Where to stay · Bogotá · Colombia
Where to stay in Bogotá
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Frank Ballesteros, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in La Candelaria. Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills. Best alternatives — families: Parque 93; nightlife: Chapinero.
Key facts
- First visit
- La Candelaria
- Families
- Parque 93
- Budget
- La Candelaria
- Nightlife
- Chapinero
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | La Candelaria | Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills |
| Families | Parque 93 | Smart residential area around a manicured park with restaurant terraces |
| Couples | La Macarena | Bohemian hillside neighbourhood of galleries and small restaurants above the bullring |
| Budget | La Candelaria | Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills |
| Luxury | Zona G | Compact 'gourmet zone' of restaurants on leafy streets around Calle 69 |
| Nightlife | Chapinero | Large, mixed district of cafés, bars, universities and the city's LGBTQ+ scene |
| Food lovers | La Macarena | Bohemian hillside neighbourhood of galleries and small restaurants above the bullring |
| Solo travellers | La Candelaria | Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills |
| Shopping | Zona Rosa and Zona T | Pedestrian streets of bars, clubs, malls and international hotels around Calle 82 |
| Quiet stays | Parque 93 | Smart residential area around a manicured park with restaurant terraces |
Bogotá neighbourhoods in detail
$ · 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
$$ · Best for food lovers, culture and couples
La Macarena
Just north of the centre, La Macarena climbs the hill above the old Santamaría bullring and the Parque de la Independencia. It has art galleries, small restaurants and bars along Carrera 4A, and it is close to the Museo Nacional and the International Centre.
- Good
- Good restaurants on a small scale; Between the centre and Chapinero; Galleries and character
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Steep streets; Some surrounding areas are sketchy at night
- Nearby
- Museo Nacional de Colombia, Parque de la Independencia, Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers, food lovers and budget
Chapinero
Chapinero runs north from about Calle 45 to Calle 72 and mixes student life, offices and residential streets. Chapinero Alto, on the hillside, has specialty coffee shops and restaurants, while the lower area around Carrera 13 has many bars and is the centre of the city's LGBTQ+ nightlife.
- Good
- Lively and local; Good-value food and bars; Central between old town and north
- Watch out
- Busy, noisy main roads; Uneven feel from block to block
- Nearby
- Quinta Camacho, Zona G, Parque Nacional
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and luxury
Zona G
Zona G, between about Calles 65 and 71 and Carreras 3 and 7, packs many of the city's best restaurants into a few quiet residential blocks. Boutique hotels and apartments make it an attractive base for food-focused travellers who want to be between the old town and the north.
- Good
- Many top restaurants on foot; Quiet, leafy streets; Good boutique hotels
- Watch out
- Expensive; Little to do beyond dining
- Nearby
- Quinta Camacho, Chapinero Alto, Zona Rosa
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and luxury
Zona Rosa and Zona T
The Zona Rosa, centred on the T-shaped pedestrian streets of Zona T near Carrera 13 and Calle 82, is the city's main upscale shopping and nightlife district, beside the Andino, El Retiro and Atlantis malls. It has many international hotels and is one of the most convenient areas for first-time visitors.
- Good
- Lots of hotels and restaurants; Walkable at night; Excellent shopping
- Watch out
- Expensive; Far from La Candelaria in traffic
- Nearby
- Andino mall, Parque El Virrey, Parque 93
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, quiet stays and couples
Parque 93
Parque de la 93 is a lawned square surrounded by restaurants, cafés and bars, in a polished business and residential district north of Zona Rosa. It is calm, green and well-policed, with many mid- to high-end hotels and serviced apartments.
- Good
- Calm and green; Good restaurants around the park; Feels very safe
- Watch out
- Expensive; Long drive to the old town
- Nearby
- Parque El Virrey, Zona Rosa, Chicó
$$$ · Best for couples, families, quiet stays and shopping
Usaquén
Usaquén was a separate town before being absorbed by the city and keeps a small colonial square and church. Its surrounding streets are filled with restaurants, bars and cafés, and the Sunday flea market draws crowds. It is about 45 minutes or more from La Candelaria in traffic.
- Good
- Charming square and streets; Excellent restaurants; Relaxed atmosphere
- Watch out
- Far from central sights; Busy on Sundays
- Nearby
- Usaquén flea market, Hacienda Santa Bárbara mall, Cerros Orientales
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| La Candelaria | $ | Plaza de Bolívar, Museo Botero, Museo del Oro, Chorro de Quevedo |
| La Macarena | $$ | Museo Nacional de Colombia, Parque de la Independencia, Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia |
| Chapinero | $$ | Quinta Camacho, Zona G, Parque Nacional |
| Zona G | $$$ | Quinta Camacho, Chapinero Alto, Zona Rosa |
| Zona Rosa and Zona T | $$$ | Andino mall, Parque El Virrey, Parque 93 |
| Parque 93 | $$$$ | Parque El Virrey, Zona Rosa, Chicó |
| Usaquén | $$$ | Usaquén flea market, Hacienda Santa Bárbara mall, Cerros Orientales |
Getting to your hotel
El Dorado International Airport is about 15 km west of the centre. Taxis and app rides take about 30–45 minutes to La Candelaria or the north, and much longer at rush hour. TransMilenio feeder buses link the airport with the network for travellers with little luggage.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Bogotá for first-time visitors?
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.
+Where should families stay in Bogotá?
Parque 93: Calm and green.
+Which area of Bogotá is best for a budget stay?
La Candelaria ($): Colonial old town of museums, churches, street art and hostels below the Eastern Hills.