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 Booking Good, Cheap, and Cheerful Accommodation: If you wait until the last minute, it’s very likely that the best and most economical accommodations will already be booked, and you’ll have to settle for what is available.
Booking.com is our preferred website for booking accommodations without having to pay in advance. If you click here, you can get a discount of 15% or more. After entering your destination and travel date, you can filter by price, location, accommodation type, and read reviews from other travelers.
By frequently booking through Booking.com, you can access exclusive discounts, enjoy free breakfasts, and receive better rooms at no additional cost. This will help you secure more economical rates and additional benefits that will allow you to save on your trip.
Click here to book accommodation with a discount of 15% or more!
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.
Tip: If you’re planning to travel to Colombia from abroad, with this Holafly eSIM, you’ll have unlimited data and keep your number for calls and WhatsApp without worrying about expensive roaming fees. Also, remember to get international medical insurance.
Get your international eSIM with a 5% discount here
Get your travel insurance here with 5% OFF!
How to Find Last-Minute Cheap Flights? While it is important to plan your trip in advance, we understand that it’s not always possible. So, if you are looking for affordable tickets to travel soon and save some money, we recommend using Skyscanner.
Skyscanner.com is a tool that allows you to compare flights from different airlines to find the best rates. To use it, click here, enter the departure and destination cities, and the travel date. With this information, it will search for the most affordable options, and you can choose based on price or layovers.
Is it safe to buy flights on Skyscanner? It depends. After selecting a flight, you’ll see a list of links from various airlines and agencies. The safest way is to purchase your tickets through the airline´s link. If you decide to buy from an agency, you should be a bit more cautious.
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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
Are you planning to travel abroad? When planning an international trip, we tend to focus on choosing destinations, accommodations, and tours, but we forget that we can get sick, have an accident, be robbed, or need to return home earlier than expected due to a family member’s hospitalization.
If you want to travel with peace of mind and avoid worrying about excessive medical expenses or unexpected logistical issues, it’s essential to purchase international travel insurance. Moreover, in many Latin American and European countries, having travel insurance is mandatory to enter.
With this international insurance, you’ll have extensive coverage and 24/7 assistance via phone, email, or WhatsApp. To purchase the insurance, click here, choose the start date of your trip and its duration. The insurance is valid for any destination and can be purchased up to 72 hours before the departure date.
Click here to purchase the insurance and get a 5% discount!
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…
How to Organize Your Trip in 3 Simple Steps | Planning a trip can be overwhelming, especially when you’re short on time. But by following these 3 steps, you’ll be able to organize it quickly:
First: Choose your destination and set your budget. Once you’ve picked where you want to go, determine how much you’re willing to spend. This will help you narrow down options for accommodation, transportation, and activities.
Second: Research the places you want to visit. Check schedules, prices, and availability for tours. On our website, travelgrafia.co, you’ll find over 100 travel guides to help you plan your next adventure through Latin America.
Third: Book in advance! If you’re flying, you can find flights here and bus tickets here. Reserve your accommodation here, and schedule guided tours, excursions y and free walking tours to secure your spot.
Finally, don’t forget to pack everything you’ll need: weather-appropriate clothes, toiletries, medications, and all necessary documents (boarding pass, ID, and international travel insurance).
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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. Upon arrival, you will take an acclimatization hike. The next day, you will visit one of the three authorized trails in the National Park. On the last day, you can explore the small towns of Güicán and Guacamayas or visit the hot springs.
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 2024: October 24-27, October 31-November 3, November 8-11, November 21-24, November 28-December 1, December 5-8, December 12-15, and December 19-22.
Price per person starting from: $818,000 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!
Discounted price per person: $1,800,000 COP
Sale valid for travel until December 31, 2024. After that, the regular rate will be $2,150,000 COP.
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