Trip highlights
- 1La Candelaria's colourful colonial streets
- 2Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
- 3Monserrate mountain cable car
- 4Bogotá street art tour
- 5A Zona Rosa or Zona G dinner
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & La Candelaria
Saturday, January 30
Est. spend
$90
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
El Dorado International Airport
Rideshare or taxi to La Candelaria or the northern hotel districts takes about 30-45 minutes depending on Bogotá's notoriously heavy traffic.
Bogotá sits at 2,640 metres altitude — take it easy on your first day, as altitude adjustment is genuinely noticeable for most visitors.
☀️ Afternoon
La Candelaria walking tour
La Candelaria, Bogotá
Bogotá's historic centre, with colourful colonial-era buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and Plaza de Bolívar at its heart, surrounded by the Cathedral, Congress, and Palace of Justice.
Take a free walking tour (tip-based) — Bogotá has excellent ones that provide genuine historical and political context beyond what you'd get wandering alone.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in La Candelaria
La Candelaria, Bogotá
Traditional Colombian restaurants serving ajiaco (a hearty chicken and potato soup) and other Bogotá specialties, set in colonial-era buildings.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Colombian · $8
La Candelaria lunch
Colombian · $10
Ajiaco dinner
Colombian · $25
Gold Museum & Street Art
Sunday, January 31
Est. spend
$100
per person
🌅 Morning
Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
Cra. 6 #15-88, Bogotá
The largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold artefacts in the world, with over 34,000 pieces from Colombia's indigenous cultures — one of the best museums in South America.
The dark room display simulating an indigenous goldsmith's offering ceremony is the museum's most memorable single exhibit — don't rush past it.
☀️ Afternoon
Bogotá street art tour
La Candelaria/Chapinero, Bogotá
Bogotá has one of the most significant street art scenes in the world, partly because the city decriminalised graffiti following a controversial 2011 police shooting — a guided tour through La Candelaria and Chapinero gives essential context.
Book a tour led by a local artist if possible — the political and social context behind specific murals is far richer with expert narration.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Zona G
Zona G, Bogotá
Bogotá's 'Gourmet Zone', a concentrated strip of the city's best restaurants spanning Colombian and international cuisine — a polished, upscale evening district.
🍽️ Meals
Museum café breakfast
Colombian · $8
Street art tour lunch
Colombian · $12
Zona G dinner
Colombian/International · $40
Monserrate Mountain
Monday, February 1
Est. spend
$110
per person
🌅 Morning
Cable car to Monserrate
Cerro de Monserrate, Bogotá
A cable car or funicular climbs to the 3,152-metre summit of Monserrate, a mountain overlooking the entire city, topped by a 17th-century sanctuary — one of the best panoramic views in South America.
Go on a clear morning — Bogotá's mountain weather can change quickly, and afternoon cloud cover often obscures the view.
☀️ Afternoon
Usaquén neighbourhood and Sunday flea market (if applicable)
Usaquén, Bogotá
A charming, leafy northern Bogotá neighbourhood with a renowned Sunday flea market and a strong concentration of good cafés and restaurants.
If your visit falls on a Sunday, the Usaquén flea market is genuinely one of the best in the city for crafts and antiques.
🌙 Evening
Dinner and salsa in Zona Rosa
Zona Rosa, Bogotá
Bogotá's main nightlife district, with a strong concentration of bars and clubs — a salsa club is a genuinely fun, very Colombian way to spend an evening, even for non-dancers.
Many salsa venues offer informal beginner lessons early in the evening before the floor gets busy — a good way to ease in.
🍽️ Meals
Monserrate area breakfast
Colombian · $8
Usaquén café lunch
Colombian · $18
Zona Rosa dinner
Colombian/International · $35
Botero Museum & Departure
Tuesday, February 2
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Museo Botero
Cl. 11 #4-41, La Candelaria
A free museum showcasing Colombian artist Fernando Botero's distinctively voluminous figures, alongside his personal collection of Picassos, Monets, and other major international artists, donated to the city.
The museum is free and genuinely excellent — don't skip it assuming a smaller regional museum can't compete with the major European collections.
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping and coffee tasting
La Candelaria, Bogotá
Colombian coffee is genuinely among the best in the world — a final coffee tasting session and bean purchase from a specialty roaster is the classic Bogotá souvenir.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to El Dorado Airport
El Dorado International Airport
Allow at least 2.5 hours before an international flight given Bogotá's traffic unpredictability.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Colombian · $8
La Candelaria lunch
Colombian · $15
Airport food
Colombian/International · $14
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
December–February and July–August are Bogotá's two relatively dry seasons. The city's high altitude (2,640m) keeps temperatures mild and fairly consistent year-round (around 14-20°C), with afternoon rain common outside the dry windows.
🛂 Visas
Most Western nationalities (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) do not need a visa for short tourist stays in Colombia, typically up to 90 days. Check current requirements before travel.
💱 Currency
Colombian Peso (COP). Cards are widely accepted in restaurants and hotels; carry some cash for street food, markets, and smaller establishments.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 123
ambulance: 123
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Bogotá sits at 2,640 metres altitude — take your first day easy and stay hydrated, as altitude effects (mild headache, fatigue) are common for visitors.
- Take a free, tip-based walking tour of La Candelaria — Bogotá's complex political history is much better understood with a knowledgeable local guide.
- Bogotá's street art scene is one of the most significant in the world and carries real political and social context — a guided tour adds substantial depth.
- Use rideshare apps or registered taxis rather than hailing cabs on the street, particularly at night, as a standard safety precaution.
- Colombian coffee culture runs deep — visit a specialty roaster rather than settling for instant coffee, which is what's typically served at lower-end establishments despite the country's reputation.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Bogotá, Colombia without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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