What currency is used in Bogotá?

Bogotá uses the Colombian peso (COP).

How much does a day in Bogotá cost?

Roughly $30-45 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $70-120 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Bogotá?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Bogotá without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Bogotá travel guide

Colombia

A sprawling capital high on an Andean plateau, cool and often grey, with a serious museum scene and a growing food culture. Its colonial core sits at the foot of green mountains.

Essentials

Language: Spanish; English is limited outside hostels and upmarket restaurants
Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
Plugs: Types A and B, 110 V
Emergency number: 123
Tipping: Restaurants usually ask whether you want to add a suggested 10 percent service charge; it is voluntary.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $30-45, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $70-120, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Bogotá

La Candelaria: the colonial centre, with street art, the Botero Museum and the Gold Museum close by.
Chapinero: a large, lively district of restaurants, bars and cafés.
Usaquén: a former village in the north, known for its Sunday market and colonial square.

Getting around Bogotá

TransMilenio rapid buses cover much of the city with a TuLlave card; ride-hailing apps are the simpler choice at night. Bogotá sits at about 2,600 metres, so take your first day gently.

Best time to visit Bogotá

December to March, and to a lesser extent July and August, are the driest spells; the temperature stays cool all year.

Top things to do in Bogotá

See the pre-Hispanic goldwork at the Museo del Oro, one of the largest collections of its kind
Ride the cable car or funicular up Monserrate for a view over the whole city
Visit the Botero Museum, free to enter, with the painter's own work and his collection of European art
Join a street-art walking tour through La Candelaria
Taste unfamiliar tropical fruit at the Paloquemao market, best early in the morning

What to eat in Bogotá

Ajiaco: a chicken and potato soup flavoured with the guascas herb, served with capers and cream
Changua: a breakfast soup of milk, eggs and spring onion, eaten with bread
Chocolate santafereño: hot chocolate served with cheese to drop into the cup
Obleas: thin wafers sandwiched with arequipe, a caramel spread

Day trips from Bogotá

Zipaquirá: a cathedral carved into a salt mine, about an hour and a half north
Laguna de Guatavita: a sacred lake linked to the El Dorado legend, roughly two hours away
Villa de Leyva: a whitewashed colonial town with a vast cobbled square, three to four hours away, so better with a night

Local etiquette

Greet shopkeepers and staff before asking anything, and use usted with people you do not know. Locals warn against dar papaya, meaning making yourself an easy target.

Staying connected

Claro, Movistar and Tigo SIM cards are sold in malls and phone shops (bring your passport), eSIMs work, and Wi-Fi is common in cafés.

Staying safe

Phone snatching and pickpocketing are common in La Candelaria and on TransMilenio, so keep your phone away in the street. Use ride-hailing apps rather than hailing taxis at night, and never accept drinks or snacks from strangers.

A local tip

On Sundays and public holidays, join the Ciclovía, when main roads close to cars and fill with cyclists.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Bogotá on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Bogotá for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Bogotá, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Bogotá

What currency is used in Bogotá?: Bogotá uses the Colombian peso (COP).
What is the emergency number in Bogotá?: In Bogotá, call 123.
When is the best time to visit Bogotá?: December to March, and to a lesser extent July and August, are the driest spells; the temperature stays cool all year.
How much does a day in Bogotá cost?: Roughly $30-45 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $70-120 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Bogotá?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Bogotá without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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