A Guide to the Best Long Layover in Bogota, Colombia
By Daniella from Sampler Platter Travel – this guide to Bogota contains affiliate links to trusted partners!
Looking for things to do during a long layover in Bogota? Don’t want to spend 6 hours sitting around in the airport?
This fast-paced itinerary guides you through activities in Bogota that are attainable during a layover in the city. Walk around the famous La Candelaria neighborhood, see colorful buildings, street art, and eat mouth-watering local food.
This layover guide was tested and loved by my family and me last December. While we spent longer in Bogota, this is what we would do if we had to prioritize what to see in a short amount of time.
While you could certainly spend a lot of time in Bogota as it is made up of tons of vibrant neighborhoods, Sampler Platter Travel is dedicated to fast itineraries helping you make the most out of your long layover in Bogota.
We want to inspire you to travel, even if you only have a few hours to do so! Busy travelers, this short itinerary is for you to get a little sample of everything.
Happy sampling!
Top Half-Day Layover Tours
Logistics of a Long Layover in Bogota
Leaving the airport and exploring Bogota within one day is easy from a logistical standpoint. There are only two steps before you are on your way!
Step 1: Head to baggage storage
The Bogota airport is great for an extended layover. They are set up to accommodate travelers transiting through the city to other major destinations in Colombia.
For that reason, El Dorado International Airport has a great luggage storage facility called Bounce. Prices start at just 6 USD for 24 hours per bag.
As Bounce is open 24 hours a day, you won’t have to worry about returning at a certain time to grab your bags.
Step 2: Leave the airport by taking an Uber or taxi
The best way to get to central Bogota is by taking an Uber or taxi. It certainly may be a pricier option than a shuttle bus, but it is incredibly efficient and will get you to the downtown area quickly.
The ride will take an average of 25 minutes, but it can be a lot longer if a common traffic jam hits the area. At times of the most congestion, it can take up to an hour!
Things to Do in Bogota
If you only have one long layover to experience Bogota, we highly recommend staying in the area of La Candelaria, the older central zone of the city. Given the sprawling nature of Bogota, it is easier to stay in one neighborhood than attempt to fight the traffic. La Candelaria is one (of many!) heartbeats of the city but is the best use of your time on a long layover.
1.Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
Start your tour of La Candelaria in the Museo del Oro, a beautiful museum that showcases wonderful archaeological finds and artifacts. There are collections from all of Colombia’s history, including pre-Colombian civilizations, and indigenous art from the Andean region.
Walking through the museum, you will be amazed by the heavily fortified exhibits showcasing jewelry, ceremonial objects, and more.
The entrance fee to the museum is 5,000 Colombian pesos for regular admission and is free for kids younger than 12 and adults older than 60 years old.
2.Museo Botero (Botero Museum)
Next, begin the 10-minute walk towards Museo Botero.
On the way don’t forget to take a quick look at the Parque de los Periodistas Gabriel García Márquez, a park memorializing Colombian journalists. From the plaza, you can catch a glimpse of Monserrate up on a distant hill. While you won’t have time to take the cable car up the hill on a long layover in Bogota, the church with a shrine is still visible from below.
Museo Botero is a great museum celebrating Colombian artist Fernando Botero. If you have not seen his art before, it is incredibly iconic, with the artist creating sculptures and paintings making subjects look fat and plump.
While the museum showcases a lot of his art, it’s the building itself that is worth a visit. Entrance is free, so it is worth it to wander through the halls and gorgeous gardens. The Museo Botero is a beautiful estate. While you may not appreciate his art (it’s not for everyone!), go just to view the gardens and fountains.
3.Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo Area
Once you’ve had enough of admiring Fernando Botero’s art, walk a short 8 minutes to the Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo. This area is a cute plaza with lively restaurants, bars, and narrow cobblestoned streets.
If you’re lucky enough to visit when they’re open, this area also has a bunch of small art galleries. When we went to La Candelaria, we spent hours walking around and trying to find the galleries! Pro tip: most are not open around Christmas time, as we tragically found out.
Regardless, Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo is also the starting location of a lot of graffiti and walking tours. If you are interested in learning about the street art in La Candelaria, check out these experiences. For a historical walking tour, look at this one, and for a graffiti tour, check out this street art one.
4.Plaza de Bolívar
You’ll be happy to know that we planned this part of the itinerary in a downhill manner, so begin to head down to the last sightseeing spot in La Candelaria.
Plaza de Bolívar is debatably one of the most famous landmarks in all of Bogota and is located an 11-minute walk from Plazoleta Chorro de Quevedo. We highly recommend going down Calle 10, a pedestrian-only street with beautiful colored buildings. While it can be frequently crowded with other tourists, it is a great walk with multiple photo opportunities.
Once arriving in Plaza de Bolívar, take in the architecture and amazing buildings surrounding the massive public plaza. You may be surprised to see the sheer number of pigeons in this space!
If you aren’t too frightened of pigeons, we recommend feeding them and realizing how gentle they are. You might not realize it from looking at them, but if you stretch out your arm with treats, they will land on you and peck gently.
My mom and I loved doing this activity, while my dad watched from a far distance!
Vendors sell little packets of corn for only 2,000 pesos each. Such a recommended activity for animal lovers.
Best Restaurants in La Candelaria
Dos Gatos y Simone
Dos Gatos y Simone is a small but mighty restaurant with a homey feel and a great mix of Colombian and Mexican food. Try their quesadillas and tacos for a fantastic lunch in La Candelaria. It is across the street from the journalist’s memorial, and the restaurant’s skylight means you will be bathed in natural light during your meal.
Top Pick: We loved their coconut lemonade!
Madre Restaurante
Madre Restaurante is a hip restaurant tucked away within an indoor bazaar. If you find yourself traversing through jewelry shops, you are headed in the right direction! Mama Restaurante has a beautiful mix of modern and traditional decorations, with fantastic food.
Top Pick: You can’t go wrong with a pizza at Madre Restaurante!
Other Cities to Explore Near Bogota
So you have a long layover in Bogota. What other cities are worth a visit in Colombia and South America?
Medellín, Colombia
One of the top destinations to visit in Colombia after Bogota is Medellín, Colombia’s famed mountain city which is often associated with its infamous drug history. Over many decades, Medellín has transformed itself into an incredibly vibrant city, but its complicated history makes it a fascinating destination to learn about its revitalized neighborhoods.
Plus, year-round amazing weather has given it its nickname of la eterna primavera, or the eternal spring.
Our Top Pick: Take a life-changing tour of la Comuna 13, the neighborhood that used to be the epicenter of drug activity. Hear stories from locals, experience struggles through art, and see how the outdoor escalator system has transformed the area.
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is one of Colombia’s most beautiful cities, along the Caribbean Sea. Cartagena revolves around the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site with colonial buildings and a vibrant atmosphere. The town is colorful and laid-back, and every beach lover should absolutely visit.
Our Top Pick: Take a walking tour of Cartagena’s Old City, admiring art in the neighborhood of Getsemani. Then, relax on the ocean with a boat tour to the Rosario Islands, complete with snorkeling adventures.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The capital city of Argentina needs no introduction, often called the Paris of South America. You could get lost down the many streets, and there is no shortage of cute cafes and restaurants to pick from.
Our Top Pick: Meat lovers should absolutely get parrilla for dinner! This classic Argentine experience tends to start around 10 pm, when restaurants truly get busy. Sit down for a classic meal of steak and wine.
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is a beautiful wine region in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina. From a quaint town to the jaw-dropping nature surrounding Mendoza, the city is absolutely worth a visit.
Our Top Pick: Take a bike tour of the wineries in the Maipú region. Wine tastings in Argentina are a lot cheaper than in the United States (get out of here Napa Valley), and the quality is amazing. Biking between the wineries will make you feel like you’re in a movie.
Bonus Points: Try my all-time favorite wine, a Torrontes, rarely found outside of Argentina.
Montevideo, Uruguay
Uruguay’s charming capital city, Montevideo, is a beach lover’s paradise. Enjoy a mouth-watering meal in the Old City before walking along La Rambla, a stretch of shoreline over 22 beautiful uninterrupted kilometers.
Our Top Pick: If you’re up for it, take a bike along La Rambla. It will help you cover more ground and get some wind in your face!
Bonus Points: Make it to the Montevideo letters for a cute photo.
FAQS About a Long Layover in Bogota
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Bogota?
Of course! We highly recommend leaving the airport if you have a long layover in Bogota to be able to go into the central city and explore a bit of what the city has to offer.
If you only have a short amount of time, we suggest sticking to the area of La Candelaria as there are a bunch of museums and notable streets to walk down. It is one of the most compact neighborhoods in Bogota, where you can see everything without having to get back in a taxi. Due to the heavy traffic in the city, you’ll want to avoid car travel as much as possible.
How far is downtown Bogota from the airport?
If you call La Candelaria downtown Bogota, it is about a 25-minute drive without traffic. However, with traffic, it can easily be up to 45 minutes with congestion. That’s why we suggest only leaving the airport if you have ample time to spend in the city, at least a 6-hour layover. You don’t want to miss your flight due to traffic.
We hope you enjoyed this itinerary for a long layover in Bogota, Colombia. Whether you want to walk down cobblestone streets on a free walking tour or admire the gold jewels in a museum, Bogota has something for everyone.
Don’t forget to check out other destinations in South America.
Happy sampling!