Cidade Turismo
Colombia
Bogotá

Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Cundinamarca · Colombia

Bogotá

The Colombian capital at 2,600 meters, among the eastern hills: the colonial houses of La Candelaria, the Museo del Oro, the Museo Botero, Monserrate and, an hour away, the Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá.

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In the photo: Cerro de Monserrate

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Bogotá sits on an Andean plateau about 2,600 meters high, tucked against the eastern hills. It was founded in 1538 by the Spaniards on muísca territory and today is the capital of Colombia, with more than 7 million inhabitants. Being near the Equator and at high altitude, the city is cool year-round: days are usually mild and nights cold.

The historic center is La Candelaria, the colonial neighborhood of steep streets, wooden balcony houses and graffiti-covered walls, where you find the Chorro de Quevedo, pointed out as the founding spot, and the Plaza de Bolívar, with the Catedral Primada and the Capitolio. Nearby are the Banco de la República museums: the Museo del Oro, with tens of thousands of pre-Hispanic goldsmithing pieces, and the Museo Botero, with the collection donated by the painter from Medellín. Above all, the cerro de Monserrate, at 3,152 meters, houses the sanctuary and offers views of the whole plain.

Outside the center, Bogotá shows a different face. To the north, Usaquén preserves the plaza of an old settlement and an antiques and handicrafts fair on Sundays. The Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis gathers the flora of the Colombian Andes, from cloud forest to páramo. On Sundays and holidays, the Ciclovía closes avenues for cyclists and pedestrians.

About 50 km to the north, Zipaquirá has the Catedral de Sal, a church carved 180 meters below the surface in an active salt mine, and a colonial center around the Plaza de los Comuneros. It can be done as a day trip. From that same area departs the excursion to the Laguna de Guatavita, the muísca sacred lagoon tied to the legend of El Dorado.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Bogotá, Zipaquirá.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Bogotá is
BogotáZipaquirá

Contornos: Natural Earth (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Bogotá

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado (BOG) · 15 km to Bogotá

Check before buying. The Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado, about 15 km from downtown, is Colombia’s main gateway and has flights across the country. From the airport to the center take a taxi or the TransMilenio. Zipaquirá is about 50 km north by road, with buses departing from the Portal Norte.

Suggested arrival point: Bogotá

The local experience

Things to do in Bogotá

Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá
Zipaquirá · Cundinamarca · Church

Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá

Catholic church excavated in a salt mine about 180 meters below the surface, with the Stations of the Cross in 14 chapels, the dome and the main nave with an illuminated cross carved into the rock.

La Candelaria
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Neighborhood

La Candelaria

The colonial neighborhood of Bogotá: cobbled slopes, houses with wooden balconies, churches, graffiti and the Chorro de Quevedo, the small square identified as the place where the city was founded in 1538.

Centro histórico de Zipaquirá
Zipaquirá · Cundinamarca · Square

Centro histórico de Zipaquirá

The colonial center of Zipaquirá around the Plaza de los Comuneros, with the stone diocesan cathedral, balconyed manor houses and the Palacio Municipal.

Plaza de Bolívar
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Square

Plaza de Bolívar

The central square of Bogotá, with the statue of Simón Bolívar, the Catedral Primada, the Capitolio Nacional, the Palacio de la Justicia and the city hall around it. It is the zero point of the country's political history.

See 7 more places in Bogotá
Museo del Oro
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Museum

Museo del Oro

The museum of the Banco de la República with tens of thousands of gold and metal pieces from Colombia's pre-Hispanic cultures, including the Balsa Muisca, which illustrates the ritual linked to the legend of El Dorado.

Museo Botero
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Museum

Museo Botero

Colonial house in La Candelaria with the works Fernando Botero donated to the Banco de la República: his paintings and sculptures and a collection of European masters, from Monet and Renoir to Picasso, Miró and Dalí.

Cerro de Monserrate
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Viewpoint

Cerro de Monserrate

The 3,152-meter hill that dominates Bogotá, with the Santuario del Señor Caído at the top and views across the whole plain. You can go up by cable car, by funicular or on foot via a trail of steps.

Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Garden

Jardín Botánico de Bogotá José Celestino Mutis

The city's botanical garden, featuring the flora of the Colombian Andes: cloud forest, páramo with frailejones, a rose garden, orchids and the Tropicario, with greenhouses for warm-climate plants.

Usaquén
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Neighborhood

Usaquén

Former settlement in the north of Bogotá, with a founding square, a colonial church, streets of low houses and the antiques and crafts fair that takes over the neighborhood on Sundays and holidays.

Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Market

Plaza de Mercado de Paloquemao

The market square of Bogotá where the city buys fruit, vegetables, meat and flowers. A good place to try Colombian fruits and have a typical breakfast.

Museo Nacional de Colombia
Bogotá · Bogotá, Distrito Capital · Museum

Museo Nacional de Colombia

The National Museum of Colombia, in a 19th-century former prison with a cruciform plan, with archaeology, art and the country's history from the pre-Hispanic era to the present day.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Bogotá doesn’t have a true summer or winter: temperatures vary little through the year, with mild days and cold nights. What changes is the rainfall. From December to February and June to August the weather is usually drier; from April to May and October to November rains are heavier, generally in the afternoon. Bring a jacket and a raincoat in any month.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days are enough for La Candelaria, the Plaza de Bolívar, the Museo del Oro, the Museo Botero, Monserrate and a day trip to Zipaquirá. With four or five days you’ll have time for the Jardín Botánico, Usaquén on Sunday, Paloquemao in the morning and the trip to the Laguna de Guatavita. Many people arrive via Bogotá and fly on to Cartagena, Medellín or the Coffee Axis.

Which city to stay in

La Candelaria and the center are close to the museums and the Plaza de Bolívar, with hotels in old houses; at night activity falls and the streets empty. Chapinero and the Zona G, in the north of the expanded center, have restaurants and bars. The Zona T, Parque de la 93 and Usaquén, further north, concentrate modern hotels and nightlife, but require a taxi to reach the historic center, 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Bogotá

Does Bogotá's altitude cause discomfort?

The city sits at about 2,600 meters, and Monserrate tops 3,100. Many people feel tired on the slopes of La Candelaria or short of breath on the first day. Plan the first day calmly, drink water and leave the climbs for later.

What clothes to pack for Bogotá?

Mid-season clothing year-round: afternoons are usually mild and nights cold, with frequent rain. A jacket, sweater, raincoat or umbrella and closed shoes will do. For Monserrate and the Catedral de Sal, bring one extra warm layer.

How many days to stay in Bogotá?

Three days cover the historic center, the museums, Monserrate and Zipaquirá. With four or five days you can add the Jardín Botánico, Usaquén, Paloquemao and the Laguna de Guatavita.

Can you visit Zipaquirá as a day trip?

Yes. It's about 50 km to the north. There are buses from the Portal Norte of the TransMilenio, plus tours and taxis. Plan the morning for the Catedral de Sal and the afternoon for the city center.

Do I need to rent a car in Bogotá?

No. Traffic is heavy and the center is best explored on foot. For longer distances use a taxi, ride-hailing app or the TransMilenio. For Zipaquirá and Guatavita, take a bus, a tour or a hired driver.

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