Best Things To Do in Bogota

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

Some of the best things to do in Bogotá include discovering the views of the city from the Monserrate cable car, touring the coffee plantations, attending a football match in some of the great local stadiums, visiting the Botero Museum, visiting the El Paraíso favela, taking part in a craft beer tour, discovering 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 metres 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 centre, and the modern skyscrapers will be part of the landscape you can see from a bird's eye view. The funicular runs from Monday to Saturday until midnight, making it one of the best night-time activities you can do in Bogotá.

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 shops that allow visitors to enjoy local cuisine while taking in the scenery.

Coffee is Colombia's signature product and one of the ways to discover the local culture is to explore Bogotá's coffee plantations, allowing you to experience the universe of aromas and flavours 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 Bogotá, 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 can participate in bean picking, learn about the art behind a good cup of coffee and take part in coffee tastings.

A guided tour of the coffee plantations not only involves enjoying the natural surroundings, but also soaking up Colombia's coffee folklore. During these tours, which are often included among the best excursions in Bogotá, local guides will share with you stories about the region's coffee tradition, highlighting the cultural and economic importance of this iconic product.

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

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

Football 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 bear witness to the genius and unique vision of the painter, whose work is characterised by voluptuous figures and an unmistakable style.

At 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 colourful compositions are an invitation to explore the unique aesthetic that distinguishes this painter.

Among the highlights are works 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.

Bogotá has many faces and as well as being one of Colombia's most economically prosperous cities, it also has some of the country's most voluminous working-class neighbourhoods. 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 place 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. El Paraíso's history reflects the resilience of its inhabitants and their ability to find solutions in the midst of challenges, and its geography is now part of the Bogotá skyline.

This neighbourhood has also earned a place on Bogotá's tourist circuit not only for its history, but also for the authenticity of its cultural and artistic expressions. The colourful 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 Bogotá.

A unique way to discover El Paraíso is from the cable car, which crosses this neighbourhood on its route. This means of transport offers travellers the opportunity to contemplate the diversity of Bogotá from above, while travelling through this favela and revealing the daily life of its residents. The funicular is so popular that in many cases tour companies offer direct transfers from Bogotá airport to the base of the neighbourhood.

If you want to discover one of the best sides of Bogotá, 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'll have the opportunity to discover the local creativity when it comes to brewing and you'll be able to get to know the bars that give the Colombian capital its nightlife.

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

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

If you don't 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. You can also combine this experience with some of the best tours from Bogotá to the outskirts of the city, where you can visit the hop fields, one of the main ingredients of the drink.

If you're someone who chooses to enjoy alternative experiences when visiting a city, Bogotá is a great place to delve into the dark and mysterious ghost legends of this destination. Like all places near the Caribbean, Bogotá has an intimate relationship with mystical and paranormal stories, and during your trip you'll find many places to approach your itinerary from this angle.

One of the most outstanding destinations for a ghost experience is the neighbourhood of La Candelaria, whose narrow cobbled 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 the tombs of illustrious figures and mausoleums that create an unmissable atmosphere.

The ghost tour can be done on your own or you can join a tour that will also take you to the Palacio de San Francisco, which is now a reservoir of Colombian culture, another building that has a lot to tell about the city. This ancient building of gothic architecture has witnessed historical events and is considered a haunted place by the locals. Are you up for a visit?

One of Bogotá's strongest points is its culinary offerings and you can discover them on a gastronomic tour that will reveal the best flavours of the Colombian capital, which is known for its diverse and exquisite cuisine, fusing traditional ingredients with contemporary influences.

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

Another recipe not to be missed 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, featuring a mix of ingredients that is very popular in the region .

However, no culinary tour is complete until you've tried the arepa, a kind of corn muffin that is served with 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, the capital's most famous and most visited exhibition, which allows you to discover Colombia's rich history and culture. This archaeological exhibition 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 civilisations.

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 piece of gold on display reveals the ingenuity and technical skill of the 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 worldview.

One of the museum's most outstanding treasures is the famous Muisca Raft, a piece depicting a ceremony of the Muisca civilisation. 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 Bogotá 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 ways to get to know Bogotá by 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 tours is the Historic Centre, where colonial architecture comes alive with artificial lighting, revealing the beauty of places like Plaza Bolívar and the Catedral Primada.

The 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 Bogotá's nightlife. In addition, Parque de la 93, with its restaurants and bars, is one of the epicentres of gastronomy and entertainment in the Colombian capital.

The hill of Monserrate is also a highlight of these excursions, as the panoramic view of Bogotá from this elevation takes on a special charm at nightfall. The lights of the city stretch across the skyline and the perspective from the funicular creates a complete and unimaginable cityscape.