Solo travel · Bogotá · Colombia
Solo travel in Bogotá
How to enjoy Bogotá at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Felipe Restrepo Acosta, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Bogotá is rewarding for solo travellers interested in museums, food and street art, with good hostels in La Candelaria and Chapinero. Be streetwise: use app taxis at night and keep valuables hidden. Many solo travellers base themselves in La Candelaria.
Key facts
- Base
- La Candelaria
- Getting around
- Bus
- Emergency number
- 123 (national emergency number)
- Language
- Spanish
Solo travel tips
- Join a free walking tour or graffiti tour in La Candelaria on your first day.
- Stay in Chapinero or the north if you want evenings out within walking distance.
- Do not walk around La Candelaria after dark on quiet streets.
- Keep phones out of sight on TransMilenio and in busy streets.
- Meet people from dating apps in public places and never go to private homes.
Where to stay
$ · Best for culture, budget, solo travellers and first-timers
La Candelaria
Bogotá's historic centre spreads uphill from Plaza de Bolívar, with colonial houses, churches, universities, the Museo Botero and the Chorro de Quevedo square. It has the most sights and the widest range of hostels and boutique hotels, but empties after dark, and some quieter streets feel unsafe at night.
- Good
- Walk to the main museums; Colonial atmosphere; Inexpensive hostels and guesthouses
- Watch out
- Quiet and less safe after dark; Far from the northern restaurant districts; Steep streets at altitude
- Nearby
- Plaza de Bolívar, Museo Botero, Museo del Oro, Chorro de Quevedo
Great on your own
Museum · La Candelaria
Museo del Oro
Allow at least two hours, and hire an audio guide or join a free guided tour to understand the cultures behind the objects.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Viewpoint · Cerros Orientales
Monserrate
Go early in the morning for the clearest views; the hike is steep at altitude, so acclimatise for a day first.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Active
- Photo spot
Landmark · La Candelaria
Plaza de Bolívar
Visit in the morning, then walk up Carrera 7 and Calle 11 towards the Museo Botero.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Gallery · La Candelaria
Museo Botero
Continue through the connecting buildings to the Casa de Moneda and the Miguel Urrutia Art Museum, also free.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · La Candelaria
La Candelaria street art
Join a graffiti walking tour led by local artists; they explain the political context and the stories behind each mural.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Photo spot
- History
Historic site · La Candelaria
Chorro de Quevedo
Try chicha, the fermented corn drink, in the Callejón del Embudo, but go easy — it can be strong.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
Meeting people
- Market lunch — Eat ajiaco, sancocho or tamales at the shared counters of La Perseverancia or Paloquemao, cooked by long-time market cooks.
- Fruit tasting at Paloquemao — Vendors cut and explain exotic fruits on the spot; guided tours make it easy to try a dozen in a morning.
- Zona Rosa and Zona T — Upscale bars and clubs around Calle 82 and Carrera 13, busy Thursday to Saturday.
- Chapinero — Bars, live music and the city's main LGBTQ+ scene, especially along Carrera 13 and side streets.
Sensible precautions
Phone snatching and pickpocketing are common on TransMilenio, around La Candelaria and in busy areas; keep valuables hidden. Use app taxis or called cabs, especially at night, and avoid quiet streets in the centre after dark. Altitude can cause headaches and shortness of breath for the first day or two.
- Emergency number
- 123 (national emergency number)
- Staying connected
- Wi-Fi is widely available; local SIMs are sold at the airport and in malls.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bogotá good for solo travellers?
Bogotá is rewarding for solo travellers interested in museums, food and street art, with good hostels in La Candelaria and Chapinero. Be streetwise: use app taxis at night and keep valuables hidden.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Bogotá?
La Candelaria: Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills.