Renting a car if you are strictly staying in Bogota is not recommended. Driving is quite different in South America and the city is 8th for the most congested in the world according to the 2022 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard. There are plenty of options for public transportation in the city and renting your own car is not a necessity unless you plan to travel around the region.

Yes, walking around Bogota is a great way to see the sights. Walking around areas such as La Candelaria and Las Aguas allows walkers to see the vibrant street art scenes in the city with tons of beautiful murals. The historic and cultural neighborhoods in Bogota are a pleasure to explore on foot with ancient narrow streets brimming with cafes, restaurants, museums, and street art. Free walking tours are super popular in Bogota, these are the best way to see the main highlights of the city and get a good introduction to its history and important landmarks. There is also a Bogota Graffiti Tour which operates by donation and uses the raised money to reinvest in future community art projects.  Cerro Monserrate is a mountain located in Bogota, hiking up the mountain is one way to ascend it. The footpath up the mountain closes at 1 pm, most locals start their hike early, and it opens at 5 am. It is a 1.5-mile vertical climb up a paved path to the summit. 

Bogota boasts the most extensive and comprehensive network of bike paths in the country, as well as the world. Bogota’s bike paths network known as Ciclorrutas de Bogota in Spanish is 342 miles of interlinked ciclorutas (cycling lanes), many separated from traffic, allowing cyclists to get around with minimum disruption. On Sundays and public holidays, the principal highways are closed from 7:00 am until 2:00 pm to motorized vehicles, and cyclists can ride around 79 miles of Bogota’s roadways. Bogota is a large city and one of the best ways to see it is by doing a bike tour where you get to see local areas. Bike tours start around COP$45,000 and offer standalone bike rentals for about COP$30,000 for four hours. There are also daily guided rides offered around the city which is a great way to absorb the sights, get orientated, and become acquainted with Bogota’s busy streets.  

Bogota is considered a relatively safe destination to visit. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets, and tourist attractions. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. 

The are plenty of shopping opportunities to be discovered in bustling Bogota with many varied options. The mountainous town offers shoppers a great deal when it comes to retail therapy, there are massive malls, vibrant outdoor markets, upscale boutiques, vintage stores, and quaint local shops. As of 2011, there was an overwhelming 100 existing malls in the city, with an anticipated 160 additional malls to be built. In the city center shoppers should be on the lookout for some great bargains and authentic handicrafts. North of the city is where the upscale shopping opportunities are found with many malls and beautiful boutiques. In the commercial areas and shopping centers of Bogota, visitors can find anything they want including the best shops for shoes, accessories, jewelry, technology, antiques, and handicrafts. Colombia is well known for its sombrero vueltiao (a turned hat), shoes, purses, emeralds, and gold. Those shopping for precious stones should be sure to visit the Emerald District (Districto de Esmeralda) where you can feast your sights on a dazzling array of gems. Santander Plaza is a beautiful bustling shopping hub that offers visitors a mixture of friendly street vendors, and well-established local shops that sell everything from electronics to clothing and souvenirs. The Andino and Atlantis shopping malls as well as the surrounding Chapinero area is where shoppers will find some of the best authentic Colombian brands. La Casona del Museo Shop is where the art enthusiasts should head, a renowned store nestled in the historic colonial building that offers visitors a curated selection of art pieces, and cultural souvenirs and is nicely complemented by a charming on-site cafe. Pasaje Rivas Market is the oldest marketplace in the city with a spectacular labyrinth of quaint narrow passageways brimming with crafts, handmade furniture, dishes, and other unique items to take home. 

The official language spoken in Bogota is Spanish. English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry, it is taught in schools and used in government, business, and the media. Many people speak fluent English, especially in hotels and restaurants. We recommend getting a good English/Colombian guidebook and learning the basic questions like please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

The weather in Bogota boasts a subtropical highland climate with average temperatures ranging from 43-66 on sunny days, and 5-64 on rainy days. The highest temperature recorded in Bogota was 86F degrees and the lowest was 19F degrees. Bogota features a low latitude and a high altitude and receives an average of 12 daylight hours and 11+ultraviolet radiation year-round. The rainiest months are April, May, and September through November when a typical day is overcast with low clouds and some wind. Due to its location the weather in Bogota is mild and pleasant, it’s a great city to visit year-round. Fog is very common in the early mornings, 220 days per year, and clear sunny full days are unusual in Bogota. 

The currency of Bogota is the Colombian Peso (COP, $), although US dollars are widely accepted. You should either exchange your US dollars for Rwanda francs and be sure to keep cash on hand when arriving in Colombia. Cash is preferred, there are ATMs found at the airport and locations in the city, tipping is discretionary and appreciated, and cash is usually preferred.

There is a wide array of restaurants in Bogota, the cuisine in the capital city is well worth sampling and enjoying. The restaurants offer an extensive selection of local and international foods, and many are recognized as some of the best in Latin America. Parque de la 93, Usaquen, Zona T, The G Zone, La Macarena, La Candelaria, The Parkway, and the International Center are some of the main neighborhoods that feature many international and local restaurants ranging from Argentinian, Peruvian, Venezuelan, and Brazilian, Mexican, American, Asian, French, Italian, and British cuisines. The city is a multicultural melting pot of culinary influences, there’s something here for everyone.  Some typical traditional dishes of Bogota include Tamales, a paste made with rice, beef, pork, and or chicken, chickpea, carrot, and spices, wrapped in plantain leaves and steam cooked. Ajiaco is a soup prepared with chicken, a variety of potatoes, corn on the cob, and guascas, normally served with sour cream and capers, accompanied by avocado and rice. Cocido is another soup with vegetables, beans, noodles, and a variety of meats and spices. Arepa are flatbreads made from cornmeal that can be eaten plain or filled with cheese, eggs, or meat. Bandeja Paisa is a hearty dish made with beans, rice, ground meat, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), avocado, fried egg, and plantains. Lechona is a festive dish made by stuffing a whole roasted pig with rice, peas, and spices. Changua is a comforting soup made with milk, eggs, and green onion, then seasoned with cilantro. Empanadas are delicious fried or baked pastries filled with meat, cheese, or potatoes. Figs with arequipe, strawberries with cream, postre de natas, and cuajada con melao are some of the main desserts offered in the city. 

Bogota is Colombia’s happening capital city and the beating heart of the country’s nightlife scene. There are several very popular and bustling neighborhoods where visitors can enjoy exciting nightlife. The nightlife in Bogota includes different styles of music and different atmospheres that suit everyone’s tastes. There are bars, pubs, discos, clubs, and craft breweries to explore. A few of the most amazing areas to check out are The Zona Rosa in the north of the city which is located close to the Andino and Atlantis Shopping centers. This neighborhood features plenty of entertainment options, as well as the Zona T neighborhood nearby with never-ending collections of restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightclubs. La Candelaria is one of the popular zones for backpackers to go bar hopping. There is so much to experience when going out for the night in Bogota, you can go salsa dancing, sip cocktails on a rooftop terrace, listen to live music with world-renowned DJs, and other venues with incredible views and atmospheres. There are nightlife tours offered in the city that reveal the capital city’s party scene and help visitors explore the city safely after dark. Going out is called “salir a rumbear” the Bogota clubs and bars will not let you down, the night tourism here is endless from north to south and east to west there’s so much going on in the city every night of the week. Other great nightlife neighborhoods include Parque 93, Usaquen, Galerias, Modelia, Chapinero, Avenida Primera de Mayo La Calera, and Chia just outside the city.  

In case of an emergency dial 123, for the fire department, an ambulance, the police, or any emergency services.

Hospitals: Colombia National University Hospital tel. 57-601-390-4888

Hospital de San Jose tel. 57-135-38000