Colombia attractions

With a grand perch by Plaza de Bolívar, Bogotá’s biggest cathedral is a neoclassical landmark with centuries of history. A chapel houses the tomb of Bogotá’s founder, and paintings deck the walls and the dome’s interior. While not as elaborate as some Colombian cathedrals, this historic place remains one of Bogota’s top attractions.

Set in historic La Candelaria, this neoclassical palace is the official home and office of the President of Colombia. It's an impressive sight from the outside, with its mix of grand columns and fountain features, while the interiors house elegant furnishings and oil paintings, many created by famous artists.

Located on the northern bank of the Cali River, the aptly named Cat Park (Parque del Gato de Tejada) came into being in 1996, when local painter and sculptor Hernando Tejada Sáenz donated his bronze El Gato Rio (The River Cat) sculpture to the city of Cali. The park where the sculpture resides has since welcomed more than a dozen feline friends, so-named “the cat’s girlfriends” (las novias del gato).

The country’s history and heritage are on display in the Colombian National Museum, whose vast collections include more than 20,000 objects. Permanent exhibitions range from golden treasures to colonial-era artwork, paintings, sculpture, and ethnography. It’s easy to see why Colombia’s first museum remains a top destination in Bogotá.

With its modernist facade, bright red roof, and funky urban design, it’s clear from the outset that Explora Park (Parque Explora) is no textbook museum. Fun, interactive, and engaging for all ages, it’s one of Colombia’s most popular science museums and boasts a whopping 120,000 square feet (37,000 square meters) of indoor and outdoor exhibitions.

A striking reminder of Cartagena’s colonial heritage, Cartagena Cathedral is one of the city’s most notable landmarks and one of Colombia’s most famous cathedrals. Dating to 1577 and taking over 84 years to complete, the historic church is well preserved, with recent renovations helping to restore its original features.

Nestled among the bougainvillea-clad balconies of Cartagena’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, the neighborhood of San Diego developed as a wealthy area during the peak days of the gold and sugar trade. Home to brightly colored buildings and street vendors, the small square is a popular place to sit, order a drink or something to eat, and watch the world go by.

Located just a few hours south of Medellin, the town of Jardin is referred to as the Garden of Colombia. Colonial buildings here are surrounded by lush green landscapes that encompass mountains and plantations responsible for producing some of the country’s best coffee beans.

Part of Tayrona National Park, Crystal Beach (Playa Cristal is a white-sand haven that provides ideal conditions for swimming and snorkeling. Marine life off Crystal Beach (Playa Cristal includes sea turtles, dolphins, and several species of fish. Even without spotting one of these creatures, the coral and sponges of the reef provide colorful underwater scenes.

Surrounded by leafy tropical trees in the verdant Colombian countryside, south of Bogotá, Hacienda Coloma is an elegant coffee estate offering tastings and tours meant to educate you about how coffee is made. It's a must for coffee lovers, gardening fans, and anyone who just wants to get away from the city for a bit of quiet.

Occupying a prime position at the main entrance of the UNESCO-listed Old Town Cartagena, La India Catalina Monument is a bronze rendering of the daughter of a local chief, who was abducted at age 14 from her home in Galerazamba. Once she’d learned Spanish, she had to accompany the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia as an interpreter and pacifying presence in interactions between the Spanish and Indigenous groups.

Built in 1911 to commemorate a century of Colombian independence, Cartagena’s Teatro Adolfo Mejia (Teatro Heredia is based on the Italian-Caribbean design of Havana’s Tacon Theater. The creme-and-yellow theatre reigns over the Plaza de la Merced and is famous for its frescoes and marble staircase imported from Italy.

See what it would be like to live in the world’s largest piece of artisanal pottery at Terracotta House (Casa Terracota). Located outside of Villa de Leyva, Casa Terracota, also referred to as Casa de Flintstone by locals, is a 5,400-square-foot (500-square-meter) house made entirely out of clay, baked and hardened by the sun.

With cobbled streets and beautiful whitewashed Spanish-style structures surrounded by rolling hills, Villa de Leyvaa looks much like it did centuries ago. With so much historical charm, it should come as little surprise that this 16th-century Andean town is a hit among day-trippers from Bogotá.

Housed in the restored 16th-century former Customs House—itself one of the oldest buildings in the Americas—the Tayrona Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Tairona) offers an insight into the region’s history. Admire a vast collection of pre-Columbian gold and pottery, while learning about the indigenous Tairona people.

Filled with open-air sculpture exhibits, elaborate marble mausoleums, and monuments, Medellín’s San Pedro Cemetery Museum (Museo Cementerio San Pedro) is an unusual attraction you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. Look out for the resting places of Colombian businesspeople, politicians, and artists, as well as art which pays homage to the dead.

93 Park (Parque 93) is so much more than a grassy square in the center of Bogotá—it’s one of the cultural centerpieces of the city. Located in El Chicó, a well-to-do neighborhood within the city’s Chapinero district, the park is often frequented by Bogotá’s wealthiest. If you plan to take a stroll through here, be prepared to be surrounded by the local jet-set crowd.

Families won’t want to miss the Medellín Planetarium, where science and space come to life through immersive film screenings and interactive exhibits. Explore the scale of the solar system, learn about the Mayas, and much more.

Serving as the epicenter of Cali’s historic district, the bustling Caycedo Square (Plaza de Caicedo) is a charming mix of classic and contemporary architecture. While also a fitting showcase of modern Cali, the square’s stately architecture lends the square an air of grandeur, with the snow-white facades of the National Palace (Palacio Nacional) and the Metropolitan Cathedral looming over the south and east corners.

Boasting a prime location on Bolivar Square (Plaza Bolivar), the Palace of Inquisition (Museo Histórico de Cartagena de Indias) museum is housed in an 18th-century mansion that was once the headquarters of the Spanish inquisition. Not for the feint of heart, the museum exhibits diverse artifacts that range from torture devices and paintings to pre-Colombian statues and ceramics.

Medellin, birthplace of sculptor Fernando, Botero, loves modern art. The remodeled Medellín Modern Art Museum (MAMM) debuted in 2009 in a converted steel mill with a theater to show independent films and lots of space to show off its growing collection, including works by local painter Débora Arango.

Opened in 1992, on the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas, Cartagena's Naval Museum of the Caribbean (Museo Naval del Caribe) traces the history of the city and its surroundings, and reveals why Panama became a separate country. It’s housed in what was once a Jesuit college, and occupies a prime position overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Backed by luxury high-rise hotels and popular among Colombian travelers, El Rodadero is a lively, local alternative to the internationally popular Playa Blanca.

Sandwiched between picturesque beaches and lush mountains, Santa Marta is both the oldest surviving city in Colombia and a gateway to Tayrona National Park. Explore the UNESCO-recognized historic center on foot, making time to visit highlights such as the 18th century cathedral, Tayrona Gold Museum (Museo de Oro Tairona), and Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino.

A short walk from bustling Caycedo Square (Plaza de Caicedo), San Antonio is hailed as the historic heart of Cali. Crowned by the hilltop San Antonio Church, this lively neighborhood is not only one of Cali’s oldest districts, it’s also its most bohemian. Come here to explore a jumble of cozy cafés, gourmet restaurants, art galleries, designer boutiques, market stalls, and dance clubs blasting salsa until the early hours.

On the northern tip of Bogota's sprawling Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park, this popular theme park features about 40 rides and attractions that run the gamut from toddler-friendly merry-go-rounds to thrilling roller coasters. You'll also find other distractions here, from carnival games to food carts.

A national monument, the Rafael Nuñez House Museum (Casa Museo Rafael Núñez) in Cartagena was once home to the famous politician, poet, and lawyer, Rafael Núñez. As someone who served as the country’s president on four occasions, Núñez is an extremely important figure in Colombian history—not only did he write the country’s 1886 constitution, but he also wrote the words to the Colombian national anthem.

Home to the Columbian Congress and Senate, the grand National Capitol (Capitolio Nacional) building is the center of Colombian politics. With its grand colonnaded frontage and neoclassical design reminiscent of ancient Greece, it makes a dramatic addition to Bolivar Square, over whose south side it reigns supreme.

Reigning supreme over Cali from its hilltop perch, the Sebastian de Belalcázar Statue is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Erected in honor of the Spanish conquistador who founded the city in 1536, the statue depicts Belalcázar leaning on his sword and pointing towards the ocean as he admires Cali spread out below.

Towering 50 storys above downtown Bogotá, the Colpatria Tower (Torre Colpatria) was once the tallest building in Colombia and remains a key Bogotá landmark. Now clocking in at fourth tallest in the country, each night visitors can admire the impressive LED light show or ascend to the 49th floor observation deck for 360-degree views over the capital on select days.