Bogot\u00e1, the infamous capital of Colombia. And mainly because most travelers don’t like this city. A tour of Colombia often begins and\/or ends in Bogot\u00e1, and for many that is the only reason to visit this metropolis. A kind of a must. A shame, because Bogot\u00e1 has much more to offer than you might think. What exactly, of course, I’m going to tell you now. <\/p>\n
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For the newcomers here’s a quick recap: I emigrated to Colombia at the end of 2014 and lived in Bogot\u00e1 for about 3 years. Then I left for nearby Sop\u00f3 to return to my beloved metropolis in early 2022. <\/p>\n
And no, Bogot\u00e1 is certainly not sacred. Life here is fantastic, though. But Bogot\u00e1 also has downsides. Think of the heavy traffic, the insecurity in certain places, the air pollution, roads like potholes and poverty. However, these cons fit just as well with other major Colombian cities, such as Medell\u00edn<\/strong><\/a> and Cali. <\/p>\n Many consider the climate of Bogot\u00e1<\/strong><\/a> to be a negative aspect, but I personally find it to be a major advantage of Bogot\u00e1. And even though I got rained all sopping wet exactly today, on the day I publish this article, after the weather turned from warm and sunny to completely unexpected, I love the Bogotan climate. <\/p>\n Still, Bogot\u00e1 is a great city. One to really not skip. And where best to look a little beyond the historic center La Cadelaria to really get to know and understand the city. A complex city that you only understand and learn to appreciate when you’ve been there longer.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n If you have the time of course (in the case of a round trip Colombia of 2 or 3 weeks<\/strong><\/a> after all, you probably want to see as much of the country as possible). <\/p>\n Tip<\/strong>: The place you stay contributes immensely to the experience you have in Bogot\u00e1. Staying in La Candelaria will give you a totally different view of the city than staying in, say, Chapinero or Usaqu\u00e9n. Think about exactly what you want before you book your hotel. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Say Bogot\u00e1 and you think La Candelaria. The historic center filled with old buildings, colorful houses and unusual street art. Here you will visit famous museums<\/strong><\/a> and climb Monserrate<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n And there is much more to do:<\/strong><\/p>\n Many travelers seem to think this reflects Bogot\u00e1 well, but that is really not the case at all. Yes, it is beautiful and yes, you should definitely not skip La Candelaria. But Bogot\u00e1 is more than that. Check those 75+ things to see and do in Bogot\u00e1<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n Indeed, Bogot\u00e1 is a huge hodgepodge of different neighborhoods that are so different that within half an hour you seem to find yourself in another world. Even I marvel at it after all these years. <\/p>\n The luxurious El Chic\u00f3 district is in no way comparable to La Candelaria, in Park Way you will find yourself in a hippie neighborhood, or visit the bohemian La Macarena. The northern Usaqu\u00e9n does not even resemble the Bogot\u00e1 you know from La Candelaria. There are enormous parks in the city, in Chapinero you will find yourself in a trendy district full of unique stores and restaurants. And then there are the busy neighborhoods such as ‘San Andresito’ and areas with lots of commerce where you seems to be on another planet.<\/p>\n The differences are in all sorts of things. Architecture, space in the city, greenery and the huge differences between rich and poor and everything in between. The streets, the people, the cars, the clothing style, the food, the stores, the houses…. everything is different. Even the weather in Bogot\u00e1<\/strong><\/a> can be different; have rain in the south and sunshine in the north. <\/p>\n\n\t\tSo feel free to stay a few days longer in Bogot\u00e1.<\/h3>\n
\n7 Reasons to stay more days in Bogot\u00e1<\/h2>\n
\n1. Discover the contrasts of Colombia’s capital city<\/h3>\n
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