20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN BOGOTÀ

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Finally our little feet step on South American lands! We landed in Colombia more than 2,500 meters high in Bogotá, its capital. This was our first contact with the country and a good place to start breaking prejudices. Considering that it is one of the largest metropolises in Latin America, what we knew is only a small part, but we were satisfied. Are you here because you want to know what to see and do in Bogotá? We're going to tell you 🙂 but first, a clarification ...

Unlike what we had read and what other travelers had told us, Bogotá seemed an interesting place with a good handful of attractions. We are not going to say that it is a super friendly and pleasant city, where you can relax taking morning walks, but it is certainly worth spending several days touring some of its dynamic neighborhoods and knowing its cultural and gastronomic scene.

Yes now…

1. Make a free tour! Or two, or three ... It is an excellent way to take the pulse of Bogotá and know its corners and peculiarities by the hand of a local guide (it's free, but remember to tip at the end). There are several, these are recommended:

  • Tour through the center of Bogotá, where you will visit the most emblematic places of the historic center.
  • Contrasting tour of Bogotá, with which you will be shown the different neighborhoods of the capital of Colombia.
  • Tour "of violence and peace", thanks to which you will dive into the bloody past of the country and the new hopes of the present.

Colombia is a country that suffered from excessive violence, but little by little it is resurfacing and thanks to understanding and unity it is ensuring a very promising future. In addition, if you are concerned about the issue of security, we want to reassure you: as Colombians say, today the biggest risk is wanting to stay. Of course there are areas where it is better not to go, but with common sense you will not have problems.

2. An essential visit in Bogotá is that of gold Museum, in Santander Park, to get lost among thousands of pieces created by pre-Columbian civilizations such as Quimbaya, Tayrona and Calima (they say there are more than 50,000 pieces!). In addition the temporary exhibitions are a great tip. The entrance costs 4,000 pesos and is well worth it. Open every day except Mondays, keep that in mind.

3. Approach until Journalists Park, just one block away, in which a statue of Simon Bolivar, one of the most beloved figures in South America. This Venezuelan was key in Latin American independence, so much that he is known as the Liberator of America.

4. If you only had a few hours in Bogotá, we would recommend you go for a walk in the neighborhood of La Candelaria, the historic center and one of the most beautiful corners of the city. Cobblestone streets, colorful houses and a constant bustle are the ingredients that characterize it. You will pass safely through the Bolivar plaza, where the most important buildings in this area of ​​Bogotá are located: Immaculate Conception Cathedral, neoclassical style, the courthouse, the town hall, the National Capitol or the Lievano Palace.

Eye: we were told that La Candelaria is very safe by day, but not so much at night.

5. In La Candelaria you can not miss a street art routine. The quality of street art works amazed us: there are some that are great! There are thematic tours that take you to visit the most important ones, although you can also go for free to Funnel Alley, to the bark of the Quevedo Jet Square, where are the most famous works. By the way, this square is very, very nice: they say Bogotá was born right here.

6. Another emblematic place in the capital of Colombia is the Botero museum. It is located in a beautiful colonial house, where you can admire more than 100 paintings and sculptures by the Colombian artist and a few more painters such as Chagall, Dalí, Miró or Picasso. Those voluptuous mountain bodies! Our favorite work? His version of the Mona Lisa. It opens every day except Tuesdays and one of the conditions that Fernando Botero put to donate his works is that… the museum was free! ¡Yas!

7. Is your appetite getting in? Then go to the zone G, the favorite of foodies (if you ask, the G comes from Gourmet). Here the difficult thing is going to be to choose a restaurant among the innumerable options, although not always cheap, that it offers. The truth is that the Colombian gastronomic scene is gaining strength at a dizzying pace, in fact it was one of the great surprises that Bogotá gave us.

By the way, we stayed at the Chapinero neighborhood, very close to Zone G, and we found it an excellent option. Here are a few accommodation options in Bogotá

8. But if what you want is March, then you have to party for the T zone (also known as pink zone). In this neighborhood there are lots of restaurants, pubs and trendy places to go out and give everything, and we found it very safe.

9. Bogotá is a somewhat chaotic city with terrible traffic, but not without green areas to lower the pulsations. Our favorite is theEnrique Olaya Herrera National Park, at the foot of the eastern hills and surrounded by several faculties. So its most common inhabitants are the students who come to spend their free time in the extensive gardens. The park has several monuments, including the one dedicated to activist Rafael Uribe Uribe.

10. The best views of Bogotá are probably those from the top of the Monserrate Hill, neither more nor less than 3,100 meters high. If the altitude suffocates you, imagine climbing on foot! Power can be done, but there are other ways to make it more comfortable. We talk about Cableway (which was closed at the time we visited) and the cable car.

Both leave the same point and cost the same (21,000 pesos i / v), and leave you at the top of the hill. There, in addition to the excellent viewpoints, you can visit a sanctuary where a figure of the “Moreneta”, the black virgin of the Monastery of Montserrat is kept. They also recommended us to go up to Guadalupe Hill, although for lack of time we did not go but it looks very good.

Tired? Courage, there are still 10 left things to see and do in Bogotá!

11. If the views from Montserrate opened your photographic appetite, another place to have an unforgettable panoramic view of the city is the Colpatria tower. The viewpoint, obviously, is on the top floor (50), and if you ask, no, it is not the tallest building in Bogotá. That honor has the buildingBD Bacatá which, like other projects in Bogotá, has not been completed (and almost never expected).

12. The Gabriel García Marquez Cultural Center Architecture and culture lovers will like it: it not only houses a huge library, but it is a center where there are always exhibitions, galleries and cultural activities. We do not think it is essential, but if you have time it is a pleasant place to spend a few hours.

13. Between visit and visit, nothing better than resting for a little while drinking a coffee (and more in Colombia!). Some of the best coffee shops in Bogotá are the well-known Juan Valdez chain, the San Alberto Café, the Azahar Café and Varietale.

14. Or a good one cool beer. The best craft beer in Bogotá is that of Bogota Beer Company, there are several local and others where they also serve it. We gave the ale network Yet the coffee stout. If you are a brewer, try Chelarte's too. It is certainly one of our favorite things what to see and do in Bogotá hehe

15. If something is not missing in Bogotá, they are churches. You have the option to visit each one that you find, although we recommend three: San Francisco Church, the oldest in the city, theShrine Our Lady of Carmen, in the neighborhood of La Candelaria, and the Santa Clara Museum Church. The latter was built in 1647, and is one of the great colonial jewels of Bogotá, in the Baroque style and with more than 100 paintings inside. The entrance is 4,000 pesos, for us, well spent.

16. As you have already seen, Bogotá is divided into completely different and interesting neighborhoods. Another one is the Usaquén neighborhood, which in the past was a town on the outskirts of Bogotá, but with the extension of the city it was engulfed. It is an area with a lot of personality, with colonial houses, restaurants, a very beautiful church (that of Santa Barbara), a vintage cinema (Cinema Paraiso) and a somewhat pijillo shopping center (BOHO's central square). If you visit Usaquen on a Sunday do not miss its market, we could not see it but we also enjoyed a great morning. For us, a must in Bogotá without a doubt!

17. A tip for bookshop geeks: write this name: Wilborada Library 1047. It is gorgeous and great! It has a cafeteria.

18. If you want to deepen Colombian cuisine, we recommend a gastronomic tour where you just have to pay the tip to the guide and the dishes you are trying, about $ 20,000 ($ 5.6) in total (more info). Another foodie experience that many recommend is eating in the Andres Beef restaurant, famous for its meat and the crazy decoration of its premises.

The bad? The original is in the fifth pine, in Chia. There are even organized excursions to get there but we don't know if it's really worth it. The good? There is another Andrés Carnes de Res restaurant in Bogotá. And of course, you have to try the typical Bogotá dish: the ajiaco, a soup based on chicken and potatoes, mmm, delicious!

19. One of the most famous excursions from Bogotá is the one that leads to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira. If you do not want to get into buses, you can take a guided tour. The truth is that it didn't get our attention, so we didn't visit it. Tip: if you do the tour, make sure you include a stop at the Guatavita Lagoon, which many claim to be the lagoon of the legend of El Dorado.

20. And finally, if from Bogotá you travel south, for a few days in one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia: Villa de Leyva. For lack of time we had to do without it, but it is clear to us that, our next time in Colombia (because we will return se-gu-ro), it will include an excursion to Villa de Leyva.

Here you have an interactive map with all the places we recommend during your visit to Bogotá:

These are, for us, the best things to see and do in BogotáWe hope this article can help you in planning your trip. If we have left something essential, please leave us a comment.

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