Top Attractions in Bogota, Colombia

Zona T

elitebogota — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:03:21 +0000

This is one of the best places to start the night out in Bogotá. Its T shape area is full of bars, restaurants, shops and it’s nearby trendy night clubs, casinos and the Andino and El Retiro malls. Everything within walking distance.

Zone T is located on Calle 82, Carrera 12.

For your convenience, here is a list of restaurants within this T zone.

Enjoy the nightlife.

Museo de Oro (Gold Museum)

elitebogota — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:10:00 +0000

The Gold Museum in Bogotá, Colombia, displays an extraordinary selection of its pre-Hispanic gold work collection – the biggest in the world. Together with other pottery, stone, shell, wood and textile archaeological objects, these items testify to the life and thought of different societies which inhabited what is now known as Colombia before contact was made with Europe.

On Sundays the Museum is crowded due to free entrance. Did you know that the Museum Restaurant is the best place to have lunch during your visit to downtown Bogotá? Did you know that the most enjoyable way to tour the Gold Museum exhibitions is with the pre-recorded Audioguides?

The museum has a collection of 55,000 pieces. 6,000 pieces are on display in their expanded building. There are bilingual descriptions of almost all exhibits.

On the first floor is the museum’s main entrance, the shop and a restaurant, The Gold Museum Restaurant and Café.

The Gold Museum is situated in Santander Park, on the corner of Carrera 5 and 16th Street, in downtown Bogotá

Entrance to the Museum is open:

Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sundays and Public Holidays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Closed on Mondays, including public holiday Mondays.

There are English Guided Tours on from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 11:00 am and 4:00 pm

Entrance fee is $3,000 pesos (About $2.00 dollars).

Ciclovía (Bike Path Day)

elitebogota — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:31:58 +0000

If you want to do some outdoor sports (walking, skating or bicycling) and at the same time get to know Bogota, the “Ciclovía” is a perfect opportunity for you to do some sightseeing.

Each Sunday and holiday the main streets of Bogotá are blocked off for the event to become Car-free. From 7 am to 2 pm, runners, skaters and bicyclists take over the streets.

Throughout the Ciclovía, you would find convenient and organized stands to stop for fruit, fresh squeezed orange or mandarin juice or bottled water. The Ciclovía is well-organized and has a lot of police presence.

The Ciclovía has taken place in Bogotá every Sunday and Holiday for the past 35 years, (since 1976) and Bogotá is the second bike friendliest city in the world after Amsterdam, having a long network of bike routes for its citizens.

Enjoy!

Usaquen

elitebogota — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:25:12 +0000

Usaquen is a small town within Bogota with a typical colonial setting. This site offers you a wide variety of restaurants, bars and a few handcraft shops. For your convenience, please find a list of some of the most important restaurants in Usaquen.

Usaquen is located on Calle 119 with Carrera 5ta.

On Sundays, make sure you don’t miss the weekly Flea Market where you will find unique gifts, handcrafts and good food.

Enjoy!

Monserrate

elitebogota — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:50:01 +0000

At 3.152 meters (10,341 ft) above the sea level, you will find Monserrate, the main skyline symbol of Bogotá and home to the church (built in 1640) devoted to “El Señor Caído” (Fallen Lord).

Enjoy a peaceful scenery surrounded by mountains.

Make sure you take your camera to bring back home pictures of Bogotá.

Monserrate can be accessed by a cable car or by a funicular (mountain train)

Monserrate is open 7 days per week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The round trip fee is about US$7.00 and on Sundays is US$4.00.

Enjoy the visit!

Plaza de Bolivar (Bolivar Square)

elitebogota — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:00:49 +0000

The Bolivar Square (Plaza de Bolivar) is located in the heart of historical center of the city. This area is where most of the government buildings are. The Bolivar Square is a great place to walk and admire colonial buildings, historic sites, old churches and the mountains in the background.

The Plaza was named after Simon Bolivar who was one of South America’s greatest generals. His victories over the Spaniards won independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. He is called El Liberator (The Liberator) and the “George Washington of South America.”

To the East side of the square, you will find the Primary Cathedral of Bogotá, the seat of the Archbishop of Bogotá

To the north, you will find the Palacio de Justicia (Palace of Justice) home to the Supreme Court. This building was attacked in 1985 by the M-19 guerrilla where they held the Supreme Court hostage, intending to hold a trial against President Belisario Betancur. Hours later, after a military raid, the incident left all the rebels and 11 of the 25 Supreme Court Justices dead.

On the west side of the square there is a French style building known as the Liévano building which is the seat for Bogotá’s Mayor.

To complete the square and to the South you will find the Capitolio Nacional (National Capitol). It houses both houses of the Congress of Colombia. The construction of the building began in 1876 and concluded in 1926.

Around the Plaza de Bolivar you will find other buildings and sites worth seeing.

Two blocks to the South, you will find the Casa de Nariño (Presidential Palace), built in 1908. This is the official home and workplace of the President of Colombia. It houses the main office of the executive branch. This building carries the name of Nariño after being constructed on the site of the house where Antonio Nariño was born. Nariño was an ideological precursor and one of the early political and military leaders of the independence movement in Colombia from the Spanish Empire.

One block South of the Plaza de Bolivar you will find the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé. A Jesuit, private and bilingual school, affiliated with the Society of Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church. The school was established in 1604, and clinched a special name in the country, teaching generations of distinguished Colombians.

Enjoy the walk!

Hello World!

elitebogota — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:44:35 +0000

Welcome to the “Top Attractions in Bogota” blog.

Bogota, Colombia is no longer one of the best kept secrets in Latin America. The word is spreading out that Bogota is a city full of culture, history, nightlife, shopping, museums and warm-hearted people.

The dangerous reputation that the city had back in the 80′s is long gone and if you take normal precautions, as they should be taken in any major city, Bogota and its surroundings could steal your heart.

I will do a weekly posting of a recommended top attraction so that you can have a well-informed guide about the city. Feel free to comment on any of the postings.

Hope you enjoy this blog.

To begin, here is some basic data about the city:

Metro Population: 8.361.000 inh. (2008)
Average Temperature: 14ºC – 52ºF (All year-long; Colombia has no seasons)
Elevation: 2640m – 8,661 ft
Foundation: August 6, 1538 AD