History · Bogotá · Colombia
8 historic sites to see in Bogotá
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lombana, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Museo del Oro, Plaza de Bolívar and La Candelaria street art. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 10–12 hours across 2 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–12 hours
- Areas
- La Candelaria and La Macarena
Historic sites in Bogotá
Museum · La Candelaria
1.Museo del Oro
The highlight is the circular Ofrenda room, where the lights rise to reveal hundreds of gold pieces, and the Muisca raft linked to the El Dorado legend.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Landmark · La Candelaria
2.Plaza de Bolívar
A statue of Simón Bolívar stands at its centre, and the square is the stage for protests, celebrations and pigeons.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · La Candelaria
3.La Candelaria street art
Graffiti is widely tolerated and many murals are commissioned.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Photo spot
- History
Historic site · La Candelaria
4.Chorro de Quevedo
It is ringed by small bars and cafés, street performers and students, and the narrow Callejón del Embudo next to it has bars serving chicha.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
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Museum · La Macarena
5.Museo Nacional de Colombia
Its galleries cover archaeology, colonial history, independence and modern Colombian art, including early works by Botero and Débora Arango.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Historic site · La Candelaria
6.Quinta de Bolívar
It is a peaceful stop near the cable car station.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
Religious site · La Candelaria
7.Iglesia de San Francisco
Its gilded carved main altarpiece is one of the finest in the country.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Art
Architecture · La Candelaria
8.Teatro Colón
It hosts opera, ballet, concerts and theatre, and guided tours are offered.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| La Candelaria | Museo del Oro, Plaza de Bolívar, La Candelaria street art, Chorro de Quevedo, Quinta de Bolívar, Iglesia de San Francisco and Teatro Colón | 2–3 hours + 30 minutes + 2–3 hours + 45 minutes + 1 hour + 20 minutes + 1 hour |
| La Macarena | Museo Nacional de Colombia | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 5 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Museo del Oro; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (La Candelaria): Museo del Oro → Plaza de Bolívar, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (La Candelaria): La Candelaria street art → Chorro de Quevedo → Quinta de Bolívar, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (La Candelaria and La Macarena): Iglesia de San Francisco → Teatro Colón → Museo Nacional de Colombia, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. One of the driest months, with sunny mornings and cold nights; the city is quiet in early January as residents holiday elsewhere.
- September: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mixed weather with the second rainy season approaching; a quiet month.
- November: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 17 rainy days, quiet crowds. Rainy and grey, with Christmas lights going up late in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- La Candelaria — Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills
- La Macarena — Bohemian hillside neighbourhood of galleries and small restaurants above the bullring
More of Bogotá
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Bogotá?
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.
+Which of these are free in Bogotá?
Plaza de Bolívar, Chorro de Quevedo and Iglesia de San Francisco.