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Top 10 Things to Do and See in Bogota, Colombia

By Bonnie Hamre, About.com Guide

Bogota has much to offer the visitor, from the center of the historic district, to ample parks and amusement centers, shopping, churches, museums, walks, and of course, restaurants and nightlife.

1. Cerro de Monserrate

Take the cable car, the funicular railway or walk to the top of the hill for a spectacular view of the city.

2. Amusement Parks

Mundo Aventura park has mechanical games such as sky-coaster, roller coaster, hammer, and other adult amusements plus children's rides and a feeding zoo.

Salitre Mágico park offers rides and entertainment for all ages while Jaime Duque park has rides, a giant map, exhibitions and a zoo. A big hand holding the world symbolizes God, and a reproduction of the Taj Mahal dipslays reproductions of famous paintings. The park now is more famous for its raves and parties with renowned DJ's.

3. Soccer

Bogotá's best known and most popular soccer clubs are Millonarios and Independiente Santa Fe. You'll find plenty of socce/futbol action in the parks.

4. Carnaval de Bogotá

Held on August 5-6 to celebrate Bogota's founding, the carnival is a festive event honoring Colombia's diversity with Comparsas, parades of folkloric groups, dances and music that represent the cultural manifestations from different regions and cultures of the country and Verbenas, celebrations in suburban streets with dances, music, games and gastronomy from different regions of the country.

5. Expoartesanias

"Expoartesanías is the place to find the best traditional and modern Indian and Afro-Colombian handcrafts. It offers products made of different natural raw materials like: fibers, fabrics, wood, silver, gold, ceramic and stone, among others. From the beginning in 1991, the main objective of 'Expoartesanias' has been to lead handcraft product trends in the market."

6. Bullfights - Plaza de Toros la Santamaria

While these might not be to everybody's taste, Colombians love a good challenge between bullfighter, the torero, matador, and the bull. Bullfighting season is January through February, but small displays are held throughout the year.

7. Shopping

Emeralds! Other jewels, antiques, clothing, leather goods and other desirable goods.

8. Palacio de San Francisco

"The Palace of San Francisco is an example of the Republican style that was fashionable in the beginning of the 20th century in the capital of Colombia...In 1984, it was declared a national monument and is currently occupied by one of the biggest schools in the city, Nuestra Senora del Rosario."

9. Enjoy the City Parks

Bogotá has one of the largest urban parks of the world, the Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park, center of a recreational area that includes the Botanical Gardens of Bogotá, the headquarters of Coldeportes (the national sports authority), and the recently finished Virgilio Barco Library.

"El Tunal" park hosts the annual Rock al Parque, a free festival in which new and popular latin rock bands show their talent.

10. Museo de Oro

View the fabled collections of gold artifacts in the Gold Museum, and tour other museums: Museo Arqueologico, Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares, Museo de Arte Colonial, Museo de Arte Religioso, Museo Nacional, Museo de Arte Moderno, and Quinta de Bolivar for a glimpse of Colombian patrimony, art and cultural influences.
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