Travel guide · Colombia
Cartagena travel guide
Walled colonial city on the Caribbean with balconied streets and island day trips
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sgonzalezb, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cartagena de Indias was one of Spain's main ports in the Americas, and its old town is still enclosed by about 11 km of stone walls. Inside, the El Centro and San Diego quarters are a grid of bougainvillea-draped balconies, churches and plazas, while Getsemaní just outside the walls has street art, hostels and the busiest evening squares. The modern peninsula of Bocagrande has high-rise hotels and the city beach, and boats leave daily for the Rosario Islands and Barú. It is hot and humid all year, so days start early and evenings stretch late. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are February–April.
Key facts
- Country
- Colombia
- Best time to visit
- February–April
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- CTG
- Mid-range daily budget
- $110–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Walled colonial city, Castillo San Felipe, Colourful balconies and Getsemaní street art
Why visit Cartagena
- The walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the Americas and easy to explore on foot.
- Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is the largest Spanish fortress built in the colonies and looks over the whole city.
- Getsemaní's murals, Plaza de la Trinidad and salsa bars make it one of Colombia's liveliest evening districts.
- The Rosario Islands, Barú and Tierra Bomba are a short boat ride away for clear water and white sand.
- Street food from arepas de huevo to fresh ceviche carts, plus an acclaimed restaurant scene in the old town.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Historic site · El Centro
The walled city
The old town inside the walls is the reason most people come: balconied colonial houses, churches, plazas and convents, entered through the Torre del Reloj gate from Plaza de los Coches.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Castle · Getsemaní
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
Built on San Lázaro hill from the 1630s and expanded in the 18th century, this is the largest Spanish fortress in the Americas.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Landmark · El Centro
City walls and bastions
About 11 km of walls, built from the late 16th to the 18th century to defend against pirates and rival powers, encircle the old town.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Getsemaní
Getsemaní streets and Plaza de la Trinidad
Getsemaní's lanes are covered with murals by local artists, flags and hanging umbrellas, especially around Calle de la Sierpe and Callejón Angosto.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- After dark
- Food
- Photo spot
Landmark · El Centro
Plaza Santo Domingo
One of the walled city's liveliest squares, in front of the 16th-century Iglesia de Santo Domingo, with café terraces and Fernando Botero's reclining bronze 'Gertrudis'.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- After dark
- Couples
Museum · El Centro
Palace of the Inquisition
On Plaza de Bolívar, this 18th-century palace with an elaborate stone doorway was the seat of the Inquisition tribunal.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Where to stay
El Centro is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, luxury and culture
El Centro
The walled city's grand plazas, churches and boutique hotels in restored colonial houses
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, culture and luxury
San Diego
The quieter, residential side of the walled city with small plazas and convent hotels
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Getsemaní
Former working-class barrio of murals, hostels, salsa bars and evening street life
$$ · Best for families, beach and budget
Bocagrande
High-rise hotels, the city beach and malls on a narrow peninsula
What to eat
- Arepa de huevo — A corn arepa fried, split, filled with a raw egg (often with minced meat) and fried again, so the egg cooks inside.
- Carimañola — A torpedo-shaped yuca fritter filled with ground beef or cheese, fried crisp and eaten with suero (a tangy soured cream).
- Fried fish with coconut rice — A whole fried mojarra or red snapper served with arroz con coco (rice cooked in coconut milk and caramelised coconut), patacones (fried green plantain) and salad.
- Cazuela de mariscos — A rich seafood stew of shrimp, squid, clams and fish in coconut milk and tomato, served with rice and patacones.
- Posta negra cartagenera — Beef slow-cooked in a dark, sweet-savoury sauce of panela, cola and spices — a traditional Cartagena family dish served with coconut rice.
- Coctel de camarones — Cartagena-style seafood cocktail of shrimp, oysters or mixed seafood in a sweet tomato and lime sauce, sold from street carts in plastic cups with crackers.
When to go
The best time to visit Cartagena is February to April, when it is dry, breezy and less crowded than the holiday peak. December and the first half of January are dry too but very busy and expensive. October and November are the wettest months, with heavy afternoon storms, though mornings are often clear and prices are low.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | December–April | Sunny with trade winds that make the heat more bearable; peak crowds from mid-December to mid-January and at Semana Santa. |
| Early wet season | May–June | Humid with afternoon storms, fewer visitors and lower prices. |
| Veranillo | July–August | A drier spell in many years, busy with Colombian school holidays in late June and July; still hot and humid. |
| Main wet season | September–November | The rainiest months, with heavy storms that pass quickly; the quietest period apart from the independence festivities in November. |
Getting there and around
Rafael Núñez International Airport is in the Crespo district about 3 km northeast of the walled city. Taxis reach the old town or Getsemaní in about 10–15 minutes and Bocagrande in about 20 minutes, using an official taxi rank outside arrivals.
The walled city, San Diego and Getsemaní are compact and best explored on foot. Taxis are the usual way to reach Bocagrande, La Popa and the airport, while boats from the Muelle de la Bodeguita serve the islands.
Plan your days
Three days covers the walled city, Getsemaní, Castillo San Felipe and one island day trip. Five days adds La Popa, the mud volcano or a night on Barú or the Rosario Islands and lets you slow down in the midday heat.
Practical information
- Currency
- COP
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 110 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated in the city, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 123 (national emergency number)
- Tipping
- A voluntary 10% service charge is usually added to restaurant bills; it is customary to pay it if service was good.
The tourist areas are generally fine for visitors, but pickpocketing, overcharging and scams involving touts and street sales are common; keep phones out of sight in crowded plazas. Avoid quiet streets outside the centre at night, and decline offers of drugs, which are linked to robbery and police scams.
Flights to Cartagena
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Cartagena?
Three days covers the walled city, Getsemaní, Castillo San Felipe and one island day trip. Five days adds La Popa, the mud volcano or a night on Barú or the Rosario Islands and lets you slow down in the midday heat. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Cartagena?
The best time to visit Cartagena is February to April, when it is dry, breezy and less crowded than the holiday peak. December and the first half of January are dry too but very busy and expensive. October and November are the wettest months, with heavy afternoon storms, though mornings are often clear and prices are low.
+What is Cartagena known for?
Walled colonial city, Castillo San Felipe, Colourful balconies, Getsemaní street art, Rosario Islands, Arepa de huevo and Caribbean heat. The walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the Americas and easy to explore on foot.
+Is Cartagena expensive?
Cartagena is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $110–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Cartagena?
No. The old town is walkable and taxis are inexpensive; boat tours and organised trips cover the islands and the mud volcano.