Cartagena was built for walking at dusk with someone. Nothing in Colombia does romance like it.
Where to stay#
Walled city (Centro, San Diego) for the colonial house with a courtyard pool. Getsemaní for murals, plazas and prices a notch down. Where to stay in Cartagena.
Days for two#
- Morning: the walled city before 10am, when it's cool and the streets are yours. Coffee in Plaza de San Diego, the Palace of the Inquisition, the cathedral.
- Afternoon: a long lunch indoors, a siesta, a hotel pool.
- Golden hour: walk the walls from the clock tower to Baluarte de Santo Domingo. Café del Mar is famous; the free stretch of wall next to it is better.
- Night: dinner in San Diego or Getsemaní, then salsa. Cartagena nightlife and where locals eat.
- One island day: a Rosario Islands beach club with a boat there and back. Day trips from Cartagena.
Honest notes#
It's hot: plan indoors for 12–4pm. Touts are persistent in the squares; a polite firm no works. The city beaches (Bocagrande) are not why you came. Is Cartagena safe?
Practical#
Season: Cartagena in December and in November. Plan: 3 days in Cartagena. Costs: Cartagena on a budget. More ideas: best honeymoon destinations.
A day with a costeño#
The rooftop without a queue, the champeta night, the fishing village lunch at La Boquilla: a Cartagena Local Friend turns a pretty trip into a real one. They set their own rates and message you before you meet.
Spend an evening with someone from Cartagena.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is Cartagena good for couples?
One of the best cities in the Americas for it: colonial streets, sunsets on the walls, rooftop bars, salsa and a Caribbean island an hour away. The heat and the touts are the only downsides.Where should couples stay in Cartagena?
Inside the walled city (Centro or San Diego) for boutique hotels in colonial houses. Getsemaní for a livelier, cheaper neighbourhood five minutes' walk away. Not Bocagrande, unless you want a high-rise beach hotel.What is the most romantic thing to do in Cartagena?
Sunset on the walls near Café del Mar or Baluarte de San Francisco Javier, then dinner in San Diego's squares, then a late salsa bar. Or a day on a quiet Rosario Islands beach club.Is Cartagena expensive for couples?
Hotels in the walled city are Colombia's priciest, often US$150–400 a night. Food and drink are still good value, and Getsemaní halves the hotel cost.When should couples visit Cartagena?
December to March for the driest weather and sea breezes. It is hot all year. October and November are the wettest months.