3 days in Cartagena

Day by day

1. Day 1: The walled city and City walls and bastions

   The walled city, City walls and bastions and Plaza Santo Domingo, then Getsemaní streets and Plaza de la Trinidad in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      City walls and bastions

      Walk the stretch between Baluarte de Santo Domingo and Baluarte de Santa Catalina at sunset, when the sea breeze picks up.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Arepa de huevo

      Street stands in Getsemaní and around the walled city in the morning and evening; La Boquilla's beach shacks.

   4. Afternoon

      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'.

   5. Evening

      Getsemaní streets and Plaza de la Trinidad

      Visit twice: in the morning for photos of the murals and after dark for the scene in Plaza de la Trinidad.

2. Day 2: Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and Palace of the Inquisition

   Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Palace of the Inquisition and Museo del Oro Zenú, then Sunset sail on the bay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Castillo San Felipe de Barajas

      Go at opening time or late afternoon, carry water and wear a hat; there is almost no shade on the ramparts.

   2. Late morning

      Palace of the Inquisition

      On Plaza de Bolívar, this 18th-century palace with an elaborate stone doorway was the seat of the Inquisition tribunal.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Carimañola

      Breakfast stalls, bakeries and street vendors across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo del Oro Zenú

      A free, cool half-hour stop between Plaza de Bolívar and the cathedral.

   5. Evening

      Sunset sail on the bay

      Choose a smaller sailing boat for a quieter trip than the large party boats.

3. Day 3: Church and Cloister of San Pedro Claver and Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría

   Church and Cloister of San Pedro Claver, Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría and Museo de Arte Moderno de Cartagena, then Getsemaní in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Church and Cloister of San Pedro Claver

      The church and cloister commemorate the 17th-century Jesuit Pedro Claver, who ministered to enslaved Africans arriving in the port.

   2. Late morning

      Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría

      The tower is one of the easiest landmarks to navigate by when exploring the walled city.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fried fish with coconut rice

      Beach shacks in La Boquilla and on the islands, and local restaurants in Getsemaní.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo de Arte Moderno de Cartagena

      Housed in a former customs warehouse on Plaza de San Pedro Claver, the museum shows 20th-century Colombian art, including Cartagena-born painter Alejandro Obregón and Enrique Grau.

   5. Evening

      Getsemaní

      Salsa bars, live music and street life around Calle del Arsenal and Plaza de la Trinidad.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, El Centro keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, San Diego ($$$) suits couples, quiet stays, culture and luxury. 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 11.5 hours in December to 12.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cartagena
• 2 days in Cartagena
• 5 days in Cartagena

Questions travellers ask