I tell you what not to miss while in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, based on my experience visiting the city during stopovers via its main airport. Get some tips to visit Bogota.
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What to see in Bogota
Bogota is a city of 8 million inhabitants surrounded by mountains. The Colombian capital is not one of the most popular urban destinations in the region, so you may think there is nothing to do in Bogota. Wrong!
If you only have a few hours, you should know that Bogotá Turismo offers a free tour every day at 10 am and 12 am. The two-hour tour is done in small groups of 1 to 20 people and must be booked in advance in this link.
If you prefer to go on your own, here is a short list of the must-see heritage in the neighborhood of La Candelaria.
1. Museo del Oro
Gold Museum is one of the main attractions of the city. It is the largest collection of pre-Columbian gold art in the world, and its pieces are highly coveted by major museums. I saw them for the first time at an exhibition in the British Museum. Access to the museum costs 4000 COP. Free on Sundays.
2. The Primate Cathedral of Colombia
This 18th Century building dominates the Plaza Bolivar where you will find colonial (Casa de los Comuneros) and even contemporary architecture. The plaza is an extraordinary space where many events take place, so watch out for markets or musical performances.
3. Museo Botero
The renowned Colombian artist donated 123 of his own pieces along with almost one hundred pieces of universal art that are displayed in various rooms of the Mint Museum. From Monet to Dalí, including Matisse, Picasso and Miró, the exhibition is a retrospective of the avant-garde movements and helps understand the context in which Botero’s work is inscribed.
The building is also of historical and architectural interest and contains the Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia (MAMU) and the Museum Casa de la Moneda (Mint Museum).
4. Colonial buildings
The streets of La Candelaria are a mix of new buildings, parking lots and colorfully painted colonial houses. The area around the Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo is one of the most picturesque and in the afternoon/evening is the ideal place to have a chicha.
5. Having a coffee in a coffee shop with history
You can’t leave Colombia without trying its coffee, and Bogota has a good offer of historic coffee shops. In the area of La Candelaria you will find Café Pasaje, and next door La Romana, although walking through the center you will realize that there is no shortage of charming cafés.
Do you want to plan a trip on your own?
These are some tools to help you prepare for your travel from home. Leave your questions in the comment section below and I will get back to you. It’s just about time to start planning your next holidays!
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS. This post contains some affiliate links.
These links allow you to follow my recommendations and book them, and provide a little commission. Thus, you help keep this travel blog ad-free at no extra cost to you.
