💼 Entry
You can enter for 90 days with a US visa, and you are required to fill out checkmig in advance. It is recommended to fill it out on a computer beforehand.
💵 Currency Exchange
UnionPay is only available at Banco Bogota, where you can withdraw up to 2 million pesos at a time. The best exchange rate is at the airport, with an exchange rate of 3900 at Bogota Airport.
🛜 SIM Card
SIM cards are sold at street shops and by vendors. A 20G data plan costs around 30,000 pesos, and Claro has the best signal.
🚕 Transportation
To use Uber at the airport, go to the second floor. In the city, Uber, Indriver, and others are available, but traffic congestion is severe. Bogota does not have a subway, only a rapid transit bus system. Major rapid transit stations sell bus cards, which cost 8,000 pesos, and each ride costs 3,200 pesos.
🗺 Attractions
📍 Plaza de Bolivar (Bolivar Square)
The center of Bogota, surrounded by the cathedral, parliament, and presidential palace. There are many street food stalls and photo opportunities with flocks of pigeons.
📍 La Candelaria
The oldest neighborhood in Bogota, with lots of graffiti and colorful houses. It’s very picturesque just walking around.
📍 Museo Botero (Botero Museum)
Free; all exhibits are donated by the famous Colombian artist Botero, including his classic “fat” series and works by Picasso and Monet. Unfortunately, the gallery featuring the famous “fat Mona Lisa” was closed for renovation on the day I visited.
📍 Santuario Nuestra Señora del Carmen
A beautiful Spanish-style church near the square.
📍 Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
Admission is 5,000 pesos, free on Sundays. The museum is full of dazzling gold exhibits, with the highlights on the third floor.
📍 Monserrate (Monserrate Hill)
A place to overlook the entire city. Take a taxi or bus to Taquilla Teleférico Monserrate, then take the cable car, funicular, or walk up the hill.
📍 Catedral De Sal de Zipaquirá (Salt Cathedral)
Worth setting aside a whole day to visit.
🍖 Food
👉 La Perseverancia Distrital Market
A local food market that has been featured on Netflix.
👉 La Puerta Falsa: Near Bolivar Square, known for the traditional Bogota chicken and potato soup Ajiaco, served with avocado and rice. It’s rich and delicious, but the portions are large.
👉 Arepa: A national snack, corn cakes, best from street vendors.
