City Rating: Bogota
Population: 8,000,000
Date of visit: December 2018
Attractions & sights: 2/5
Nightlife: 4/5
Safety: 3/5
Infrastructure: 3/5
Low budget factor: 4/5
Total: 👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Bogota, the capital city of Colombia, is the fourth largest city in Latin America. Located at an altitude of 2,640 meters, Bogota is also one of the highest capital cities in the world. It goes without a saying that the city is rather chilly therefore, especially at night, and there is a real threat of getting sunburnt during the day. All in all, Bogota has two or three nice sights and amazing nightlife, but it’s rather a city for one or maximum two days.
Where to stay:
Tourists usually stay in Zona Rosa, Chapinero or La Candelaria. I had a hotel in Zona Rosa both times and think that this is the best choice, as this is by far the safest area and also the main nightlife district in the city.
La Candelaria might be the best choice if sightseeing is the main priority. This is the historical center of Bogota and Mount Monserrat is also not far from there. The downside is that it gets a bit dodgy at night. Chapinero is like Zona Rosa a more or less safe neighborhood, but there isn’t much to do there.
The Good:
Bogota has a few good sights such as the historical center in La Candelaria or Mount Monserrat. Both are must do activities when in Bogota. Art lovers will like the city as well because of its museums (Museo Botero or Museo del Oro). Another popular activity is joining a graffiti tour in La Candelaria.
The best thing Bogota has to offer is the nightlife. It has the reputation of being one of the best in Latin America, and I can understand why. The most famous nightlife district is Zona T in Zona Rosa, where you can find plenty of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. This area is crowded on the weekends and you have to stand in lines sometimes to enter a bar.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Some people call Bogota a big, ugly beast. The city is indeed too big and it can take very long to get from one point to another. A trip from Zona Rosa to La Candelaria for example usually takes 45 minutes due to the bad traffic. And despite the huge size of the city, there isn’t so much to see aside from the usual sights.
Moreover, Bogota gets dodgy after dark. Zona Rosa is still a safe place, but that doesn’t make Bogota a city to wander around at night. Some parts of the city have to be avoided at all costs.
Bogota is a city like Lima in the end. Not a bad one, but too big and not an absolute must see-city. My recommendation is to skip Bogota when traveling in Colombia or to keep it short (1-2 days maximum).
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