With kids · Cartagena · Colombia
Cartagena with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Cartagena works well for families who plan around the heat: mornings for the castle and old town, afternoons at a hotel pool or beach, and evenings in the plazas when the city cools. Island day trips and the Oceanario are highlights for children. Top picks: Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, The walled city and Bocagrande beach. Families usually base themselves in Bocagrande.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Bocagrande
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- December–January
Best things to do with kids
Castle · Getsemaní
1.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. Visitors climb its ramparts and walk through narrow tunnels designed to carry sound so defenders could hear approaching enemies.
Go at opening time or late afternoon, carry water and wear a hat; there is almost no shade on the ramparts.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Historic site · El Centro
2.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. Along with the forts, it forms the UNESCO-listed 'Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments'. Walking the streets between Plaza Santo Domingo, Plaza de Bolívar and San Diego is the main activity.
Explore early in the morning or after 4pm; the midday heat is intense and the light is better for photos.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Beach · Bocagrande
3.Bocagrande beach
The city's main beach runs along the Bocagrande peninsula in front of the hotel towers. The sand is grey and the water less clear than on the islands, but it is easy to reach and lively with local families at weekends.
Agree prices before accepting chairs, massages or food from beach vendors.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Landmark · El Centro
4.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. You can walk along much of the top, past cannons on bastions such as Santo Domingo and Santa Catalina, with views over the sea and the old town's rooftops.
Walk the stretch between Baluarte de Santo Domingo and Baluarte de Santa Catalina at sunset, when the sea breeze picks up.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Getsemaní
5.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. Plaza de la Trinidad, in front of the Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad, fills each evening with street food stands, dancers and families.
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
Experience · Bay of Cartagena
6.Sunset sail on the bay
Sailboats and catamarans leave the old-town marinas around late afternoon for a cruise round the bay, with views back to the walls, Bocagrande's skyline and the forts as the sun sets.
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
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for families, beach and budget
Bocagrande
Bocagrande is the modern hotel zone on a peninsula south of the old town, with a long grey-sand city beach, apartment towers, malls and chain restaurants. It is about 10 minutes by taxi from the walled city. Hotels here usually offer more space and better value than the old town, and families appreciate the larger pools.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Large hotels with pools; Good value for space
- Watch out
- Little colonial character; Beach vendors can be persistent; Needs a taxi to reach the old town
- Nearby
- Bocagrande beach, Castillogrande, El Laguito
Family travel tips
- Choose a hotel with a pool; children will need a break from the midday heat.
- Horse-drawn carriages around the old town are popular, but walking tours at dusk are cooler and cheaper.
- Pick calm, larger boats for island trips with young children; speedboats can be very bumpy.
- Pack high-factor sunscreen, hats and insect repellent.
- Strollers struggle on narrow, uneven old-town pavements; a carrier is easier.
Day trips for families
- Rosario Islands (About 1 hour by speedboat) — The Islas del Rosario are a coral archipelago inside a national natural park, with clear water, snorkelling, small island beach clubs and the Oceanario aquarium on San Martín de Pajarales.
- Tierra Bomba (About 15–45 minutes by boat) — The island across the bay has simple beaches, beach clubs facing the Bocagrande skyline and the colonial fort at Bocachica.
When to go with children
The best months overall are February–April. December–January are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cartagena good for kids?
Cartagena works well for families who plan around the heat: mornings for the castle and old town, afternoons at a hotel pool or beach, and evenings in the plazas when the city cools. Island day trips and the Oceanario are highlights for children.
+What can kids do in Cartagena?
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, The walled city, Bocagrande beach, City walls and bastions and Getsemaní streets and Plaza de la Trinidad.
+Where should families stay in Cartagena?
Bocagrande: High-rise hotels, the city beach and malls on a narrow peninsula.