Best Things To Do in Bogota

Bogota is the most important city in Colombia, the most populated city in the country and also one of the highest capitals in the world. Located more than 2,600 meters above sea level, this destination not only offers natural attractions, but it is also one of the cultural refuges of Colombian society. Here I tell you about the alternatives you have to discover this place.

Among the best activities you can do in Bogota are discovering the views of the city from the Monserrate cable car, touring the coffee plantations, attending a soccer match in some of the great local stadiums, visiting the Botero Museum, visiting the El Paraíso slum, participating in a craft beer tour, learning about Bogota's gastronomy and visiting the popular Gold Museum.

Located in the heart of Bogota, the Monserrate cable car offers a unique experience that combines the adrenaline of high altitude travel with panoramic views of the Colombian capital. The gondola of this cable car will take you more than 3,100 meters above sea level, providing a unique perspective of the city and its surroundings in a fascinating experience.

From the top of Monserrate you can discover the vast skyline of the city, with its diverse architecture, lush green parks and iconic monuments that make up the local identity. La Candelaria, the historic center, and modern skyscrapers will be part of the landscape that you can see from a bird's eye view. In addition, the funicular runs Monday through Saturday until midnight, offering one of the best nighttime activities you can do in Bogota.

In addition to the panoramic views, the Monserrate attraction offers the opportunity to explore the summit, where the Sanctuary of the Fallen Lord and the Basilica of the Lord of Monserrate are located. These sacred sites attract pilgrims and tourists alike, providing a spiritual experience amidst natural beauty. In addition, the summit is home to restaurants and stores that allow visitors to enjoy local cuisine while taking in the scenery.

Coffee is the typical product of Colombia and one of the ways to discover the local culture is to explore the coffee plantations of Bogota, which will allow you to get to know the universe of aromas and flavors that define the very essence of the country. The areas around the capital offer a unique experience for coffee lovers, with excursions that allow you to dive into the history, cultivation and production process of the bean.

In the regions close to Bogota, such as Choachí and Fusagasugá, there are numerous coffee farms that offer guided tours. These places not only offer the opportunity to walk among the coffee plantations, but also to learn about the planting, harvesting and processing of coffee, which in many cases maintains ancestral customs . In addition, you will be able to participate in the harvesting of the beans, learn about the art behind a good cup of coffee and participate in coffee tastings.

A guided excursion through the coffee plantations not only involves enjoying the natural surroundings, but also soaking in the Colombian coffee folklore. During these tours, which are usually included among the best excursions in Bogota, local guides will share with you stories about the coffee tradition in the region, highlighting the cultural and economic importance of this emblematic product.

If you want to live a typical Colombian experience, you can't miss a soccer match in Bogota. This activity will allow you to get to know the overflowing passion that characterizes this sport in the country through two traditional teams based in the city, Millonarios and Independiente Santa Fe. These clubs have forged intense rivalries and have contributed to the capital's rich soccer history.

Millonarios, known as the Ambassador, has won numerous titles and is revered for its legacy in local soccer, once known as Colombia's El Dorado. On the other hand, Independiente Santa Fe has also left its mark on the national sports scene. To attend a confrontation between these teams is not only to witness a sporting competition, but also to participate in the experience of the Clásico Capitalino.

Soccer is more than a sport in Colombia, it is a cultural expression that unites communities and generates a sense of national identity. Participating in a match in Bogota will not only give you excitement on the field, but also the opportunity to get to know the idiosyncrasy of the country through the fanaticism of the fans.

Fernando Botero is one of Colombia's greatest cultural exponents and one of the best alternatives you can find in Bogota is to visit the Botero Museum to learn about the fascinating world of Colombian art. Here you will find a collection of works of art by the renowned artist, which testify to the genius and unique vision of the painter, whose work is characterized by his voluptuous figures and unmistakable style.

In the Botero Museum you can see a variety of works covering different aspects of Botero's career. From portraits and everyday scenes to interpretations of classical paintings, each room offers an immersion into the artist's creative universe. The exuberant figures and colorful compositions are an invitation to explore the unique aesthetic that distinguishes this painter.

Among the most outstanding works are those that capture the essence of the artist himself. Portraits of Botero, self-portraits and details about his creative process allow visitors to understand the history and evolution of his art. In addition, the museum provides historical context and anecdotes that enrich the experience, revealing the inspiration behind each painting and the artist's connection to Colombian culture.

Bogota has many edges and just as it is one of Colombia's most economically prosperous cities, it also has some of the country's most voluminous working-class neighborhoods. El Paraíso, which is one of the capital's largest favelas in Ciudad Bolívar, absorbs an intriguing part of the city's history and urban life and is a site you can visit on a guided tour to get another profile of this destination.

This community, known for its rich street art culture, has evolved over the years, witnessing significant transformations that have made it one of Bogotá's most emblematic sites. The history of El Paraíso reflects the resilience of its inhabitants and their ability to find solutions in the midst of challenges, and its geography is already part of the Bogota skyline.

This neighborhood has also earned a place in Bogotá's tourist circuit not only for its history, but also for the authenticity of its cultural and artistic expressions. The colorful murals and street art that adorn the streets of El Paraíso are a visual manifestation of the community's creativity and identity. This is why this favela is often included in the itineraries of the best tours of Bogota.

A unique way to discover El Paraíso is from the cable car, which crosses this neighborhood on its route. This means of transportation offers travelers the opportunity to contemplate the diversity of Bogota from the heights, while touring this favela and revealing the daily life of its residents. Also, this funicular is so popular that in many cases tour companies offer direct transfers from the Bogota airport to the base of the neighborhood.

If you want to discover one of the best sides of Bogota, you can't miss a visit to its craft breweries, an experience that will immerse you in the city's growing beer scene. In these places you will have the opportunity to discover the local creativity when it comes to brewing this beverage and you will be able to get to know the bars that give nightlife to the Colombian capital.

Some of the best breweries can be found in Usaquén, known for its cobblestone streets and bohemian atmosphere. There you can explore breweries that offer a wide range of beer styles, from the traditional to the most innovative. In addition, the Plaza de Usaquén invites you to get to know the local culture, with its colorful markets and gastronomic options to enjoy Bogota at night.

Another must-see is Zona T, a lively nightlife entertainment district. In this area you will find modern breweries and pubs serving local and international craft beers. In addition, if you want to continue your tour of Bogota's nightlife, you can also discover the best nightclubs in the city.

Also, if you do not want to do the tour on your own, you can also opt for a guided tour, which will include a visit to breweries where you can learn about the brewing process, from malting to bottling. In addition, you can combine this experience with some of the best tours from Bogota to the outskirts of the city, to visit the hop fields, one of the main ingredients of the beverage.

If you are one of those who choose to enjoy alternative experiences when visiting a city, in Bogota you can delve into the dark and mysterious legends of ghosts of this destination. Like all places near the Caribbean, Bogota has an intimate relationship with mystical and paranormal stories and during your trip you will find many places to approach the itinerary from this profile.

One of the most outstanding destinations for a ghost experience is the neighborhood of La Candelaria, whose narrow cobblestone streets and old buildings hide legends and secrets of crimes and disappearances. The Central Cemetery is another emblematic site that you can't miss, as it houses tombs of illustrious characters and mausoleums that create an unmissable atmosphere.

The ghost tour can be done on your own or you can join a tour, which will also take you to the Palace of San Francisco, which is currently a reservoir of Colombian culture, another building that has much to tell in the city. This ancient building of gothic architecture has witnessed historical events and is considered a haunted place by the locals. Do you dare to visit it?

One of the strongest points of Bogota is its culinary offer and you can discover it on a gastronomic tour that will reveal the best flavors of the Colombian capital, which is known for its diverse and exquisite cuisine, which fuses traditional ingredients with contemporary influences.

During these tours you can taste the ajiaco, a thick soup that combines potatoes, chicken, corn cobs and aromatic herbs. This emblematic dish of Bogota is a combination of flavors that reflects the agricultural richness of the region and the ingenuity of the local cuisine.

Another recipe you can't miss is the bandeja paisa, an Antioquian preparation that includes meat, beans, rice, egg, avocado and plantain. This hearty dish is a reflection of the local gastronomic culture that takes customs from the Colombian Amazon, presenting a mix of ingredients that is very popular in the region .

However, no culinary tour is complete until you have tried the arepa, a kind of corn muffin that is accompanied by cheese, eggs, avocado or any other seasonal ingredient. The versatility of the arepa makes it an essential snack in Bogota's gastronomy, perfect to accompany any meal.

You can't say you've experienced Bogotá until you've visited the Gold Museum, which is the capital's most famous and most visited exhibit and will allow you to discover Colombia's rich history and culture. This archaeological exhibit houses one of the most complete collections of pre-Columbian art in the world and guards thousands of gold pieces and millenary treasures that tell the story of ancient regional civilizations.

In the halls of the Gold Museum you will marvel at the craftsmanship and creativity of pre-Columbian cultures. From diadems and bracelets to ritual figures and everyday objects, each gold piece on display reveals the ingenuity and technical skill of indigenous goldsmiths. The exhibits also highlight the symbolic relationship that gold had in the beliefs and practices of these cultures, providing a unique insight into their cosmovision.

One of the museum's most outstanding treasures is the famous Muisca Raft, a piece that represents a ceremony of the Muisca civilization. The raft, made of gold and tumbaga, is a masterpiece that narrates the connection of these cultures with nature and their sacred rituals. Other highlights include the gold offerings found in indigenous tombs, which offer a window into the indecipherable funerary world of these societies.

Whether you plan to visit Bogota for 3 days or even less, a visit to the Gold Museum will open a door to an understanding of local identity and the idiosyncrasies of all Colombians.

One of the best alternatives to get to know Bogota at night is to embark on a bus tour that will offer you a completely different perspective of the city, highlighting its most emblematic monuments and its lively nightlife. One of the must-see destinations on these excursions is the Historic Center, where colonial architecture comes alive with artificial lighting, revealing the beauty of places like Plaza Bolivar and the Catedral Primada.

Paseo de la 26 is another fascinating stop, known for its vibrant lights and the energy emanating from its bars and restaurants. This main avenue transforms into a visual spectacle at night, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy Bogota's nightlife. In addition, Parque de la 93, with its restaurants and bars, is one of the epicenters of gastronomy and entertainment in the Colombian capital.

Monserrate Hill is also a highlight of these excursions, as the panoramic view of Bogota from this elevation takes on a special charm at nightfall. The lights of the city stretch out on the horizon and the perspective from the funicular creates a complete and unbreathable cityscape.