Michael’s guidebook
Great Attractions to Visit
Here are a few great attractions in Bogota and the surrounding area that I recommend you check out if you have time. The last 2 recommendations are VERY close to the apartment, and are an easy walk.
This is a traditional Spanish church on top of a mountain. The view is incredible! The best in Bogota! If you’re feeling adventurous and go during the day with a group, you can hike up the mountain. Don’t do this if it’s night or you’re alone, though. If not, take the cable car – it’s easier.
When you get to the top, buy a “canelazo” to drink. There are two restaurants on top as well, but I don’t think they are that good. You’re paying a lot for the view, and the food is only so-so.
1000 helybéli ajánlásával
Monserrate
This is a traditional Spanish church on top of a mountain. The view is incredible! The best in Bogota! If you’re feeling adventurous and go during the day with a group, you can hike up the mountain. Don’t do this if it’s night or you’re alone, though. If not, take the cable car – it’s easier.
When you get to the top, buy a “canelazo” to drink. There are two restaurants on top as well, but I don’t think they are that good. You’re paying a lot for the view, and the food is only so-so.
This is the oldest, most historic part of Bogota. Lots of pretty, colorful buildings and winding streets to explore. It’s a neighborhood, so just go there with the idea of walking around, taking pictures, and exploring.
If you find yourselves getting hungry while walking around, I STRONGLY recommend a super tiny little restaurant called La Puerta Falsa on Calle 11. This place has been around forever, and for good reason. In my experience, they have the best Colombian tamales and hot chocolate I’ve ever had (and I have a lot of data points).
584 helybéli ajánlásával
Greann Candelaria
6-58 Cl. 12bThis is the oldest, most historic part of Bogota. Lots of pretty, colorful buildings and winding streets to explore. It’s a neighborhood, so just go there with the idea of walking around, taking pictures, and exploring.
If you find yourselves getting hungry while walking around, I STRONGLY recommend a super tiny little restaurant called La Puerta Falsa on Calle 11. This place has been around forever, and for good reason. In my experience, they have the best Colombian tamales and hot chocolate I’ve ever had (and I have a lot of data points).
This is within La Candelaria, but is important enough to have its own point. This is the capital of Colombia, and the center of the country’s power. The square has a cool church, their parliament, and several other neat buildings. It’s also about 2 blocks from Puerta Falsa (hint, hint).
363 helybéli ajánlásával
Bolivar tér
11-10 Cra. 7This is within La Candelaria, but is important enough to have its own point. This is the capital of Colombia, and the center of the country’s power. The square has a cool church, their parliament, and several other neat buildings. It’s also about 2 blocks from Puerta Falsa (hint, hint).
Also within Candelaria, this has a staggering amount of mind-blowing gold from the Indian and pre-Spanish days. Really pretty stuff, even if you don’t like museums.
Be sure and check out the “musica raft” while you’re there. That’s my favorite piece.
901 helybéli ajánlásával
Arany Múzeum (Museo del Oro)
15-88 Cra. 6Also within Candelaria, this has a staggering amount of mind-blowing gold from the Indian and pre-Spanish days. Really pretty stuff, even if you don’t like museums.
Be sure and check out the “musica raft” while you’re there. That’s my favorite piece.
This sculptor is probably the most famous in Colombia, and there’s a ton of his stuff here. If you’re into art, this is the place for you!
309 helybéli ajánlásával
Botero Múzeum
4-41 Cl. 11This sculptor is probably the most famous in Colombia, and there’s a ton of his stuff here. If you’re into art, this is the place for you!
This is a real, working salt mine. However the miners actually built a big church out of the salt underground. They have tours through it, and it’s both amazing and really pretty.
The town of Zipaquira is about an hour north of the apartment. You could drive, but instead I strongly recommend you take the train. There is a cool old train that takes you there. After seeing the church, the train also takes you to a nice little town called Cajica, where you can get snacks and look around. The train then takes you back to Bogota, so it’s a nice day trip.
307 helybéli ajánlásával
Zipaquirá Só Katedrálisa
Parque De La SalThis is a real, working salt mine. However the miners actually built a big church out of the salt underground. They have tours through it, and it’s both amazing and really pretty.
The town of Zipaquira is about an hour north of the apartment. You could drive, but instead I strongly recommend you take the train. There is a cool old train that takes you there. After seeing the church, the train also takes you to a nice little town called Cajica, where you can get snacks and look around. The train then takes you back to Bogota, so it’s a nice day trip.
If you like exploring local culture and foods, this is the place to go. Tons of different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and foods are brought in from the farmers in the countryside every morning and all the top restaurants buy their food for the day here each morning. Really fun, slightly crazy environment for exploring and trying new things.
Maybe visit here early in your trip to get food for the rest of your week?
Paloquemao station
If you like exploring local culture and foods, this is the place to go. Tons of different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and foods are brought in from the farmers in the countryside every morning and all the top restaurants buy their food for the day here each morning. Really fun, slightly crazy environment for exploring and trying new things.
Maybe visit here early in your trip to get food for the rest of your week?
This pretty town about 75 min outside Bogota has a beautiful lake that is the origin for the legend of the Lost City of El Dorado (not the Disney movie, the real one). The city is nice to walk around, and there are some nice paths around the lake if you like.
However due to the distance, I recommend you either rent a car or arrange for a driver. I'm happy to help with recommendations here, if you like.
73 helybéli ajánlásával
Guatavita
This pretty town about 75 min outside Bogota has a beautiful lake that is the origin for the legend of the Lost City of El Dorado (not the Disney movie, the real one). The city is nice to walk around, and there are some nice paths around the lake if you like.
However due to the distance, I recommend you either rent a car or arrange for a driver. I'm happy to help with recommendations here, if you like.
This is about 2 blocks from the Botanical Garden, and is another large park for exploring, taking pictures, and enjoying the outdoors. Also important, it's free!
406 helybéli ajánlásával
Simon Bolivar Metropolitán Park
This is about 2 blocks from the Botanical Garden, and is another large park for exploring, taking pictures, and enjoying the outdoors. Also important, it's free!
This is a great park for taking a relaxing walk around a lake and seeing lots of pretty flowers.
260 helybéli ajánlásával
Bogotai Botanikus Kert
68-95 Cl. 63This is a great park for taking a relaxing walk around a lake and seeing lots of pretty flowers.
Typical amusement park with rides and fun. They often have festivals and concerts here too, so be sure to check their website for the current events.
117 helybéli ajánlásával
Salitre Mágico
60-80 Avenida José Celestino MutisTypical amusement park with rides and fun. They often have festivals and concerts here too, so be sure to check their website for the current events.
This is a large new shopping mall that you probably want to take an Uber to get to or walk about 20 min from the apartment. If you’re going to do any major shopping, I recommend going here. Of course, they also have movie theatres, restaurants, etc.
If you’d like another big mall to visit, I recommend Unicentro, which is about a 10-15 min Uber ride.
36 helybéli ajánlásával
Parque La Colina bevásárlóközpont
##146-51 Cra. 58dThis is a large new shopping mall that you probably want to take an Uber to get to or walk about 20 min from the apartment. If you’re going to do any major shopping, I recommend going here. Of course, they also have movie theatres, restaurants, etc.
If you’d like another big mall to visit, I recommend Unicentro, which is about a 10-15 min Uber ride.
Another nice, upscale mall with every store you're likely to want. It's about 10-15 min Uber ride from the apartment.
366 helybéli ajánlásával
Unicentro
124-30 Cra. 15Another nice, upscale mall with every store you're likely to want. It's about 10-15 min Uber ride from the apartment.
This is a trendy, upscale neighborhood with lots of nice stores and restaurants to explore.
50 helybéli ajánlásával
Chapinero
This is a trendy, upscale neighborhood with lots of nice stores and restaurants to explore.
Probably a 7-10 min walk from the apartment, this is the closest shopping mall to the apartment. It’s kind of small, but has several clothing stores.
More importantly, it has a Juan Valdez coffee, casino, movie theater, and a Crepes and Waffles restaurant. Crepes and Waffles is an incredible local chain. The food is great, it’s pretty cheap, and they only hire single mothers for waitresses, so they can make a decent living and support their families. At least once, you must to eat at one of these because the food is so good. Their ice cream for desert is incredible! It must have drugs in it because it’s so addictive!
23 helybéli ajánlásával
San Rafael Paseo Mall
# 55-30 Cl. 134Probably a 7-10 min walk from the apartment, this is the closest shopping mall to the apartment. It’s kind of small, but has several clothing stores.
More importantly, it has a Juan Valdez coffee, casino, movie theater, and a Crepes and Waffles restaurant. Crepes and Waffles is an incredible local chain. The food is great, it’s pretty cheap, and they only hire single mothers for waitresses, so they can make a decent living and support their families. At least once, you must to eat at one of these because the food is so good. Their ice cream for desert is incredible! It must have drugs in it because it’s so addictive!
Recommended Restaurants
Bogota has an amazing selection of restaurants! Here are a few that I recommend you try, if you'd like to explore the local cuisine.
Located in the Colina Shopping Mall on Calle 138 about 2 blocks from the apartment, this is the best steakhouse in the area. They aren’t fancy and the prices are reasonable, but the meat is awesome! Be sure to try this for lunch or dinner one day!
Sagal Steak House
Located in the Colina Shopping Mall on Calle 138 about 2 blocks from the apartment, this is the best steakhouse in the area. They aren’t fancy and the prices are reasonable, but the meat is awesome! Be sure to try this for lunch or dinner one day!
Crepes and Waffles is an incredible local chain. I've used this location as an example for this list, but you can find them all over Bogota and they're all INCREDIBLE. The food is great, it’s pretty cheap, and they only hire single mothers for waitresses, so they can make a decent living and support their families.
At least once, you must to eat at one of these because the food is so good. Their ice cream for desert is incredible! It must have drugs in it because it’s so addictive!
100 helybéli ajánlásával
Crepes & Waffles
12-10 Cl. 93bCrepes and Waffles is an incredible local chain. I've used this location as an example for this list, but you can find them all over Bogota and they're all INCREDIBLE. The food is great, it’s pretty cheap, and they only hire single mothers for waitresses, so they can make a decent living and support their families.
At least once, you must to eat at one of these because the food is so good. Their ice cream for desert is incredible! It must have drugs in it because it’s so addictive!