Nightlife · Cartagena · Colombia
Cartagena nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Cartagena, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Evenings in Cartagena start late and run late, from rooftop cocktails in the walled city to salsa and champeta in Getsemaní. Weekends and the December–January holidays are the busiest. The main areas are Getsemaní, El Centro and Calle del Arsenal.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Getsemaní
- Local drink
- Limonada de coco
Where to go out
Getsemaní
Salsa bars, live music and street life around Calle del Arsenal and Plaza de la Trinidad.
El Centro
Rooftop bars, cocktail lounges and the Plaza Santo Domingo terraces inside the walls.
Calle del Arsenal
A strip of larger clubs and bars on the waterfront edge of Getsemaní.
Nightlife tips
- Bars fill up after 10pm and clubs keep going into the early hours.
- Use a ride-hailing app or a taxi called by the bar late at night.
- Watch your drink and be wary of strangers offering drugs; scams targeting tourists are common.
Evening sights
Neighbourhood · Getsemaní
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- After dark
- Food
- Photo spot
Landmark · El Centro
Plaza Santo Domingo
Have a drink on a terrace after dark, when the church is lit and the heat eases.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- After dark
- Couples
Experience · Bay of Cartagena
Sunset sail on the bay
Choose a smaller sailing boat for a quieter trip than the large party boats.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
What to drink
- Limonada de coco — A creamy blended drink of lime juice, coconut cream and ice — the best cure for Cartagena's heat.
- Fresh fruit juices — Juices of tropical fruits such as corozo, níspero, lulo, maracuyá and zapote, blended with water or milk.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. April has the warmest evenings, with lows around 26°C (79°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:58 | 24°C (75°F) | 1 |
| April | About 18:13 | 26°C (79°F) | 3 |
| July | About 18:28 | 26°C (79°F) | 9 |
| October | About 17:44 | 25°C (77°F) | 15 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Walking is the only sensible way to explore the old town and Getsemaní; distances are short but the heat makes early mornings and evenings the best times.
- Taxi — Agree the fare before getting in; ask your hotel for a typical price.
- Ride-hailing — Pick-ups inside the walled city can be slow because of narrow, one-way streets.
- Bus — Transcaribe is the city's bus rapid transit system along the main avenues; it is cheap but less useful for visitors than walking and taxis.
Late-night bites
- Arepa de huevo — Street stands in Getsemaní and around the walled city in the morning and evening; La Boquilla's beach shacks.
- Carimañola — Breakfast stalls, bakeries and street vendors across the city.
- Coctel de camarones — Ceviche carts around the walled city, Plaza de la Trinidad and Bocagrande.
Staying safe at night
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.
- Emergency number
- 123 (national emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Getsemaní
Just outside the walls across Avenida Venezuela, Getsemaní was once the craftsmen's and sailors' quarter. Its streets, especially Calle de la Sierpe and Callejón Angosto, are covered with murals and umbrellas, and Plaza de la Trinidad fills every evening with street food, performers and locals. It has the best range of hostels, guesthouses and mid-range boutique hotels.
- Good
- Lively evenings with a local feel; Good-value stays; Five minutes' walk to the walled city
- Watch out
- Noisy late at night; Can be crowded on weekends
- Nearby
- Plaza de la Trinidad, Centro de Convenciones, Castillo San Felipe, Muelle de la Bodeguita
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Cartagena?
Getsemaní, El Centro and Calle del Arsenal. Salsa bars, live music and street life around Calle del Arsenal and Plaza de la Trinidad.
+Which area of Cartagena is best for nightlife?
Getsemaní: Former working-class barrio of murals, hostels, salsa bars and evening street life.