Bogotá Capital District is a city founded on August 6, 1538, by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Characterized by having 20 localities, which are subdivided into 1922 neighborhoods and comprise a population of 7.8 million inhabitants.
This metropolis of large buildings has the El Dorado International Airport located to the west within the city if you want to travel by plane, three bus terminals located one to the south, another to the center, and another to the north if you want to arrive by bus to Bogotá, 2 transportation systems called TransMilenio and SITP, and 344 kilometers of bike paths (being the longest bike path in Latin America) to ride a bike around the city.
Bogotá is a city to live in Colombia because in addition to offering essential places to go, see and visit. It is recognized for being a somewhat chaotic but interesting, modern city with a super beautiful old town. As well as traditions such as the Ibero-American Theater Festival, the Bogota International Book Fair, Rock al Parque Festival, and the Summer Festival. But especially, for its welcoming climate, since the climate in Bogotá Capital District during most of the year is cold with an average temperature between 9 ºC and 24 degrees Celsius.
Now as for the beautiful places in Bogotá, they are identified as having many facets since you can do different types of tourism. For example, something very attractive in historical tourism is visiting beautiful places in Bogotá where you can take a photo without any problem, some of the main ones are Plaza de Bolívar, Casa Quinta de Bolívar, and La Candelaria.
Another of the good plans in Bogotá to do in one day is to walk through landscapes or parks such as Monserrate hill, Simón Bolívar park, El Virrey park, and the Eastern Hills. Most of these tourist sites in Bogotá require little money to get to know them.
Other attractions in Bogotá that you should visit to spend the day are the museums, some of the most important are the National Museum of Colombia, the Botero Museum, and the Gold Museum.
Also, if you are more into plans to do in Bogotá at night and you like to travel alone or go out as a couple, you should know some emblematic places in Bogotá to go at night. Some recommended ones are the Chorro de Quevedo, Theatron, and the Mirador de la Calera. But if you are one of those who prefer to travel with the family, among the beautiful places in Bogotá for children are Salitre Mágico, the Maloka Interactive Museum, and Mundo Aventura.
Before traveling to this marvelous city and living experiences in some tourist places in Bogotá, we recommend that you learn about the wealth of customs of the people of Bogotá and some curious facts about the metropolis. Some important ones are:
- Bogotá is one of the highest cities above sea level
- Meringues and wafers are typical sweets of Bogotanos
- La Puerta Falsa restaurant is the oldest in Colombia with more than 200 years
- The book fair has been held since 1988
- Bogotá has 46 museums, both public and private
- The name of 'Bogotá' belonged mainly to the indigenous settlement while 'Santafé' was the town of Spaniards
- A deeply rooted custom in Bogotá is the Day of the Little Candles
Bogota, being one of the important cities in Colombia, is a trade center for gastronomy, so one of the many essential things to do is eat in areas such as Zone G, Zone T, and Candelaria, which are the foodie favorites. You will find the best restaurants and bars for all tastes, budgets and perfect to try some of the local specialties such as ajiaco, Santa Fe chocolate, Chicha, and almojábana; some recommended restaurants are Andrés Carne de Res, Osaka, Storia Damore, and el Cielo.
As for lodging, if you want to stay in one of the most exclusive and safest areas of Bogotá, we recommend you in the Historic Center, near Parque de la 93 and around Parque El Virrey, that's where the hotels are Bogotá's most recommended celebrities such as the Four Seasons Hotel Bogotá, the JW Marriott, and the Grand Hyatt Bogota.
Bogotá is without a doubt a Colombian city with a wide range of beautiful and picturesque places both inside and around it; because Cundinamarca also houses a lot of nature, history, gastronomy, and buildings worth visiting.
So if you are looking for what to do in Bogotá today or if you want to stay more days to get to know the culture and enjoy this beautiful destination, we bring you a list with more things to see and do in Bogotá:
Trekking to the Sumapaz Páramo
It is the largest páramo in the world with a total extension of 333,420 hectares and is located 155 km from the outskirts of Bogotá but the access is 23 km from the town of Usme. The place is an excellent plan to practice hiking near Bogota because when you walk along the 14 km path that surrounds the páramo you get to know the most important water sources in the country, 260 reported species of mammals and the Ubchiqua Lagoon. Although the entrance to the Páramo de Sumapaz is free, we recommend you always go with a local guide.
Dancing in Zona T in Bogotá
It is a “pink zone” of the city with a pedestrian area with all kinds of luxury establishments around it. In the T Zone of Bogota you can walk, go shopping and enjoy the gastronomy of the most famous restaurants in Bogotá. At night you can have a few drinks and then go out to party at clubs like Clandestino, Mono Bandido, or the Federal Rooftop Disco.
Travel to the Guatavita Lagoon
It is a sacred pre-Columbian lagoon of the Muisca culture with emerald-colored water surrounded by vegetation and with three viewpoints of its surroundings upon reaching the top. The Guatavita Lagoon is located 73 km northeast of Bogotá and is famous for giving rise to the legend of dorado. Instead, you can go hiking or hiking or trekking for 45 minutes to get to the top of the mountain, which is where the lagoon is located.
Know the Chorro de Quevedo
It is the public square where the founding of the city of Bogotá took place. To get to Quevedo's fountain you simply have to go to the La Candelaria neighborhood and there are places to do things like buy handicrafts in the surrounding colonial buildings or eat at any of the exclusive restaurants in the area where average prices per dish are COP 25,000 to COP 70,000 (5 USD to 14 USD).
Getting around La Candelaria
It is an old, beautiful neighborhood and is the main historical attraction of the capital Bogotá. The streets of La Candelaria is full of culture, culture walks, dining options, theaters, and museums. It is a very pleasant area to walk around due to its colonial architecture buildings, but if you arrive by car it is easy to find parking.
Go to Parque de la 93
It is a tourist park in the north of Bogotá with majestic trees, very large green areas, and in the middle of one of the business centers of the city. At Park of the 93 you can rest, read, play with your children in the children's play area and enjoy activities, art events, culture, concerts, yoga, talks, poetry, and outdoor shows, which are open to all your visitors.
Walk through the Plaza de Bolívar
It is a square declared a Colombian National Monument on October 19, 1995, due to its antiquity since 1539. The Bolivar plaza is located in the historic center of the city between Carreras Séptima and Carreras Eighth with streets Tenth and Eleventh in Bogotá. Instead, you can take photos and visit some places in its surroundings such as the Customs House, the Astronomical Observatory, the Santa Clara Church Museum, the Botero Museum of the Bank of the Republic, the Art Museum, and the House of Nariño.
Escape to the Tequendama Falls
It is a natural waterfall formed with the waters of the Bogotá River. For get to Tequendama Falls you can do it from the southern terminal since the site is located 50 minutes south of Bogotá. Once you are in the place, you will find a museum of French architecture with exhibitions on biodiversity and the importance of preserving this Colombian ecosystem. You can also eat chorizo, grilled corn on the cob and a delicious cup of canelazo at the food stalls.
Climbing on the Rocks of Suesca
Las Rocas de Suesca is an ideal place to practice rappelling or climbing due to the 130 meters high that the rocks can reach and its 2 kilometers long. Among the other things to do in this place is a walk through the 3 kilometers of the Farallón de las Rocas where you can observe the pictograms left by the indigenous people. For get to Rocas de Suesca you can do it by bus or by car from the north of Bogotá.
Tour the Salt Cathedral
It is a cathedral carved entirely out of salt and located 180 meters underground. For get to the Salt Cathedral it can be done from Bogotá since it is only 41 km to the northeast. Admission has a cost and you can take a guided tour in a group, although you can also tour it without a guide.
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