From the wealth of the colonial churches to the poverty of the shantytowns, Bogota is a city of vast contrasts.<\/p>\n
Read Bogota Guide\u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n Bogota\u2019s history goes back as far as 1538 when it was founded by the Spanish conquistador, Gonzalo Jim\u00e9nez de Quesada and named Santa Fe de Bogot\u00e1. After it gained independence, however, it was shortened to Bogota but was changed back to its full title again in 1991.<\/p>\n In 1740, the city was made the Capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada and played a huge political role during the Colonial period. After the country won its independency from Spain in 1819, Bogota became the country\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n The city is now the largest in Colombia and is also one of South America\u2019s fastest growing metropolitan areas. After 1940, large numbers of rural Colombians migrated to Bogota in search of greater economic opportunities and the population rapidly grew. It currently stands at over six million, twenty times greater than the number of inhabitants just half a century ago. It is home to the National University of Colombia as well as several other universities making it the chief educational centre in the country. Well, after reading that I suppose you should be told that Bogota also has a variety of restaurants serving international cuisine. So, if the thought of pig carcasses doesn\u2019t exactly make your mouth water you can always nip down to the local Italian for a pizza. Most of the bigger fast food chains have also made it to the capital so you will never be short of options about where to go for dinner.<\/p>\n There is an excellent variety of restaurants and cafes in the city and the good news is that you can get a very satisfactory meal for a very reasonable price. Numerous restaurants offer superb local cuisine as well as traditional dishes from all over the country. Among the delicacies to be found in Colombia is ajicaco, a type of chicken soup which includes three different types of potato and is served with corn and capers. This is actually a typical Bogotan specialty as is Chocolate santafereno which is a cup of hot chocolate accompanied by cheese and bread which you are supposed to dip in the chocolate. Lovely! Dishes from the rest of the country include Bandeja paisa \u2013 ground beef, chorizo sausage, red beans, rice, fried green banana, a friend egg, a piece of pork and an avocado \u2013 and Lechona \u2013 a pig carcass stuffed with its own meat, rice and dried peas and baked in an oven.<\/p>\n Well, after reading that I suppose you should be told that Bogota also has a variety of restaurants serving international cuisine. So, if the thought of pig carcasses doesn\u2019t exactly make your mouth water you can always nip down to the local Italian for a pizza. Most of the bigger fast food chains have also made it to the capital so you will never be short of options about where to go for dinner.<\/p>\n 3 – 73 Avenida Jimenez,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t been completely turned off the local fare, then you should check this restaurant out. They have branches all over the city but this one is particularly nice.<\/li>\n 15-62 Calle 19,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n Another establishment offering traditional Colombian cuisine so make sure you check out the lechona and ajiaco while you are there.<\/li>\n Calle 100,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This too is one of many branches of the same restaurant but this time it\u2019s seafood. Its location at the top of the World Trade Centre where it rotates every few minutes to offer amazing views Bogota is what makes this restaurant so enjoyable.<\/li>\n 3 – 16 Calle 19,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is one of the more popular restaurants in the La Canderlaria region and serves an appetising mix of both local and international cuisine.<\/li>\n 27 – 86 Carrera 4A,\u00a0Calle 19,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n For good old fashioned pizzas and lasagnes this is one of the better Italian restaurants in Bogota. It is also one of the pricier establishments so if it is out of your price range you could check out some of the copy-cat restaurants in the area.<\/li>\n 6 – 37 Calle 20,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is one for the vegetarians among you and serves delicious and cheap meals all day unlike some of the neighbouring eateries which close after lunch.<\/li>\n 96 – 108 Carrera 10,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is one of the many traditional Spanish restaurants in the city and comes highly recommended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Getting There<\/b> Colombia has road connections with Venezuela and Ecuador but some of the border crossings come under regular guerilla attacks and it is not recommended to enter the country using such crossings. You can also enter the country by boat but Bogota is quite a distance from the major ports and again the journey can be quite an ordeal.<\/p>\n Getting Around<\/b> If you are getting a taxi, insist that the driver uses the metre. There is a standard charge of about US$1.25 before your journey starts and after that the fare is calculated by units which are transferred into pesos. There should be a chart in every taxi showing you the list of units so you can ensure that you are not being overcharged.<\/p>\n Bogota is one of the southern hemisphere\u2019s principal centres for writers, architects, intellectuals and artists and each one of the professions manifests itself throughout the city. Home to the national museum and the national cathedral, these are just two of the multitude of magnificent museums and churches located throughout the city. As well as impressive interiors, you will also see a fascinating mixture of colonial architecture and modernistic structures which give the city a unique appearance and one worthy of checking out.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, Bogota can be divided into four large zones; the central zone between carreras 1 and 14 and calles 5 and 34. This area includes the colonial neighbourhood of La Candelaria and is where the majority of government offices, museums, churches and other buildings of historical, artistic and cultural interest are situated. The northern zone is the modern commercial sector and is where the majority of cultural and activities take place. The southern zone is mainly industrial working class and the western zone is where you will find the city\u2019s various parks and sports centers as will as the Eldorado Airport.<\/p>\n One of the sights just outside the metropolitan area is the shrine of Monserrate. This is located on a nearby mountain and offers breathtaking views of the city. Also in the locality, you will see the unique underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira and the world famous Tequendama Falls which plunge through a canyon in the Andean jungle.<\/p>\n 22 – 79 Carrera 7,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This offers a change from your everyday cinema as it\u2019s a typical Bogotan art cinema. While you won\u2019t see any Hollywood blockbusters, you will get to broaden your mind and you will also have a really good time.<\/li>\n Carrera 6,\u00a0Calle 6,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This museum is the most important of its kind in the world. Housing a unique collection of precolumbian gold which includes objects from the Calima, Tayrona, Sinu, Muisca, Tolima and Tumaco cultures, you will be amazed at what is on display. Among the objects are exquisite masks, collars, bracelets, pectorals and jars. The Golden Room alone has more than 8.000 gold pieces on display and the total collection contains over 33,000 artefacts. It is closed all day Monday.<\/li>\n Carrera 8,\u00a0Calle 9,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This church is regarded as the most representative of the city\u2019s vast range of colonial churches. It was part of the Clarist religious community convent and was built between 1619 and 1630. The building serves has served as a museum and a concert hall since 1968 and houses a wonderful collection of religious art including wood carvings, paintings and ornaments.<\/li>\n Carrera 7,\u00a0Calle 11,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This cathedral is particularly significant as it is built on the site where the first mass was celebrated after Bogota was founded back in 1538. It is a monumental building, the fourth built on this site and today it houses several treasures and relics as well as the tomb of the city\u2019s founder, Gonzalo Jim\u00e9nez de Quesada.<\/li>\n Carrera 7,\u00a0Calle 11,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is a colonial residence where you will see the famous flower vase which was the cause of the Creole rebellion against Spanish rule that began on July 20th, 1810. The conflict arose when the vase\u2019s owner, Jose Gonzales Liorente who was a Spaniard, refused to lend the vase for decoration at an event in honour of Antonio Villavicencio who was a prominent Creole. The refusal was used as a reason for the Creoles to fight against the Spaniards and this rebellion led to their independence.<\/li>\n 3 – 23 Calle 20,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is another colonial mansion and was built around 1800. It now serves as a museum where you will see several cannons that were used at the battle of Boyaca. The house was offered to Bolivar in 1820 as a sign of gratitude for the victory of the Spaniards and is now home to his personal possessions, weapons, medals and uniforms.<\/li>\n 56 – 84 Carrera 66,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n If it\u2019s tropical flora you\u2019re after, you\u2019ve come to the right place. With a collection of over five thousand orchids as well as native and international flowers planted in beautiful surroundings, a trip to the gardens is the perfect way to escape the chaos of the city life going on outside.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The most popular entertainment venues in Bogota are situated in the Zona Rosa region which is located between Carreras 11 and 15 and Calles 81 and 84. Here you will find a vast array of cafes, pubs, clubs and live music venues. And, if you don\u2019t like the first place you decide on, all you have to do is move along as they are all situated right beside each other. Life in this sector of the city doesn\u2019t start until after the sun goes down and it\u2019s still going when the sun comes back up again. It is also one of the safer areas but you should always go out in groups for extra security. Outside the Zona Rosa, there are also several discotheques located on Calle 94 and Pepe Sierra Avenue.<\/p>\n Carribbean music is also very popular in the Colombian capital and there are several clubs which offer both salsa and reggae music to its clients. If you fancy something with a tropical tone, then Carrera 5 between Calles 26 and 28, is where you need to go. A bohemian and informal atmosphere makes it very easy to unwind after a day of doing the tourist thing.<\/p>\n Because most clubs and bars shut at 1.00am, the after party scene in Bogota is huge. These can cost anything from 5 to 25,000 pesos and they are extremely popular among young revellers in the city. So if you still have some energy left at closing time, you should check one of these unique soirees out. Most parties last until dawn unless the police decide to shut them down and they are usually just one big rave. You should be aware, however, that there are a great deal of drugs in use too but nobody is forcing you to partake so just stay safe and have fun.<\/p>\n Carrera 5,\u00a0Calle 17,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is one of the most popular venues in Bogota and plays a good mix of reggae, salsa, hip hop, funk and more. The crowd are friendly and the cover charge is extremely reasonable (about US$1.50). It is also located in one of the safer parts of the city making it a good option all round.<\/li>\n Carrera 13,\u00a0Calle 78,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n This is an excellent venue which opens until 4.00am, most of the other clubs close at 1.00am. The interior is weird and wonderful and top local DJs play hip hop, reggae, house etc. While the cover charge is on the expensive side for Bogota, it is still only around US$5.00, it is worth every penny.<\/li>\n Calle 82,\u00a0Bogota,\u00a0Colombia<\/em><\/p>\n Playing a mix of reggae, rock and heavy metal this is just one of the many popular venues in the social centre of the city. The cover charge is reasonable too so be prepared to wade through the masses as it\u2019s always crowded.<\/li>\n<\/h2>\n
About Bogota, Colombia<\/h2>\n
\nThere is an excellent variety of restaurants and cafes in the city and the good news is that you can get a very satisfactory meal for a very reasonable price. Numerous restaurants offer superb local cuisine as well as traditional dishes from all over the country. Among the delicacies to be found in Colombia is ajicaco, a type of chicken soup which includes three different types of potato and is served with corn and capers. This is actually a typical Bogotan specialty as is Chocolate santafereno which is a cup of hot chocolate accompanied by cheese and bread which you are supposed to dip in the chocolate. Lovely! Dishes from the rest of the country include Bandeja paisa \u2013 ground beef, chorizo sausage, red beans, rice, fried green banana, a friend egg, a piece of pork and an avocado \u2013 and Lechona \u2013 a pig carcass stuffed with its own meat, rice and dried peas and baked in an oven.<\/p>\nEating Out in Bogota, Colombia<\/h2>\n
Restaurants in Bogota<\/h2>\n
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Casa Vieja<\/a><\/h3>\n
El Zaguan de las Aguas<\/a><\/h3>\n
La Fragata<\/a><\/h3>\n
Ultimos Virreyes<\/a><\/h3>\n
El Patio<\/a><\/h3>\n
Nuevos Horizontes<\/a><\/h3>\n
Pajares Salinas<\/a><\/h3>\n
Transport in Bogota, Colombia<\/h2>\n
\nInternational flights from both Europe and the US fly directly to Bogota and both airports, El Dorado and Puento Aereo, are served by busetas and colectivos which have Aeropuerto clearly marked on the front. You will find these on Calle 19 or Carrera 10 for your return journey. You can also take a taxi which will cost you about US$6.<\/p>\n
\nWhile most of the main tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other, it is always helpful to know that the bus service in Bogota covers the entire city. If you are feeling a little drained, all you usually need to do is put your hand out when you see an oncoming bus. There are some official stops but these are not that common and are mainly located on Carrera 7. The very reasonable fare is always written on the door or the window.<\/p>\nThings To See in Bogota, Colombia<\/h2>\n
Attractions in Bogota<\/h3>\n
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Cinemateca Distrital<\/a><\/h3>\n
The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro)<\/a><\/h3>\n
Church of Santa Clara (Iglesia de Santa Clara)<\/a><\/h3>\n
National Cathedral (Catedral Primada de Bogota)<\/a><\/h3>\n
20th of July Museum (Museo 20 de Julio)<\/a><\/h3>\n
La Quinta de Bolivar<\/a><\/h3>\n
Botanic Gardens (Jard\u00edn Bot\u00e1nico Jos\u00e9 Celestino Mutis)<\/a><\/h3>\n
Entertainment in Bogota, Colombia<\/h2>\n
Entertainments in Bogota<\/h3>\n
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Quiebra Canto<\/a><\/h3>\n
Cinema<\/a><\/h3>\n
Mister Babilla<\/a><\/h3>\n
Galeria Caf\u00e9 Libro<\/a><\/h3>\n