Colombia · best-of list
18 Top Things to Do in Colombia
All 18 things to do our route editors picked in Colombia, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, spread across 4 destinations.
Our curated picks
18 things to do in Colombia, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bogotá 5 picks
Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá
Bogotá · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Underground church carved into a salt mine 180 m below ground, about an hour north of Bogotá.
Tip: Weekends are busy; go midweek.
Photo: Luis Carlos Dominguez · Google
La Candelaria
Bogotá · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
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 3.0
Monserrate
Bogotá · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
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: Felipe Restrepo Acosta · CC BY-SA 4.0
Museo Botero
Bogotá · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
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 3.0
Museo del Oro
Bogotá · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
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: Hermes van Amstel · Google
Salento 5 picks
Calle Real & Mirador de Salento
Salento · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Main street of painted balconies and craft shops ending in steps up to a valley lookout.
Photo: Francisco Arce · Google
Filandia
Salento · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Quieter coffee town with a wooden lookout tower and basket-weaving tradition.
Tip: Climb the Mirador Colina Iluminada at sunset.
Photo: Hdhdhdyboot · CC BY-SA 4.0
Finca El Ocaso
Salento · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Working coffee farm near Salento offering tours from plant to cup with a tasting.
Tip: Walk or take a jeep; the road is about 4 km from town.
Photo: Finca El Ocaso Salento · Google
Los Amigos Tejo
Salento · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Local hall where you throw metal pucks at gunpowder targets in tejo, Colombia's national sport.
Tip: Buy a round of beers and staff will set you up.
Photo: Rune Kickler · Google
Parque del Café
Salento · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Coffee-themed park near Montenegro with a cable car, coffee museum and rides.
Photo: Parque del Café. · Google
Cartagena 4 picks
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Cartagena · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Massive Spanish fortress with tunnels, built on San Lázaro hill to guard the city.
Tip: Go at opening; there is little shade.
Photo: Martin St-Amant (S23678) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Getsemaní
Cartagena · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Former working-class barrio of murals and street life around Plaza de la Trinidad.
Tip: Plaza de la Trinidad fills with street food and music after dark.
Photo: Marco Antonio González Restrepo · Google
Palacio de la Inquisición
Cartagena · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Colonial palace on Plaza de Bolívar now a history museum covering the Inquisition and the city.
Photo: Omar F V · Google
Walled City of Cartagena
Cartagena · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
UNESCO-listed old town of plazas, flower-draped balconies and 11 km of stone ramparts.
Tip: Walk the walls at sunset when the heat breaks.
Photo: Blanca Urunaga · Google
Medellín 4 picks
Comuna 13
Medellín · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Hillside neighborhood transformed by outdoor escalators, murals and hip-hop, best seen with a local guide.
Tip: Book a tour led by residents; mornings are less crowded.
Photo: Carolina Rico · Google
Guatapé and El Peñol
Medellín · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Climb 700-plus steps up a granite monolith over a reservoir, then walk Guatapé's painted streets.
Tip: Go on a weekday and leave Medellín by 7am.
Photo: توفيق الضبيبي · Google
Plaza Botero & Museo de Antioquia
Medellín · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
23 bronze Botero sculptures in the plaza and a museum with his paintings.
Tip: Keep valuables close in the busy downtown area.
Photo: Grettel Ulloa · Google
Pueblito Paisa
Medellín · On our Colombia: Coffee to Caribbean route
Replica Antioquian village atop Cerro Nutibara with views over the city.
Photo: アジアの休日 · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Colombia?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 18 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Colombia has the most things to do on this list?
Bogotá and Salento lead with 5 each; the other picks are spread across 2 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
7 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Filandia, La Candelaria, Getsemaní, Walled City of Cartagena, Museo Botero, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Colombia
Top things to do nearby
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.