Skyscrapers of central Bogotá with Monserrate hill behind
  1. Home
  2. Destinations
  3. Colombia
  4. Bogotá
  5. 1 day itinerary

Bogotá in 1 day

  • 1 day
  • 4.2 km on foot
  • 17 stops
  • Audio guide

One day in Bogotá covers the essentials if you split it into three parts: a morning of must-sees, an afternoon of history and a dusk of mysteries. Everything happens in La Candelaria and around it, in an area you can cross on foot. It is an intense but comfortable plan, ideal for a long layover or for anyone short on time who wants to take the whole city home in their head.

One day in BogotáFrom gold to legends

Start early at the Gold Museum, the first stop of the «Bogotá's must-sees» route, which continues through San Francisco, Plaza de Bolívar and the Botero Museum to the Chorro de Quevedo. Have an ajiaco santafereño for lunch, then spend the afternoon on «The Bogotá that made a nation»: Casa del Florero, the Capitol and Casa de Nariño. As the light fades, «Bogotá of gold, gunpowder and secrets» takes you past La Veracruz, the spot where Gaitán fell and the Palacio de San Carlos. Finish with a piping hot tamal.

  1. Morning

    Bogotá's must-sees: from the Gold Museum to La Candelaria

    Mixed · 1.8 km · 1 h 55 min

    1. Gold MuseumThe world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic goldwork began in 1939 with a single object: a Quimbaya poporo.
    2. Church of San FranciscoBogotá's oldest surviving church hides a gilded altarpiece of 1623 behind its austere front.
    3. Plaza de BolívarColombia's political heart: cathedral, Congress, City Hall and Supreme Court around a bronze Bolívar and thousands of pigeons.
    4. Colón TheatreAn Italian-style opera house opened in 1892 for the 400th anniversary of Columbus's voyage, where peace was signed in 2016.
    5. Botero MuseumFernando Botero gave Bogotá his private collection, with Monet, Renoir and Dalí and more than a hundred of his own works, on one condition.
    6. Chorro de Quevedo SquareThe little square where, by tradition, Bogotá began in 1538 is now La Candelaria's most bohemian corner.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Ajiaco santafereño at La Puerta Falsa. Calle 11 n.º 6-50, La Candelaria

  3. Afternoon

    The Bogotá that made a nation: from colony to republic

    History · 1.1 km · 1 h 30 min

    1. Casa de Moneda (the Mint)From 1621 the coins of the New Kingdom of Granada were struck here, and the building went on making Colombia's money until 1987.
    2. Casa del Florero (Independence Museum)A vase that was never lent: the staged quarrel that sparked independence on 20 July 1810.
    3. National Capitol78 years of building work, several architects and a dome that never came: Congress rose where the viceroys' palace once stood.
    4. Casa de NariñoThe presidential palace stands on the plot where Antonio Nariño was born, the man who risked his freedom to print the Rights of Man.
    5. Church of San AgustínA 17th-century church that served as barracks, battlefield and the last resting place of La Pola.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Early evening

    Bogotá of gold, gunpowder and secrets

    Mysteries & legends · 1.3 km · 1 h 35 min

    1. Gold MuseumA chief covered in gold on a raft: the Muisca ceremony that the conquistadors turned into an impossible city.
    2. Church of La VeracruzThe brotherhood that accompanied the condemned buried some 80 patriots shot in 1816 here.
    3. Site of Gaitán's assassinationOn 9 April 1948, gunshots on this pavement unleashed the Bogotazo. Whether anyone else was behind them is still unknown.
    4. Palace of JusticeOn 6 and 7 November 1985, a guerrilla siege and the army's recapture left around a hundred dead. Some questions remain open.
    5. Primatial CathedralFour churches on the same ground, a roof that caved in on the eve of its opening and a founder who never found rest.
    6. Palacio de San CarlosOn the night of 25 September 1828, Bolívar escaped through a window of this house while the conspirators hunted for him inside.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Tamal at La Puerta Falsa. Calle 11 n.º 6-50, La Candelaria

The map

Bogotá in 1 day, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for Bogotá in 1 day

  • Bogotá sits at 2,600 metres: walk slowly for the first few hours, drink water and don't skip lunch.
  • The weather can change in minutes; bring a light waterproof jacket even if the morning is clear.
  • Many museums close on Mondays and some official buildings only allow visits by appointment; check opening times before you plan your day.

Questions

Bogotá in 1 day: your questions

Can you see Bogotá in one day?

The essentials of the historic centre, yes: the three routes add up to about 4.2 km (2.6 miles) and fit into one long day. Monserrate and the big museums outside La Candelaria stay off the list and need more time.

How far do you walk on this itinerary?

The three routes add up to about 4.2 km (2.6 miles): 1.1 + 1.3 + 1.8, not counting the walks in between. With meal breaks, museum stops and the altitude, plan on a full day from morning to night.

Is it safe to walk around La Candelaria?

By day and when there are people about, it is a heavily visited neighbourhood. Use common sense: keep your phone and camera discreet, watch out in crowds and, after dark, take a taxi booked through an app instead of wandering alone.

Other itineraries for 1 day

Bogotá

More or less time?

2 day itinerary 3 day itinerary All about Bogotá