Things to Do in Bogotá (and the Spanish to Enjoy Them)
From Monserrate and the Gold Museum to Sunday Ciclovía and day trips to Zipaquirá, here is what to do in Bogotá and the Colombian Spanish to make it easy.
Bogotá rewards a little planning and a few phrases. Here is a route through the city's best, with the Colombian Spanish that makes each stop smoother. Every place links to its full page in our guide, with address, hours, and an insider tip.
Start high, then go old
Monserrate is the mountain shrine that looks over the city. Take the funicular or cable car up for the view, then come back down into La Candelaria, the historic center of painted colonial houses and street art.
Useful phrases:
- "¿A qué horas abre?": what time does it open?
- "¿Me regala un tiquete, por favor?": could I get a ticket, please?
Museums worth the morning
- The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) holds one of the world's great collections of pre-Hispanic goldwork.
- The Botero Museum shows the rounded figures of Colombia's most famous artist, and entry is free.
Phrase: "¿La entrada es gratis?": is entry free?
Markets and Sunday rhythm
- Paloquemao is the city's great produce and flower market. Go early and try fruits you have never seen.
- Usaquén's Sunday market pairs crafts with brunch in a pretty old quarter.
- On Sundays, Ciclovía closes the main avenues to cars so the whole city walks and rides.
Phrases for a market:
- "¿A cómo está el kilo?": how much per kilo?
- "¿Me deja probar?": can I taste it?
- "¿Me regala una libra?": can I get a pound?
Day trips
- Zipaquirá: a cathedral carved inside a working salt mine.
- Laguna de Guatavita: the sacred lake behind the El Dorado legend.
- Villa de Leyva: a colonial town with one of the largest cobblestone plazas in the Americas.
Phrase: "¿Cuánto se demora en bus?": how long does it take by bus?
A note on altitude and weather
Bogotá sits high, around 2,600 meters. The sun is strong, the evenings are cool, and the weather changes fast. Locals carry a jacket year round and say "en Bogotá hay cuatro estaciones en un día," four seasons in one day. Take it slow your first day or two while you adjust.
Browse all 164 spots in the Bogotá guide, and build the Spanish to enjoy them in the Colombian Culture and Professional & Travel courses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the one thing to do in Bogotá?
If you only do one thing, go up Monserrate for the view over the whole city, then walk the historic La Candelaria district. Together they give you Bogotá's geography and its history in an afternoon.
What is Ciclovía?
Every Sunday and on holidays, Bogotá closes major avenues to cars from morning until early afternoon so people can cycle, run, and walk. It is free, it is huge, and it is one of the best ways to see the city like a local.
What are good day trips from Bogotá?
Popular day trips include the underground Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, the Laguna de Guatavita tied to the El Dorado legend, and the colonial town of Villa de Leyva. All are doable from Bogotá and all appear in our guide.
From the Bogotá guide
Start learning Colombian Spanish
Courses, the AI tutor Luz, and the Bogotá guide are all free, no account required.
