Things to do in Colombia

The 17 best things to do in Colombia

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1. 1Cartagena

   Walk Cartagena's colonial walls at sunset

   Cartagena's stone walls were built in stages between 1586 and 1796 to defend one of the most important ports of the Spanish colonial Americas from repeated pirate attacks. Together with the city's bastions and forts, they protect a historic center that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1984. Today you can walk along the walls with the Caribbean on one side and the old town on the other, then drop into the streets through gates like the Clock Tower, the main entrance to the walled city. Plan at least two hours for the historic center, and longer if you want to linger. The old town is about 15 minutes by car from Rafael Núñez Airport.

   Tip: Time your walk for late afternoon so you are on the walls for sunset, then continue to Getsemaní, the neighborhood just outside them, for dinner and music.

   Free to visit
   Search tours on TiqetsSources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal)
2. 2Cartagena

   Explore the squares inside Cartagena's walled city

   The walled city is best explored square by square. Bolívar Park, a leafy green space with a bronze statue of Simón Bolívar on horseback, is framed by the cathedral, begun in 1577, and the Palace of the Inquisition. Its baroque doorway and wooden balconies hid the tribunal of the Holy Office, which judged crimes against the faith from 1610 until 1821; today the building holds the city's history museum, founded in 1924. A few streets away, Santo Domingo Square is the liveliest in the old town, with terrace restaurants and Fernando Botero's bronze Gertrudis, and the church beside it is the oldest in the city. Santa Teresa Square, in front of the Naval Museum, is where horse-drawn carriage rides start.

   Tip: Come back after dark, when singers and dancers fill Santo Domingo Square and the carriage rides past the lit balconies are at their best.

   COP[fee]Know the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official)
3. 3Cartagena

   Climb through San Felipe de Barajas Castle

   San Felipe de Barajas, the fortress that earned the name guardian of Cartagena, stands on San Lázaro hill. The Spanish finished it in 1657 to control the only land approach to the city, and it faced repeated attacks from English and French forces; a French commander, the Baron de Pointis, took it in 1697. Wander through the tunnels inside the fort, then take in the views over the bay from the top. It is part of the UNESCO listing that also covers the walled city. The castle is open every day and sits about 10 minutes by car from the Clock Tower.

   Tip: Your ticket comes with a map but no guide, so hire a guide or an audio guide at the fort's ticket office if you want the full story of the sieges.

   COP[fee]Know the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Escuela Taller Cartagena de Indias (fortifications manager)
4. 4Bogotá

   Ride up Monserrate for the view over Bogotá

   Monserrate rises above Bogotá's historic center to 3,172 m, and the sanctuary on its summit is visible from much of the city. A hermitage stood here from 1620, and the current church, finished in 1920, holds the Fallen Lord of Monserrate, a statue made in 1640 that draws pilgrims every weekend. You can go up by cable car or funicular, or walk the trail of nearly 3 km, which takes about 50 minutes and passes the Stations of the Cross. At the top there are gardens, craft stalls and restaurants serving Bogotá dishes such as ajiaco and hot chocolate with tamal and bread, plus a lookout where you can watch the city light up at dusk.

   Tip: The walking trail is closed on Tuesdays and opens early in the morning for the climb up, so check the official schedule, and remember the altitude if you have just arrived.

   Round trip, Monday to Saturday and holidays: COP 35,000 (about $11) · Round trip, Sunday: COP 21,000 (about $6) · Pay for the cable car or funicularFee changed?

   Last verified Nov 7, 2026

   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Cerro de Monserrate; Visit Bogotá (Bogotá Tourism Institute, official)
5. 5Bogotá

   See the Muisca Raft at Bogotá's Gold Museum

   The Gold Museum in downtown Bogotá holds the world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic goldwork, about 34,000 gold pieces made by the Muisca, Tayrona and other Indigenous peoples for daily life and sacred ritual. Its star is the Muisca Raft, a small gold figure of the ceremony on Lake Guatavita where a chief covered in gold dust sailed out on the water, the ritual behind the legend of El Dorado. Look also for the Quimbaya poporo, a vessel that held lime for chewing coca leaves. Exhibits are in Spanish and English, and seeing everything takes about four hours. The museum is near Bolívar Square.

   Tip: The museum is closed on Mondays, including holiday Mondays, so plan it for another day and rent the audio guide for the stories behind the pieces.

   Foreign visitors: COP 21,000 (about $6) · Colombian citizens: COP 10,000 (about $3) · Pay at the door; free on SundaysFee changed?

   Last verified Nov 7, 2026

   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); Visit Bogotá (Bogotá Tourism Institute, official); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal)
6. 6Medellín

   Walk the murals and escalators of Comuna 13

   Comuna 13, also called San Javier, on Medellín's western hillside, has turned a violent past into a story of resilience told through art. On the Graffitour, murals by mostly local artists line the steep lanes, and outdoor public escalators, built to help residents climb the hill, carry you up past dancers to a viewpoint over colorful houses and the mountains. To get there, take Metro Line B to San Javier station, at the end of the line, then a short taxi or local bus ride to the escalators. From the same station, Metrocable Line J gives you a view over the district from the air.

   Tip: Go with a guide from the neighborhood, who can tell its history firsthand, and remember that people live here: buy from local shops and keep your visit respectful.

   Free to visit; guided walks extra
   Sources: Medellín.Travel, official travel guide owned by the District of Medellín
7. 7Bogotá

   Go 180 m underground at the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá

   The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is built inside the tunnels of a salt mine about 50 km from Bogotá, 180 m underground. The Muisca people mined salt here long before the Spanish arrived, and the current cathedral opened in 1995. Inside, colored lights pick out the 14 Stations of the Cross carved in salt and rock, three naves with altars, and a lit salt cross 16 m high in the central dome. Don't miss the water mirror, an old brine pool whose still surface creates a striking optical effect. Guides and audio guides in several languages are available. Direct buses from Bogotá's Salitre terminal or the Portal Norte station take 60 to 90 minutes, or take the tourist train, a two-hour ride.

   Tip: Arrive early to beat the crowds, wear comfortable shoes for the uneven floors, and bring a light jacket for the cool air underground.

   COP[fee]; open dailyKnow the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Parque de la Sal Zipaquirá (catedraldesal.gov.co)
8. 8Medellín

   Climb the 702 steps of El Peñol above Guatapé

   El Peñol, also called the Rock of Guatapé, is a natural monolith of quartz, feldspar and mica about 220 m high, and 702 steps zigzag up its side. From the top you get an almost 360-degree view over Guatapé and its reservoir, created in the 1970s for a hydroelectric project that flooded the old town of El Peñol. Below, the town of Guatapé is known for its zócalos, the colorful carved panels along the bottom of house fronts, best seen on the Plazoleta de los Zócalos, and for its 900 m waterfront promenade. Guatapé is about 2 hours by road from Medellín, with direct buses from the Terminal del Norte.

   Tip: Stay at least one night in Guatapé if you can, so you can climb the rock in the morning and see the town in the evening, and bring sunscreen and a warm layer.

   COP[fee] to climbKnow the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Medellín.Travel, official travel guide owned by the District of Medellín
9. 9Medellín

   Meet Botero's bronzes on Plaza Botero

   In the heart of downtown Medellín, Plaza Botero displays 23 large bronze sculptures that Fernando Botero donated to the city in 2002, which makes it the only open-air space in the world with that many of his works. You can walk among his rounded figures and photograph them up close. The square fronts the Museo de Antioquia, which holds more than 100 works by Botero along with permanent rooms of pre-Hispanic, republican and contemporary art, so you can see his paintings right after the sculptures. Parque Berrío station on Metro Line A is about a three minute walk away, and the pedestrian Avenida Carabobo nearby shows the busy street life of the city center.

   Tip: Visit during the day, when the square feels busier and safer and the light is better for photos.

   Free to visit
   Sources: Medellín.Travel, official travel guide owned by the District of Medellín
10. 10Bogotá

    Wander La Candelaria up to the Chorro de Quevedo

    La Candelaria is where Bogotá began, and its steep cobbled streets still hold colonial and republican houses with balconies, churches, museums, theaters and universities. Start at Bolívar Square, laid out in 1539 and framed by the cathedral and the National Capitol, where independence was proclaimed on July 20, 1810. Then climb through the district to the Chorro de Quevedo, the small square where the city is believed to have been founded in 1538, reached along the narrow Calle del Embudo. Today it is a meeting point for students and street performers. Along the way, look out for murals, the Teatro Colón and the Luis Ángel Arango Library.

    Tip: Stop at La Puerta Falsa, the city's oldest restaurant, for tamales or a cup of hot chocolate in the local santafereño style.

    Free to visit
    Sources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Visit Bogotá (Bogotá Tourism Institute, official); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal)
11. 11Cartagena

    Take a boat to the Rosario Islands

    The Rosario Islands, a small archipelago of about 28 islands off Cartagena, lie within the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park, which protects their coral reefs. The draw is white sand, clear water and snorkeling or diving among colorful fish and coral. Boats leave from La Bodeguita pier, in front of La Marina park, and take about one to two hours depending on the boat. Many Cartagena companies sell day trips, and some islands have hotels if you want to stay overnight. You can also drive across the bridge to Barú island, home to Playa Blanca and the National Aviary.

    Tip: Boats usually leave between 7:00 and 10:00 AM, so arrange your trip the day before and be at the pier early.

    Book a boat from La Bodeguita pier
    Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
12. 12Medellín

    Ride the Metrocable up to Parque Arví

    Medellín's Metrocable links the city's mountainside areas with the metro, and riding it is one of the best ways to see how the city fills its valley. The classic trip takes the metro to Acevedo, Metrocable Line K up to Santo Domingo, then Line L, the Arví tourist cable, a ride of about 20 minutes into Parque Arví. This protected forest reserve, declared in 1970, has stone paths, archaeological remains, viewpoints and trails, plus guided walks, birdwatching and picnics run by the park. The park is open Tuesday to Sunday.

    Tip: Head to the park's ticket booth as soon as you arrive to see which guided walks run that day, and note that when Monday is a public holiday the park opens and closes on Tuesday instead.

    Pay for the Arví cable
    Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Medellín.Travel, official travel guide owned by the District of Medellín; Medellín.Travel, official travel guide owned by the District of Medellín
13. 13Bogotá

    See Botero's own art collection in La Candelaria

    The Botero Museum fills a colonial house in La Candelaria with the collection Fernando Botero donated to Colombia's central bank in 2000: 208 works, 123 by Botero himself and 85 by international artists. Alongside his own rounded figures, you will find works by painters such as Renoir, Monet, Degas, Picasso and Miró. It makes an easy pairing with the Gold Museum and the other sights of the historic center, all within walking distance of Bolívar Square. If you are also going to Medellín, it rounds out the sculptures on Plaza Botero.

    Tip: Combine it with Bolívar Square and the Chorro de Quevedo on a single morning walk through La Candelaria.

    Free to visit
    Search tours on TiqetsSources: Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal)
14. 14Medellín

    Learn Medellín's recent history at the Casa de la Memoria

    The Museo Casa de la Memoria was created in 2006 by the city of Medellín as a place to understand, and move beyond, the armed conflict and violence that marked Medellín, Antioquia and Colombia. Its exhibitions deal with conflict, peace, reconciliation and human rights, including the permanent show Medellín: memories of violence and resistance. It is a sobering visit, and it helps explain the transformation you see in places like Comuna 13. The museum sits in central Medellín and is open Tuesday to Sunday.

    Tip: The museum is closed on Mondays; ask about guided visits in advance if you want a mediator to walk you through the exhibitions.

    Free to visit
    Search tours on TiqetsSources: Medellín.Travel, official travel guide owned by the District of Medellín; Museo Casa de la Memoria (official, Spanish)
15. 15Bogotá

    Taste Colombian fruit at Paloquemao Market

    Paloquemao, in the west of Bogotá, fills an old railroad warehouse. Open since 1972, it is one of the country's main marketplaces, with nearly 900 stalls of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, herbs and crafts. It is the place to discover the huge variety of Colombian fruit and to sample typical Colombian pastries. Its flower aisle, run by more than 800 vendors, many from families who have worked there for generations, is the largest flower market in Bogotá and busiest in the early morning. The market opens every day.

    Tip: Go early in the morning, when the flower aisle is at its busiest, and ask stallholders to let you taste before you buy.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official)
16. 16Cartagena

    Visit the sanctuary of San Pedro Claver

    The church and monastery of San Pedro Claver were built by the Jesuits in the 17th century beside Customs House Square. They honor Pedro Claver, a Jesuit priest born in Catalonia in 1580 who spent his life in Cartagena protecting enslaved Africans, and who is said to have baptized more than 300,000 people. He died in the convent in 1654, was made a saint in 1888, and his remains rest in an urn beneath the high altar. The museum next door tells his story and that of the Afro-Caribbean heritage of the city. Colombia marks its national human rights day on September 9 in his honor.

    Tip: The museum opens daily, with shorter hours on weekends and holidays, and the church is a working parish with evening Mass, so visit earlier in the day for sightseeing.

    COP[fee] for the museumKnow the fee?
    Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Colombia Travel (ProColombia, official); Santuario de San Pedro Claver
17. 17Bogotá

    Spend a weekend afternoon in Usaquén

    Usaquén was a separate town until the city absorbed it in 1954, and its main square still feels like a village. On its eastern side stands the church of Santa Bárbara, which dates to the mid 17th century, and around it the narrow streets are lined with craft shops, cafés, bars and a wide choice of restaurants, serving Colombian and international food. It is a relaxed contrast to the busy historic center, and a good place to end a day of sightseeing with a long meal.

    Tip: Go on a weekend, when flea markets with crafts, design and local food fill the streets around the square.

    Free to visit
    Sources: ProColombia (colombia.travel, official tourism portal); Visit Bogotá (Bogotá Tourism Institute, official)

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