Bogotá: The Don'ts of Visiting Bogota, Colombia

As a Bogotana my advices are: - Don't forget that on Sunday mornings we have the Ciclovía and many roads are open only to bikes and joggers, so plan ahead. - Uber works very well and you can take taxis or regular cars from the app. - Don't forget to visit the surrounding little villages. The landscape is breathtaking. - If you're in town in the same day of a soccer game or a concert, be aware of the traffic jams and plan accordingly - If you have problems with salt or sugar, don't forget to tell the waiter in advance. Many restaurants put those by default. - If you want to wonder by yourself, please do it in the daylight and don't use your cellphone in open areas without checking your surroundings. Bogotá is an incredible city but is a capital and has its own rules. Enjoy your visit. We bogotanos are wonderful people.

I love Bogota! I've been there four times, most recently in April, 2024. One of the reasons is one you mentioned. Cartagena is overtouristed. Medellin is beautiful, but it has become absurdly popular with digital nomads. It's hard to go out for breakfast without being seated next to someone who is doing business on their cell phone, in English. But Bogota is the real Colombia. It's big, somewhat disorganized, and filled with Colombians, not foreigners. One thing you forgot to mention. People in other parts of Colombia refer to their capital as "la nevera"--the refrigerator. That's because, no matter what month of the year, Bogota almost never goes above 20C (68F). It's really not that cold (at night it can go down to maybe 6-7C--around 45F) but if you're coming from the Caribbean coast or Cali, it's a very noticeable difference in climate. One warning. When I was last there (two months ago) they were experiencing problems with water shortages. In the building where my Airbnb was, the water was shut off for one day. They were turning off the water supply by neighborhoods for 24 hrs. The mayor of Bogota was advising couples to shower together! I'm going to plug a great, inexpensive restaurant for very typical Colombian food in the heart of the wonderful, bustling, Chapinero Alto neighborhood. I've eaten there numerous times. Las Cazuelas de la Abuela, which has two restaurants a block apart from each other, and is only open for lunch. You'll find many dishes you haven't tried before, at very affordable prices. It fills up with locals. Hardly a foreigner in sight. Always a good sign.

One thing that surprised me about Bogota was how relatively early restaurants close compared to places like Argentina/Brazil. Then I realized they’re a city of morning birds, there was already so many people out and about even before 6am!

In Bogota, there is a amazing public library system worth visiting, the best of all being Virgilio Barco library not far away from downtown, it is beautiful, it's just beside the city largest park called Simon Bolivar Park and very near the Botanical garden. This is a excellent visit to experience the vibe of the city. The Maloka interactive Museum of Science is also nearby and a great place to go with kids. There are always tons of cultural events going on throughout the year, many of them free.

When I visited Colombia it was to meet my girlfriends family.. we met here in the states, and she gave me a long list of things to do and not do. Don't forget your manners, no elbows on the table, keep your hands where they can be seen no hats inside especially while eating, keep your hands out of your pockets while talking. look at someone when you say salud and clink glasses, when visiting someone's house, bring a small gift. it is considered impolite to ever turn down any invitation to go out or go to someone's house, it's actually better to not show up.. lol really . gifts are not opened in front of the person giving it. The Beso Beso is common a kiss on the cheek. but don't lean in unless they are (can be awkward) Learn Spanish.. like in France, you should know some French, in Colombia, if most of the speakers speak spanish, that is the language that will be spoken. oh and one more Don't expect anyone to ever be on time for anything.. ever

Finally Colombia, my country!!

As bogotana I completely agree with this video, specially the last thing on the list (thank you), and I will give you a "DO" !! If you want to avoid the rain, try to come in december or january, maybe february as well. This time of the year is beautiful in Bogotá! Blue skies and nice weather (around 20°C during the day, max 25°C but that would be unusual), and the city is a little less busy with easier traffic because a lot of bogotanos are usually out of town for the holidays. Best time of the year in this city in my opinion :) Welcome to Bogotá! Enjoy and be safe!

Don't forget to explore the nice upscale parts of Bogota. Wander from Chapinero up to Chico, then up to Usaquen. It gets nicer and nicer as you go. I wouldn't think too much about la Candelaria, a couple hours is enough.

Thank you so much for this video!! I am from Bogotá and you are right in every thing you said❤❤❤

Wow! Ive been living in Bogota for the past 20 years and this video was fantastic! Everything you mentioned was Spot on! What a great job, well done!

For those who are love art, the Museum of Modern Art of Bogota MAMBO is great just a few blocks from Museo del Oro. Barrio la Macarena neighborhood in downtown is an amazing place for restaurants, art galleries or just for plain walking, to the north of the Macarena is Plaza de Mercado La Perseverancia which is a local market with good local food, popular with the locals and tourist alike. Best market to visit is Paloquemao.The Concordia Market in the Candelaria Neighborhood is very nice and the food is better and cheaper than in Perseverancia market. Best views of the city are not from Monserrate but for the Mirador (sight spot) on the way up to the Calera town, the road goes up the mountain about 80 street.

I love seeing you in my city. I have followed you for years and always wanted you to come to my country and give all your amazing tips. Hope you enjoy and have some nice vacations! And thank you for your great videos! ❤🎉

thank you so much for visiting colombia, and speaking so highly of my country! always welcome again❤

As a bogotan I'll say that this guide is pretty accurate, besides the weather forecast tip. I would add this: Don't trust weather apps and forecasts, they ALWAYS fail, to the point we don't even have any TV weather/climate forecast show nor channel 😂, Bogotá's climate is unpredictable and bipolar, we developed an instinct to try and predict climate, so do as the locals do and you'll get a 60/70% chance of getting a better prediction: go into a second floor, look out on the window and check up the landscape through the area, determine if it's completely clouded, or if there's too many clouds scattered or if the sky is perfectly blue and sunny; then observe their tone, if it is white, gray-ish or dark. If it's sunny, then feel the sunlight on your skin a little, determine if it feels too strong or mild and pleasurable, also determine the direction of the air. If it's blue and perfectly sunny and the sun is spicy 🥵: bring out your umbrella and a sweater, the sky will fall on your head by the afternoon 😂. ⛈️ 30% probability you'll even see a hailstorm lol. If there's scattered clouds and the sun is pleasurable: look at the color of the clouds and determine the direction they're moving to, the darkest ones are the ones who'll ruin your day, there may be distinct micro-climates scattered throughout the entire city on each neighborhood, so you may get a glimpse of a hailstorm on the west of Bogotá, a blue sky on the center of the city and at the south it'll be like Mordor 🥵😅 If it's full cloudy then trust your gut, it's a 50-50 it may be a spruce rain, a few droplets or nothing, may be predictable if you manage to detect "fog" under the clouds, that's rain👍🏽🤣 You can always intuit if the wind 🌬️ will blow a dark cloud on you area and how much time it'll take it to reach whiting your area, so plan ahead, that way you'll dodge the rain.

When you go to Colombia FORGET ABOUT BOGOTÁ OR MEDELLIN, but go to BOYACA,SANTANDER,CALDAS,RISARALDA,ARMENIA, Boyaca for example is safer than the whole of England and Germany combined, you will find better food ,better traffic, more landscape and beauty,waterfalls and beautiful Spanish towns.

Don't slam the door of a taxi. My husband accidentally slammed a taxi door. Our Colombian friend explained and apologized in Spanish. He refused to accept the apology. I was afraid my friend and the taxi driver were going to get into a fight.

Maybe it's less of an issue in Bogota, but drugging drinks is a huge issue in Colombia in general. Apparently their drug of choice is called scopolomine. That's a fun one to research.

As someone from Bogota, this video is amazingly accurate. well done ! Hope you enjoyed your visit.

Bogotá is beautiful, I have been there several times and I have never had any trouble, just use common sense. I love the food, the weather, the people, the architecture.

Great video as always. Spot on. We have relatives in Colombia and took a four day trip to Bogota this year to escape the heat in Pereira. It's 10 degrees cooler, no mosquitoes so a great climate. We loved the city. Museo de Oro is fantastic. Next trip we'll definitely be heading back for a few days. Oh, and the food is great too. As for it being dangerous. It's no more so than anywhere else. We also went to Salvador in Brazil on our trip which has a rep for being dangerous. We loved it and were absolutely fine. Just be sensible about where you go in the cities and have your wits about you just like anywhere else. Finally, Mr Wolters....best travel blogs out there! Keep em coming!