6 of Bogotá’s greatest neighborhoods

With eight million folks, Bogotá is Colombia’s largest metropolis. Its most vibrant one, too.

Whereas such measurement makes the place sound intimidating, most of Bogotá’s important sights are in actual fact situated in a handful of key neighborhoods. These areas hug the inexperienced mountains that kind this high-altitude metropolis’s japanese backbone.

Keep within the historic space of La Candelaria to be inside strolling distance of Bogotá’s important museums. Or set your self up in Chicó or Chapinero for more-modern environment and simpler entry to town’s top-notch eating places and nightlife. E book a room or short-term rental in laid-back Teusaquillo to get a really feel for the way Bogotanos reside. 

Listed here are six of one of the best neighborhoods to take a look at in Colombia’s capital. 

1. La Candelaria

Greatest for museums and historic websites

Bogotá’s historic core, La Candelaria can really feel like a village out of the previous. But right this moment, its slim streets and colourful colonial-era houses have grow to be cheap bars and cafés.

Get an introduction to town by taking a walking tour specializing in Colombia’s historical past, or a graffiti tour that can present you the vary of vibrant avenue artwork within the district.

La Candelaria can be dwelling to the Museo del Oro, one in all Colombia’s star sights; the Museo Botero, showcasing works by maybe Colombia’s most well-known artist; and the stately Plaza de Bolívar, surrounded by authorities ministries and the historic cathedral.

A brief taxi journey will take you to the cable automobile that ascends to the highest of Monserrate.

With loads of hostels and funds lodges and such quick access to the principle sights, La Candelaria is a central place to remain. The neighborhood will get eerily quiet on weeknights, nonetheless, when college college students and authorities employees who commute to the neighborhood are dwelling.

A few of Bogotá’s greatest music venues are situated only a few blocks from La Candelaria, together with Casa Quiebra Canto, which repeatedly options reside bands enjoying ska, reggae, salsa and Colombian rhythms. El Goce Pagano, one in all Bogotá’s iconic salsa golf equipment, can be a brief stroll away. 

2. Teusaquillo

Greatest for native life 

Tudor-style houses as soon as inhabited by higher class households stand subsequent to Nineteen Seventies-vintage condo buildings and small row homes in Teusaquillo, a leafy neighborhood only a 15-minute cab journey from town heart.

The realm is well-liked with younger professionals, intellectuals and college college students. Life in Teusaquillo revolves across the Park Manner, an elongated inexperienced area that stretches for about 10 blocks and is lined by eating places, cafes and a few theaters. 

Meals choices are considerable and varied right here; prime selections embody Pakistani restaurant Curry Masala, Argentine cafe Groso and Chalet Suizo, a Swiss eatery within the form of a chalet. The neighborhood additionally boasts many conventional bakeries and cheap roasted-chicken joints – throwbacks to its much less cosmopolitan days. 

With its relaxed vibe and lack of vacationer sights, Teusaquillo is an efficient spot for individuals who wish to expertise life in a standard – if considerably fashionable – Bogotá neighborhood. You possibly can hang around at a store that serves dozens of tea varieties, and finish the day at one of many neighborhood’s craft breweries. 

3. Chapinero and Zona G

Greatest for eating places and LBGTIQ spots 

Chapinero is situated about midway between town heart and northern Bogotá, and contains quiet residential areas, fashionable workplace buildings and streets teeming with nightlife. 

Round Calle 60, the central space of Chapinero is dwelling to Bogotá’s largest focus of homosexual bars. It’s the place you’ll discover Theatron, a five-story constructing with a full 19 dance flooring – which probably earns it its self-awarded title of “the most important gay-themed nightclub in Latin America.”

Positioned to the east of the lengthy avenue often called Carrera Septima and nearer to the mountains, Chapinero Alto is far more quiet, and dotted with interesting eating places. These embody the award-winning Leo, a prime spot for modern Colombian delicacies. 

A couple of blocks additional to the north, Zona G is a strip of six blocks well-known for its eating places and harmonious red-brick buildings. Central Chapinero has loads of funds lodges, whereas mid-range choices and luxurious properties prevail in Chapinero Alto and the Zona G.  

Head up into the hills to seek out Quebrada La Vieja, one of many metropolis’s hottest mountaineering areas, with a path that leads up into the cloud-forested mountains that border Bogotá. You possibly can entry the trail free of charge each morning, although you do have to reserve a spot online.

4. Chicó  

Greatest for parks and nightlife 

Simply north of Chapinero, Chicó is a sublime neighborhood with leafy streets, quiet parks, stylish lodges and loads of coworking areas – making it a pleasant possibility for enterprise vacationers and digital nomads.

The busiest a part of Chicó is the Zona T, a pedestrian-only stretch behind the Centro Andino mall full of eating places and nightclubs catering to all kinds of musical tastes.

Zona T is well-liked with Bogotá’s younger (and not-so-young) revelers, drawn in by the neighborhood’s a number of live-music venues right here, similar to 4.40 Music Hall, and the Mexican-themed La Chula.

On the southern aspect of Zona T, the Recreo Mall is dwelling to Andrés Carne de Res, a landmark Bogotá restaurant with scorching steaks and over-the-top decor that turns right into a dance membership at evening. 

For extra peace and quiet, keep close to Parque El Virrey, a 3km(2-mile)-long park that crosses a lot of Chicó and is a favourite spot for joggers and canine walkers. The park was lately outfitted with trail signage that gives particulars on native bushes and birdlife.

Museo el Chicó, an outdated hacienda with stone fountains, can be a spotlight of this neighborhood. The hacienda’s rigorously preserved 18th-century construction now options artwork and pictures displays.

5. Usaquén 

Greatest for day journeys, handicrafts and memento buying

Usaquén was its personal city till the second half of the twentieth century, when it was built-in into ever-growing Bogotá.

The cobblestone streets and Nineteenth-century church of its important sq. nonetheless give it the texture of a provincial Colombian pueblo. The realm across the sq. is full of bars and stylish eating places well-liked with locals.

The neighborhood buzzes with exercise on weekends when dozens of artists and retailers arrange stalls in its slim streets, promoting every kind of attractive issues, together with hand-painted coasters, hammocks, important oils and occasional cups.

Usaquén is situated on Bogotá’s northern finish, which additionally makes it a handy place to remain for individuals who wish to take day trips to “salt cathedral” at Zipaquirá, Suesca or Lake Guatavita. The vacationer practice that goes to Zipaquirá on weekends has a station in Usaquén, close to the Santa Ana shopping center.

6. San Felipe

Greatest for artwork galleries and tejo bars

This up-and-coming neighborhood is a bit distant from Bogotá’s important sights, but it’s place to spend a chill afternoon testing artwork galleries and cafes which have recently popped up round the principle sq..

San Felipe can be place to play tejo, a recreation that some information shops have described as Colombia’s “nationwide sport.”

In actuality, tejo is nearer to a bar recreation than an athletic pursuit. It includes hanging out with associates, ingesting beer and throwing a heavy puck at a clay board that has a bull’s-eye on it…and a few small envelopes which can be full of gunpowder.

Hit the envelopes and – growth! You get an explosion. And a few factors, too.

San Felipe has a few tejo bars which can be well-liked with locals, together with Tejo La Embajada, which updates the agricultural recreation with craft beer, cocktails and a reside DJ on weekends.