"Why are you there for so long? There is nothing to do there!" is a common reaction I got when I told people I was in Bogotá for a month. Contrary to what most people said about the capital, I did not have any trouble finding interesting things to do in this buzzing city.
Thanks to my Colombian friend who showed me the real Bogotá from an amazing viewpoint to local nightlife. So, what to do in Bogotá, you asked? Here are the top 10 interesting things to do in Bogotá, Colombia for solo travelers.
- Bogotá Things to Do Map
- Where to Stay in Bogotá?
- Quick Summary: Things to do in Bogota
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10 Best Things to Do in Bogota
- 1. Walk around Plaza de Bolivar
- 2. Visit the Gold Museum
- 3. Visit the Botero museum
- 4. Go up the Cerro Monserrate
- 5. Enjoy Local Dinner at Andres DC
- 6. Pre-party in Zona Rosa
- 7. Learn some Spanish with Locals at Gringo Tuesday
- 8. Party at Theatron
- 9. After Party at BAUM
- 10. Sunday Stroll at Usaquén flea market
- More Bogota Activities
- Colombia Travel Video
- How to Get to Bogotá?
- How to Get Around Bogotá?
- Is Bogotá Safe?
- What to Pack for Bogota, Colombia?
- Further Reading for Colombia
Bogotá Things to Do Map
Quick Summary: Things to do in Bogota
- Selina Parque 93 Bogotá (Budget)
- Mercure Bogota Calle 100 (Mid-Range)
- NH Collection Bogotá Royal Teleport (High-End)
- La Candelaria, Optional Monserrate and Optional Gold Museum Bogotá City Tour (5 to 7 hours)
- Private Tour City Tour Bogotá + Cerro Monserrate (+5Hrs) (5 hours 30 minutes)
- Guatavita and Salt Cathedral - Group tour and daily departure (12 to 13 hours)
10 Best Things to Do in Bogota
1. Walk around Plaza de Bolivar
Let's get the obvious things to do out of the way first, with a walk around Plaza de Bolivar, a beautiful colonial square located in the heart of the historical area of the city. Surrounding the square are some stunning cathedrals, monuments, and palaces for you to immerse yourself in the colonial part of the city.
Be sure to walk up some of the hills towards the mountain, as you will be able to see some nice colonial houses and a great view of the area.
Where to Stay in Bogotá?
2. Visit the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro)
Photos by McKay Savage.
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Who doesn't like gold? The Gold Museum in Bogotá contains the largest collection of gold artifacts in the world, most of which are from pre-Columbian times.
You will get to see the history of the people who inhabited Colombia before the Spanish colonists unfold through their shamanistic rituals and craftsmanship. It offers a different perspective on the history of the indigenous people here.
3. Visit the Botero museum (Museo Botero)
This is by far one of the happiest museums I have ever been to. You will leave this place with a smile on your face. The Botero Museum is a museum featuring a collection of Fernando Botero's best work. He is renowned for his paintings and sculptures of oversized, cartoonish people and animals. There is no mistaking Botero's work for that of any other artist out there.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
4. Go up the Cerro Monserrate
This is by far my favorite thing to do in Bogotá. A few minutes' walk away from Plaza de Bolivar, there is a Teleferico de Monserrate, cable car station where you can take a cable car up to the lookout point on Cerro Monserrate.
The lookout is a perfect place to watch the sunset over the cityscape of Bogotá. I highly recommend seeing this place both at night and during the day. It gives a different vibe depending on when you are there.
5. Enjoy Local Dinner at Andres DC
A giant local restaurant/bar with several floors dedicated to different types of people, from fine dining to a salsa dance floor, Andres DC is a great place for dinner. The amazing decor, delicious food, and friendly live band that comes up to your table and dances with you will leave you with nothing but great memories of Bogotá.
6. Pre-party in Zona Rosa
Photo by Isaacyaya
Zona Rosa is a hip neighborhood known for its popularity as a dining area and nightlife center among the locals. Most of the great restaurants and bars are located here. It is also relatively safer than the central area, making it a good place for you to hang out both during the day and at night.
7. Learn some Spanish with Locals at Gringo Tuesday
Every Tuesday, both foreigners and locals gather in a bar called Vintrash to be a part of Gringo Tuesday, an event that brings the local community and foreigners together to help each other with their Spanish/English. There are tables for all levels of Spanish and English, from beginners to advanced, so no matter what level you are at, you are sure to find a group of people to talk to. Plus, the place turns into a dance floor after 9 PM, where everyone joins in and dances to reggaeton music.
8. Party at Theatron
Wondering what to do on Friday or Saturday night? Theatron is where the best parties are in Bogotá. Renovated from an old theater, Theatron features 5 stories and a dozen rooms of unique themed dance floors, all with a different genre of music. It is labeled as a gay bar, but the locals know that any gender is welcome there and will enjoy the parties nonetheless. There is nothing quite like it.
9. After Party at BAUM
There are pre-parties, parties, and then there are after-parties in Bogotá. If you are looking for things to do after hours (2 AM and beyond), there is no better place than BAUM, one of Colombia's best-known and best-loved nightclubs. With DJs from across the world playing deep house until sunrise, you are sure to experience the real nightlife here.
10. Sunday Stroll at Usaquén flea market
After a weekend of parties, there is no better way to relax on a sunny Sunday than to go to Usaquén park and enjoy the quieter and more relaxed vibe of the city. There is a flea market at the park where you can find all kinds of handicrafts and hipster items for souvenirs.
If you are not interested in shopping, there are also areas where you can sit and enjoy a cup of Colombian's finest coffee while listening to music performed by local street performers. It's a memorable end to your trip in Bogotá.
There you have it, the top 10 things to do in Bogotá, Colombia. Now, you can tell all your friends how wrong they were when they told you there is nothing to do in Bogotá.
How to Get to Bogotá?
There are many flights flying into Bogotá International Airport from Europe and North America, so make sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest flight for your trip.
How to Get Around Bogotá?
Uber all the way. It might be a little more expensive than using their bus system (BRT), but Uber is considerably cheaper than normal taxis and much safer too.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Is Bogotá Safe?
During the day, in a less crowded area like Zona Rosa, it is safe to walk around. However, you may have to watch out for pickpockets when you are in the downtown area (which is why I don't recommend staying there).
At night, a good rule of thumb is, if you don't see any locals walking on the streets, don't do it yourself.
What to Pack for Bogota, Colombia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Bogota, Colombia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
That is it for Top 10 Things to Do in Bogotá, Colombia for Solo Travelers. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Bogota, Colombia! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Bogota, Colombia independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Colombia
I hope you found this Colombia travel guide useful. If you are looking for something to read to help with your Colombia trip planning even further, be sure to check out the articles below:
- Looking for a complete travel guide for Colombia? Here's a one-month backpacking itinerary for Colombia.
- Looking for a complete backpacking guide to the entire South American continent? Here is the ultimate 6 Months Backpacking Itinerary for South America.
- First time in South America? Check out the 20 Best Places to Visit in South America.
- Packing for a trip to visit South America can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for South America.
- Medellin is also another fun city to visit, full of great food, salsa dancing workshops, and more. Here's a complete travel guide on things to do in Medellin.
- Salento is home to one of the most unique places in the world: Valle del Cocora. It is an amazing place to go hiking around these tall wax palm trees. Here’s a complete hiking guide to Cocora Valley and Salento.
- Looking for something less wordy to inspire you to visit Colombia? Check out 23 photos that will inspire you to visit Colombia.
- You can also watch my Colombia travel video here: Colombia is Dangerous? Travel Video.
- To see all articles about Colombia, visit Colombia Travel Guide page.
- Not sure where to go next? How about visiting Ecuador and experiencing all its wildlife in the Amazon or the Galapagos? Check out my Ecuador Travel Guide page for more information about traveling in Ecuador.
- Looking for more travel guides for South America? You can find more on my South America Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.