Bogotá: 6 Must-Try Activities
Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, located in the Andes at an elevation of 8,612 feet, is an enormous city of almost 7 million people, and is full of history, life, colors… and possibilities!
The contrast between the old neighborhoods with paved streets and the more modern downtown with its skyscrapers show how the country is trying to grow while respecting its heritage and history… even when it’s a difficult history.
The capital is a great place to learn more about the country, but also to find some nature in its parks, and arts in its museums and murals. I’d recommend spending at least three days there, depending on what you’d like to do, more if you like big cities… there’s so much to do!
View of the city from the Cerro de Montserrate.
Without further ado, here is my list of 6 must-try activities while in Bogotá:
1. Free Walking Tour in the old part of town
Free Walking Tour
Many companies offer Free Walking Tour, so they might differ a bit, but the one we did focused on the Candelaria neighborhood, and we explored the Plaza de Bolívar, which, unlike most main Plaza in Colombia, isn’t a park. All around the Plaza you can find governmental buildings, such as the Palace of Justice, the Capitolio Nacional where Congress is located, and Palacio Liévano where the mayor works. The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is also located on this Plaza.
But the most interesting part for me was Chorro de Quevedo, a much smaller plaza that some say is where the city was founded: the little street leading to it are paved and lined by lively murals, and there you can see the first church of the city, a fountain, artists… and more!
Go up to the Montserrate
There is a trail and a cable car to go up to the Monserrate. I’d recommend walking the trail up late in the afternoon, observe the sunset from the top (over 10,000 feet high!), and get back down by cable car.
The Monserrate is a hill right on the edge of town, easily accessible from the Candelaria neighborhood for example, on top of which is located a Basilicata and a short pilgrimage path. But really, it’s the view that makes this place spectacular.
The path up is steep, and the place is popular (with locals and tourists alike) but all of this is forgotten once you’re at the top!
Guided Bike Tour
The idea of this bike tour is to be able to see parts of town that are a little distant from the Candelaria, and to see part of Carrera 7, a busy avenue including the business center of the city, part of which is closed to cars every Sunday mornings. Moreover, the guide will take you to a market to sample some local produce (especially fruits), and to a coffee shop where the owners ground the beans themselves. If you are interested in learning more about coffee, you must visit Salento! To end the tour, you’ll be able to sample the national game: tejo!
Traffic in Bogotá can be intense, and you’ll need to be careful during this tour, but once you reach the section with a bike path it gets better. It’s a different way to experience and see the city. If you only explore the old touristy sections of town, you’re missing out on the more modern aspects of town. This tour will take you to places tourists don’t often go to (but that are still sage). And finally, bicycling is an activity that is more and more popular in Colombia: Egan Bernal was the first Latin American to win the Tour de France in 2019! Seeing a part of the ciclovía that allows locals to enjoy their city feels special!
Admire The Museo del Oro
The Museo del Oro is a real institution in Bogotá! It is huge, so save the time to visit it, or choose the option of a guided tour that will focus on one or two specific exhibitions to explore these more in details.
Gold is much more than jewelry, or even currency. It’s a big part of the history of the country, since Europeans came searching for gold in Latin America, and you’ll learn about the legend of El Dorado in this museum.
You will see how the indigenous population used gold (it wasn’t currency!) admire the skill of the goldsmiths of the time. You will also learn more about the place of cosmology in the local culture.
The museum is located on Carrera 7, about a 10-minute walk from the Plaza de Bolívar and admission costs 5,000 Colombian pesos.
If you don’t have time to check out this museum while in Bogotá, check out the one in Cartagena! It’s as interesting, but smaller and more manageable.
Visit The Museo Nacional
Another museum to visit in Bogotá is the Museo Nacional, also on Carrera 7, about a 20-minute walk from Plaza de Bolívar and 10 minutes from the Museo del Oro.
There, you can see, among other things, paintings, sculptures, tapestries… the national collection exploring the arts, history and culture of the country. It’s a big museum, so again save some time, not just to get there but also for once you’re inside. The neighborhood feels different, with skyscrapers and a busy street, but the sidewalks there are wide, there’s a park nearby, and you will easily find a café or restaurant to have lunch during or after your visit.
Look For Murals
Murals are everywhere in Colombia, and everywhere in Bogotá! Get lost in the streets of the safe neighborhoods and look for them, making sure to look up sometimes, especially in the more modern neighborhoods where taller buildings are.
The main themes you’ll find are nature, local history, and representations of the indigenous populations. The styles are many and varied… which makes this search even more interesting and surprising!
Of course, you’ll see murals if you do the Free Walking Tour or the Bike Tour but do look even when you’re out on your own to see some lesser-known ones!