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La Candelaria (Historic Old Town)

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4.5 star rating: Recommended 97 Reviews

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  • Address: From Carrera 4 to the Carrera 10 y and from Calle 4 to Calle 22, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia

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La Candelaria (Historic Old Town)

And even today it is the cultural heart of modern Bogota’s slapdash modern sprawl: the graceful and carefully planned Spanish colonial city center, known as the Candelaria. The oldest part of the city is now the province of young artists and bohemian university students, whose skills in trippy graffiti and operating very hip indie businesses makes this one of Bogota’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

You might want to start your exploration at tiny Plazuela Del Chorro Del Quevedo, where this city was supposedly founded in 1537, by Spanish Conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. (Of course it is much, much older; Jimenez merely renamed the ancient indigenous town of Bacata “Bogota.”) However, this plaza—now the epicenter of Bogota’s hipster scene, with plenty of tattoos, Chucks, handmade jewelry and fire dancers—doesn’t really get going until dusk. Be sure to stop into one of the cool little cafes for the Candelaria’s signature beverage, a traditional Andean canelazo, made with sugarcane liquor, cinnamon and panela sugar, served steaming hot for the chill altitude.

But begin instead at sprawling Plaza Bolivar, surrounded by picturesque streets lined with more tejas-topped adobes, interspersed with the city’s finest museums, coolest casas cultural, and most ornate churches. As you make your way to the most important museums close to bustling Parque Santander, be sure to check out the Emerald District (Carrera Jimenez between Calle 6 and 7), where Colombia’s signature stone can be had almost wholesale, if you’re sharp. Inexpensive eateries and artsy clubs are everywhere, but be aware that the neighborhood gets sketchy after hours; take cabs after 9pm or so.

If you’re staying in the Zona Rosa, be aware that you are a solid 45-minute, COP$10,000 (US$6) taxi ride from the Candelaria in traffic, and not all taxis are willing to make the journey—have your hotel call one ahead. TransMilenio buses make the run more quickly; get off at the Gold Museum station.

Tours & Tickets

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Bogota Historic Tour: La Candelaria, Monserrate and Gold Museum, Bogotá, null
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Bogota Historic Tour: La Candelaria, Monserrate and Gold Museum

4.5 star rating: Recommended 8 Reviews

Enjoy a personalized tour of Bogota's historic city center and get to know the most important places and their history. Visit Monserrate and La Candelaria ...  Read more

Location: Bogota, Colombia
Duration: 5 hours (approx.)

From USD $90.00
Private La Candelaria Tour, Bogotá, Half-day Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Private La Candelaria Tour

5 star rating: Highly Recommended 4 Reviews

In this Cadelaria Tour, you will get to know Bogotá’s historic center, where it all began. Witness the development of this cosmopolitan city. La ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)

From USD $79.00
Private La Candelaria Tour Including Lunch, Bogotá, Private Sightseeing Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Private La Candelaria Tour Including Lunch

Join this 6-hour tour of La Candelaria and enjoy a delicious lunch at the end of your tour.

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 6 hours (approx.)

From USD $129.00
City Tour in Bogotá, Bogotá, Private Sightseeing Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

City Tour in Bogotá

3 star rating: Worth doing 4 Reviews

Enjoy a 360° view of the different facets of Bogotá from the confortable seats of private transportation and the company of an experienced tour ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 4 hours (approx.)

From USD $55.00
Private Historical Bogotá Tour, Bogotá, Walking Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Private Historical Bogotá Tour

To take a stroll around the streets that are a reflection of the rich history of the capital of Colombia is a journey that no one should miss. Let’s explore ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 5 hours (approx.)

From USD $89.00
Private Architecture Tour in Bogotá, Bogotá, Private Sightseeing Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Private Architecture Tour in Bogotá

If you are interested in architecture, you can’t miss the opportunity to explore the urban diversity that Bogotá offers. From the Colonial to the ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 6 hours (approx.)

From USD $129.00
Private Photography Tour in Bogotá, Bogotá, Private Sightseeing Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Private Photography Tour in Bogotá

4 star rating: Recommended 4 Reviews

Photography is not just a hobby, it’s a passion and a way of expression. It doesn’t matter if you are a rookie or a professional photographer, ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 6 hours (approx.)

From USD $129.00
Bogota Old City Tour, Bogotá, Private Sightseeing Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Bogota Old City Tour

Enjoy a 5-hour experience between the 26th street with 8th street of the iconic historic center of the capital in which you can discover the essence of the ...  Read more

Location: Bogota, Colombia
Duration: Flexible

From USD $184.00
Full Bogotá Experience, Bogotá, Half-day Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Full Bogotá Experience

Explore the history, culture and customs of Colombia through this all-encompassing 3-hour walking tour. This experience will take you through the streets of ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)

From USD $30.00
Food by Foot Bogota, Bogotá, Food Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 5

Food by Foot Bogota

Discover the culture of Colombia in this gastronomic food-by-foot experience through the historic center of Bogotá. Taste a variety of traditional ...  Read more

Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

From USD $25.00

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