way, if you’re visiting in high season, it’s a good idea to pre-purchase skip-the-line tickets ahead of time.

Suggested by Sean from LivingOutLau

Just a 2-hour drive north-east from Bogotá, Chingaza National Park is one of the most significant natural reserves in Colombia.

The Natural Park is located in the eastern row of the Colombian Andes Mountains, which range from 800 metres to as high as 4000 metres above sea level. Inside Chingaza, there are 40 glacial lakes, the biggest being Lake Changaza and the most beautiful being the Siecha Lakes.

There are many different options available for exploring the park, including a range of short hiking trails that are suitable for day trippers. The 3-hour trail to the Lagunas de Buitrago is perfect for a short visit. The unpaved road provides a great day hike that is manageable for anyone with a decent fitness level. On the way to the lagune, you can enjoy the unique flora and fauna, as well as the stunning views. 

For anyone interested in visiting the Siecha Lakes, these can be reached by continuing on the unpaved road after Lagunas de Buitrago. Note that you have to take a smaller trail to get the trail and a good sense of direction and a map are necessary.

Temperatures inside the park vary from 4°C-21.5°C so be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time and pack the appropriate gear and hiking essentials for your adventure.

Suggested by Josephine from Josephine Remo

Standing at a jaw-dropping 590 metres high, Cascada La Chorrera is worthy of inclusion on any extended Bogotá itinerary. Colombia’s highest waterfall is the perfect place for nature lovers to visit as an easy side trip from the capital.

The waterfall sits halfway along a circular 5 km (3 mile) hiking trail that runs through the countryside in a steep-sided gorge. From Bogota, you can quite easily reach the trailhead using public transport. First, take a local bus towards Choachi and then either take a taxi or walk the remaining 5 km downhill from the bus stop.

The hiking trail is easy to follow and mostly flat. When you reach Cascada La Chorrera, you can stand right underneath the falling water. The waterfall is so tall, it’s impossible to see all of it at once – especially from below!

There’s a second waterfall on the hiking trail that also offers beautiful views. Small in comparison at just 55 metres tall, Cascada El Chiflon is worth seeing up close, particularly since you can walk directly behind it. And, if that’s not enough, the park also offers a range of adventure activities such as abseiling and zip lining.

Suggested by Zoe from Zoe Goes Places

Located 1.5 hours outside of Bogota, Laguna de Guatavita is a lake that is engulfed in a legend of gold. Exploring Guatavita is a great day trip from Bogota to soak up a small town, nature, and folklore all in one.

For the native Muisca people that lived in this area, Laguna de Guatavita was a sacred site. As the legend goes, when a new leader was appointed they would perform a ritual in the lake. The new leader would be covered in gold dust and sent off on a raft into the lake.

Once in the middle, he and other spectators would throw gold pieces into the lake as an offering to the gods. When the Spanish found out, they named the chief El Dorado (the gilded one) and attempted to obtain the gold by draining the lake.

Today you can take a guided mountain hike to Laguna de Guatavita where you’ll learn about the Muisca people and the Legend of El Dorado.

If you have time, you should definitely plan to explore more of the area or ideally spend a night in the town of Guatavita, which is situated along a large reservoir. The original town was flooded some years ago, so present-day Guatavita is a small, picturesque town full of white buildings.

Suggested by Julien from Cultures Traveled