Colombia
Bogotá
High-altitude capital with Colombia's best museums and a colonial core. Stay 2 to 3 days. This guide pulls together 5 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café from our curated routes.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- February
- Coolest month
- November
- Wettest month
- April
5 See · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 2 Shop
Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean
from our route notes
20°C / 68°F avg high
18°C / 64°F avg high
about 209 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Bogotá
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Bogotá across La Candelaria, Santa Fe and Zipaquirá. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Hermes van Amstel · GoogleSeeMuseo del Oro
More than 30,000 pre-Hispanic gold objects, including the Muisca raft linked to the El Dorado legend.
Tip Free on Sundays; closed Mondays.
Photo: Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeLa Candelaria
Colonial quarter of cobbled streets, churches and street art around Plaza de Bolívar.
Tip Join a free graffiti walking tour, then explore by day only.
Photo: Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeMuseo Botero
Fernando Botero's donated collection of his own work plus pieces by Picasso, Monet and Dalí.
Tip Free entry; pair with the adjoining Banco de la República art museum.
Photo: Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeMonserrate
Mountaintop church at 3,152 m reached by cable car or funicular, with views across the city.
Tip Ride up in the morning before clouds roll in.
Photo: Luis Carlos Dominguez · GoogleSeeCatedral de Sal de Zipaquirá
Underground church carved into a salt mine 180 m below ground, about an hour north of Bogotá.
Tip Weekends are busy; go midweek.
Eat
2 places to eat across La Candelaria and Chía, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Valeria Flores · GoogleEatLa Puerta Falsa
Tiny cafe near Plaza de Bolívar serving ajiaco, tamales and hot chocolate with cheese since 1816.
Tip Expect a short line at lunch.
Photo: Andrés Carne de Res Chía · GoogleEatAndrés Carne de Res
Sprawling steakhouse-party in Chía with handmade decor and dancing late into the night.
Tip Book a table and arrange a ride back; it is 45 minutes north of the city.
Drink
1 bar or café in Zona Rosa for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Bogotá Beer Company · GoogleDrinkBogotá Beer Company
Local craft brewery with pubs across the city, pouring its own ales and stouts.
Shop
2 shops across Paloquemao and Usaquén for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: Paul Chan · GoogleShopPlaza de Mercado de Paloquemao
Bogotá's big fresh market, with tropical fruit stalls, flower sellers and lunch counters.
Tip Flowers are best before 8am; try lulo and granadilla.
Photo: Henrique Magalhães · GoogleShopUsaquén Flea Market
Sunday market of crafts, jewelry and food stalls around Usaquén's old village square.
How to fit Bogotá into a trip
Bogotá is stop 1 of 4 on our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route. Follow it as-is or lift Bogotá into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 4
Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean
Bogotá, Salento, Medellín and Cartagena
- Trip length
- 12 days
- Best season
- Dec – Mar
- Pace
- moderate
- Next: Salento
Getting here and onward
- Bogotá to SalentoSalento is about 166 km / 103 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Bogotá month by month
Average daily highs run from 18°C / 64°F in November to 20°C / 68°F in February. April is the wettest month, with about 209 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan19° / 67°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar19° / 67°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr19° / 65°F average high
- May18° / 65°F average high
- Jun18° / 65°F average high
- Jul18° / 65°F average high
- Aug19° / 66°F average high
- Sep20° / 67°F average high
- Oct18° / 65°F average high
- Nov18° / 64°F average high
- Dec18° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Bogotá weather and the best time to visit →
Near Bogotá
2 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.
Bogotá questions, answered
How many days do you need in Bogotá?
Our route notes suggest 2–3 days in Bogotá. On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route it is stop 1 of 4 in a 12-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 21 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Bogotá best known for?
High-altitude capital with Colombia's best museums and a colonial core. Stay 2 to 3 days. Standouts on our list: Museo del Oro (More than 30,000 pre-Hispanic gold objects, including the Muisca raft linked to the El Dorado legend); La Candelaria (Colonial quarter of cobbled streets, churches and street art around Plaza de Bolívar); Museo Botero (Fernando Botero's donated collection of his own work plus pieces by Picasso, Monet and Dalí).
When is the best time to visit Bogotá?
Our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route is best Dec – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in February (20°C / 68°F), the coolest in November (18°C / 64°F) and the most rain in April (about 209 mm).
What are the best things to do in Bogotá?
Start with Museo del Oro, La Candelaria, Museo Botero, Monserrate and Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 5 sights, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 2 shops.
Where should a group eat in Bogotá?
Our picks: La Puerta Falsa (La Candelaria); Andrés Carne de Res (Chía). Expect a short line at lunch (La Puerta Falsa).
What is near Bogotá?
The closest destinations in our guides are Salento (about 166 km / 103 mi) and Medellín (about 239 km / 148 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Bogotá with your crew
Open the Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Bogotá
More in Colombia
- Cartagena 10 places