Bogotá Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Bogotá

Bogotá is Colombia's capital and largest metropolis, positioned near the center of the country on a high plateau in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. Known as the Bogotá savanna within the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, this highland setting sits at an average elevation of 2,640 meters above sea level. Spanning 1,587 square kilometers across 20 distinct administrative localities, the city enjoys a consistently cool climate throughout the entire year.

Long before Spanish arrival, the region was home to the Muisca civilization, a Chibcha-speaking society recognized for goldworking, extensive trade, and salt extraction. The Muisca cultivated maize, which remains tied to regional history through traditional beverages such as chicha. Spanish conqueror Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada established a military settlement in the area in August 1538, initially naming it Our Lady of Hope. Following a formal civic founding in 1539, the settlement was renamed Santafé and officially designated a city in 1540.

During the colonial era, Santafé functioned as the seat of the Royal Audiencia and eventually became the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. Prominent public spaces developed during this period, including the main Plaza de Bolívar—originally called the Plaza Mayor—and Santander Park, connected by the historical thoroughfare now known as Carrera Séptima. Following independence in 1819, Simón Bolívar renamed the city Bogotá to pay tribute to its original Muisca heritage as it assumed its role as the national capital.

In modern times, Bogotá serves as the political, financial, and industrial center of Colombia. It houses the primary branches of government, including the Office of the President, the Congress, and the high courts of justice. Generating nearly a quarter of the country's total gross domestic product, the capital is a chief destination for international investment and commerce. Air travel is served by El Dorado International Airport, which ranks third in Latin America for passenger traffic and first for cargo volume.

Bogotá is also Colombia's premier hub for education and the arts, hosting the largest collection of universities and scientific research centers in the country. Its vibrant cultural landscape features numerous theaters, museums, and well over 1,000 libraries, including the Luis Ángel Arango Library, the National Library, and major public facilities like the Virgilio Barco, Tintal, and Tunal branches.