The capital of Colombia, Bogotá was the home to the region’s indigenous people, the Muisca, when the Spanish came around plundering gold and resources, and it’s been the country’s main city ever since. Before I went, everyone told me Bogotá wasn’t anything special: dirty, crowded, hard to get around, and lacking the charm of the other big cities in Colombia. “Spend a few days there and move on,” they all said. Well, I spent a few days there — and then a few more. I LOVED Bogotá. It felt like the most “Colombian” city I visited. It’s not like the gringofied cities in the rest of the country. Its “gritty” nature was what appealed to me. Bogotá was a vibrant, lively city I couldn’t get enough of. The museum scene is incredible, there’s a lot of history, a blossoming art community, an exciting food scene, a wild nightlife, and super welcoming people. It is also a huge city with a ton of tours, day trips, and other things to do. You could easily spend a week here. To help you make the most out of your visit, here are my top 20 things to see and do in Bogotá. 20 Things to See and Do in Bogotá1. Take a Free Walking Tour BeyondColombia has a great free walking tour that will give you a solid introduction to the city. It also has a free food tour, which is a terrific way to get a taste of some local Colombian dishes (you’ll spend around 18,000 COP/$6 USD on food for the tour). Just be sure to tip your guides! For a more specialized tour, check out the Bogotá Graffiti Tour. This one operates by donation, using the money raised to reinvest in future community art projects. 2. Stroll in the Botanical Gardens Cl. 63 No. 6895, +57 1-437-7060, jbb.gov.co. Open daily 8am-5pm (9am-5pm on weekends). Admission is 3,500 COP for adults and 1,800 COP for children. 3. Climb Monserrate 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). 4. Visit the Museo del Oro (The Gold Museum) 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, but it gets busy quickly so be sure to arrive early! 5. See the Salt Cathedral Parque de la Sal, +57 315-760-7376, catedraldesal.gov.co. Open daily 9am-5:40pm. Admission is 58,000 COP for foreigners, with discounts available for seniors. 6. Check out the Museo de Botero 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. 7. Explore La Candelaria 8. See the Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen Cra. 5 No. 8-36, +57 1-342-0972. Open Monday-Friday 7am-7:30am and 10am-4pm, Saturdays 7am-7:30am, and Sundays 7am-12:30pm. 9. Visit Simon Bolívar Metropolitan Park Open daily 6am-6pm. Admission is free unless there is a concert or event in progress. 10. Wander Plaza Bolívar 11. Head to the Laguna de Guatavita (Lake Guatavita) Day trips to the area last around 6 hours and will vary in price. Expect to pay at least 180,000 COP per person. 12. Explore Parque 93 13. Attend Gringo Tuesdays Street 85 No. 11-53, Promenade del Faro, +57 311-492-0249, gringotuesdays.com/en. Every Tuesday, the language exchange occurs 4pm-8pm, followed by the party, which runs 8pm-3am. 14. Discover the National Museum of Colombia Carrera 7 No 28-66, +57 1-381-6470, museonacional.gov.co. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sundays 10am-5pm. Admission is 4,000 COp for adults, 3,000 COP for students, and 2,000 COP for children aged 5-12. 15. Wander the Usaquén Market The market runs 11am-4pm every Sunday in Usaquén. 16. Explore the Museo Santa Clara Cra. 8 No. 8-91, +57 1-337-6762, museocolonial.gov.co. Open Tuesday-Friday 9am-4:30pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am-3:30pm. Admission is 4,000 COP for adults and 2,000 COP for children. 17. Grab a snack from La Puerta Falsa Calle 11 No. 6-50, +57 1-286-5091, restaurantelapuertafalsa.inf.travel. Open daily 7am-10pm though its schedule isn’t set in stone. 18. Visit the Iglesia de San Francisco Av. Jimenez De Quesada No. 7-10, +57 1-341-2357. Open Monday-Friday 6:30am-10:30pm; 6:30am-12:30pm and 4pm-6:30pm on Saturdays; and 7:30am-1:30pm and 4:30-7:30pm on Sundays. Admission is free. 19. Sample the local brews Tours are available daily 4pm-9pm and need to be booked in advance via their website. Tickets are around 95,000 COP per person. 20. Take a food tour Tours are available Monday-Saturday and begin around 7pm. Booking in advance is required so you can secure your transportation. Tickets are 188,500 COP per person. It’s true that Bogotá is an “edgy city” with a lot of petty crime. Yet I loved the atmosphere and vibe of the city. It had grit (kind of like Naples, Italy). I loved the art, the museums, the food. The city has so much to offer travelers. You can really fill a lot of time between all the sights, tours, parks, and activities. I would have liked to stay longer in Bogotá if I could. I’d budget three to five days for your visit. It will definitely be worth it. Book Your Trip to Colombia: Logistical Tips and TricksBook Your Flight Book Your Accommodation
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Looking for the best companies to save money with? Want More Information on Colombia? Photo credits: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 20, 21 The post 20 Things to See and Do in Bogotá appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site. from https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/things-to-see-and-do-in-bogota/
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Jeffrey ClinardHi I am Jeffrey Clinard ,35 years old, By profession I am a photographer,I love to catch the beauty of Nature for this purpose I love to Explore the world. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |