This blog may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy for more info.
Heading to Bogota and looking for the top things to do? We’ve got you covered!
As Colombia’s capital city, Bogota can be a little intimidating to visit – I certainly felt that way! But after visiting a few times, we warmed up to this city and really fell in love with it. There is more than meets the eye, so that’s why we put together this list of the top activities in Bogota.
With stunning historic neighborhoods, amazing food, street art, and nature at your fingertips, you won’t get bored in Bogota. Simply follow our guide here and you’ll see the best of the city – trust me!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Bogotá was this private city tour that took us from the buzzing historic quarter of La Candelaria to the heights of Monserrate. We had so much fun exploring all the city’s top sights with our expert guide!
Check out the 1,300+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Best Things to do in Bogota, Colombia
1. Explore La Candelaria
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 10 am and 2 pm
- Highlights: Explore Bogotá’s historic La Candelaria district, sample local snacks and drinks, visit major cultural landmarks and museums, learn about Colombia’s history
- Inclusions: Certified professional guide, tour map, small-group tour
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 1,400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
A visit to La Candelaria should definitely be on your Bogota itinerary list because this historic neighborhood is one of the most interesting areas of the entire city. It’s also very quaint and charming – most visitors fall in love with it straight away.
To give you a little background on La Candelaria, this is actually the place where Bogota was founded in 1538. So as you can imagine, there’s a whole lot of history here.
To ensure that you cover all of the highlights of La Candelaria, you might want to think about taking a guided tour. This walking tour covers all of the essentials of La Candelaria in three hours so that you can get your bearings and continue to explore by yourself after the tour has ended. We loved this tour because our guide had a ton of information to share and made us feel very comfortable!
One thing to note is that you should only walk around La Candelaria during the daytime. It’s perfectly safe during the day, but at night, there are many muggings and robberies. This is also why we wanted to take a tour for our first time here, just for peace of mind.
Secure your spot on this highly-rated group tour here to learn about La Candelaria!
Another more personalized option is to explore La Candelaria on this private city tour! You’ll cover more ground, hitting all the best spots in downtown and the historic center, and even visiting Monserrate on the funicular! And if that’s not enough, it also includes a coffee tasting and entrance to the Gold Museum and Botero Museum. It’s honestly the best way to dive into the city, especially if it’s your first time here.
Book your private tour in advance here and get free cancellation options!
2. Go on a food tour
- Duration: 4–5 hours
- Time: 1:30 pm
- Highlights: Taste your way through La Candelaria with seven Colombian dishes, explore markets, local eateries, and cultural hotspots with a knowledgeable guide
- Inclusions: Snacks, food tastings, local bilingual guide, walking tour through La Candelaria, explore Bogotá’s historic center on foot
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 580+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
One of our favorite things about traveling is trying out the local cuisine, and Bogota definitely did not disappoint in that department. In fact, there are so many delicious things to eat here that you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice! We ended up taking this food tour through La Candelaria to maximize our tasting abilities.
This food tour is highly rated with over 550 5-star reviews (check them out here!). The menu and restaurants are constantly rotating, so you don’t know exactly what you’ll discover – and we love that! When we took this tour, we ate so much good food, starting with my favorite dish, buñuelos.
Different versions of buñuelos exist all over the world, but in Colombia, these deep-fried dough balls are filled with curd cheese and served with custard. You can find them all over the city!
Obleas are another must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth. They’re basically giant wafers that are filled with arequipe, which is a kind of dulce de leche made from sweetened condensed milk. If you loved these, stop by the obleas cart in the Plaza Bolivar, where Mick Jagger tried this sweet treat. You’ll spot it easily because there’s a giant picture of his face on the front!
Another thing we loved about Bogota was the fact that there were fresh fruit juice stands everywhere. Colombian fruits are incredibly sweet and flavourful, and we loved trying out all the different combinations on offer. Our favorite was a juice made with lulo, mora, lime, and sugar cane – it was absolutely delicious.
Overall, you’ll stop by seven different food spots and sample a range of treats from authentic, family-owned businesses, and get a chance to chat with the owners. Come hungry for this tour!
Reserve this top-rated food tour here, before spots fill up.
3. Graffiti tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: Multiple times available from 9 am–3 pm
- Highlights: Explore Bogotá’s street art scene up close, discover murals by top Colombian artists, visit the city’s trendiest bars, vintage shops, and boutiques
- Inclusions: Professional guide, private walking tour, snacks
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
In terms of street art, Bogota is a very decorated city. Professional artists are paid handsome sums of money to decorate the streets despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that they often get punished by the police, even though graffiti was officially decriminalized here in 2011.
Legal struggles aside, a graffiti tour is an awesome way to get to know Bogota better. The street art murals tell Bogota’s story, from political turmoil to famous historical events and social issues. It’s definitely better to take a graffiti tour instead of exploring by yourself. There’s safety in numbers, and your guide will be able to show you places you’d never find on your own.
We loved this private walking tour that showed us a ton of street art through Bogota. Along the route, our guide showed us vintage shops, hipster bars, and niche stores, so we really got a feel for Bogota’s eclectic culture. This tour departs every 30 minutes, so it’s really easy to fit into a busy schedule!
I love private tours because they give me a chance to talk with the guide and ask questions, getting a more in-depth look at the city. Throughout this three-hour tour, you will gain a great insight into Bogota and find some hidden gems you can return to!
Check availability and book this street art tour here!
4. Museo del Oro
- Duration: 2 hours
- Time: 10 am
- Highlights: Explore Bogotá’s Gold Museum with a private guide, discover thousands of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts and ceremonial objects, gain deeper insight into Colombia’s Indigenous cultures
- Inclusions: Professional guide in your language of choice, transportation from your hotel, Gold Museum entry ticket, private tour
- Rating: 5 stars (check great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
Next up, we have the Museo del Oro. No self-respecting guide to Bogota would be complete without a mention of this iconic museum.
They say that all that glitters is gold, and that’s certainly true at the Museo del Oro, aka the Gold Museum. Not only is it one of the top Bogota attractions, but it’s also widely considered to be one of the best museums in all of South America.
This place is dedicated to the history, art, and culture of gold, and it’s home to the biggest collection of gold artifacts in the world. Its focus is pre-Hispanic gold, which means you’ll learn all about the Indigenous people of Colombia and how gold played a role in their cultures.
You’ll also get to see some of the most incredible gold artifacts you’ve ever laid eyes on, like jewelry, statues, and even a golden boat! It really is a spectacular collection and one of the most famous things to see in Bogota.
To get the most out of the museum, you can join a small-group tour for a personalized experience that will give you an even deeper insight into the history behind the collection. This private museum tour includes one-way transportation from your hotel to the museum and a knowledgeable guide who will bring the exhibits to life.
The museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. It closes at 4 pm on Sunday and does not open on Mondays.
Book your private museum tour here and get FREE cancellation before you go.
Alternatively, you can also visit the Museo del Oreo as part of a wider city tour. This scenic tour includes hotel pickup and drop off, as well as a walking tour of the La Candelaria neighborhood and a visit to La Cathedral Primera. It’s a great value considering everything that’s included, and you can also add a cable car ride up to Mount Monserrate for an additional cost!
Check availability and book this tour in advance here!
Related Read: Still need a place to stay? The right area can make or break your trip, so our where to stay in Bogota guide tells you the best areas and hotels for all budgets!
5. Visit the Salt Cathedral
- Duration: 6–7 hours
- Time: Multiple times available from 8 am–12 pm
- Highlights: Explore Colombia’s famous Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, wander the town’s colonial plazas and historic streets, enjoy Colombian coffee on a private tour
- Inclusions: Colombian snack, bottled water, medical insurance, Salt Mine ticket, audioguides in multiple languages in the Salt Cathedral, professional local bilingual guide (if selected), souvenir
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check 60+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is one of the most incredible things to see near Bogotá—and this private tour is the best way to experience it.
Located about 45 minutes outside the city, the cathedral sits deep inside a former salt mine and is considered one of Colombia’s most impressive feats of engineering. With round-trip transport included, you can simply relax and let your guide lead the way while sharing the history, culture, and symbolism behind this extraordinary underground church.
Although the cathedral is spectacular today, its story begins humbly. In the 1930s, miners carved a small sanctuary inside the mine where they prayed before each shift. This space eventually evolved into a larger cathedral in 1950, but structural concerns shut it down in the early 1990s.
Rather than abandon the idea, workers built an entirely new cathedral 200 feet (60 meters) below the original, opening its doors in 1995. Today, visitors walk through its illuminated tunnels, admire massive salt-carved crosses, and learn how faith, geology, and Colombian history intersect here.
Your guide will bring the stories of the miners, architects, and artists to life in a way that’s hard to appreciate on your own. You’ll also explore Zipaquirá’s charming historic center and enjoy the flexibility of a private experience without the stress of navigating transportation.
Since the Salt Cathedral is an active church and Sundays draw thousands for mass, it’s best to visit on another day. This is one of the most popular attractions near Bogotá—so book early!
Reserve this tour now, before it fills up, and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Explore Monserrate Hill
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Time: 10 am
- Highlights: Ride the cable car up Monserrate, take in views of Bogotá, explore the hilltop basilica, learn about local life and Colombian Catholic traditions on a guided walking tour
- Inclusions: Tour guide, all-risk insurance, round-trip Monserrate tickets
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 110+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
Monserrate Hill is one of the most popular Bogota attractions, and for good reason. This is one of the best places to get a bird’s-eye view of the city.
There are two ways to get up the hill—you can either hike or take the cable car. If you ask us, the latter is definitely the way to go.
The cable car journey only takes around 4 minutes, and it offers incredible views of Bogota as you zip up to the top. Once you’re at the top, you can explore the Catholic sanctuary, walk around the gardens, or visit one of the three restaurants.
We love this guided tour of Monserrate, which includes your cable car tickets! This is a fantastic option for those who want to learn more about Bogota’s history, about local life, and also about the influence of Catholicism in Colombia, including a stop at the Shrine of the Fallen Lord of Monserrate. I also think this tour is helpful for travelers who are unsure of navigating the cable car system on their own – the guide takes care of it for you!
All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the views, and they are quite impressive up there! This tour is 1.5 hours and reasonably priced, so it’s an easy one to add to your itinerary that’s well worth it.
Check out the dozens of 5-star reviews and book this tour before you go here.
7. Create your own emerald ring
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: Multiple times available from 9 am–6 pm
- Highlights: Create your own emerald ring with a master jeweler, choosing your stone and design while learning about Colombia’s famous emeralds in Bogotá’s jewelry district
- Inclusions: All necessary tools, ring-making workshop, pure silver, one standard quality emerald, small-group workshop
- Rating: 5 stars (check 350+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
Colombia is actually the emerald capital of the world! In fact, the country accounts for 70-90% of the global emerald market.
Colombian emeralds are known for their clarity and deep green hue, and the country has been producing these precious stones for centuries.
The International Emerald Museum is the perfect place to learn all about the Colombian emerald trade. It’s a private museum located inside a skyscraper, and it’s mere meters away from the Museo del Oro.
After you visit the Emerald Museum, why not go one step further and make your own emerald ring? This hands-on workshop is not only interesting and a lot of fun, but it will also leave you with a beautiful souvenir from your trip to Bogota.
An experienced designer will guide you as you create a bespoke piece of jewelry using Colombian emeralds. You’ll have the chance to try out different setting techniques and design your ring exactly the way you want it.
The workshop includes a small emerald and a silver ring, and you can also upgrade to a larger stone or a gold ring for an additional fee, which you can arrange directly with the workshop.
Don’t miss out—book this tour with over 350 5-star reviews here!
8. Visit a coffee farm
- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: 7 am
- Highlights: Tour the Hacienda Coloma coffee farm, walk through lush orchards and coffee crops, learn each step from bean to cup, sample fresh brews, enjoy a traditional Colombian lunch
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup/drop-off, professional guide, lunch, coffee tasting, entry tickets
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
Colombia is famous for its coffee, and Bogotá is the perfect place to learn how this iconic crop is grown—though to get the real experience, you need to head into the countryside. That’s why we booked this full-day private tour to Hacienda Coloma, a traditional coffee farm in Fusagasugá.
Our guide picked us up at our hotel, and we drove about 1.5 hours through lush green hills, watching Bogotá’s cool climate transform into the warm, humid weather that coffee plants love. When we arrived at the hacienda, we were greeted by the farmers and taken on a tour of the grounds, including orchid gardens, tropical plants, and row after row of coffee trees.
The best part was learning the entire process from start to finish—planting, harvesting, fermenting, drying, roasting, and tasting. We even headed into the fields to pick coffee cherries ourselves, which gave us a much deeper appreciation for how much work goes into every bean. Our guide explained how coffee shaped the region’s traditions and economy, and you could tell this wasn’t just a job for the people who work here—it’s part of their identity.
After exploring the farm, we enjoyed a guided tasting of freshly brewed coffee right where it was grown. It was rich, aromatic, and honestly one of the best cups we’ve ever had. Lunch was also included, served at a small countryside restaurant, and made the day feel even more special.
If you want an authentic, hands-on look at Colombia’s coffee culture, this tour is an amazing experience and a perfect day trip from Bogotá.
Reserve this tour here with flexible payment and cancellation options.
Related Read: If planning has you overwhelmed, have a look at our 3-day Bogota itinerary here, where we narrow down exactly what to do and when!
9. See La Chorrera waterfall
- Duration: 8–9 hours
- Time: 8:30 am
- Highlights: Hike through Andean cloud forest to Colombia’s tallest waterfall, enjoy breakfast in Bogotá and lunch near the falls, learn about local wildlife and Muisca heritage
- Inclusions: Breakfast, lunch, private transportation, professional bilingual tour guide Entrance fees to El Chiflón & La Chorrera waterfalls
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 280+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
La Chorrera is the tallest waterfall in Colombia and is located inside the Parque Aventura La Chorrera Ecopark, which is around 80 minutes outside of Bogota.
It’s a steep hike to the top of the waterfall and, unfortunately, you’re not allowed to swim in La Chorrera, but the views are rewarding enough.
Booking a tour is the easiest way to get there. This small group tour includes private transportation and a professional tour guide who will help you spot wildlife and explain the history of the park. You’ll get to hike to see the best views of the waterfall! I always prefer to book a tour when I’m in a new country and don’t exactly know where the trail is and how to get there. This just makes the day stress-free!
It’s important to note that this hike isn’t a simple walk in the park, so you should have a decent level of fitness. But the guides will ensure you’re staying safe and energized by providing breakfast, lunch, and snacks!
Check availability and book this hiking tour in advance here.
10. Lake Guatavita
- Duration: 7 hours
- Time: Multiple times available from 7 am–11 am
- Highlights: Hike around the legendary Lake Guatavita, learn the story of El Dorado, enjoy Andean scenery and wildlife, with optional lunch
- Inclusions: Tour guide, hotel pick-up/drop-off, entry to Lake Guatavita, lunch (optional), all-risk insurance, private tour
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
Lake Guatavita is a sacred lagoon located around a 1.5-hour drive from Bogota. This lake is famous for being the setting of the legend of El Dorado and is a popular spot for both locals and tourists alike.
El Dorado is a mythical city that was rumored to be full of gold, and the legend goes that the Indigenous people of Colombia used to cover themselves in gold dust and dive into the lake as part of a religious ritual.
The lake is much more than a beautiful natural feature – it’s steeped in culture and history, and a guided tour is the best way to make the most of it. This Lake Guatavita tour will teach you all about the lake’s formation, the El Dorado legend, and the Indigenous people who used to live in the area.
You’ll also get to enjoy a guided hike where you’ll spot fascinating local wildlife, and you can take a tour of the nearby village, with lunch at a local restaurant if you wish.
Taking a tour also means you won’t have to worry about transportation to and from the lake since it’s included in the price. The tour guide will regale you with stories and interesting facts about Lake Guatavita throughout, which was personally our favorite part of this tour.
The tour includes lunch and lasts around 7 hours, so it’s a full-day activity and an absolute must for active and adventurous travelers!
Don’t miss this epic sight – book this tour now and get FREE cancellation options!
Where to Stay in Bogota
Bogota is a HUGE city, so naturally, there are a ton of options when it comes to picking a place to stay – whether you’re in Bogota for only a day or planning to be here for a while. Plus, where you decide to stay can have a big impact on the activities you want to do – especially if you’re traveling on a budget. I’ll give you my top recommendations for a variety of hotels, so you can find one that fits!
Luxury – $$$
The Click Clack Hotel Bogotá is a luxury pick, but still affordable, starting at $123 USD nightly. You’ll be struck by the hotel’s unique and stylish design – both inside and out. The rooms have big windows, high ceilings, and feature cool extras like rain showers and electric blackout curtains. The location is awesome too, with restaurants, cafes, and bars all nearby. Book Click Clack Hotel here!
For stunning downtown views from every (huge!) room, Tequendama Suites by DOT Premium has value for money down. Every room is a suite, so you have tons of space to lounge in with a seating area and comfy bed. You can easily walk to most of the top attractions and enjoy a rooftop bar! Book a suite online in advance with Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
You know how much I love the historic La Candelaria neighborhood, so staying at the Selina La Candelaria Bogotá puts you right in the middle of it! Selina is a well-known hostel chain, but honestly, this place feels more like a funky art gallery. Private rooms run around the $55 USD mark and can be booked online with Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
In the central Bogota area, Hotel San Francisco de Asís puts you close to a lot of the top sights and within walking distance of the historic parts of the city. The rooms are around the $40-$50 USD mark (I find the best prices are typically on Booking.com) and have a great city skyline view, and the staff is known for being super helpful. Plus, the breakfasts here are so good, there’s always a line!
Budget – $
If you’re traveling on a budget, Bogota has some fantastic hostels that you can stay at for as little as $7 USD per night if you don’t mind a bed in a dorm room or around the $30 USD mark for a private room.
Spotty Bogotá Centro is a great hostel with a rooftop pool! It’s perfect for a working holiday with co-working spaces and an excellent restaurant. You can book on either Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
Bendito Hostels is another top choice with clean rooms and shared spaces – including some fun hammocks to use while relaxing in the garden. It has stellar reviews that you can read (and book your own room) on either Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code “DTRAVEL15”
What’s an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital version of a SIM card. Instead of buying a little plastic chip and swapping it into your phone, you just download it. It connects your phone to a local network in whatever country you’re visiting — no stores, no waiting, and no fiddling with tiny cards.
In simple terms, it’s the easiest way to get data and stay connected while traveling.
We’ve tested a bunch of eSIMs over the years, and after a few frustrating experiences, we’ve found our favorite — Airalo. It’s fast, reliable, and incredibly easy to use. You can set it up in minutes (even my mom managed it solo on her first try!), and the prices are some of the best out there.
💡 Bonus: We’ve got an exclusive 15% discount for our readers. Use the codes:
Thanks for reading!
Hopefully, our guide to Bogota, Colombia, has been helpful. This city is so big and vibrant, you won’t run out of things to see and do on your trip, even if you complete everything on our list! If Bogota is where you start your South American adventure, make sure you spend a few days in the city before venturing further. You won’t regret it!
We’ve traveled all around South America and have lots of tips and destinations to explore if you’re headed here soon. Browse around our blogs and leave a comment if you have any questions!
Southern Colombia Guide – Get “Off the Beaten Track”
Medellin Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Medellin, Colombia
Where to Stay in Tayrona National Park: The Absolute BEST Place to Spend the Night
Jeremy
Friday 21st of February 2025
Great read!
Anne
Friday 31st of January 2025
Thanks for sharing! This is very helpful while I try to figure out where to go. Thank you!
Destinationless Travel
Saturday 1st of February 2025
Hey Anne,
No worries! Enjoy your visit!
Thanks Daniel