Flights to Bogotá

From the airport

Registered taxis leave from a marked rank outside arrivals, and app-based rides also operate. TransMilenio buses run on dedicated lanes across the city, though they get crowded at rush hour. Bogotá sits at about 2,600 metres, so take the first day gently and drink plenty of water. Chapinero, Usaquén and La Candelaria are popular places to stay.

La Candelaria and the old centre

Plaza de Bolívar is lined by the Primatial Cathedral, the Capitol and the Palace of Justice. The steep streets of La Candelaria around it are full of colonial houses, murals and small cafés. The Gold Museum holds tens of thousands of pre-Hispanic gold objects, including the Muisca raft linked to the El Dorado legend, and the Botero Museum displays works by Fernando Botero alongside his own collection.

Monserrate and the city's neighbourhoods

A cable car and funicular climb to the sanctuary on Monserrate, at over 3,100 metres, for views across the city. On Sundays and public holidays, many main roads close to cars for the Ciclovía, when residents cycle and jog through the streets. Usaquén has a Sunday craft market, and the Zona G and Zona T areas are known for restaurants and bars. Try ajiaco, a chicken and potato soup, and hot chocolate with cheese.

Day trips and timing

The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, carved inside a former salt mine, is about an hour north. Further out, the colonial town of Villa de Leyva has a large cobbled square and whitewashed houses. Bogotá's temperatures stay mild all year, typically 7 to 19°C, with the driest weather from December to March. Evenings are cool, so pack a warm layer and a waterproof.

Planning a trip to Bogotá? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll find flights that fit your dates.