Bogota Travel & Vacation Guide

Parque 93 is a fairly small but very popular park, located in the rather affluent neighbourhood of Chapinero. The park has green shaded lawns and plenty of space for kinds to run around, plus a playground. You'll find numerous trendy restaurants, cafes and shops on all sides of the park.

Every Sunday, Bogotá closes over 100 kilometres of roads for cars and allows cyclists, roller-skaters and joggers to enjoy the city without traffic. It is a marvellous initiative that brings out the young and the old. Rent a bike and join the fun. Make your way to one of the many parks and join a dance or aerobics class — look up Recreovía for exact time and location. Ciclovía Sundays are a perfect time to make your way north towards the Usaquén flea market.

Two birds with one stone: walk through the historic streets of Candelaria and experience Bogotá's gastronomy. You will be guided through flavours of several Colombian regions. The tour is always changing and evolving to better showcase seasonal dishes prepared by family-owned businesses. Your guide will make accommodations for vegetarian and vegan guests as long as you let them know in advance. Make sure to bring a strong appetite, good walking shoes, an umbrella and some water.

The MAMBO is a multicultural and dynamic art space that investigates, communicates and exhibits Colombia's cultural heritage and the various expressions of modern and contemporary art. There is no permanent exhibition, but a series of temporary ones spread over the four floors on the gorgeous brick building designed by architect Rogelio Salmona.

Beautifully laid out and maintained botanical gardens. A refuge from Bogotá's hectic traffic, this place is always peaceful and never too crowded. Spectacular tropical greenhouses were completed in 2020 and now offer special exhibitions that feature the various climates and regions of Colombia. Stroll around the pond and try your luck spotting lizards, turtles, ducks, peacocks, and other animals. The small outdoor cafe on the premises serves great spiced coffee. Nature lovers will benefit from a guided tour — a perfect introduction to Colombia's ecosystem.

Fernando Botero is known for his peculiar artistic style — he paints portrait and creates sculptures of people, animals, and fruits, but makes them all plump like an exaggerated cherub. Born in Medellín, he's probably the most internationally famous Colombian artist. Enjoy the beautifully renovated colonial house with a lush courtyard and be amused by one chubby art piece after another.

Cinemateca is a fantastic cultural place for movie lovers. The venue has three screens dedicated to showing lesser known, alternative films from Colombia, Latin America and the entire world. The tickets are super cheap and you never know what kind of masterpiece you'll get to watch. Cinemateca also hosts several film festivals every year. Don't forget to check out the gallery in the basement of the building. The modern art exhibitions are small, but always interesting.

You can find free walking tours in most major cities, and Bogotá is not an exception. Most guides will take you through the historic centre of La Candelaria — the creative hotspot of the city set in the winding cobbled streets. You will learn about colonial houses and baroque churches, Colombia's colonial and indigenous past, striking graffiti and the impact of the Colombian drug trade. The most popular free tour is organised by Gran Colombia Tours, but check the link below to find a tour that fits your interests best.

Andrés Carne de Res has been described as a "Cheesecake Factory crossed with a nightclub on steroids". It is an iconic restaurant, bar and club that is an absolute must for any self-respecting nightlife aficionado. You can start the night with an early dinner. The party gets going early, around 9pm, and soon takes over the several floors of this eclectic venue. The original venue is located in the suburb called Chia about 45 km from the centre of Bogotá. Totally worth the drive! If you are short on time, you can try the other venue near Zona Rosa.

Bogotá Beer Company, also known as the BBC, is a major producer of artisanal beer in the country. Its numerous pubs have a laid back, chill vibe and, of course, great beer. All venues have screens that are tuned to sports channels, so it's a great option to watch a game. BBC pubs stay open till very late and serve hearty pub grub. Try their dark beer with the coffee flavour to keep you tipsy yet awake.

Right next to Parque 93, you can find a small rooftop bar and burger place on the top floor of the Click Clack Hotel. The star of the show is the beautiful views of the city. Try to make your way here to see the sunset.

El Recreo de Adán is a long-standing gay bar in Zona Rosa. Friendly and cute staff, unpretentious vibe, a healthy demographic mix, board games and karaoke. The DJ usually plays local and global pop hits. Wednesday is karaoke night lead by a drag queen. Whether you feel like singing or not, you will feel right at home.

Gringo Tuesdays at is less a language exchange than a weekly cultural collision. What began in 2011 as three friends’ experiment now draws 2,500 locals and travellers every Tuesday — first for halting conversations over board games, later for salsa-spiked DJ sets. The evening unfolds in two acts: in the afternoon, tables divide by language (French on the patio, German by the bar) and skill level, with coordinators nudging shy participants into conversation. By 9pm, the textbooks vanish as the dancefloor takes over. You’ll find rooms thrumming with reggaeton, house and questionable DJ transitions that somehow add to the charm. It’s messy, multilingual, and unapologetically geared towards twenty- and thirty-somethings. The organisers lean into the chaos, whether it’s a Swede teaching Colombian slang or a spontaneous conga line forming during a bass drop. Come for the language practice, stay because you’ve accidentally befriended a Venezuelan poet and lost track of time.

Octava Club is a large venue with a futuristic design. Big name DJs play techno, electro, house, EDM and the compulsory reggaeton, accompanied by a spectacular light show. The club has three floors and a nice rooftop terrace. Dress to impress!

Presea is a loud and obnoxious rooftop bar in Zona Rosa known for its wild reggaeton nights. Great views of the city, youthful atmosphere and fun, outgoing crowd. It might be a good idea to bring earplugs for this one.

Theatron is a gay bar, dance club, and nightclub complex. This club, housed in a former cinema, is spread across 5 levels with 13 different club rooms. Each room has its own theme such as the 80’s room, the Salsa room, Reggae dance floor and more. There's even a dance floor only for women! Although the club is the central point of the gay community of Bogota, it is by no means exclusive — as everyone is welcome. Theatron is often described as the largest gay-themed club night in Latin America that can allow up to 5,000 people on Saturday night.It is an absolute must do.

The Andino shopping mall located in the upscale El Retiro neighbourhood of Bogotá. Apart from 205 stores, people flock here for multiplex cinema and a big food court with excellent restaurants.

Artesanías de Colombia is a chain of classy shops that sells higher-end artisanal craft items like decorative home accessories, bags, toys, hammocks and some clothing. A big portion of profits is guaranteed to be received by the artisans who live in village communities all over Colombia.

Located along Carrera Séptima in Chapinero, La Valija de Fuego (The Suitcase of Fire) is the kind of bookstore where you’ll find dog-eared Marxist manifestos shelved beside queer Colombian poetry and out-of-print sci-fi anthologies. More than just a shop, it’s a meeting point for Bogotá’s literary dissenters. The carefully curated selection champions voices commercial chains ignore: erotic literature rubs spines with critical theory, while hand-printed zines from local collectives sit alongside translated works. Staff — passionate and prone to pulling hidden gems from behind the counter — treat browsing like an act of collaboration. The attached café, with its mismatched armchairs and soundtrack of jazz or post-punk, encourages lingering. It’s not unusual to see someone scribbling in a notebook beside a stack of rejected titles, or striking up conversation with a stranger over a shared admiration for an obscure novelist. Come for the books (including rare second-hand finds), stay for the sense that you’ve stumbled upon Bogotá’s intellectual underground.

The Paloquemao Fruit Market is a large local farmers' market with an indoor hall selling fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, fragrant flowers and lush plants. Come here solo or as part of a guided tour and taste the exotic flavours of Colombia, surrounded by the atmosphere of authenticity.

Pasaje Rivas is an energetic passageway with numerous stalls that sell homewares, clothing, artwork and all sorts of artisanal goods. You are certain to find something to take home with you, be that art or something for your kitchen.

TLB Records is a compact record store in Chapinero. Street art covers the walls, and some Saturdays you may find DJs playing themed sets for a small crowd of dancing patrons. Stop by to pick up new or used records by big names as well as smaller Afro-Colombian albums

Every weekend, the sweet little village of Usaquén on the city's edge hosts a flea market. So many beautiful things to decorate your house or to gift to friends back home: blankets, ponchos, pictures, jewellery, antique kitchen stuff, purses, personalised leather bags and famous Colombian mochilas — the list goes on and on. Cash is king. The flea market is a major attraction for tourists and locals. Numerous cafes and restaurants have sprung up in the area, serving traditional Colombian dishes as well as international cuisine.

Wilborada is one of the best places in town if you like books, bookshops or libraries. It is a house full of books — charming, simple and nothing pretentious. You can have a specialty coffee here and immediately dive into the book you just bought. There is a small shelf by the entrance dedicated to books in English.

Bogota is the third highest capital in the world (after La Paz and Quito) with a ridiculous elevation of 2,625 m (8,612 ft). Through the year, daytime temperatures will stay around 18-20° C (mid-60s F), but you will definitely want a thin jacket in the evening. December through March are often described as "dry" season, but, honestly, you can count on it being overcast every day. It will rain most afternoons and evenings in Bogota, no matter the month.

Citizens of the European Union, most countries in the Americas, Australia & Oceania, as well as several Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. In cases when an entry visa is required, the application can often be done online. Nationals of Cuba and and those holding passports issued by Palestine will need to apply for a visa, even if they will be entering Colombia for transit purposes only.

El Dorado International Airport, also known as Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento Airport, is located about 15 kilometres away from Bogota's city centre. The airport is a major travel hub for South and Central America. The fastest and safest way to go to and from the airport is by Uber. Since ridesharing apps operate in a grey legal area, the drivers will likely ask you to be picked up on the second (departures) level or at the parking lot outside the terminal. They will also want you to sit in the front seat. Buses, including Transmilenio, pass by Terminal 1. You will need a Tullave public transit card to take the bus, though. If you are staying at a hotel, ask about a shuttle bus.

As a tourist, you are most likely to catch one of the Transmilenio buses along Avenida Caracas or Carrera 7 (referred to as "la septima" — the seventh). The buses run often and are relatively safe. Watch out for pickpockets, though. You can pay for your trip only with a Tullave public transit card. You can buy them at most stations on Avenida Caracas and recharge them at the same place, as well as in some convenient stores. Cash only, unfortunately. Google Maps is alright for planning your trip, but Moovit app works better in Bogota. Keep in mind that a lot of buses follow express routes and don't stop rarely. Screens on the bus will indicate indicate two stops: the next one and the one after. The letter K stands for Carrera and C stands for Calle.

Do not stop and get into a taxi on the street. Use Uber, DiDi or Cabify. Most drivers working for ridesharing apps will ask you to sit in the front seat. Many hotels will offer to call a trusted taxi service. Those can be trusted. Be sure to tip your driver.

While many establishments across Bogotá do accept credit and debit cards for payment, many still either only do so nominally or operate on cash alone. Cash will definitely be needed for smaller purchases, especially from small old-fashioned businesses. ATMs are widely available; withdrawal fees will likely depend on your bank and the bank that operates the ATM. When choosing an ATM, go for ones that aren't in isolated locations, and make all your withdrawals during daylight hours. Big supermarkets will often have ATMs inside.

Opinions of Bogota's safety vary widely. The days of rampant violent crime are thankfully over. Pickpocketing and street robberies aren't uncommon, though. Bogotanos will be quick to give you their favourite piece of advice: No dar papaya — the local equivalent of "don't get caught with your pants down". In other words, stay vigilant and don't put yourself into a vulnerable position. Stick to streets that have other people, don't take walks after dark, limit the use of your phone out in the open, watch out for pickpockets and generally don't carry too many valuables. Allegedly, downtown and especially the street that leads to Monserrate cable car and funicular are the most risky places for tourists.

Country code: +57 Area code for Bogota: 601 +57 601 will then normally be followed by a 7-digit local phone number.