Wondering where to stay in Bogota first time?
There are a few highly recommended areas to stay in Bogota and a few areas that you absolutely want to avoid.
Like many cities in Colombia, some parts of Bogota are simply not as safe as they should be or simply there are not many interesting things to experience in some areas.
In this article, we cover what we believe are the best areas to stay in Bogota for the first time, depending on each type of traveller you are and simultaneously make sure that you not only have a great stay but also have a safe stay.
At the bottom of this article, you can find a map with all recommended areas including the city’s highlights.
We’ve come up with some answers to frequently asked questions as well, including how to move around.
With that being said, let’s jump to our recommendations.
Where to stay in Bogota for the first time? Keep reading!
In brief:
What are the best areas to stay in Bogota for first-timers?
The best areas to stay in Bogota for first-timers include Zona Rosa, El Chicó and Parque 93 and La Candeleria.
Close to these popular tourist areas, there are several smaller neighbourhoods that are suitable for tourists too.
Unfortunately, there are some areas that you as a tourist should avoid as it’s not that safe.
In the next paragraphs, we dive deeper into each recommended area in Bogota for tourists and what makes them unique.
The best areas to stay in Bogota for first-time visitors are:
1. Zona Rosa – The most vibrant area
In South American countries, Zona Rosa refers to the nightlife area, and in Bogota, it’s no exception.
Zona Rosa lies a bit far from the old city, but close to El Chio and Parque 93, two recommended areas in Bogota that we discuss further down this article, that are known for their safeness.
This modern area of Bogota attracts the younger generation of Colombians and there are all sorts of facilities in this area to entertain these youngsters, including the Andino shopping mall.
When it comes to nightlife, Zona Rosa is the place to be, and in the evening, you as a tourist can easily enjoy nice (salsa) bars, trendy restaurants, and an overall inviting atmosphere.
The downside, like many other recommended areas, is that you have to travel a bit in order to get to city highlights such as Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar.
In return, you’re staying in a vibrant and safe area in Bogota.
For who: younger travellers who enjoys vibrant nightlife.
Pros: Located in the most vibrant area of the city, a safe neighbourhood.
Cons: Not that close to the city’s highlights, relatively expensive.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Bogota for first-time visitors in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
2. El Chicó & Parque 93 – The safest area
El Chicó and Parque 93, which are part of the Chapinero region, are among the safest areas to stay in Bogota for tourists.
In this area, you find loads of higher-end residential neighbourhoods as well as proper restaurants.
The downside is, due to its location, it’s quite the ride when you want to visit the city’s highlights, such as Plaza de Bolívar.
During my first stay in Bogota, I stayed at El Chicó for a month and for me personally, it was an amazing area.
You won’t find many tourists at El Chicó, but I felt constantly safe.
For a more bustling experience, head over to Parque 93.
During the day, the park is full of Colombian people enjoying their day, while during the evening, the bars and restaurants around this park offer plenty of entertainment, although less trendy than other popular nightlife areas.
For that, head over to Zona Rosa during the evening.
For who: families, couples.
Pros: the safest area in Bogota for tourists, plenty of things to do.
Cons: not that close to the city’s highlights, relatively expensive.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Bogota for first-time visitors in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
3. La Candelaria – The most cultural area
This area in Bogota is the colonial neighbourhood of the capital with a rich history included.
You can find many of the city’s highlights in this area.
In the sixteenth century, the Spanish established this neighbourhood and nowadays, wandering through the streets with these colourful, iconic houses is one of the top attractions of the city.
Usually, we would put these kinds of areas on top of the list, because who doesn’t want to stay in Bogota right in the middle of the cultural centre?
However, Bogota isn’t the safest city in Colombia and in these neighbourhoods, tourists are an easy target by pickpockets.
Especially when it’s dark, one must be careful.
There are plenty of tourists who tend to stay in this area, but we want to give you a heads-up.
For who: typical tourists.
Pros: close to the cultural parts of the city, good variety of hotels.
Cons: less safe than other recommended areas (during the night).
Some of the best hotels to stay in Bogota for first-time visitors in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
4. Bogotá International Center & La Macarena – Quiet, modern area
While there are better areas in Bogota for tourists, one can consider staying at Bogotá International Center, which is the financial district of Bogota.
Here, you can find many office buildings and the area itself is modern.
During lunchtime, many will visit one of the restaurants located nearby, so for those seeking a bit of comfort, Bogotá International Center is quite the place.
Like many business districts in cities, there are several modern hotels to be found in this area, as well as great access to public transport.
The downside is that it’s you won’t find any tourist entertainment, except for the National Museum of Colombia.
You are, however, located close to the Old City.
La Macarena is, like Bogotá International Center, a small part of the Santa Fe district and is located behind the Planetario de Bogotá.
It’s a relatively safe neighbourhood close to public transport, the older parts of Bogota and close to good restaurants.
Similar to Bogotá International Center, you have to travel to different parts, such as Parque 93 and Zona Rosa to find the bustling areas.
For who: Business travellers, tourists who don’t appreciate nightlife and tourist entertainment.
Pros: Good access to public transport, modern area, central location.
Cons: Not a touristic neighbourhood, you have to travel to more vibrant areas for excitement.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Bogota for first-time visitors in this particular area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
Map of the best areas in Bogota for first-time visitors
The next image is a map of the best areas in Bogota for first-time visitors including the city highlights.
The image is in high resolution so you can easily zoom in to see all the details.
A map will follow soon.
There you have it, our recommendations to your question about where to stay in Bogota first time. We hope you enjoyed it and hopefully, you can make a good decision and have the time of your life in this amazing city!
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