From the colonial-era buildings of the La Candelaria district to its modern areas, this vibrant metropolis offers something for everyone.
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Candelaria
It is the historic center of Bogotá, and is characterized by its cobblestone streets, colonial buildings and ancient architecture. It is an ideal area to walk and discover the culture and history of the city.
Bolivar Square
The enormous Plaza de Bolívar, located in the heart of the old town, is the most important to see in Bogotá. This square, a meeting point between tourists and locals, concentrates some of the most important buildings in the city such as the Primate Cathedral, the Palace of Justice, the National Capitol and the Liévano Palace, seat of the town hall.
Callejón del Embudo
Without a doubt, the most beautiful corner of the La Candelaria neighborhood. In this narrow street with cobbled and irregular ground, some of the best street art murals in the city are concentrated, with the expressive face of an indigenous woman standing out above the rest. In the old houses that surround this street there are many bars to try the typical arepas and shops to buy some souvenirs. At the end of the street you will reach the beautiful Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo, with several graffiti and full of people gathering.
El chorro de Quevedo
This small square was the place where Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada established his military garrison, before founding the city in this same place in 1538. It is located on Calle 12B with Carrera 2, in the historic center of the city. It is framed by colonial and early 20th century buildings. It is named after a certain Father Quevedo who had a fountain built for the inhabitants, thus achieving easy access to water.
Santa Clara Church Museum
The building is considered one of the most representative examples of Baroque architecture and ornamentation of the 17th and 18th centuries in Bogotá.
This baroque style church, built in 1647 and in 1983 became open to visitors as a museum. Without a doubt, you will be fascinated by the decoration made up of baroque carved wooden altarpieces, oil paintings, sculptures, mural paintings and Mudejar lattices. A few meters from this museum is the Casa de Nariño, the seat of government of Colombia.
Monserrate
It is a hill that is located in the center of the city and offers a panoramic view of Bogotá. You can climb to the top on foot or by funicular, and there you will find a church, restaurants and souvenir shops.
Gold Museum
It is one of the most important museums in Bogotá and has a collection of pre-Hispanic objects made of gold and other metals. If you are interested in knowing more about the history and culture of Colombia, you can see more information about the visit on their website.
In the dark room on the highest floor, the most precious piece of this Museum is protected: the Muisca raft that you see in the image.
Botero Museum
If you want to know the best of 20th century art, the Botero Museum is one of those unmissable places. This museum is dedicated to the art of the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero and was founded thanks to the donation that the artist himself made to the Bank of the Republic. The museum has one of the most important collections in the world with a total of 123 works by Botero and 85 by international artists. The collection includes paintings, sculptures and drawings, and if you like art don’t miss it.
Usaquen
It is a bohemian neighborhood located in the north of the city, known for its cobblestone streets, old houses and a wide variety of restaurants, bars and designer shops. It is a sector that has it all: shopping centers, universities and colleges, banks, business centers.
The focal point of the neighborhood, it’s filled with Asian fusion restaurants, upscale bistros, and laid-back sidewalk cafes, as well as craft breweries and chic cocktail bars open late.
Guadalupe Hill
It is a hill located in the La Perseverancia neighborhood and is known for its famous church on the top. The view from the church is impressive and offers a different panoramic view of the city.
YOU CAN ALSO VISIT…
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is considered one of the most notable architectural and artistic achievements of Colombian architecture and was the project of the Bogotá architect Roswell Garavito Pearl who won it in a competition. If you want to visit it, you can get to Zipariquirá by public transport from Bogotá and then you will have to pay an entrance fee. The duration of the visit is approximately 2 hours.
From its colonial roots to its vibrant cultural scene, Bogotá is a city that embraces its past while looking to the future. These are just a few suggestions, but there are many more places to visit in Bogotá depending on your interests. I hope they are useful to you!
All illustrations on this site are courtesy of Pictographic.