Travel Note
Bogotá is a very long city. At the east, you can see the mountains (very helpful to orient yourself around the city). Streets called Carrera (Cra.) are parallel to the mountains, going between north and south, and streets called Calles (Cl.) are perpendicular to the mountains, going between east and west. General tips to move around the city: UBER: It’s not expensive and very easy to use. You can get Comfort for very cheap, and it’s worth it to spend a little more to get this option. Sometimes drivers will ask you to sit in the front seat; this is normal so police don’t stop them. But Comfort cars usually have tinted windows, so you can sit in the back. BUS/TRANSMILENIO: There are apps to help you move around using public transport, but with all the construction work going on around the city (an overground metro is being built), it’s not the easiest system to understand. So unless it’s very straightforward, I recommend just taking Uber. WALKING: Walking around some areas in Bogotá is nice and easy, but sometimes sidewalks disappear or are very small. So if the walk is more than 20 minutes, for the most part, just take Uber. Walking around at night is trickier. There are areas that are fine if there are lots of people around and open restaurants and shops, but you should avoid walking in lonelier streets. BOGOTÁ is great! I love my city! But you need to be careful with your things. Be mindful of purses and phones—just keep them close, do not leave them unattended, and avoid taking your phone out in the street.
Travel Note
LA CANDELARIA is a neighborhood downtown where most of the big museums, plazas, and tourist attractions are located. If you want to mostly visit museums, this is a good place to stay. I would recommend looking for hotels in this area more than Airbnbs, and stay between Carrera 8 and Carrera 1, no further south than Calle 7. If you want some delicious food, Compañía Casa del Rey, Madre, and Padre are very good. CHAPINERO and ROSALES: these neighborhoods are the geographical centers of the city. I recommend staying around here. If you are close to Carrera 7 or Circunvalar (Carrera 1), it’s very easy to move around the city. There are lots of cool bars and restaurants in these neighborhoods, and you’re close to La Zona G—a street where you can walk and find nice cafes, shops, etc. USAQUÉN: Usaquén used to be a small town outside of Bogotá, but it’s now very much part of the city. The plaza and cathedral from the small town have been preserved, and there are restaurants, shops, and bars surrounding it. One of our favorite restaurants, Koi, is here. This neighborhood is the northernmost I recommend, bordered by Calle 121. Between Chapinero and Usaquén: this area between these two neighborhoods is very nice. I recommend only looking at places between Carrera 1 and Carrera 15; anything more west is very residential, and you’ll be very far from most places you’d want to visit. If you’re not in La Candelaria, look for places between Calle 50 and Calle 121. I hope this isn’t too complicated. You can also send us your address, and I’ll tell you about it.
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