Bogotá is the capital of Colombia, a city of more than seven million people on a high plateau of the Andes at about 2,600 metres above sea level. It lies on the south-eastern edge of the Bogotá savanna, with the Eastern Hills rising just east of its historic centre, and it is administered as a Capital District divided into 20 localities.
Travellers come for history, museums and food more than for sun. La Candelaria keeps the colonial streets where the city was founded in 1538, the Gold Museum holds tens of thousands of pre-Hispanic pieces, and a cable car or funicular climbs to the church on Monserrate. Further north, Chapinero, Parque de la 93 and Usaquén are more residential, with restaurants, parks and Sunday markets. Renting an apartment works well here: the city is large, distances are long and evenings are cool, so a base in the right area, with a kitchen and warm bedding, makes a stay easier. Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral and Lake Guatavita are classic day trips.
La Candelaria, the historic centre, suits first-time visitors and culture lovers: the Plaza de Bolívar and the Gold Museum are within walking distance, the cable car and funicular up Monserrate are close by, and several universities give it a student feel. Nearby La Macarena is listed by the city's tourism institute among its food districts.
Chapinero, in the north, is a large and varied locality. It takes in the Zona G, named for its restaurants, and the Zona Rosa and Parque de la 93, with bars, shops and offices nearby, which suit couples, nightlife and business travel. Further north, Usaquén was a separate town until it was annexed in 1954; its colonial centre and Sunday flea market make it a calmer choice for families and longer stays. Teusaquillo, between the centre and the north, is home to the National University campus, and the large Simón Bolívar Park nearby hosts free concerts such as Rock al Parque.
The Plaza de Bolívar is the civic heart of the city, framed by the Primatial Cathedral and the Liévano Palace, which houses the mayor's office. The surrounding streets of La Candelaria mix Spanish colonial, baroque and art deco buildings with small museums, and the Chorro de Quevedo square is traditionally linked with the city's founding.
The Gold Museum, run by the Banco de la República, holds more than 30,000 pieces of gold and gold alloys such as tumbaga, shown alongside ceramics, stone and textiles from pre-Hispanic cultures. The same bank runs the Botero Museum, with works by Fernando Botero and by international artists. The National Museum of Colombia, dating from 1823, covers art, history, archaeology and ethnography.
Above the centre, Monserrate rises to 3,152 metres. A cable car and a funicular reach its 17th-century church, devoted to El Señor Caído, and a steep footpath of about 2.4 kilometres climbs around 600 metres.
Before the Spanish arrived, the savanna was the land of the Muisca, and the name Bogotá comes from Bacatá, a Muisca settlement. The conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded the city on 6 August 1538, probably on the site of today's Chorro de Quevedo square, and the Spanish crown named it Santafé in 1540. It became the seat of the Royal Audiencia of the New Kingdom of Granada in 1550 and, from 1717, the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
After the Battle of Boyacá in August 1819 it became the capital of independent Gran Colombia, and it has remained the capital ever since. In April 1948 the assassination of the politician Jorge Eliécer Gaitán set off the riots known as the Bogotazo, which destroyed much of downtown. The Special District created in 1954 absorbed neighbouring towns such as Usaquén, and the city later grew into today's Capital District.
El Dorado International Airport (BOG) lies inside the city, mostly in the Fontibón locality, about 12 kilometres west of the Centro Internacional business district. It opened in 1959 and is the country's main hub, with domestic flights across Colombia and international routes.
TransMilenio, the bus rapid transit system that opened in December 2000, runs in dedicated lanes along the main avenues and links the centre with the north, south and west, with feeder and regular buses filling the gaps. The first line of the Bogotá Metro is under construction, and passenger service is planned for 2028. A car is not needed for a city stay, and driving is limited at busy times by the pico y placa licence-plate rules. On Sundays and public holidays the Ciclovía closes about 120 kilometres of main roads to cars, so residents and visitors can walk, run, skate or cycle.
The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, about 49 kilometres north of the city, is an underground church carved into the tunnels of a salt mine some 200 metres below the surface; the current cathedral was inaugurated in 1995, replacing an older one from 1954. Zipaquirá's main square, with its cathedral and colonial-style buildings, is worth a walk afterwards.
Lake Guatavita, a circular mountain lake about 57 kilometres north-east of Bogotá in the municipality of Sesquilé, is the lake that inspired the legend of El Dorado. Further north, in the department of Boyacá, Villa de Leyva was founded in 1572 and declared a national monument in 1954; its large cobbled plaza and colonial architecture suit an overnight trip rather than a rushed day. Within the Capital District itself, the Sumapaz páramo, a high Andean moorland in the far south, gives a glimpse of the wild landscape around the city.
Being close to the equator, Bogotá has no summer or winter. Its subtropical highland climate keeps days mild all year, with an average temperature of about 14 °C, daytime highs often near 19 °C and cold nights. Rain falls in every month, but March to May and October to November are usually the wettest periods, while December, January, July and August are the driest. Fog is common in early mornings, and sunshine and showers can alternate within a single day.
At this altitude the sun is strong and the air thinner. The city government advises newcomers to take the first one or two days easy, drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and save demanding climbs such as Monserrate for later in the trip. Pack layers and a rain jacket in any season. Any month works for museums and city life, and the Ibero-American Theatre Festival, held every two years, fills the city with performances.
Colombia regulates short-term tourist rentals at national level. Under article 61 of the General Tourism Law (Law 300 of 1996), as amended by Law 2068 of 2020, tourism service providers, including those who rent out homes to visitors as vivienda turística, must hold an active entry in the Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT) before offering their services. The same 2020 law requires digital platforms to let providers display their RNT number and to remove offers from providers without a valid registration.
In 2026 the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism published a draft decree that would, among other changes, require an individual RNT for each dwelling; it was a draft at the time of writing. For guests, the practical check is that a listing shows its RNT number. Rules can change, so check the current requirements with the ministry before booking or listing a property.
La Candelaria suits a first visit focused on history and museums. Chapinero, with the Zona G, Zona Rosa and Parque de la 93, suits food, nightlife and business trips. Usaquén, in the north, is calmer and good for families or longer stays, and Teusaquillo, with the National University campus, lies between the centre and the north.
El Dorado International Airport (BOG) is inside the city, about 12 kilometres west of the Centro Internacional business district. La Candelaria is a little further, and the trip to the northern neighbourhoods depends heavily on traffic. Taxis and public buses connect the airport with the rest of the city.
Bogotá sits at about 2,600 metres, and some visitors notice the altitude at first, known locally as soroche. The city government recommends taking the first one or two days easy, drinking plenty of water and leaving strenuous outings such as the Monserrate climb for later. Seek medical advice if symptoms such as dizziness or headaches persist.
Bogotá is mild all year, with cool nights and daytime highs often near 19 °C. December, January, July and August are usually the driest months, while March to May and October to November bring the most rain. Pack layers and a rain jacket whatever the season.
Three or four days cover La Candelaria, the Gold Museum, the Botero Museum, Monserrate and a northern neighbourhood such as Usaquén. Add a day for the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá or Lake Guatavita, and an extra night if you want to see Villa de Leyva.
No. TransMilenio, city buses and taxis cover the city, and the centre and northern districts are walkable in parts. Driving is limited at busy times by the pico y placa licence-plate rules. A car or driver is only useful for trips into the countryside.
Yes. Colombian law requires homes rented to tourists to be entered in the Registro Nacional de Turismo (RNT) before they operate, and platforms must let hosts display the RNT number. A 2026 draft decree proposes further changes, so check the current rules with the tourism ministry.
Bogotá is known for its colonial La Candelaria district, the Gold Museum's pre-Hispanic collection, the view from Monserrate, its Sunday Ciclovía, the soup called ajiaco and its role as Colombia's capital since independence.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .