Things to do in Bogota
Bogota is one of the most beautiful and historical cities in Columbia and South America that has much to offer. From amazing museums to great restaurants, Bogota has something for everyone. So if you are looking for things to do in Bogota, this list will give you some cool places to visit while on your trip! Rent a car to make your trip comfortable.
Plaza Bolivar
Plaza Bolivar is the heart of Bogota. The plaza was named after Simon Bolivar, who helped free Colombia from Spanish rule. It's also home to the Palacio de Justicia (Justice Palace), where many trials take place.
Plaza Bolivar is a great place for people watching and sitting down for a bit with some friends or family members. You can find vendors selling food and drinks on all sides of this large plaza, making it easy to grab something if your stomach starts growling while you're there!
La Candelaria
La Candelaria is one of the most popular tourist areas in Bogota. It's home to many souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. The architecture of this neighborhood is also worth exploring as it contains many beautiful colonial buildings that are well preserved by the city government.
Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
This museum displays over 3500 pieces of pre-Columbian goldwork from ancient civilizations such as Muisca, Tairona and Quimbaya peoples who lived in what is now Colombia before Europeans arrived on their shores during the 16th century AD period known as "La Vieja".
Cerro Monserrate
Cerro Monserrate is a pilgrimage site and one of the most famous places to see the city from above. It's also a great spot for watching sunset, as well as for hiking and getting close to nature. If you're up for an adventure, try going down into the crater of this mountain!
Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are located in Chapinero, which is a neighborhood in northern Bogota. The gardens are home to more than 2,000 species of plants and trees from all over the world. They're open from 9am to 6pm daily (closed on Mondays).
If you don't have time to visit the mountains or anywhere else outside the city center but still want a way to escape for an afternoon, this is a great option!
Casa de la Moneda
Casa de la Moneda is also known as Casa de Nariño, and it's the official residence of Colombia's president. It was built in 1737 by Juan de Castellanos, a Spanish architect who designed many buildings in Bogota during that time period. The building has been renovated several times since then but retains its original style and design elements such as columns and stone walls with carved inscriptions on them.
The architecture of this building is an excellent example of colonial-style Spanish architecture, which can be seen throughout Old Town Bogota today. There are many other impressive buildings here including churches like La Candelaria Church (which will be covered later) as well as government offices like Casa De La Moneda itself!
Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen
The Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen is located in Bogota's historic center and is a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the city. The church itself was built during the Spanish colonial era, with construction finished in 1640. It's considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Spanish colonial architecture in Colombia, with its red brick facade and white stone trimming giving it an elegant appearance that stands out from other churches in the city.
The interior of this Catholic church also features some impressive decorations, including gold chandeliers hanging from above as well as paintings depicting scenes from religious scripture along its walls. You can visit this historic place any time during its opening hours (10am-5pm), which are Monday through Friday except holidays like Christmas Day or New Year's Eve/Day when they will be closed until January 2nd 2020 at noon local time before reopening again on January 3rd 2020 at 8am local time if it falls on a weekday then 9am if not).
Dinner at Madre
Madre is a great restaurant located in the heart of La Candelaria. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is great, but what really sets it apart are their service and menu options.
The menu has many options so that you can find something you like no matter what your tastes or dietary restrictions may be. They also offer wine pairings with every course, so if you don't know much about wine but want to try something new with your meal, this is a good place to start!
Salt Cathedral, Zipaquira
Zipaquira is a town in Colombia known for its salt cathedral. The cathedral was built out of salt, and it is one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
If you're interested in visiting Zipaquira, here's what you need to know:
- There are two ways to get there: You can take an hour-long bus ride from Bogota or drive yourself (about 4 hours).
- The town itself has many things to see and do--it's worth spending more than just one day here if possible.
Bogota is full of culture and history
The city has a rich colonial past, and it's still possible to see many of the old buildings today. There are also plenty of museums that showcase Colombia's long history and culture, including an impressive collection at the Gold Museum where you can see thousands of pieces from pre-Columbian civilizations as well as gold artifacts from Spanish conquistadors that were discovered in nearby mines.
Bogota also has a thriving arts scene with many theaters, concert halls and galleries throughout the city center--it's one of South America's cultural capitals!
Bogota is a great city to visit. It has a lot of history, culture and food. You can enjoy all the things that we've talked about here in this article as well as many others. We hope that it was helpful for you!