Things to do in Bogota Colombia

Bogota is freaking huge! Like 8-9 million people huge!
Which means there are PLENTY of things to do in Bogota Colombia.
Ready for me to break down a few of my favorites in this post?

And, it’s full of…

• Museums
• Mercados
• Unique Architecture
• Food Scene
• Vibrant Nightlife

Majority of Colombians were welcoming, warm, and friendly.

Except for the guy who stole my phone out of my hand on day 3 of 25 on my trip.
To see how that all unfolded check out this entry here and here.
Fortunately, I didn’t let this deter me or taint my perspective of Colombia at all.

I’ll be back to tackle…

• Cali
• Cartagena
• Santa Marta
• Tayrona National Park 
• Isla de San Andres

Safety Recommendations |

• Stay North of La Candelaria
• Protect your cell phone & take it out sparingly
• Don’t carry a lot of extra cash on you
• Take Uber vs. a Taxi when you can
• Don’t stay out too late

Bogota | Bogota

• Urban Food Tour
  • Airbnb Experience here
  • Joey and Gio are both AMAZING! They’re seriously the sweetest humans you’ll ever meet. They put so much time and effort into curating this experience and it really shows. The surprise at the end is the best part.
  • They also run a popular lifestyle blog called, Bogotivo
• Best Value Hotel/Apartment
  • Urban Heights
  • It’s located in the Chapinero area
  • The receptionist, Christian, was so welcoming and accommodating
• Hostels
  • The first one I booked was under construction, and I found out when I arrived
  • My two other hostel stays were alright
  • La Candelaria | Botanico Hostel Not the cleanest, WiFi wasn’t great at all, the water stopped working multiple times, and they turned it into a movie set for 3 days
  • Chapinero | Bandido Hostel It was very clean and modern, but you could hear everything going on downstairs & it sounded like the motorbikes were actually driving through the room
  • The La Candelaria area is worth a visit for the historical square and museums, but I wouldn’t recommend staying down there
  • I’d recommend staying in the Chapinero area. It’s centrally located with access to public transportation, is LGBTQ+ friendly, and has lots of fun restaurants, bars, and nightclubs
• Hike | Monserrate
  • Don’t be fooled, it’s no joke
  • It’s a natural stairmaster at 10,000 ft elevation
  • There’s a cable car you can take on the way down, and/or the way up if you prefer to go with the sweat free option. I personally don’t recommend it, but I get it. But, if a blind man and an older woman with 4 heavy bags can do it, so can you.
  • Try to stay at the top until mass starts because it’s worth experiencing
• Restaurants & Coffee Shops
  • La Candelaria | La Bruja, Aquelarres y Bebidas Espirituosas
    • This was my first real meal in Colombia
    • It has a 4.5 rating and is on the expensive side
    • Save your money, and go somewhere else
    • I hated my dish. Every flavor was off. I only ate ~5 bites total
  • La Candelaria | Selina La Candelaria Bogotá
    • Such a cute coffee shop located inside a hostel
    • I loved my latte and avocado toast
    • Only frustrating part was they didn’t open on time, and due to COVID the guard at the hostel wouldn’t let me come in to sit and wait
  • La Macarena | Raad Arabian Restaurant
    • Great ratings and delicious food
    • [Update as of Sept 2021] They must have moved locations. It appears they are in the Usaquen area now. 
  • La Macarena | Groso Cafe Argentino [multiple locations]
    • Argentinian bakery
    • Their passionfruit [maracuya] pie is a MUST TRY! Trust me! It’s one of the most distinct flavors I’ve ever tasted. In a good way.
    • It’s a street away from Raad. Walk over and grab a slice of maracuya pie for dessert.
    • Be careful, this is the neighborhood where my phone was stolen
  • Chapinero | Mesa Salvaje
    • So cute with a lot of delicious healthy options 
    • This female entrepreneur is from Maryland, moved to Bogota with her husband, and has opened three different restaurant concepts in the area
  • Chapinero | Mistral
    • Cute lil breakfast spot
    • Grab & go, or sit down and work or read for a bit
    • WiFi wasn’t the best. Couldn’t connect and got kicked off a lot.
  • Chapinero | Masa [multiple locations]
    • This is a chain, but it has very modern decor with a lovely menu
  • Alameda | Compania Casa del Rey
    • Great lunch spot
    • This place was completely unexpected and unassuming, but such a cool find
    • There were multiple boutique restaurants in this co-op space
    • It’s along the main thoroughfare on Carrera 7 with tons of activity and street vendors
  • Chapinero | Le Specia Restaurante
    • Old school Italian restaurant with amazing reviews
    • I was the only one dining on the patio
    • The Bolognese was alright
• Bars
  • Chapinero | Observatorio Distrital Del Exilio Musical [ODEM]
    • Amazing tacos, music, and happy hour 
    • Overlooks a gorgeous cathedral
• Transportation
  • There are Taxis
  • Uber is there, but they try to hide it from the taxi drivers
  • Drivers ask you to sit in the front seat to appear like friends
• Theft
  • Be alert at all times. No really. Be alert at all times!
  • Cell phone theft is a full time job in Colombia, especially in Bogota 
  • Both locals and tourists get their phones stolen
  • My phone was stolen directly out of my hand by a guy on a motorbike in the La Macarena area
  • I was prepared for people on the streets, but I should’ve been mindful of every possible situation
  • A friend told me a girl was texting on a bus with the window down, and a guy jumped up and snatched the phone right out of her hands from outside the bus and took off
  • To learn more about my cell phone getting jacked, check out this entry here and here 
  • Zipper closures are clutch. On jackets and pants.