The Perfect Day in Bogotá: The Capital of Cool
8/12/20233 min read
A sprawling metropolis home to over 12 million people, situated 2,640 m above sea level in the Andes Mountains lies the Capital of Colombia, Bogotá. Often overlooked for Medellín and Cartagena, Bogotá is a destination in itself that deserves to be on your radar. Dubbed as the "Capital of Cool" let us show you how to spend the perfect day in Bogotá.
With tons of world class museums and a thriving culinary scene, it's hard to choose how to spend your time here, however, these are my recommendations for a perfect stay in Bogotá.
Where To Stay?
Location is very important in Bogotá for two main reasons. First, safety, as there are certain areas of Bogotá that are best to be avoided. Furthermore, traffic in Bogotá is notoriously bad, as car is the main method of transport for Bogotanos as there is no metro system. With this in mind the, Chapinero and Chico are the best neighbourhoods to stay in.
Hotels we recommend are: Four Seasons Casa Medina, Click Clack, and Four Points by Sheraton.
8:00 - Start your day by going to Azahar, either location in Chapinero or Chico depending on your hotel. This coffeeshop is a must visit in Bogotá, with a wide selection of Colombian coffees from local plantations. Here you can have a coffee tasting to sample many different brews, and is a good spot to have breakfast before you start your day.
9:00 - Head into the centre of the city to the La Candelaria neighbourhood. You can first start at the Botero Museum, admiring over 200 pieces of Fernando Botero's famous paintings at a beautiful museum inside of an old colonial building that until 1955 served as the office of the archbishop. Continue on to Plaza Bolívar, a large square in the epicentre of the city home to the Cathedral of Bogotá and Casa de Nariño, the home and seat of government of the President. Escape the hustle and bustle of the plaza by going four blocks south to Fragmentos, a small museum created by Doris Salcedo, famed Colombian visual artist, dedicated to memory of those affected by Colombia's armed conflict.
12:00 - By now you'll have worked up an appetite for lunch, head back across Plaza Bolívar to MADRE. Tucked away in a plaza, you'll step into a quaint bohemian restaurant, this trendy space is a place to be seen for Bogota's cool crowd where you can sip on some great cocktails and enjoy a delicious meal.
13:00 - After lunch head to the base of Monserrate and take the funicular up to the top of the mountain. At the top you'll be 3,152m above sea level in the Andes Mountains with views as far as the eye can see of Bogotá. Due to the altitude it can be a bit chilly at the top, perfect to grab a Colombian Hot Chocolate and admire the Sanctuary of Monserrate and the sweeping views.
15:00 - Once at the bottom of the funicular, head back into the Chapinero district for some retail therapy. Some stores that we recommend to check out are: Paula Mendoza's showroom for jewelry, her pieces can be seen on celebrities such as Kylie Jenner , St. Dom for men's and women's clothing, and Colombian Designer Silvia Tcherassi.
17:00 - Return to your hotel with your new outfit in hand, have a siesta and get ready to experience Bogotá by night.
19:00 - We have two options to have the best night of your life in the Capital of Cool, so we'll let you decide.
Option 1: Go to the famous Andres Carne de res, however, to get the authentic experience you must visit the original location in the suburb of Chia. As traffic can be bad, allow an hour to an hour and a half to get there. I promise you once you get there you will see why it is worth the time stuck in Bogotá traffic. Once you step inside you feel that you are transported into another world. From the eccentric décor, to the singers, dancers, you're not quite sure where you are exactly, but it's a place you'll not want to leave. You can have dinner and then dance the night away. Make sure to make a reservation as this restaurant, especially this location fills up quickly.
Option 2: If you don't want to travel to Andres, we recommend restaurant Seratta, one of our favourite restaurants in the world. Here you can find mind blowing cocktails and exceptionally good food. After dinner head to Theatron, one of the largest clubs in Latin America with 13 rooms to dance the night away.
Staying in Bogotá longer? Here are some other restaurants that we know and love:
Other Activities:
National Museum
Parque 93.