Bogotá is a capital, a huge city with lots of things to do so it can be difficult to find suitable activities to make a short trip worthwhile, especially if you’ve never been before. I spent three days there and managed to get to learn a lot about the city in those days, so here are my recommendations:
- Chose one neighbourhood to stay in; La Candelaria
If you’ve been to London before, you’ll know that finding your way in a city the size of that can be difficult and going from A to B can take HOURS. So pick one neighbourhood you want to get to know in Bogotá and stick to it. You’ll be able to walk around in the area and find activities close. La Candelaria is highly recommended because it’s where I went 😉
- Stay at a Hostel
This is particularly useful if you’re travelling by yourself but it can be fun with friends too. No curfew, lots of international people and people who are willing to do stuff with you. They might have just arrived or they might be on their last day after a long trip. Whatever the circumstance, they will be able to give you tips on where to go in the city or the country, you’ll hear interesting life stories and you might do activities you didn’t know of!
Where I stayed: http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Alegrias-Hostel-Bogota/Bogota/29341?dateFrom=2017-08-26&dateTo=2017-08-29&number_of_guests=1&sc_pos=3 - Go on Walking Tours
You can do free walking tours in many cities all over the world. Walking tours, bike tours, graffiti tours, food walking tours you name it. For Colombia, this website is good http://www.beyondcolombia.com/ but you can easily find them at your local hotel/hostel, ask locals or walk around in your area.
The ones I went on were the Free Walking Tour and the Graffiti Tour. Highly recommend the latter! We even got to see an artist in action http://www.bogotagraffiti.com
- Monserrate
Because you shouldn’t miss the view at 3,152 m altitude down onto the big city. I recommend going in the evening for the sunset (Didn’t get to do it myself). You can either walk up, although that is a bit unsafe and takes about an hour, or you can take the cable car! It costs 20’000 COP one way which is like 5 GBP.
- Go out to local bars and restaurants
You will get the Rolo taste! Drink Poker beer, Aguardiente and try Chicha, an alcoholic drink made from fermented corn. Ask if they have Tejo too! It’s a fun game to play whilst drinking with others where you have to throw a metal disc at gunpowder filled triangles. And as for food, don’t forget to try la bandeja paisa, the traditional Colombian taste.
La Bandeja PaisaVive y disfruta Bogotá!
Besos y abrazos,
Celi
cescurls 