4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
Around 14 hours from London by plane
When to go
In July or August
Minimum stay
2 weeks
Bogotá (Colombia)
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Amélie Perraud-Boulard
Practical information on Bogotá
Reviews of Bogotá
Colombia's capital, Bogotá, is a surprising and fascinating place to visit, and definitely one of the essential places to see if you want to gain a better understanding of the history and culture of this country.
My suggestion:
Two full days is enough time to visit and explore Bogotá's main attractions. You will, however, need to take things slowly due to the altitude (Bogotá lies at 2,640 metres, making it the world's third highest capital) and the pollution.
My review
I absolutely loved Bogotá. It's historic quarter, La Candelaria, is an especially vibrant, lively place. Though it's only two square kilometres in area, you can easily spend hours walking around and exploring it, visiting Baroque churches and colonial houses as you do so. The Church of Santa Clara, in particular, is well worth a trip to see.
I also particularly enjoyed both the Gold Museum (it's a good idea to look round it using the audio guide, which has been very well put together) and the Botero Museum (free to enter), which contains some very rich and impressive collections. You'll need a good half day to properly look round the former of these. Riding up to the top of Cerro Monserrate via the cable car or the funicular railway gives you the chance to get up high and enjoy views out over both the city and the high plateau on which it stands, if the sky is clear enough that is.
Bogota is also a good place for food-lovers and party-goers, who will be able to find just what they're looking for in the city's Zona Rosa ("Pink Zone"), where there are many bars, restaurants and nightclubs located.
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Amélie Perraud-Boulard
Bogotá, a high-altitude capital sitting squeezed in between two mountains, is a verdant, bustling, thrilling and emotionally rewarding city,
My suggestion:
Note to culturephiles and adventure-lovers: Bogotá is just the type of destination you're looking for. It's the perfect city for anyone who enjoys getting off the beaten track and experiencing something new and different, something that offers a break from the usual kind of tourism.
My review
I loved exploring this truly vibrant, lively modern metropolis – which quite literally sits atop a mountain, 2,500 metres above sea level – when I visiting Colombia.
The modern city is one of the most welcoming, friendly places you could imagine and simply never stops moving. What really surprised me when I first arrived in Bogotá was the climate. Due to the mountain climate, and in stark contrast to the 30 degrees I'd expected before I arrived in Latin America, the temperature in the city tended to be around a mild 15 degrees or so. Santafé de Bogotá lies surrounded by the Monserrate and Guadalupe mountains, which makes the views breathtakingly spectacular.
What's wonderful about Bogotá is that it's an easy place to get around. This is due partly to its very good public transport network, but also because it has Latin America's largest network of cycle paths and trails. This means, therefore, that just like I did you too will find it easy to get out and explore "la sabana", the great plain upon which Bogotá stands.
Canelaria and the city centre are the most interesting districts in terms of tourist attractions. Additionally, these two areas neighbour each other, making it easy to explore both on foot. Candelaria is a veritable open-air exhibition, with many of the building's façades and balconies having been decorated and redesigned by artists and a plethora of museums to be found in the area. If you want to experience the cultural and historic wealth this country has to offer, this is the place to come.
Something I simply had to do during my trip to Bogotá was dance the rhumba to the authentic sound of Latin American music in the district known as "Zona Rosa" (Pink Zone). There are restaurants, bars and shops to suit all tastes and all pockets in this part of the city.
The one negative thing about Bogotá is that it is simply not possible to see and do everything in the space of just a few days: you really need at least two weeks to properly explore "la sabana".
Colombia's vibrant, energetic capital city.
My suggestion:
Go for a stroll around the former colonial district of La Candelaria
My review
I simply adore Bogotá! It's a huge, hectic, vibrant and truly fascinating place. Extending laterally alongside a row of mountains and lying in an absolutely wonderful setting, this is a multi-faceted city you'll need at least several days to properly explore.
In my opinion, Colombia's capital is one of the most fascinating cities in Latin America, perhaps even in the whole world. Be sure to visit the incredible Gold Museum, where you can see the the largest collection of this precious metal in the whole of Latin America. And don't forget to go for a drink in one of the nice bars at El Chorro de Quevedo, the famous square in the La Candelaria district.
Like many tourists visiting Colombia, Bogotá will no doubt be the city you first arrive in and later leave from, so take advantage of the opportunity this gives you to spend at least a few days exploring it.
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Nina Montagné
89 travelers' photos
