10 Things to Know Before You Visit Bogota

You’re preparing for your visit to Colombia and you’re asking yourself what things to know before you visit Bogota. What clothes should you pack? Can you drink the water? What Colombian foods taste good? Will you find food that fits your diet?

And the biggest question I had when I was preparing to visit–how can you stay safe in Bogota?

In this article, I’ll walk you through the basic things to know before you visit Bogota. These are the questions I had 15 years ago when I first visited, so I hope you’ll find the answers useful for your visit. I’ll answer these questions, and a few more:

• Can I drink the water when I visit Bogota?
• How should I dress for the weather in Bogota?
• Does it rain a lot in Bogota?
• How safe is Bogota?
• Can I pay with US dollars or euros when I visit Bogota?
• What should I know about Colombian coffee?
• Is public transportation safe in Bogota?
• What’s the best area to stay in when visiting Bogota?
• What should I eat in Bogota?
• What can I eat in Bogota if I’m on a special diet?
• How can I learn Spanish fast?

So whether you’re visiting for pleasure or business, let’s talk about what you should know before you visit Bogota.

Can you drink the water when you visit Bogota?

Whether or not you can drink the water in Bogota is a matter of preference. They do treat the water, so the tap water is technically quite safe.

I drink mostly tap water and have never had a problem…and I’m sensitive to bad water.

Keep in mind that some building complexes over-bleach their water, which tastes gross. Then the water needs to be filtered – or you just have to go out and buy some bottled water anyway.

Leaving the city is another matter, though, since most other cities and small towns don’t treat their water. Make sure you drink only bottled or filtered water, including ice.

Should I dress for hot weather in Bogota?

No. And yes.

Bogota is a chilly city. While Colombia is near the equator, keep in mind that Bogota is a high-altitude city.

If you’ve never been in the cold in the Andes Mountains, it’s hard to describe it. Penetrating to the bone would be a good phrase, I guess. It can get down to around 40 degrees F at night, which depending on where you’re from, doesn’t necessarily sound so cold.

But you have to remember something.

People in Bogota don’t heat their homes or businesses.

Yes, 40 degrees F without heat. That’s another thing.

You can buy little space heaters – they’re sold all over the city – but the bizarre thing is that people don’t often have them in their homes, and hotels will often not provide them.

So when in Rome…you wear socks to bed at night.

In fact, living in Bogota is the only time in my life I’ve worn socks and sweaters to bed (and I’m from Philadelphia, which is cold in the winter).

Read here about my favorite ways to keep warm in Bogota.

But during the day when the sun’s out, Bogota can be like a wonderful day in early summer. In fact, December through February are great months, warm and sunny. That’s when you’ll consider wearing sandals and shorts. But keep in mind that the weather can change abruptly – I’ll cover that in the next subheading.

In March the rainy season begins, and it lasts several months. That’s when people break out their boots, jackets, and scarves. I sometimes even wear gloves when I go out at night. So consider bringing your fuzzy jammies for those months!

Does it rain a lot in Bogota?  

Yes, it rains a lot. The upside is that usually the rain alternates with sun, which means there are few 100% dreary days. But even in the sunny seasons there might be a sudden rain shower or irritating afternoon drizzle.

One comment you’ll hear often in Bogota is that you get the four seasons…all in one day.

So I don’t ever go out without a jacket or puffy scarf and an umbrella, since a sunny day can quickly turn into a chilly one. And then five minutes later, back into a sunny paradise.

How safe is Bogota?

Like any other big city, Bogota has problems with crime. The best way to avoid those problems is to understand the potential dangers. I’ll give you a few tips here, but if you want more information check out our article on how to not get robbed.

Your overall safety may depend on where you are in Bogota, since like any other big city there are a lot of unsafe neighborhoods. But I do know people that got robbed in neighborhoods that are considered safe. So in addition to staying out of unsafe neighborhoods, I take a few simple precautions.

• Colombia is home to expert pickpocketers. I don’t put ANYTHING I like in a pocket, not even a zippered one. Even front jeans pockets aren’t a safe place.
• I always use a purse or bag that crosses my body (leather and vegan leather bags are good and cheap here, so it’s easy to purchase one) and I make sure to keep it zipped up. I also wear my bag in front of me, not to the side or back.
• I’m careful about where I take my cell phone out and I don’t hold my phone in my hand while on the street. If I have to check my phone when I’m on the street, I step into a store before I take my phone out of my bag.
• I also don’t wear gold jewelry or expensive watches.

I’m always careful and have never had serious problems in Bogota. But as I mentioned, I know a lot of people who have been robbed. And while some of those robberies happened because they had a few drinks and then tried to catch a taxi off the street (big mistake), others happened while they were just walking down the sidewalk during the day with their phone in hand.

Colombians even have a phrase for keeping safe – “no dar papaya.” Read this article, written by a Colombian, to understand that confusing phrase.

Can I pay with US dollars or euros when I visit Bogota?

It’s not a good idea to pay with US dollars or euros when visiting Bogota. Everything in Colombia is bought and sold with Colombian pesos.

Some businesses will let you pay in dollars or euros, but the exchange rate will probably be in their favor, and not yours.

You can exchange money at the airport or at numerous exchange houses throughout the city. You’ll probably get the best exchange rate from an ATM, although your bank may charge you a fee for each transaction.

Dollars are accepted for tips at restaurants or on tours, where the staff is pretty much just happy to get a tip!

What should I know about Colombian coffee?

Coffee is obviously a big subject here. But that doesn’t mean that all Colombians know about coffee, and it doesn’t mean you’ll get a good cup of coffee just anywhere.

You may be surprised that coffee quality in Colombia can be quite poor. That’s changing, and coffee shops selling better quality coffee are springing up all over the country.

Want to know which are our favorite shops in Bogota? We’ve compiled this list of the best specialty coffee shops.

If you want to understand Colombia’s fascinating coffee history … and what coffee means to Colombians, book a Specialty Coffee Workshop with us!

Is public transportation safe in Bogota?

When someone is visiting Bogota for a short time, I recommend they use taxis. Taxis are super cheap, and if you’re traveling with another person or a group, they may actually be cheaper than taking the bus.

How can you stay safe when taking a taxi? Request the taxi using an app so you know the drivers have been vetted and the rides are being tracked. People getting robbed or kidnapped when taking a taxi off the street are always in the news.

Sometimes the taxi driver stops and takes on more “passengers” who will then rob the victim. Or if you pay in cash, the driver may claim that your bill is false, and return it to you. What you don’t realize is he switched your perfectly fine bill for a false one, so you wind up leaving the cab with fake money.

What about buses? With the exception of pickpockets, buses during the day in many areas are generally safe. When taking a bus, check out the route ahead of time and see if it goes through sketchy neighborhoods. Also, keep in mind that bus stations or stops that are near safe neighborhoods can still be unsafe, especially at night. And you might want to avoid buses during rush hour, since they get packed beyond belief.

Traffic in most Latin American cities is crazy, and Bogota is no exception. If possible, try to find lodging near your major activities. When it’s not possible, leave plenty of time for bad traffic. Or perhaps you can walk, which might be faster.

For more tips on how to get around the city, check out our article on public transportation in Bogota.

What’s the best area to stay in when you visit Bogota?

Popular places to stay downtown are La Macarena and La Candelaria, since they’re close to museums and the historic area. Keep in mind that those areas are surrounded by neighborhoods that are quite sketchy, and you’ll see a lot of homeless people.

Near the airport there are good hotels and better restaurants are popping up in the Salitre area. But it’s not exactly a cultural mecca, and there’s nothing relaxing about that area.

For a quieter experience, Rosales, Chapinero Alto or Quinta Camacho can be good places to stay, since they are still near the historic district and museums (about a 15-minute taxi ride). You’ll be near fantastic restaurants, and it’s still easy to get downtown or up to Usaquen (or out to Chia) from there.

What should I eat in Bogota?

This is a huge topic!!! We’ve written a lot about food in Bogota, so here is a list of our most popular articles:

• Fruit!
• Bogota essential eats
• Restaurants we love
• Can you eat street food in Bogota?
• Don’t miss the ever-present aromatica
• Hot chocolate
• Everything you need to know about coffee in Colombia

What can I eat in Bogota if I’m on a special diet?

If you’re wondering if you can maintain a specific diet in Bogota, the answer is you can. But it will take some time and effort to find the best restaurants for you. The restaurants we recommended in this list all have gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and sugar-free options that are truly worth eating.

If you want to cook while you’re here, supermarkets and fruvers (small fruit and vegetable stores) have plenty of veggies at generally good prices. Organic items are still a new topic here, but you will find some produce and other items labeled as organic.

How can I learn Spanish fast?

I speak 4 languages with varying degrees of success, and I learned most of them as an adult, all while living in countries where very few people speak that target language. And I was working full-time.

Two of those languages I learned in my 30s, past the age when learning languages seems easy. Soon I’ll start working on my 5th language.

What has helped me to learn languages faster?

I have a little system that I call LASTS. It’s a mentality about language learning that creates a skill that lasts throughout your whole life. (And it’s a cool little acronym).

To see what it’s all about, check out my article on how to learn Spanish fast.