La Candelaria

Bogotá

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Home South America Colombia Bogotá Do & SeeLa Candelaria

La Candelaria

Once a sacred site for the ancient indigenous community of Muiscas, La Candelaria neighbourhood is where Bogotá was founded back in 1538. Naturally, this is the first stop for many tourists. Steep stone streets are lined with colonial buildings that house cafes, restaurants and artisanal shops. Some buildings are showing signs of their long life, while others have been revitalised with colourful street art. You will find major cultural hotspots like the Gold Museum, Museo Botero, the colonial-era cathedral dedicated to the Virgen de la Candelaria and the neoclassical Capitol flanking Bolivar Plaza. Navigate the winding streets of the historical centre yourself or follow a guided tour of La Candelaria.

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Free Walking Tour

Free Walking Tour

You can find free walking tours in most major cities, and Bogotá is not an exception. Most guides will take you through the historic centre of La Candelaria — the creative hotspot of the city set in the winding cobbled streets. You will learn about colonial houses and baroque churches, Colombia's colonial and indigenous past, striking graffiti and the impact of the Colombian drug trade. The most popular free tour is organised by Gran Colombia Tours, but check the link below to find a tour that fits your interests best.

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Gold Museum

Gold Museum

The Gold Museum is the most well-known museum in Bogotá, with 6,000 of artefacts on display and another 49,000 in the archives. Explore the pre-Hispanic cultural heritage presented over three floors. Jewellery, masks, bowls, ritual offerings and armour are separated by themes and geographic area. Guided tours are conducted in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese. Check the schedule on the official website.

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Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

Beautifully laid out and maintained botanical gardens. A refuge from Bogotá's hectic traffic, this place is always peaceful and never too crowded. Spectacular tropical greenhouses were completed in 2020 and now offer special exhibitions that feature the various climates and regions of Colombia. Stroll around the pond and try your luck spotting lizards, turtles, ducks, peacocks, and other animals. The small outdoor cafe on the premises serves great spiced coffee. Nature lovers will benefit from a guided tour — a perfect introduction to Colombia's ecosystem.

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Mount Monserrate

Mount Monserrate

Monserrate is a dramatically high mountain over 3,152 metres (10,000 feet) high that dominates the city centre of Bogotá. You can reach the top on foot, but be warned that it won't be the easiest trek of your life because of the altitude. Alternatively, take the cable-car or the funicular. They will safely deliver you to the church with a shrine devoted to El Señor Caído with astonishing views over the city. If you are superstitious, be warned: Colombians believe that couples who visit Monserrate together will never get married.

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National Museum of Colombia

National Museum of Colombia

The National Museum of Colombia is housed in a sprawling 19th century prison built in the style of a fortress. Without a doubt, this is the biggest and oldest museum in Colombia. Permanent exhibitions will introduce you to over 20,000 archaeology and ethnography samples from Colombian treasures dating from 10,000 years BC, up to twentieth century indigenous and Afro-Colombian art and culture. Fine art lovers must not miss the chance to see paintings by masters Débora Arango, Fernando Botero, Enrique Grau, Ignacio Gomez Jaramillo, Santiago Martinez Delgado, Alejandro Obregón, Omar Rayo, Andrés de Santa María and Guillermo Wiedemann.

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Botero Museum

Botero Museum

Fernando Botero is known for his peculiar artistic style — he paints portrait and creates sculptures of people, animals, and fruits, but makes them all plump like an exaggerated cherub. Born in Medellín, he's probably the most internationally famous Colombian artist. Enjoy the beautifully renovated colonial house with a lush courtyard and be amused by one chubby art piece after another.

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Plaza de Bolívar

Plaza de Bolívar

Plaza de Bolívar is the political heart of Colombia. The massive square is surrounded by the Cathedral of Bogotá, the mayor's office and the Capitol Building. The Palace of Justice, once besieged by the infamous Pablo Escobar, is also here. Just around the corner you'll find the heavily guarded Casa de Nariño — the official home and principal workplace of the President of Colombia. Spend some time on this square crowded with street-sellers, pigeon and monumental buildings. An absolute must-see.

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Usaquén Flea Market

Usaquén Flea Market

Every weekend, the sweet little village of Usaquén on the city's edge hosts a flea market. So many beautiful things to decorate your house or to gift to friends back home: blankets, ponchos, pictures, jewellery, antique kitchen stuff, purses, personalised leather bags and famous Colombian mochilas — the list goes on and on. Cash is king. The flea market is a major attraction for tourists and locals. Numerous cafes and restaurants have sprung up in the area, serving traditional Colombian dishes as well as international cuisine.

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Bike Sundays

Bike Sundays

Every Sunday, Bogotá closes over 100 kilometres of roads for cars and allows cyclists, roller-skaters and joggers to enjoy the city without traffic. It is a marvellous initiative that brings out the young and the old. Rent a bike and join the fun. Make your way to one of the many parks and join a dance or aerobics class — look up Recreovía for exact time and location. Ciclovía Sundays are a perfect time to make your way north towards the Usaquén flea market.

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93rd Street Park

93rd Street Park

Parque 93 is a fairly small but very popular park, located in the rather affluent neighbourhood of Chapinero. The park has green shaded lawns and plenty of space for kinds to run around, plus a playground. You'll find numerous trendy restaurants, cafes and shops on all sides of the park.

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Graffiti Tour

Graffiti Tour

Bogotá is a major attraction in the world of street art — enough to compete with the likes of Miami, Amsterdam, Río, and México City! You can stroll around and find the graffiti at random, finding surprises around every corner. Or you could join a walking or biking tour of the city and get an eye-opening look into Colombia’s tumultuous past and hopeful future as depicted by local artists. You'll learn about artists and get the necessary background to truly understand Bogotá's street art. The whole city is a museum!

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Military Museum of Colombia

Military Museum of Colombia

Military Museum of Colombia is run by the armed forces and aims to show you more than 200 years of the country's military history. You'll see uniforms, flags, weaponry, medals, aircraft, scaled-models of ships and some full-size vehicles. In the two courtyards you can see actual tanks, cannons and airplanes.

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Museo Santa Clara

Museo Santa Clara

Museo Santa Clara is a former church built in the 17th century. These days it is open as a museum and is jam packed full of beautiful art. You can both discover the colonial-era Baroque architecture and explore temporary modern art exhibitions. Don’t miss the murals and the 950 wooden, hand-carved and gold-foiled flowers that cover the ceiling.

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Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia — MAMU

Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia — MAMU

This art museum showcases local and international artists from the 16th century to the present day. From the numismatist's dream of old coin minting machines to exquisite masterpieces from all over Latin America — this is a thoughtfully designed destination for art lovers. The galleries of this modernist building seem endless. Along the way, enjoy the courtyards, fountains and a cosy cafe.

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Bogotá Museum of Modern Art — MAMBO

Bogotá Museum of Modern Art — MAMBO

The MAMBO is a multicultural and dynamic art space that investigates, communicates and exhibits Colombia's cultural heritage and the various expressions of modern and contemporary art. There is no permanent exhibition, but a series of temporary ones spread over the four floors on the gorgeous brick building designed by architect Rogelio Salmona.

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Cinemateca de Bogotá

Cinemateca de Bogotá

Cinemateca is a fantastic cultural place for movie lovers. The venue has three screens dedicated to showing lesser known, alternative films from Colombia, Latin America and the entire world. The tickets are super cheap and you never know what kind of masterpiece you'll get to watch. Cinemateca also hosts several film festivals every year. Don't forget to check out the gallery in the basement of the building. The modern art exhibitions are small, but always interesting.

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Bogotá Food Experience

Bogotá Food Experience

Two birds with one stone: walk through the historic streets of Candelaria and experience Bogotá's gastronomy. You will be guided through flavours of several Colombian regions. The tour is always changing and evolving to better showcase seasonal dishes prepared by family-owned businesses. Your guide will make accommodations for vegetarian and vegan guests as long as you let them know in advance. Make sure to bring a strong appetite, good walking shoes, an umbrella and some water.

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Memory, Peace & Reconciliation Center

Memory, Peace & Reconciliation Center

The Memory, Peace & Reconciliation Center stands as a rare cultural institution conceived during ongoing conflict rather than after. Its stark concrete facade, punctuated by asymmetrical windows representing fallen tears, dominates a quiet corner of Bogotá — a physical reckoning with Colombia’s six million victims of violence. Inside, rotating exhibitions blend contemporary art with archival documents, avoiding sensationalism while honouring personal narratives. Sculptures crafted from reclaimed weapons share space with grassroots reconciliation projects, their modest scale underscoring the centre’s focus on human stories over grand gestures. Large multipurpose halls host community dialogues, acknowledging that healing remains a work in progress.

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Play Tejo

Play Tejo

Tejo (or turmequé) is a popular game that is similar to pétanque or cornhole, only played with a flat puck rather than a ball or a sack. Beer companies and small breweries have been promoting the game as a perfect pastime — and for a good reason! Enjoy a glass or artisanal beer and compete in a game of marksmanship. Tejo is a lot more explosive than pétanque — the target is rigged to explode if hit just right. Fireworks and beer are a winning combination when done safely.

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