5 Things to Do in Bogotá
Before I went to Bogotá, Colombia everyone told me Bogotá wasn’t anything special: dangerous and lacking the charm of other big cities in Colombia. Someone even told me not to go because they thought I was going to get kidnapped! Well, I went and spent a few days there and then a few more. Bogotá is a great city that I could not get enough of.
The people were nice, the museum scene is incredible and there is a ton of history! Bogotá is a huge city with many tours, day trips and other things to do. You could easily spend a week there. To help you make the most out of your visit, here are my top 5 things to see and do in Bogotá.
5 Things to Do in Bogota:
Climb Monserrate: at just over 3,000 meters, you can see Monserrate from almost everywhere in town. It is a great place to take in the views of the city and because there is a church there it is also popular for weddings. You can hike up or you can take a cable car, if you choose to walk up always be mindful of your surroundings. Once you get to the top you will also see vendors selling souvenirs and food!
The funicular runs Monday-Saturday 6:30am-11:30am and Sundays 5:30am-4:30pm. The cable car is available Monday-Saturday 12pm-11:30pm and Sundays 10am-4:30pm. Tickets for either vehicle are the same price: round-trip tickets cost 21,000 COP for adults (12,000 COP on Sundays).
Visit the Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum): the Gold Museum notes the importance and use of gold in pre-hispanic civilizations in Colombia. You can sign up for an audio guide (you get them at the front desk) or you can join one of the daily free tours.
Cra. 6 No. 15-88, +57 1-343-2222, banrepcultural.org/bogota/museo-del-oro. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-6pm and Sundays 10am-4pm. Admission is 4,000 COP for adults and free for children. Admission is also free for adults on Sundays.
Check out the Museo de Botero: home to one of Latin America’s most important art collections, the museum was organized after Colombian figurative artist and sculptor artist Fernando Botero donated hundreds of his works to the Banco de la República de Colombia with the promise that they would be displayed in a free museum for everyone to see. There are also works by Monet and Picasso in the museum. You can take a free tour or get the audio guide (not free).
Cl. 11 No. 4-41, +57 1-343-1316, banrepcultural.org/bogota/museo-botero. Open Monday and Wednesday-Saturday 9am-7pm and Sundays 10am-5pm (closed Tuesdays). Admission is free, and free guided tours are available daily; see the website for updated times. Audio guides are available for 10,000 COP.
Wander Plaza Bolívar: this main square in Bogotá is home to many prominent public figures and buildings (Colombia’s Palace of Justice, the mayor’s office and Capitol Building). Watch out for the crowd of pigeons!
Head to the Laguna de Guatavita (Lake Guatavita): head out on a day trip to Lake Guatavita. Lake Guatavita is a scared site to the regions indigenous people and is where the legend of El Dorado originated. You can also learn about the regions plants and animals!