Bogotá 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Bogotá plan works

Bogotá + Zipaquirá + Villa de Leyva

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Bogotá rather than in transit. TransMilenio BRT (bus rapid transit) is the backbone COP 3,200/ride (US$0.75) — dedicated red-articulated buses on trunk lanes; can be crowded but efficient. Uber + Cabify + InDriver + DiDi all work + are cheap (COP 10,000–25,000 / US$2.50–6 city trips). Metro Line 1 under construction — opens 2028. Yellow taxis metered but shortest route notorious for scams — use apps. El Dorado airport (BOG) 15 km west — 25–45 min taxi COP 25,000–40,000 depending on traffic + time of day.

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — Bogotá classic.

• Day 2

  Day 4 — Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral day (US$25 tour or self-drive 1h).

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Villa de Leyva day (3h north — Colombia's largest colonial plaza + wineries) or return + Ciclovía Sunday cycling.

Where to base yourself

• La Candelaria

  Colonial old town + street art + universities + Plaza Bolívar + Museo del Oro — Casa Deco, Orchids Hotel, La Casona del Patio (boutique in colonial mansions).

• Zona G (Gourmet)

  Fine-dining epicentre + boutique — Four Seasons Casa Medina (Bogotá's finest), Click Clack Hotel, BOG Hotel.

• Zona Rosa / Zona T + El Retiro

  Nightlife + luxury shopping + Andino mall — JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt Bogotá, Hilton, W Bogotá.

• Chapinero + Chapinero Alto

  Bohemian + LGBTQ+ + design cafés + galleries — mid-range boutiques + apart-hotels; safety varies at night.

Best time to run this itinerary

December–March + July–August dry seasons (18–21°C days, 8–12°C nights, sunny mornings + afternoon clouds). April–June + September–November are wetter but still very travellable (afternoon showers, not all-day rain). Equator means near-constant 12h daylight; pack layers year-round — Bogotá's motto is 'four seasons in one day'. Ciclovía every Sunday (7am–2pm) — 120 km of car-free streets is a bucket-list experience.

Before you go

• 'No dar papaya' — don't flash phones, cameras, cash or jewellery in public; keep bags zipped in front on TransMilenio.

• Use Uber + Cabify + InDriver + DiDi always over street taxis — cheap (US$2.50–6 city trips) + safer + no fare-scam risk.

• Museo del Oro + Botero Museum + Casa de Moneda are all free Sundays + close Mondays — plan a Sunday cultural day around them + Usaquén flea market.