Two nights in Bogotá itinerary

We had heard mixed reviews about Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. But since it’s the only city with direct flights from London, we knew we were going to spend at least one day there at the start of our two weeks in Colombia. Most people we spoke to who had been to Colombia preferred Medellin and found there wasn’t much to do in Bogotá. But we were pleasantly surprised. 

This is how we spent two days in Bogotá.

Where to stay in Bogotá

We stayed at the Cite Hotel in Bogotá. The neighbourhood was nice and felt safe but still had a local feel to it. It was within walking distance to a lot of bars, restaurants, and shops but we used taxis to get anywhere further away. Zona Rosa, Parque 93, and Retiro are other good areas for tourists to stay in Bogotá. 

When to visit Bogotá 

We arrived in Bogotá in the middle of March, and the weather was mild but wet. It didn’t rain all day, and there was plenty of sun. But both days we were there, there were rain down pours. It can be tricky weather to dress for as it was warm enough to wear shorts most of the time, but I also needed a rain jacket.

Here’s what to pack for two weeks in Colombia in March.

How long to spend in Bogotá

We spent two nights in Bogotá in the Chapinero neighbourhood. We probably could have spent even longer as the city is full of culture, museums, and walking tours you can join including street art tours with local artists. But we still managed to fit a lot into our short time there. 

The best things to do in Bogotá 

These were the highlights of our two nights in Bogotá.

Monserrate 

Monserrate is a mountain to the west of the centre of Bogotá. You can hike up to the top, catch a cable car, or take the funicular railway. We took this option in the late morning and it was very busy with both locals and tourists. The views from the top are amazing, sweeping across the city on one side and the mountains to the other. There’s a church and shrine as well as a couple of cafes. 

We spent about an hour at the top, and had to wait another 45-60 minutes to catch the funicular back down. It’s easiest to catch a taxi to and from Monserrate as there’s no direct public transport and the main roads aren’t safe for walking.

Old town

We spent an afternoon wandering around the streets of Bogotá’s Old Town. The colourful buildings, street art, and cobbled roads give it a quaint feel that’s so different to the modern areas of the city. Calle Del Embudo, Plaza Bolivar, and Plaza Del Chorro de Quevedo were our favourite areas although they were all very busy on a Sunday afternoon.

Chorro de Quevedo

This area of the Old Town is the oldest part of Bogotá and is said to be the original site of the city. Now, it’s bustling and fairly modern, with street performers, stalls selling clothes, food, and drinks, and lots of cafes and bars with seating spilling into the street. The narrow paths off of the main plaza are covered in street art, and we spent about an hour wandering them and stopping for micheladas at Cafe Santa Maria before getting a taxi back to our hotel.

Eat at La Puerta Falsa

There are plenty of great places to eat in Bogotá, but La Puerta Falsa is one of the most popular. In part, this is because Anthony Bourdain visited for his No Reservations show. So it wasn’t too surprising that we had to queue down the street for a table here. It’s not great for vegetarians, but if you’re a meat eater it’s a great spot to try local favourites including tamales, ajiaco chicken and potato soup, and Bandejas.

Walking tours

Bogotá has a rich artistic and cultural history, so there are plenty of walking tours that celebrate this. Be warned… some of them are up to three hours long! But you’ll learn so much about the history and significance of street art in the city, from some of the artists themselves. The tours are insightful and the guides are so knowledgeable and passionate. They can tell you the history and meaning behind a lot of the art you’ll see in the city including murals dedicated to female street artists, and the highest piece of art in Bogotá.

From Bogotá we moved on to Salento, flying just 20 minutes to Pereira airport. Find out about our stay in Salento here.