Best Things To Do In Bogota In 24 Hours

Best Things to do in Bogota in 24 hours

Known for being the industrial capital of Colombia, Bogota is not exactly a tourist haven. There are plenty of other places worth visiting in Colombia, so honestly it doesn’t rank very high on my favorites lists. For me, one day was enough to get a feel for the city. That being said, there are still some incredible things to do in Bogota.

Flight Convenience

If you’re going to Colombia from the east coast, Bogota is a pretty great point of entry. Avianca has several non-stop flights per day, as does LATAM and even Delta added a new route in late December 2020. Plus the flight’s only 5.5 hours from JFK.

Coming into El Dorado is pretty painless compared to other South American points of entry. The immigration line can be long, but it moves relatively quickly and the officers don’t hassle you much.

Getting out of the airport, hop over to the licensed taxi officials in the arrivals hall. Taxi drivers WILL harass you, just ignore. The licensed stations set flat fee amounts, and it shouldn’t cost more than 30,000 COP to get into the city.

24 hours on the ground

We arrived into Bogota at midnight. I booked the Hampton by Hilton at Bogota Airport since we were only staying one more night. That turned out to be a great choice. Exceptionally comfortable hotel, super close to the airport and city center with a dead on view of glorious Monserrate Mountain.

In the taxi ride to the hotel, my boyfriend struck up a conversation with our driver. He gave us the Whatsapp number for his friend Jon, a tour guide who would be able to take us the best things to do in Bogota for the day. By 9 am we had negotiated our itinerary with Jon and were on our way.

Note: Jon only speaks Spanish. If you don’t speak Spanish but are just looking for someone reliable and affordable to take you around Bogota, he’s your man. Just use Google translate for the conversation essentials. His Whatsapp number is +57 310-609-5757.

Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral)

Though slightly outside of the city, the Catedral de Sal is number one on my list of things to do in Bogota. It is one of the most unique things I have ever seen in my life.

This Roman Catholic Cathedral is built into a salt mine, 200 meters underground. It is a massive space spanning a path roughly 2 km long. Spend a couple of hours wandering the dark but eerily beautiful caves that tell the tale of Jesus’ life.

The Catedral de Sal is not only a tourist destination, but also a place of pilgrimage for Colombians. Listen to the audio guide. Once you get passed the first few rooms with massive cross statues, it actually gets pretty interesting.

Stopping for Lunch

On Jon’s recommendation, we stopped in Zipaquira for lunch before heading back to Bogota. My oh my were we not disappointed. The place was called Brasas del Llano, and it was some of the best Colombian food I’ve ever had.

Being that it’s a mainland city, eating steak is definitely one of the things to do in Bogota. When you see the massive fire pits with meat cooking, you know you have to eat there. If you’re still in doubt, follow your nose.

The decor of the place was perfectly unique and rustic. It was a collection of literally the most random antique stuff, yet somehow it all fit together perfectly.

The waiter walked over and asked where we were from, then came back later with a Puerto Rican and American flag for the pick holder on the table. We found that particularly adorable.

My entree was baby beef steak. Kevin had churrasco, a cut of beef unique to some South American countries like Colombia and Argentina. It was absolutely heavenly. So tender it practically melted in my mouth, and the flavor was divine.

Exploring the City Center

After lunch, Jon took us to the historical city center. Taking a peek in Plaza Simon Bolivar is another must in things to do in Bogota. It is surrounded by four major architectural marvels: Primary Cathedral of Bogota, Lievano Palace, National Capital, and Palace of Justice.

Unfortunately in Bogota, like in many other South American cities, the main square is the pickpocket capital of the city. The streets around the plaza have lots of shops and tons of people. Watch your stuff. This is an area to follow the crowds after dark because the side streets get shady.

Take advantage of the daylight and wander around La Candelaria a bit before ending the day. It is the neighborhood behind the Primary Cathedral, and Bogota’s version of Soho. Quaint and colorful, there are cute little boutique and tea shops like street art galore. Dinner here will be your best shot at food.

Ending the Day

In our case, our flight to Cartagena was early the following morning so we didn’t try and explore Bogota’s nightlife. We followed the crowds to a major street and hailed a taxi. Nearly 40 minutes of traffic later we got back to the Hampton by Hilton Bogota Airport for a whopping 15,000 COP (roughly $5).

Given the fact that we only had one day to explore Bogota, we felt like we took the most advantage of our time. If you happen to be there longer than a day, Bogota has some great museums that might be worth a visit.

By the following morning we were ready to leave the chilly air of Bogota for the tropical climates of Cartagena. We got to cover the major things to do in Bogota, and honestly, that was enough.