Bogotá, Colombia

Must See & Do!

  • Visit La Calendaría

    La Calendaría is a super charming historic district in the heart of Bogotá that is a must see. I recommend getting a local guide; we used Gran Colombia tours! Not only do they call out notable buildings, but it helps to keep you safe as well

  • Monserrate

    Monserrate is a historic church located on a mountain that overlooks the entire city of Bogotá. As it is the “thing to see” in Bogotá, I recommend planning your visit very wisely (aka do not attend on a weekend). We went on a Saturday and had to wait in a 40min line to get on the cable car to go up the mountain and another ~1hr line to get down :( However, the views were worth it (almost)! You can truly see all of Bogotá from the top, as well as the surrounding mountains - it is quite beautiful!

  • Visit Parque 93

    Parque 93 is a charming neighborhood in the northern part of the city, with a small park in the center! Not only is this place a very safe area, but ALL of the best restaurants we went to were in the area. Come for a bite and then explore!

  • Watch the Sunset from a Rooftop

    I saw some wonderful sunsets during my time in Bogotá, all from the rooftop of Salvio apartments, where we were staying. There was a nice rooftop bar, Vista Corona which had quite the view! Get there early though, as there was always a line later in the evening

  • Try Local Coffee

    As you may know, Colombia is known for its coffee! I recommend going to at least one (hopefully many) local coffee shops for to try the pour over coffee. The baristas are also very knowledgeable about the process to make each type of coffee, so you learn something while getting caffeinated :)

  • Plaza de Bolívar

    Plaza de Bolívar is the main square of Bogotá, which dates back to the 1800s and housed the presidential palace. The square is full of people and animals - there are a ton of llamas and too many pigeons. Definitely read up on the history of the Bogotá and recent political changes to understand the full story of the plaza!

  • Street Art Tour

    Bogotá is home to a ton of spectacular street art. While you can definitely view it all by yourself, I recommend getting a tour guide to explain history behind much of the street art (and it keeps you safe)!

  • Parque de Periodistas

    On your walk through La Calendaría, you must take time to pass through Parque de Periodistas. It is a stunning Roman-inspired circular templar with a statue of Simon Bolívar. You also get a beautiful view of Monserrate on the mountains behind the park. This was one of my favorite spots we visited while here!

Food & Drinks

  • Pajares Salinas

    Wow Pajares Salinas was incredible!!! In our four day stay, we came for dinner twice. The first night we enjoyed tenderloin and sea bass - some of the best sea bass that I’ve ever had. The second night we had a lovely minestrone soup with pasta and loved it all. The restaurant also has a spectacular bar - cannot say better things about this place!

  • Azahar Café

    Azahar is a cute café located in the wonderful neighborhood Parque 93 that we visited multiple times! I LOVED the oatmeal pancakes and my partner really enjoyed the eggs. They are also known for their traditional Colombian coffee, which I highly recommend

  • Local Fruit Juices

    Tons of unique fruits are grown in the mountains of Colombia, which was a fun fact that I learned during our walking tour of La Calendaría. My favorite was Lulo, which is a tangy citrus-like fruit that tastes a bit like lemon. I tried it in a smoothie with mint, ginger and banana which was delicious!

  • Mesa Franca

    Mesa Franca is a very hip restaurant in Bogotá that honestly made me feel like I was in Los Angeles. I was super impressed by the staff in the restaurant - they were very attentive and the food came out very quickly. My favorite dish was the tuna tartare with avocado that almost had a smokey flavor; it was unlike anything that I had ever tried before

  • The Coffee

    The coffee is a small coffee shop in a food court near Parque 93. It turns out it is a global café with shops in Tokyo! I frequented every morning and loved the vanilla latte

  • Vista Corona

    Vista Corona can truly do it all - breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks! We went in the morning for lunch and they have a buffet option or a la carte. My favorite dish were the pancakes with fresh fruit!

  • Piazza Italia by Storia D'amore

    Piazza Italia by Storia D’amore is rated the #4 restaurant in all of Bogotá and it deserves the ranking! The ambiance is incredible - it is a huge Italian restaurant where each dining area is unique. The minestrone soup was probably some of the best I’ve had ever - so much flavor and the perfect croutons on top. If you are a carbonara fan, you must order it as they make it right in front of your table with the giant parmesan bowl! You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu here and I cannot wait to go back :)

  • Harry Sasson

    Harry Sasson is a fine dining restaurant with Colombia’s most famous chef. The dining area has floor to ceiling windows that open up to a garden, making the restaurant feel very open and airy. The food is a wonderful mix of Japanese, Colombian, and European flavors, and if you are a meat lover, there are tons of different cuts seared to perfection. My favorite dish had to be the empanadas - they were almost (emphasis on almost) better than the ones I ate in Argentina!