7 Must Do Experiences While Visiting Bogotá

Let’s be honest: if your idea of a Bogotá “experience” still involves shuffling up a crowded hill to look at a church or battling backpackers for a watery chocolate completo, you’ve already failed. Bogotá has shed its “emerging” skin to become the undisputed, high-altitude capital of cool in the Southern Hemisphere.

We live here, we breathe this thin Andean air, and we know exactly where the city’s real pulse is beating. This is the Bogotá of sleek, charcoal-toned brutalism, private art foundations, and a culinary scene that currently has the rest of Latin America looking over its shoulder. Forget the guidebooks; this is how we do Bogotá going forward.

1. The San Felipe Art Takeover

While the world was looking at Chapinero, the industrial guts of San Felipe were being quietly hollowed out and replaced with some of the most provocative contemporary art in the world. 

We don’t suggest just “walking around.” You want Open Studio access. We’re talking about the private warehouses where the likes of Oscar Murillo or burgeoning stars from the Virreina Art Residencies are currently working. The real insider move? Book a private walkthrough with a curator from Flora ars+natura. It’s not just about looking at canvases; it’s about the scent of linseed oil and the high-concept political discourse.

2. Dining With Identity

These aren’t just restaurants. The global press is finally catching up, but Bogotá’s culinary identity is already years ahead of the curve. If you want a seat at the table, you book weeks—sometimes months—in advance.

For the definitive word on where Bogotá’s culinary power resides, consult our curated list of the 16 most essential restaurants.

Where to book — and book early:

• Leo: Leonor Espinosa isn’t just a chef; she’s an anthropologist. Here, Colombia’s diverse ecosystems are converted into a multi-sensory tasting ritual. It is essential, intellectual, and utterly delicious.
• Cecilia: a vibrant, modern standout redefining Bogotá’s Italian scene with contemporary, bold flavors. Its menu features creative, rule-breaking signatures like pasta with BBQ pulled pork and truffles.
• Santa Fe Restaurante: Slow-food Colombian heritage resurrected, dish by dish. This is where tradition gets a high-gloss finish.
• Café Bar Universal: Neo-bistro energy, smoke, and acid. This is the “industry” spot where local chefs and designers go to be seen and eat incredibly well.
• Tremé: A stunning Colombian-meets-New-Orleans fusion tucked into a Chapinero townhouse. It’s soulful, sophisticated, and unexpected.

3. Lifestyle Shopping in Quinta Camacho

Forget malls. In 2026, Bogotá’s luxury is quiet, townhouse-level, and curated for the eye. The neighborhood of Quinta Camacho, with its English-style brick architecture, is the city’s most sophisticated retail runway.

Walk this triangular route:

• Independent Colombian Designers: Seek out showrooms using local textiles like fique and high-end Andean wool.
• Concept Stores: Look for unmarked doors housing world-class leather bags, geometric jewelry, and architectural ceramics.
• Art Editions: Visit independent bookstores carrying rare Latin American art editions and photography journals.
• Minimalist Cafés: Take soft landings between purchases in hidden courtyards that feel like private sanctuaries.

Why you go: Because you want gifts that prove you were here—not something you could buy at a duty-free shop at JFK.

4. The “Patios” Ascent and the High Páramo

If you aren’t on a carbon-fiber frame by 6:00 AM on a Saturday, are you even in Bogotá? The city has a religious obsession with cycling, and the holy grail is Patios.

We aren’t talking about a leisurely ride. This is the Alto de Patios—a climb that separates the locals from the tourists. In 2026, the ritual has evolved. We finish the ascent and skip the roadside stands for a private recovery session at a boutique wellness hub in La Calera.

For those who prefer their boots muddy, the Páramo de Sumapaz is the only wilderness that matters. It’s the largest alpine tundra ecosystem in the world. Imagine a private guide leading you through the mist of the frailejones (giant Andean sunflowers) before returning to a glass-walled cabin with a malts-and-fire pit setup. It’s moody, ethereal, and the most exclusive “reset” button in Colombia.

5. Local Coffee Lines

Do not order a latte and walk away. Bogotá is a specialty nation, and coffee here is a cultural curriculum. In 2026, we don’t just “drink” coffee; we analyze it by palate, origin, and altitude.

Your 2026 curated route — in order:

• UrbanCup: No-nonsense purity brews for the true caffeine geek, taste them at Bogota Coffee Store.
• Caffa: Barista-forward manual brews with a serious “notebook energy” for the discerning drinker.
• Tropicalia: Experimental drinks and the best seasonal pastries in the city.
• Café 18: A “keep-your-voice-low” kind of calm in a stunningly designed space.
• Les Amis: French-Colombian pastry elegance that pairs perfectly with a high-acid pour-over.

6. La Macarena, El Planetario & Cinemateca

We told you we’d save downtown for last, but forget the Candelaria of the past. The move in 2026 is La Macarena. This is the city’s “Bohemian-Chic” soul, where the intelligentsia lives.

Start your afternoon at the Cinemateca de Bogotá. This isn’t just a movie theater; it’s a brutalist masterpiece of media arts. Check the schedule for a 4K restoration of a Colombian classic or an experimental VR exhibit. Afterward, walk to the Planetario. In 2026, their “Inmersivo Sonoro” shows—think Daft Punk or Pink Floyd projected in 360° with a state-of-the-art sound system—are the ultimate sensory pre-game before hitting the bars.

7. Notable Events

• March, Estéreo Picnic (FEP): Our Coachella, but with better food. We only do VIP or Creyentes tickets—the “General” mud is for the kids.
• May, Baum Festival: The techno scene in Bogotá is arguably the strongest in Latin America, and Baum is its cathedral.
• July, Media Maratón de Bogotá: Running 21km at 2,600 meters altitude is the ultimate flex.

Bogota’s music scene grows every year, so we collected the most relevant festivals. 

But if you’re more into sports and the outdoors, here’s our pick.

⚠️ A Note on the “Bogotá Grit”

Let’s be real: Bogotá is a high-stakes city. To enjoy it like a local, you must respect the rules. We don’t “dar papaya” (don’t make yourself a target). Keep your phone in your pocket, use private car services (never hail a taxi on the street), and keep your circle tight. This isn’t a city for the oblivious; it’s a city for the sharp.

Why It Matters

Bogotá in 2026 is a city that has finally stopped trying to be Paris or Madrid. It is leaning into its own Andean identity—cold, creative, and incredibly sophisticated.