Bogotá is a fascinating city, and if you’re traveling to Colombia, it will likely be your gateway. If you’re wondering what to see in Bogotá, this list of activities will help you plan your itinerary.
It’s worth mentioning that we’ve written this travel guide based on our own experience. So, get ready to discover the top things to do in Bogotá and dive into a city full of culture and natural beauty.
Let’s start planning your visit:
What to Do in Bogotá:
1. Explore the Architectural Gems of the Historic Center
We start this list of the best places to visit in Bogotá with a must-do activity for anyone visiting the capital for the first time: exploring the historic center. Here, you can discover some of the most iconic places, such as Plaza de Bolívar, the Primatial Cathedral of Colombia, and the National Capitol.
The historic center is one of the best places to see in Bogotá, where you can also wander the colorful streets of La Candelaria neighborhood, try maize chicha, visit the Chorro de Quevedo, admire a variety of architectural styles ranging from colonial and republican to contemporary, and visit some of the country’s best museums, such as the Gold Museum.
Moreover, the city is one of Latin America’s major capitals for urban art. If you want to learn the stories behind each mural, one of the must-do tourist activities in Bogotá is to join this free graffiti walking tour. This activity will immerse you in the historical and social context of street art in the city.
Since the historic center is one of the must-see places in Bogotá, it makes sense to stay a night there to be close to the main tourist attractions. In that case, we recommend staying at: Hostal R10, Granada Hostel, Viajero Bogotá Hostel & Spa, Selina La Candelaria, Botánico Hostel, Masaya, and Ulucaho Hostel.
Book Your Perfect Accommodation Now!
Recommended: Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá Day Trip
Tip: If you want to uncover the most surprising secrets of Bogotá’s historic center, you must book this free walking tour! Available every day of the year at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, the tour lasts approximately 3 hours and includes visits to the city’s most important monuments, squares, and landmarks.
Booking the free tour of Bogotá’s center is super easy! Just click here, select your desired date and time, and enter the number of participants. Remember, at the end of the tour, it’s customary to support your guide’s work with a tip that reflects the quality of service.
Book your free tour of Bogotá now!
2. What to See in Bogotá: The Best Museums in the City
If you’re wondering what to do in Bogotá, one of the best things to do is immerse yourself in Colombia’s rich cultural and historical heritage through the top museums in the capital. In our opinion, these must-see museums include the Gold Museum, Botero Museum, and National Museum of Colombia.
The Gold Museum is located in the heart of downtown Bogotá. Its halls feature impressive collections of gold artifacts from various pre-Hispanic civilizations such as the Tairona, Sinú, and Quimbaya. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. If you’re interested in a guided tour, you can join this private city tour.
Just 700 meters from the Gold Museum is the Botero Museum, one of the top places to visit in Bogotá. Here, you’ll enjoy an extensive collection of art, including pieces by famous artists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. The museum is open daily, except on Tuesdays, and admission is free.
The National Museum of Colombia is another of the best places to visit in Bogotá. Inside, you’ll find a variety of cultural events, including free programming like lectures, concerts, and plays. The museum also houses a remarkable archaeological and ethnographic collection that features ceramics, textiles, and metalwork from pre-Columbian indigenous cultures.
✈️ Find Cheap Flights to Bogotá
Special Offer: Guatavita & Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá Tour
Tips for finding good, beautiful, and budget-friendly accommodation: The best way to get the best price on lodging is to book in advance. If you wait until the last minute, the most affordable and top-rated options may already be sold out, leaving you with fewer choices.
Our favorite platform for finding the best deals is Booking.com. Click here to save up to 15% or more on your stay. In many cases, you can book without a credit card, pay at the property, and cancel without penalty.
Additionally, if you book frequently, you’ll get exclusive discounts, free breakfasts, and room upgrades at no extra cost, helping you save even more on your trip.
Book your stay today with 15% off or more! Click here!
3. Explore the Bogotá Botanical Garden
Another of the best things to do in Bogotá is exploring the Botanical Garden, one of the most iconic green lungs of the city. This space is dedicated to conservation, scientific research, and environmental education, offering you the opportunity to walk through beautiful trails and discover Colombia’s rich biodiversity.
So if you’re a nature lover wondering what to see in Bogotá, the Botanical Garden is the perfect spot. Here you can visit the Tropicario, which houses a wide variety of plant species, including endemic and endangered ones. You’ll also find sections dedicated to medicinal plants and species from different ecosystems, such as mangroves, páramos, and rainforests.
The Botanical Garden is located near El Dorado International Airport and is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, generally from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This makes it an excellent plan in Bogotá to enjoy on a Saturday or Sunday, or even during a long layover in the capital.
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How to find last-minute cheap flights? Booking your tickets in advance is ideal, but we know that’s not always possible. If you’re looking for great fares and want to save money, Skyscanner is an excellent option.
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Is it safe to buy flights on Skyscanner? Yes, but with caution. Skyscanner does not sell tickets directly; instead, it redirects you to airlines and travel agencies. For added security, we recommend purchasing your tickets through the link that takes you directly to the airline’s official website.
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4. What to do in Bogotá: Climb Monserrate
Monserrate is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bogotá, and climbing to its summit is one of the best weekend activities. From the top, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views, try local cuisine, buy handicrafts, attend mass, or join this free walking tour.
Climbing Monserrate is one of the top things to do in Bogotá that both visitors and locals should experience at least once. To reach the summit, you can take the funicular or cable car, or opt to hike up the pedestrian path, which is about 2.5 kilometers long.
Monserrate is one of the best places to visit in Bogotá, Colombia, whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family. Climbing the hill offers a chance to disconnect from the city. If you decide to hike up, keep in mind that the summit is at 3,150 meters above sea level, and the walk can be challenging. We recommend taking the cable car up and hiking down.
Bogotá hotels: GHL Hotel Tequendama, EM Budget Hotel Corferias, Hotel Santa Lucia Boutique Spa, Soy Local Parque La 93, Hotel Parque 97 Suites y Hotel Casa de la Vega.
Recommended: Private Bogotá Tour. Explore the historic monuments of the city center, visit the Gold Museum and Botero Museum, and climb Monserrate Hill. This plan includes pickup and drop-off from your accommodation, a private guide, and museum tickets. Book now and pay up to 72 hours before the activity starts.
See price and details of the tour!
You may be interested: 10 Fun things to do around Bogotá
Tip: When planning an international trip, we tend to focus on choosing destinations, accommodations, and tours, but often overlook unexpected events such as illnesses, accidents, thefts, or the need to return earlier than planned due to a family emergency.
To travel with peace of mind, it is essential to have insurance that covers medical expenses, repatriation, theft, baggage delays, and even civil liability. Moreover, in many countries, having insurance is a mandatory requirement for entry.
We recommend this travel insurance for its extensive coverage, 24/7 assistance via phone, email, or WhatsApp, and its excellent value for money, which has impressed us. The best part is that you can book it up to 72 hours before your trip.
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5. Chingaza National Park: day trip from Bogotá
If you’re wondering what to see in Bogotá, don’t forget to explore the surrounding areas. One of the best things to do in the capital is to spend a weekend exploring the region. While there are many great options like Villa de Leyva, Monguí, or Guatavita, this time we focus on Chingaza National Park.
Chingaza is one of Colombia’s most important national parks. Visiting it is one of the best things to do in Bogotá. Here, you will find hiking trails to explore the páramo that allow you to explore the páramo respectfully and observe the rich Andean flora and fauna, including the spectacled bear and the white-tailed deer
Among all the authorized trails for ecotourism in Chingaza, we highly recommend the Siecha Lagoons trail — our favorite! On this route, you’ll find a beautiful set of lagoons surrounded by thousands of frailejones. With local guides, you can learn about the history of the area and discover the places where the ancient Muisca culture once thrived.
Important: Although Chingaza is only two hours from Bogotá, it is essential to have a prior reservation and be accompanied by a guide to visit the national park. Additionally, there is no public transportation to the park, and you will need a 4×4 vehicle. For that reason, we recommend booking this tour, which includes transportation, entrance permits, and guides.
See price and details of the Chingaza tour
Cheap flights to Bogotá airport
To book the Chingaza day tour with transportation from Bogotá, simply click this link to check available dates, what’s included, the itinerary, and pricing. After selecting your preferred date, you’ll need to register and can secure your spot by paying a 30% deposit of the total cost.
The tour to the Lagunas de Siecha starts at 6:30 a.m. and finishes around 6:00 p.m. It includes round-trip transportation from Bogotá, a snack-style lunch, medical assistance insurance, and guidance from environmental interpreters (spanish). Be sure to book early to secure your spot!
Check Chingaza day tour prices and details from Bogotá!
Other Bogotá Tours You Might Be Interested In:
Bogota Old Town Bike Free Tour
If you’re traveling through Bogotá or visiting Colombia for the first time and are looking for new adventures, here are some travel guides you might find interesting:
30 Cool Places to Visit in Colombia
Tayrona National Park: Hotels, Beaches, and Entrances
Whale Watching in Colombia: 5 Best Trips
Now That You Know What to See in Bogotá…
Tip: Save time and money by booking on platforms like GuruWalk, Civitatis, or Denomades. We recommend these sites because, in addition to being secure, they allow you to compare prices, read reviews from other travelers, learn about the itineraries in detail, and know exactly what each tour includes.
GuruWalk: Exclusively for free walking tours worldwide. Civitatis: Offers a wide variety of tours, guided visits, and excursions in hundreds of destinations. Denomades: Specializes in nature and adventure activities in Latin America.
On these platforms, you can book at very competitive prices, sometimes even better than at the destination! Plus, they offer a great variety of payment methods and, in many cases, have flexible cancellation policies that allow you to get a refund up to 24 hours before the activity starts.
Discover your next free tour on GuruWalk
Check out available activities on Civitatis
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Some Organized Trips You Might Be Interested In:
Recommended Tour: Nevado El Cocuy from Bogotá - 4 Days / 3 Nights
This guided tour starts in Bogotá, from where you will travel overnight to El Cocuy, and upon arrival you will take an acclimatization walk. The next day, you will visit one of the three authorized trails in the National Park. On the last day, you will begin the return trip.
The trip includes round-trip transportation from Bogotá, accommodation in a private room, meals, entry fees and permits for the national park, experienced guides, and travel insurance. Please note that the guides only speak Spanish.
Scheduled dates: March 27 to 30, April 17 to 20, April 18 to 21, May 1 to 4, May 30 to June 2, June 20 to 23, June 27 to 30 and August 15 to 18.
Price per person starting from: $632,000 COP
Recommended tour: Ciudad Perdida from Santa Marta - 4 days / 3 nights
This 4-day trip to Ciudad Perdida includes 4x4 transportation from Santa Marta. We can pick you up in the historic center, El Rodadero, Taganga, or downtown Minca, and drop you off at the entrance of Tayrona on the way back.
The tour also includes accommodation in local campesino and indigenous camps, all meals, hydration, a bilingual guide (English and Spanish), a guided tour, entrance fees, and medical assistance insurance.
Guaranteed departures every day!
Price per person: $1,860,000 COP
We hope you enjoyed this travel guide! If you found our information helpful, consider supporting our work by booking accommodations, tours, and services we recommend, or directly through the following affiliate links:
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