How to Get Around Bogotá

How transport works in Bogotá

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.

Your options compared

• TransMilenio BRT

  Red-articulated bus rapid transit on dedicated lanes — the city backbone; COP 3,200/ride.

• SITP buses

  Blue integrated buses fill the last-mile gaps between TransMilenio trunk lines.

• Taxi / Uber / Cabify / InDriver / DiDi

  COP 10,000–25,000 city trips — always safer than street taxis.

• Ciclovía

  Every Sunday 7am–2pm, 120 km of streets close for cyclists — rent bikes COP 15,000/hr in Zona Rosa or Chapinero.

Passes and tickets

Tullave card (COP 7,000) — top up for TransMilenio + SITP integrated fares.

Local transport tips

Metro Line 1 under construction — opens 2028. Uber technically operates in a legal grey zone but is safe + widely used.

Arriving from the airport

• El Dorado International (BOG)

  25–45 min taxi COP 25,000–40,000 (US$6–10) via Uber/Cabify; can hit 90 min at rush hour; TransMilenio K86 COP 3,200 but complex with luggage.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Bogotá a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.