Gold Museum & Old Town
El Dorado's treasures plus La Candelaria's streets.
Bogotá
Colombia's high-altitude capital mixes a gold museum, graffiti-covered colonial lanes and a mountain-top church you reach by cable car. It is ranked #50 on Time Out's Best Cities 2026 list.
- Metro population
- 11,000,000
- Country
- Colombia
- Region
- South America
Overview
Why visit Bogotá
Bogotá sits on a high Andean plateau at 2,600 metres. Founded in 1538, it became the capital of Gran Colombia and today sprawls between mountains in a grid of neighbourhoods, each with its own feel — from cobbled La Candelaria to chic Zona T.
The Museo del Oro holds the world's largest collection of pre-Hispanic gold, including the raft that gave rise to the El Dorado legend. Above the city, the funicular and cable car climb to Monserrate's white church for a view over the whole plateau.
Bogotá is South America's street-art capital — the legal walls of La Candelaria and beyond are an open-air gallery. Sundays transform the city when the Ciclovía closes 120 kilometres of roads to cars, and nightlife peaks at Theatron, one of Latin America's biggest clubs. A day trip to Zipaquirá's salt cathedral — a church carved inside a salt mine — is unmissable.
Things to do
Top things to book in Bogotá
Popular tours and tickets. Compare prices and book ahead to skip the lines.
Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
Descend into the underground church in the salt mine.
Monserrate & Street Art
Cable car up the mountain then the graffiti tour.
Food & Coffee Tour
Ajiaco, empanadas and Colombia's famous coffee.
Plan your trip
Compare prices for Bogotá
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Fun facts
Things you didn't know about Bogotá
- 01
The El Dorado Museum
The Museo del Oro holds over 30,000 gold objects, including the Muisca raft that inspired the El Dorado legend.
- 02
A City In The Clouds
At 2,640 metres, Bogotá is the third-highest capital city in South America.
- 03
A Church Inside A Mine
Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral is carved 180 metres underground in a working salt mine.
- 04
Sundays Without Cars
The Ciclovía has closed city streets to traffic every Sunday since 1974 — a model copied worldwide.
- 05
A Street-Art Capital
Graffiti was decriminalised in Bogotá, turning whole districts into galleries of world-class murals.
- 06
A Cable-Car Church
The white church on Monserrate has watched over the city since the 1600s.
- 07
The Latin American Athens
Bogotá earned the nickname for its universities, libraries and cultural life.
- 08
Hot Chocolate With Cheese
The city's signature snack is hot chocolate served with a cube of cheese to melt inside.
- 09
An Airport Above The Trees
El Dorado airport, named for the legend, is one of Latin America's busiest.
- 10
A Mountain In Minutes
Monserrate's summit sits 600 metres above the streets — walkable, funicular or cable car.
Random Bogotá fact
Tap the button for a random fact about Bogotá.
FAQ
Quick answers about Bogotá
Where is Bogotá located?
Bogotá is in Colombia, in South America.
What is the population of Bogotá?
The greater Bogotá area is home to about 11,000,000 people.
What is Bogotá famous for?
Colombia's high-altitude capital mixes a gold museum, graffiti-covered colonial lanes and a mountain-top church you reach by cable car.
Is Bogotá worth visiting?
Yes — Bogotá was ranked #50 on Time Out's Best Cities 2026 list. Explore its facts, attractions and top things to book on this page.
Did IShowSpeed stream from Bogotá?
Yes — IShowSpeed streamed from Bogotá during his 2025 South America tour. See his full world tour map.
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