The Spanish began construction on April 27, 1539, and its first name was the Plaza Mayor. Initially, it was the site for parties related to the proclamations of Spanish monarchs or viceroys, and large state funerals, and it was also where bullfights and social, civil, cultural, and commercial events were held, functioning as a marketplace where citizens could go and stock up.
Over the years, buildings were built around it such as the Cathedral, and the Church of the Tabernacle, and in the year 1800, the construction of the Congress began on the north side.
Currently, in the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, you can find a bronze statue of Simón Bolívar in the middle, created in 1846 by the Italian artist Pietro Tenerani, as a tribute to the Independence of Colombia. Previously known as La Plaza Mayor, it is a pedestrian access site that has a wide cultural and gastronomic offer in its surroundings, a dynamism of commerce, and several of the most important buildings in the city such as the Palace of Justice, the National Capitol and the Primate Cathedral of Colombia.
But the most representative thing about the square is that due to its extension of approximately 13,903 meters, it can house more than 55,000 people; making it the home of more than 500 pigeons and the focus for political, cultural, and religious meetings and some other manifestations.
If you want to know how to get to the Plaza de Bolívar in the city of Bogotá along with more tourist information, continue reading this guide because we will solve most of the frequent questions that travelers have before visiting the square in the historic center of the city
How to get to the Plaza de Bolívar
To get to the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá you must go to the La Candelaria neighborhood, towards Carrera 7 # 11-10 in the downtown area of the city of Bogotá. To guide you better, near the square are the Gold Museum, the House of the Ecclesiastical Council, the Museum of Independence, and the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia. If you are going to arrive by taxi or Uber, a ride to Plaza Bolívar from an extreme place like Usaquén can cost COP 20,000 (4 dollars) and the approximate travel time is 20 minutes.
If you want to arrive by Transmilenio, the Avenida Jiménez station or the San Victorino station is the closest to the Plaza de Bolívar since they are only a 13-minute walk away.
Tourism, some attractions to see in the Plaza de Bolívar in the city of Bogotá
In addition to visiting the square in the historic center of the city, the following attractions can be highlighted in this landmark of the city:
- La Casa de la Aduana
- The Astronomical Observatory
- The Church Museo de Santa Clara
- Botero Museum of Banco de la República
- The Art Museum
- The House of Nariño
- The Plaza de Armas
- El Chorro de Quevedo
- Luis Ángel Arango Library
Schedule
As of September 2020, the authorized hours of entry to Plaza de Bolívar are open 24 hours a day, but businesses operate from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day. To visit and tour the entire site you must have at least 30 minutes of your time. The best days to go are during the week at noon as it is very quiet.
Prices
As for the value to visit the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá, some rates that you should take into account before going are especially those of private museums. Since in a continuous walk through the colonial zone, the entrance to the Plaza de Bolívar and some museums in its surroundings is free.
Parking
If you go by car, the parking lots of the square are located in the surroundings on Calle 12 and Carrera 9. They are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the rate has a cost of COP 3,000 per hour.
What to eat in some restaurants near the Plaza de Bolívar
If you are going to do the whole tour, there is also an area of restaurants with typical dishes from Bogotá, Argentine grill, and Colombian cuisine with average prices between COP 40,000 to COP 80,000 (8 to 16 dollars) per dish and the specialty that we recommend eating is ajiaco, tamale, roast strip, thin loin, bondiola, and mondongo soup. Some of the restaurants that you can find in the square in the historic center of the city are:
- El Restaurante Bonaparte
- El Khalifa
- Mi Viejo
- la Puerta Falsa
- La Real Gallina Criolla
- el restaurante la Puerta de la Catedral
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