3 days in Bogotá itinerary
Welcome to our 3 days in Bogotá itinerary.
The Colombian capital is often overlooked by most travelers, who instead head straight to the Caribbean coast as well as cities like Cali and Medellin.
However, Bogotá is a fantastic city full of striking architecture and vibrant streets, where you’ll also be able to enjoy its pumping nightlife scene.
Not to mention the surrounding region of Bogotá is also home to some incredible sites too, which you’ll want to visit when here.
3 days in Bogotá Backpacking Itinerary
In this guide we’ll explore Bogotá, the best things to see, as well as including our 3 day Itinerary for those heading to the sprawling capital of Colombia.
From visiting a mountain-top monastery that overlooks Bogotá to exploring a cathedral made entirely out of salt, let’s get stuck into the very best of Bogotá.
Getting to Bogotá
Bogotá is often the gateway for most travelers who are arriving in South America, let alone just Colombia. This international airport here is massive and has dozens of daily flights arriving from all continents. You can also find cheaper flights that have a stop in Panama City too, which is quite close to Colombia.
If you are already backpacking Colombia, you can arrive with a domestic flight. It’s the best option for those who are far from the capital (along the Caribbean coast in Cartagena or Santa Marta) or are in more remote parts of the country.
Some of the best cities to fly from include Medellin, Cali, Santa Marta, Cúcuta and Leticia. A one-way ticket will cost between $35-50.
The bus will be the most economical option of all. In Colombia, the buses are quite comfortable, although certain routes can be bumpy and delayed (especially when traveling through the mountains).
Taking the bus is the best option for those who are closer to Bogotá, in cities such as Medellin, Neiva or Pereira (or within the Coffee Zone). A one-way bus from Medellin to Bogotá will cost roughly $15-20.
Given buses may run over, it’s best to carry a long-lasting Power Bank to keep your devices fully charged for when you arrive.
Travel Tips for Bogota: Other Things to know
Following our Bogotá itinerary, we suggest a minimum budget of $20 per day to be able to have access to the majority of activities we mention in this guide.
Also, with this budget, you’ll be staying in a dorm bed in a nice hostel (we’ll share more later in this guide), as well as eating some tasty, local Colombian meals.
You’ll also have some leftovers for beers at night, taking the TransMilenio around the city or heading up to Monserrate by cable car. Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.
The best area to stay within Bogotá is in Candelaria, which is the touristy center of the city. It’s safe to walk around here both during the day and night and has a lively atmosphere to it. You’ll also find many affordable restaurants, bustling bars as well as some really artsy streets all here too.
When it comes to eating, we really recommend making the most of the menu ejecutivos. These are served in local restaurants, and for under $2 you can have a starter, main and drinks all included (it’s all tasty too).
So not only will it help keep your budget down, but you’ll also be in an authentic place where you can meet locals too!
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Bogotá Itinerary (3 Days)
Now lets explore our personalised 3 day itinerary for Bogotá.
Having visited Bogotá many times between the both of us, we feel that 3 days is a great intro for those who are landing in the capital.
In the itinerary below we’ll cover the very best highlights and how to do it all.
Days 1-2: The Highlights of Bogotá
Arriving in Bogotá, we’ll use today to visit the best that this bustling city has to offer. First, we’ll head to the Plaza de Armas, which is home to the main Cathedral as well as the nearby Presidential Palace.
From here we can then walk to Museo Botero, which is a museum showcasing a range of interesting art and native sculptures. The building itself is really nice too, which was a former mansion that still has its original colonial structure intact.
During your two days in Bogotá, you simply must head up to Monserrate. This small mountain is located in the middle of Bogotá, right next to the area of Candelaria. It gives the best views over the capital and is also home to a stunning monastery and sanctuary that is still open today.
You can easily take the Gondola up, or walk where you’ll weave through the surrounding forest on your way up.
Other awesome things to do in Bogotá include visiting the Gold Museum (which is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold artefacts on earth), as well as visiting the colourful cathedral of Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
We highly recommend you to join this all-action tour, where you’ll be shown around the most important plazas and landmarks by your professional guide. You’ll also have an included entry to the Gold Museum, as well as private transport between the different areas of the city you will visit.
Day 3: Day Trip into the Surrounding Region
On our last day, we’ll wake up early to explore the outer region. Leaving Bogotá behind, we’ll find many incredible mountains and lakes, as well as towns too with some worthwhile gems to explore.
One of these towns is Zipaquirá, which takes roughly 3-4 hours to reach (you’ll need to head to the Bus Terminal to take a smaller bus here). This colonial town has a beautiful plaza to explore and is also home to the stunning Salt Cathedral.
Carved out of the nearby mountain, here you can descend into the chilly mountain and find altars and massive Christ statues all created from salt here. It was one of George’s most memorable experiences when here in Colombia.
Another must-visit gem is Lake Guatavita, which is a stunning blue lake tucked away within a volcano crater. Surrounded by forest, it’s the perfect place to lose yourself in nature, and to get some truly incredible views in a region that’s seldom visited by most travelers.
We recommend heading on this memorable day trip, where you’ll visit both of these picturesque gems as well as having lunch included. Given how far these destinations are, it’s better to go with the tour given public transportation may be tricky between Zipaquirá and the lake.
Best time to visit Bogotá
Bogotá is located within the central highlands of Colombia, located at a reasonably high altitude of 2640m. Although the coast is far away, there are still some months that are drier for a visit than others.
Firstly though, it’s worth mentioning the temperatures here. Bogotá has very consistent levels throughout the year, with averages ranging from 55-56°F with little fluctuations! Lows won’t drop any further than 44°F, whilst highs vary from 63-66°F.
The rainfall, on the other hand, does vary. December until March, as well as June until August are considered dry seasons for Bogotá. You can expect 1.5-3 inches of rainfall each month, which makes it a good time to explore the city and region without getting surprised by a sudden downpour.
The wettest months are April and May, as well as from September until November. Rainfall increases sharply during these months, with anywhere from 6-8 months falling within any month. Whilst this will put many travelers off, it’s a cheaper time to visit as it’s outside of the popular vacation times. Just make sure to carry a quality Poncho or rain jacket with you!
Bogotá Backpacking Tips
Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Bogotá:
- 🛏 Spotty Bogotá Centro, Hotel Grand Park
- 🌮 As already mentioned, the Menu Ejecutivo is a great option for budget travelers, and you’ll find good local restaurants throughout the Candelaria district. You’ll also want to try some authentic Colombian dishes when here, which include Tamales as well as Ajiaco (which is the signature dish of Bogotá). The ancient drink of Chicha seems to be either loved or hated, but we’ll leave that up to you!
- 🌴 Monserrate, Museo Botero, Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá.
- 🍺 Candelaria is full of both quirky and authentic bars, as well as some really good Latin clubs. Castlebar Gastro Pub is a good place to kick things off, where you can then head to El Candelario which has everything from salsa and reggaetón to rock music over different floors. The Zona Rosa is the ultimate area for nightlife, with some of the best venues being Vintrash as well as Armando Records.
- 💡 If staying within the historic center or Candelaria, then it’ll be safe to walk around. However late into the night (or if visiting other neighborhoods), then we recommend keeping your money and valuables safe by bringing this secure Money Belt.
Bogotá Itinerary
The Colombian capital is often short-lived on most travelers’ itineraries, who imagine it to be another dull, large city.
However, as we’ve seen, it’s one of the best cities for getting to know Colombia’s rich history, as well as to have a variety of novel experiences.
In this itinerary-style guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about Bogotá. This includes the very best destinations to visit, our top recommendations as well as a customized 3 day itinerary when heading here.
Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.
See our backpacking South America guide for more places on the continent.
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