3 days in Bogotá

Day by day

1. Day 1: Museo del Oro and Plaza de Bolívar

   Museo del Oro, Plaza de Bolívar and Museo Botero, then Teatro Colón in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo del Oro

      The Banco de la República's Gold Museum on Parque Santander displays tens of thousands of gold objects and thousands more in ceramic, stone and textiles from Colombia's pre-Hispanic cultures.

   2. Late morning

      Plaza de Bolívar

      Visit in the morning, then walk up Carrera 7 and Calle 11 towards the Museo Botero.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ajiaco santafereño

      Traditional restaurants in La Candelaria and La Perseverancia market, especially at lunch.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo Botero

      Housed in a colonial mansion around a courtyard, this free museum shows Fernando Botero's donation of his own paintings and sculptures alongside his collection of works by Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Dalí, Miró and others.

   5. Evening

      Teatro Colón

      The best way to see the interior is to attend a performance; check the programme on arrival.

2. Day 2: Monserrate and La Candelaria street art

   Monserrate, La Candelaria street art and Chorro de Quevedo, then Zona Rosa and Zona T in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Monserrate

      Go early in the morning for the clearest views; the hike is steep at altitude, so acclimatise for a day first.

   2. Late morning

      La Candelaria street art

      Bogotá's walls are covered with large murals and graffiti, from political works to colourful portraits, especially along Calle 26, the streets around Chorro de Quevedo and the eastern edge of La Candelaria.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chocolate santafereño

      Historic cafés in La Candelaria and bakeries across the city, especially in the afternoon.

   4. Afternoon

      Chorro de Quevedo

      Try chicha, the fermented corn drink, in the Callejón del Embudo, but go easy — it can be strong.

   5. Evening

      Zona Rosa and Zona T

      Upscale bars and clubs around Calle 82 and Carrera 13, busy Thursday to Saturday.

3. Day 3: Museo Nacional de Colombia and Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia

   Museo Nacional de Colombia, Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia and Quinta de Bolívar, then Chapinero in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo Nacional de Colombia

      Colombia's oldest museum, founded in 1823, occupies a 19th-century star-shaped former prison, El Panóptico.

   2. Late morning

      Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia

      Come at lunchtime and choose a busy stall; portions are huge.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Changua

      Traditional breakfast restaurants and markets.

   4. Afternoon

      Quinta de Bolívar

      A country house at the foot of Monserrate given to Simón Bolívar after independence, with period rooms, his personal items and well-kept gardens.

   5. Evening

      Chapinero

      Bars, live music and the city's main LGBTQ+ scene, especially along Carrera 13 and side streets.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Maloka (Ciudad Salitre): Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups at weekends.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, La Candelaria keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, La Macarena ($$) suits food lovers, culture and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.8 hours in December to 12.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Bogotá
• 2 days in Bogotá
• 5 days in Bogotá

Questions travellers ask