Monserrate sights and other Bogotá, Colombia Things to Do Tips

The best views in Bogota are found up on the Miracle Mount known as Cerro de Monserrate. You can take a cab to the lower station and then board either the teleferico or the funicular up to the top. At the top, you'll find a simple church that is a pilgrimage place for some people because of the statue of the Fallen Christ (Seńor Caído) inside. You'll also find what I heard is a very good restaurant up here along with a bunch of stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs just behind the church.

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Address: Carrera 2E 21-48
Directions: Take a taxi to Montserrate.

Honestly the church and the tacky souvenirs weren't all that impressive, but the views over the city of Bogota are really worth the trip. Just be sure you are aware of the potential fog that can obscure the fantastic views. There are some trails along the top edges of the mountain, but be cautious hiking too far away from the church at the top, as muggings have occurred.

From various vantage points, you'll be able to look over downtown and the La Candelaria (Historic Old Town) as well as over most of the rest of the city.

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Address: Carrera 2E 21-48
Directions: Take a cab to the Monserrate Station near Quinta de Bolívar

On my first night in Bogota, I stayed in the downtown area at the Tequendama Intercontinental and, while the hotel was okay, I really didn't enjoy staying in this area. It's the financial center and there are lots of office buildings, but it's not the safest part of the city (the richer northern suburbs are safer) and after dark, I kind of felt like a prisoner in the hotel. It is a convenient area if you're in town for a convention or other business and it's a short ride from the historic Candelaria area, but other than a few shops and markets, there's not a lot to see here.

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Address: Av. Circunvalar-Cra. 10, Cll. 2Sur-Av. Jimenez.

The National Museum has been around for nearly 200 years, so they do a pretty good job of presenting their collections of Archeology, Art, History and Ethnography in a beautiful building in the downtown area of Bogota.

When I visited, it happened to be a holiday, so only the temporary exhibits were open, but the guard was kind enough to let me walk around some of the building, which is very nice.

There are 17 permanent exhibits and on the first floor you'll find temporary exhibits.

Entry is 3000 pesos for adults and it's possible to arrange English or French language tours by calling in advance (334 83 66, extension 304).

The Museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday as follows:
Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 am to 6 pm
Sundays, from 10 am to 5 pm

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Address: The museum is located in Carrera 7 Nr. 31
Directions: downtown

La Candelaria is the historic core of Bogota and while it does have its share of romantic streets and grand architecture, it is also a bit of a dangerous area, mainly at night. A lot of the danger is overblown, but it is important to be aware of the greater potential for problems here than in the northern neighborhoods of Zona Rosa or Parque 93. That being said, there are some great attractions in La Candelaria. During the day, it is well worth strolling down its sometimes cobbled lanes and to visit some of its small shops and restaurants.

You'll also find the main cathedral in the grand Plaza de Bolivar and the famous Gold Museum as well as the Botero Foundation (Colombia's most famous painter).

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Address: Av. Circunvalar-Cra. 10, Cll. 2Sur-Av. Jimenez.
Directions: TransMilenio Autonorte southbound, switch at TM Av. Jiménez Eastbound.

The Presidential Palace (Casa de Narino), is located just a few steps from the Plaza de Bolivar and is a beautiful, yet heavily guarded fortress that is actually the house of the President of Colombia. Because of its location in the heart of La Candelaria, efforts have been made in recent years to clean up the area and there is a fairly large presence of security personnel.

As far as I know, it's not possible to visit the palace and walking too close to the entrance or stopping to take a photo will get the attention of the guards and you will be told to keep moving.

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Directions: La Candelaria

In a lot of ways, Plaza de Bolivar is the heart of Bogota and certainly it is the center of the Historic District. I visited here a couple times, but on a Sunday afternoon it makes for a perfect place to people watch or to meet friends. Some of the most important buildings, not only in the city, but in all of Colombia, are found here, including the seat of the National Congress, the mayor's office and the Palace of Justice. Most impressively, you'll find the city's main cathedral, although it was closed and I was unable to see the interior. Toward the center of the plaza on a raised platform is a statue of Simón Bolívar by the Italian sculptor Tenerari, which dates to 1846 making it the city's oldest public monument.

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Address: Calle 10, between carreras 7 and 8
Directions: La Candelaria

When I asked people in Bogota what museum was a true must see, most responded with "the Gold Museum." Unfortunately, my time was short here and when I did make rushed attempt to visit, I realized that the museum was being renovated and that it had been moved to a temporary space until the new facility was completed. As a result, we didn't get to visit, but if you're in Bogota, I would definitely check for the latest information on the museum and visit if possible. The collection of Pre-Colombian artifacts in impressive and the gold collection is among the finest in the world.

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Address: Calle 16 No. 5-41
Directions: Recommendable to take a TransMilenio from Autonorte southbound to Av. Jimenez, switch Eastbound until reaching the pedestrian area, then 6 blocks NE bound.
Website: http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/home4.htm

The Colonial Art Museum, located in La Candelaria, has a nice collection of art from the Colonial Period (late 15th century through early 19th century) as well as some examples of paintings from the Quito School, most notably the paintings of Miguel Santiago (I saw much more of his work in Quito a few days later). The building itself is also quite impressive and dates from the 17th century.

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Park 93 is located north of downtown on Calle 93 between Carreras 11 and 13 and is one of Bogota's most exclusive areas. You'll find a pleasant park (pictured here) surrounded by bars, shops, hotels and coffee shops. This is an excellent and relatively safe area to find a hotel or to hang out at night. It's also a very short cab ride from the equally popular Zona Rosa neighborhood.

We hung out here one evening and checked out a couple bars and met some friendly locals.

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