Bogotá rewards a budget traveller: free museums, cheap set lunches, a Sunday when the city closes its main roads to cars, and prices well below most capitals. Here's how to spend little and see a lot.
Where the money goes, and where it doesn't#
| Item | Tourist price | Local price |
|---|---|---|
| Room | Zona T hotels | La Candelaria hostels, Chapinero guesthouses |
| Lunch | Zona G restaurants | Menú del día: soup, main, juice |
| Museums | Paid | Botero free daily; Gold Museum free Sundays |
| Getting around | Taxis everywhere | TransMilenio by day; app taxis at night |
| Sunday | Tours | The ciclovía: free, the whole city on bikes |
Stay cheap, safely#
La Candelaria has the cheapest beds and the museums next door; take taxis after dark. Chapinero is a little more and much better for evenings. Where to stay in Bogotá compares them.
Eat#
The weekday menú del día, ajiaco when it rains, arepas and empanadas from the street, and the lunch counters at Paloquemao market, where the fruit alone is worth the trip. The Bogotá food guide has more.
Free and cheap days#
- Botero Museum and the Banco de la República collections: free.
- The Gold Museum: free on Sundays.
- The Sunday ciclovía: the main roads closed to cars, the city on bikes and skates.
- Monserrate on foot (daylight, with others) instead of the cable car.
- Usaquén's Sunday market for a wander.
When#
Bogotá in November is the cheapest month. How much does a trip to Colombia cost? covers the country, and is Bogotá safe? the care to take.
The cheapest guide is a rolo#
A Local Friend knows the menú del día place, the free museum day and the right bus. Roavi Local Friends in Bogotá set their own rates and message you directly before you meet.
Do Bogotá the way locals do.
Meet a Local Friend in BogotáFrequently Asked Questions
Is Bogotá expensive?
No. It's one of the cheaper major capitals: rooms, food and transport cost well below European or US levels, and the free museums and parks stretch a budget further.Where should I stay in Bogotá on a budget?
La Candelaria has the cheapest hostels and is next to the museums; take taxis at night. Chapinero costs a bit more and is better for evenings and safety.Which museums are free in Bogotá?
The Gold Museum is free on Sundays, the Botero Museum and the Banco de la República collections are free every day, and several national museums have free days. Check current schedules.What is cheap to eat in Bogotá?
The menú del día lunch, ajiaco on a cold day, arepas and empanadas from street stalls, and the fruit and lunch counters at Paloquemao market.How do I get around Bogotá cheaply?
TransMilenio and SITP buses by day with a rechargeable card; app taxis at night, which are cheap by international standards and safer than walking.
