Things To Do in Bogota

Museums

Bogotá has over 50 museums. In addition to those reviewed, try to visit Museo de Trajes Regionales de Colombia, Calle 10 no. 6-20 (tel. 1/282-6531; http://bogotaturismo.gov.co/museo-de-trajes-regionales-de-colombia), the home of Simón Bolívar's lover, Manuelita Sáenz.

Churches

Church lovers are in for a real treat in Bogotá. The city's colonial origin means that there are some excellent, fully preserved churches in La Candelaria and El Centro Histórico. Though Bogotá's many churches may be staid on the outside, their insides are often opulent examples of colonial religious art. Those reviewed are a list of some of the best churches. Except where noted, admission is free (though donations are accepted).

Other Attractions

Many visitors to Bogotá are here only for a few days, usually as a part of a larger trip to Colombia that might include Caribbean beaches, eco-lodge stays in the Amazon and Pacific, or colonial towns in the highlands. However, once you’ve had a taste of the city’s nightlife and cultural offerings, it’s hard to stay away, and many end up returning. There’s plenty to do for those who stay longer than a day or two and enough museums and restaurants to keep you going for weeks. Most visitors are torn between two primary areas of the city: the center and La Candelaria, and the northern suburbs. In the center and La Candelaria are most of the best museums, historic architecture, and attractions; the best restaurants, hotels, and shopping are in the north. Most visitors sightsee in the center during the day and eat and sleep in the north at night. For those with a bit more time, day trips into the countryside in Zipaquirá and Chía offer some respite from the fast pace of the city.

Created in 1539 by Bogotá’s founder, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, the Plaza de Bolívar has changed substantially over the last 5 centuries but has remained the sentimental center of Bogotá. The square was remodeled to its current appearance in 1960 as a tribute to 150 years of independence. Plaza de Bolívar provides a good insight into the eclectic architectural styles of Bogotá: Here you’ll find the colonial-style La Casa del Florero; the 19th-century Catedral Primal, which evokes the Renaissance churches of Europe; the neoclassical Capitolio; and the palace-like Casa de Nariño. On the northern side, the Palacio de Justicia is an abrupt, monumental building with a tragic history: It has been burned down twice, first by a mob in 1948, and then by M-19 guerrillas in 1985. The statue of Simón Bolívar in the middle of the square was the first public monument in Bogotá.

The majestic Teatro Colón, Calle 10 no. 5–32 (www.teatrocolon.gov.co; tel. 1/284-7420; Transmilenio: Museo del Oro), in the heart of La Candelaria, took its present form by 1895 under the direction of Italian architect Pietro Cantini. Check out the fresco-covered foyer; the wooden, beautifully engraved boxes; and the opulent chandelier marking the center of the theater. With a five-level, 938-person capacity, the theater is home to Bogotá’s symphony orchestra and is still used for Bogotá’s most important performing arts. For tickets, call tel. 1/341-0475. Individual or group guided visits are from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 1 to 5pm. Admission is COP$4,500; COP$8,000 for character/costume tour.

At an altitude of 3,048m (10,000 ft.), the Cerro de Monserrate ★★ (www.cerromonserrate.com) offers spectacular views of Bogotá. It’s also home to two very good restaurants, decent souvenir shops, and the Santuario de Monserrate, with its 17th-century figure of a fallen Christ, which attracts hundreds of pilgrims every weekend. You can see them climbing the slopes of Monserrate to pay their homage. The top of Monserrate can be reached by cable car or funicular, beginning at Carrera 2E no. 21–48, Paseo Bolívar, Estación del Funicular (tel. 1/284-5700). The funicular costs COP$16,400 Monday to Saturday and COP$9,600 on Sundays; it runs 7:45am to 11:45pm on weekdays, 6am to 6:30pm Saturdays and Sundays. The newer teleférico (cable car) has the same price and runs from noon to midnight on Monday through Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sunday.

Shopping options in Bogotá are plentiful and varied. In the city center, look for bargains and handicrafts. In the north, you'll find upscale shopping malls and boutiques. Colombia is well known for its shoes, purses, emeralds, and gold. Good deals can be found on these items, but save your bargaining for El Centro; prices are fixed in more upscale northern Bogotá.

Antiques & Jewelry

A couple of good antiques stores are Anticuarios Gilberto F. Hernández, Calle 79B no. 7-48 (tel. 1/249-0041), in the Zona T neighborhood, and Almacén de Antigüedades Leonardo F, at Carrera 4 no. 12-34 (tel. 1/334-8312), in Candelaria. There are also several antique shops in Usaquén.

Most shops selling emeralds are located around Carrera 6 between calles 12 and 13, the Centro Internacional.

Bogotá has one of the great art scenes in Latin America, with galleries clustered in different neighborhoods all over town.

Meant to be the parking lot for the Muse do Arte del Banco de la República, however, it turned into El Parquedero (www.banrepcultural.org/el-parqueadero) at Calle 11 no. 4–21, and became a unique cultural venue of its own, holding frequent exhibitions.

For contemporary work from big names and promising rising artists, there’s Galería El Museo (www.galeriaelmuseo.com), Calle 81 no. 11–41, and La Cometa (www.galerialacometa.com), Carrera 10 no. 94A–25. The three-level Cero Galería, Calle 80 no. 12–55, is home to large-format photography and paintings. In La Macarena, there’s Alonso Garcés Galería (www.alonsogarcesgaleria.com), Carrera 5 no. 26B–92, which is the reincarnation of an avant-garde gallery that launched in the 1970s and maintains a loyal following. It has eight exhibitions each year focusing on painting, sculpture, and video, as well as a gallery store. Galería Beta (www.galeriabeta.com), Calle 75a no. 20c–52 in San Felipe, is more experimental and attracts a young crowd. Dibs by Culture Shock, at Carrera 3 #11–24, focuses on graffiti and street art, helping bring in edgy, young urban art into the limelight. There’s also a design store on site.

Fashion

Colombian fashion icon (and Cartagena hotel owner) Silvia Tcherassi’s Bogotá store, at Carrera 12 no. 84–17, is where to come for unique runway style dresses. Studio F (www.studiof.com.co), Calle 26 no. 62–47, sells sleek and silky womenswear. Amelia Toro (www.ameliatoro.com), who now has stores in North America, sells her sophisticated seasonal collections from her store at Av. 82 no. 12–10.
If you happen to be here in March, you can attend events at Bogotá Fashion Week (www.bogotafashionweek.com.co), which showcases the city’s and the country’s top designers.

Handicrafts & Textiles

For handicrafts, try Carrera 15, between calles 74 and 77, the Centro Internacional (International Center), the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) and La Plaza de los Artesanos, located on Calle 63 at Carrera 50. Many handicrafts shops are found around La Candelaria and El Centro, though they’re dominated by cheap, mass-produced souvenirs. For something of better quality, Artesanías de Colombia (www.artesaniasdecolombia.com.co) has several locations throughout Bogotá, including at Carrera 11 no. 84–12 (tel. 1/218-0672). Decent flea markets are held in Plaza Santander in the city center (daily 9am–6pm at Calle 24 and Carrera 7) and in Usaquén, on Saturday and Sunday, in the parking lot at Carrera 5 and Calle 119. My favorite spot for handicrafts is Mambe ★, at Carrera 5 no. 117–25 (tel. 1/629-8880), which sources fair-trade handicrafts from rural and indigenous communities around Colombia. Although the prices are a bit higher than at stores in the city center, no one will hassle you, and goods are of more authentic and decent quality.

Leather Goods

For discount deals, head to the Restrepo neighborhood. Quality leather goods can also be found in upscale shopping centers. Good leather stores include Mario Hernández, which has several locations, including at Unicentro (tel. 1/213-0165) and Carrera 68D no. 13–74 (tel. 1/292-6266). Another good option is Julia Rodríguez, at Calle 81 no. 9–25 (tel. 1/249-5229).

Markets & Malls

It almost seems as if there are more shops than people in Bogotá. The main shopping areas are in Usaquén, La Zona Rosa, Carrera 15, Avenida de Chile, Carrera 13, Calle 53, and the Chapinero neighborhood. Some popular shopping centers are the American-style Atlantis Plaza, Calle 81 no. 13-05; Centro Comercial Andino, Carrera 11 no. 83-71; the 312 shops of Unicentro, Av. 15 no. 123–30; and Hacienda Santa Bárbara, Carrera 7 no. 115–60, which was once the property of a wealthy Bogotá family. The latter is a unique shopping center that has both a modern and colonial part built around a beautiful courtyard. Inside, you'll find high-quality boutiques and jewelry stores.

For budget shopping, try San Andresito, at Carrera 38 and Calle 12, where you can find more or less anything you're looking for. The shopping centers and stores around San Victorino Square, Carrera 10 and Calle 10, in the center of the city are also very cheap, with a great assortment of clothing, handicrafts, and even electronics. However, the area can be a bit seedy, so try not to make your tourist status too obvious. Tip: Bargain hard around San Victorino, especially if it's obvious that you're not Colombian; otherwise you'll end up paying far too much.

Even though Bogotanos aren't known for their dancing abilities, they do enjoy an enviable nightlife. An active bar and club scene thrives in Usaquén, La Candelaria, La Zona Rosa, and Parque de la 93. Most bars and clubs get going around 11pm and close around 3am. In large clubs, you'll be expected to buy a bottle of liquor if you want to sit at a table; if you just want a shot or two, sit at the bar. Bogotanos dress up to go out, so make sure to look your best. An extensive listing of Bogotá clubs and bars can be found at www.bogota-dc.com/dir/rumba.html.

Bogotá’s cocktail culture has progressed considerably in recent years. The Apache Bar on the roof of the Click Clack Hotel, Carrera 11 no. 93–77, attracts well-to-do crowds for the burgers, views, and stiff drinks. For gin, Ocus, Calle 69a no. 6–17, has several dozen types that are served alongside an eclectic menu. In Usaquén, Huerta, Carrera 7 Bis. no. 124–36, has an on-site garden with hundreds of herbs and botanicals that they use in their cocktails, which include tiki drinks and punches. Black Bear, at Carrera 11a no. 89–06, has some of the most professional mixologists in town serving original drinks and Colombian takes on classics like the Moscow Mule and Old Fashioned.

At Parque de la 93, Galeria Café Libro, Calle 11A-93-42 (tel. 218-3435), is one of my favorite salsa places in Bogotá and fills up Thursday to Saturday. They only play salsa here, so make sure you've polished up your moves. This rumbero caters to a 25-and-above crowd. Expect to be drenched in sweat upon leaving after a night of intense salsa dancing.

Punto G, at Calle 94 no. 11-46 (tel. 1/616-7046), is another popular crossover club. It resembles a hotel reception hall and is popular with the over-30 crowd. There's live music Wednesday through Saturday (featuring reggae, rock en español, salsa, and traditional Colombian beats), as well as a decent food selection. A night of partying at Punto G will also cost you: The average cocktail goes for COL$20,000, and a bottle of aguardiente costs about COL$90,000. Cover is COL$16,000 Thursday through Saturday.

The Bogotá Beer Company is popular with the post-university yuppie crowd. It plays '80s and '90s rock beats and serves several varieties of beer produced in a nearby Bogotá beer distillery. All locations are popular with Bogotanos, but some of my favorites are on Carrera 12 no. 83-33 (tel. 1/603-071), Carrera 11A no. 93-94 (tel. 1/621-9914), Av. 19 no. 120-76 (tel. 1/215-5150), Carrera 6 no. 119-24 (tel. 1/620-8454), Calle 85 no.13-06 (tel. 1/256-6950), and the Usaquén location.

The always-popular Irish Pub in La Zona T caters to a diverse crowd of Bogotanos and foreigners. One of the few places you’ll find quite a few foreigners, the mojitos are excellent and the atmosphere is festive. This typical pub fills up early, so be sure to show up early if you want to get a much-coveted outside table. (Don’t worry, there are heaters to warm you up on cold nights.)

Live Music Clubs

Owned by Guillermo Vives, the older brother of singer Carlos Vives, the restaurant and dancehall Gaira Café (www.gairacafe.co), Carrera 13 no. 96–11, has frequent cumbia and vallenato shows, as well as other lively performances of regional Colombian music.

Bolón de Verde, 1A no. 12b–20, at Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo in La Candelaria, has live jazz and blues, as does nearby El Gato Gris, Carrera 1A no. 12b–12.

Dance Clubs

Andrés Carne De Res ★★★, at Calle 3 no. 11A-56 (no Transmilenio access), in Chia (www.andrescarnederes.com; tel. 1/863-7880) is considered the king of Bogotá nightlife by many. The kitschy steakhouse has expanded to cover an area of nearly 3 square miles and attracts thousands of people at a time. The owner opened another Andrés in La Zona T that is divided into three floors (Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell), but a trip to the original is still definitely worth a visit—it’s one of the most iconic nightlife experiences in Colombia.

In La Macarena, El Bembe ★ (Calle 27B no 6–73) is a lively salsa bar that stays open late. Hipsters gravitate to Armando Records, at Calle 85 no. 14–46, which blasts electronic and rock music on multiple levels. At Parque de la 93, Galeria Café Libro, Carrera 11A–93–42 (www.galeriacafelibro.com.co; tel. 1/218-3435), is one of the better salsa places in Bogotá and fills up Thursday to Saturday. They only play salsa here, so make sure you’ve polished up your moves. This rumbero caters to a 25-and-above crowd. Expect to be drenched in sweat upon leaving after a night of intense salsa dancing.

Punto G, at Calle 94 no. 11–46 (tel. 1/616-7046), is another popular crossover club. It recently underwent a major renovation and is popular with the over-30 crowd. There’s live music Wednesday through Saturday (featuring reggae, rock en español, salsa, and traditional Colombian beats), as well as a decent food selection. A night of partying at Punto G will also cost you, though.

Theater & the Performing Arts

Bogotá’s premier performing arts venue is the grand Teatro Colón, Calle 10 no. 5–32 (www.teatrocolon.gov.co; tel. 1/284-7420; Transmilenio: Museo del Oro), in La Candelaria. The theater seats nearly 1,000 spread out over five levels and hosts the most important concerts, plays, ballets, and operas in the city, if not the entire country. For tickets, call tel. 1/341-0475 or visit the website. Also in La Candelaria, Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez, Calle 11 no. 5–60 (www.fce.com.co), the oversized brick cultural complex designed by legendary Colombian architect Rogelio Salmona and named after Colombia’s most famous author, occasionally has small performances like concerts and poetry readings.

Gay & Lesbian

Bogotá has a vibrant LGBT scene, with nightspots scattered around town. With 13 different adjoining bars and clubs, multilevel Theatron (www.portaltheatron.co), Calle 58 no. 10–18, claims to be the largest disco in Latin America. Each space has a theme, like a German beer garden/rock club, a Mexican cantina, and a gothic cathedral, among others. With locations in Chapinero (Calle 62 no. 7–13) and the Zona Rosa (Carrera 14 no. 83–37), restaurant and bar Estación (www.estacioncafecolombia.com), open since 2003, has become one of the most popular gay hangouts in Bogotá. There are frequent theme nights and drink specials. The Chapinero location also has an attached terrace bar. Nightclub and bar El Mozo (www.elmozoclub.com), Calle 85 no. 12–21, is big and often crowded and sweaty, with DJs pumping house music until 3am.

Cinema

While you can find modern multiplexes all over town from Cinemark (www.cinemark.com.co) and Cine Colombia (www.cinecolombia.com/bogota), independent movies and most small Latin American productions are seen at Cine Tonalá, Carrera 6A no 35–27 (www.cinetonala.co).