Bogotá is a mixture of colors, flavors and rhythms that capture the best of each region of Colombia and provide the traveler with everything they seek: glamor, adventure, comfort and history. In this article we invite you to know 'the Athens of South America' in 5 circuits that go from gastronomic tours, through historical sites to the best places to go shopping. [caption id="attachment_12570" align="aligncenter" width="675"]Plaza Bolívar Colombia The Plaza Bolivar is one of the emblematic places of Bogotá/ Photo: Daytours4u[/caption]  

1. Colloquial Bogotá

One of the best ways to get to know a city is through its markets supplied with local fruits and vegetables and its squares full of local crafts and street shows. In addition, those who attend the stands often have stories that transport you to the depths of the local culture. In Bogotá you can find 3 key markets that cover different strata and ways of life: Plaza de la Perseverancia: Famous for its typical food, from this place came a gastronomic recipe book from Bogotá that collects dishes from 1944 (10 years after the plaza was founded) until 2013. San Alejo Market: Around 40 thousand people arrive in this place every day to visit more than 300 businesses located there. In 2005, this market received a distinction from the District Council as a patrimonial and cultural interest activity. Market in Usaquén: In this market, which only opens on Sundays, there is usually a fairly extensive cultural exchange, with handcrafted crafts and items to take back home. Travel tip: Some people might take advantage of the distractions of the plaza to rob you, ¡no des papaya! (don’t put yourself in a situation where people can take advantage of you) and take care of your personal items. [caption id="attachment_12571" align="aligncenter" width="675"]Colombia In Usaquén Market you will find handmade crafts and souvenirs/ Photo: Daytours4u[/caption]  

2. Historic Bogotá

This route is ideal if you want to travel to the past. The tour begins with a walk through the traditional neighborhood of La Candelaria, where the Colombian capital was born and where the most emblematic museums and libraries of the city are located. You can continue visiting the center, where is the Plaza de Bolívar, the Casa de Nariño, some emblematic buildings and their most representative religious buildings, since Colombia is a mostly Catholic country. Make a tour of the different religious spaces. More than an act of devotion, it is a historical and architectural tour that you will really enjoy. To finish, you can slide down El Eje Ambiental, a walk that connects the historic center of Bogotá with universities, museums and restaurants in the area. Travel tip: Book online the Bogota City Tour and discover the cultural roots of Bogotá. [caption id="attachment_12572" align="aligncenter" width="675"]Colombia La Candelaria neighborhood: an artistic and historical experience/ Photo: Daytours4u[/caption]  

3. Museums route

If you would like to visit all the museums in Bogotá, you would probably need a month to get to know each one, since they are close to 63 cultural spaces considered museums. We suggest that you include in your itinerary these 6 spaces where you can get to know the Colombian culture from pre-Columbian times to the present day. The National Museum: 95 years of history in one place. Mambo: Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá that houses all kinds of cultural heritage. Gold Museum: A tour through pre-Columbian goldsmiths. Botero Museum: Great amount of the works of the painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. Casa de la Moneda: In this place the first coins of Latin America were minted. [caption id="attachment_12573" align="aligncenter" width="675"]Colombia The Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá houses all kinds of cultural heritage / Source[/caption]  

4. Bogotá from the heights

What if one day you started and ended the day sighting Bogota from above? To achieve this goal we recommend these 3 places: Monserrate: One of the most symbolic hills of the city. The view from this sanctuary is quite relaxing. At the foot of the mountain you can choose whether to walk up, or take the funicular or the cable car that will take you to the top in 15 minutes. In case you walk up, we recommend you wear comfortable clothes, do not leave the indicated path and hydrate. Torre Colpatria: This 196-meter high building allows you to see Bogotá without making large displacements. The Tower opens its doors only on weekends. Mirador de La Calera: On the outskirts of the city, on the whole slope of the eastern hills, you can see the play of lights from the nocturnal Bogota from this viewpoint. Bogotá in paragliding: If seeing Bogota from the hills or buildings does not convince you, then go on an adventure and contemplate the landscape of Bogotá's savannah as if you were a bird, you will not regret it! [caption id="attachment_12574" align="aligncenter" width="675"]Colombia How beautiful is the view from the Torre Colpatria / Photo: Peter Chovanec[/caption]  

5. Natural Bogota: squares and parks

Bogotá is more than buildings. Discover it in its beautiful natural spaces and spend a different day with these options: Simón Bolívar Park: an area with 910,000 meters of green areas, bike paths and jogging tracks, among other services. Parque de los Novios: Very close to Simón Bolívar Park and with 23 hectares of green areas, this park has booths where you can make roasts. Enrique Olaya Herrera National Park: It was the second park built after Independence; in 1996 it was declared national heritage Botanical Garden: A sanctuary for science and fauna. Visits to the Hill: The Salto de la Chorrera is one of the longest waterfalls in Colombia and is in a nature reserve located south of the hills. You will be able to get to know the biodiversity of Bogota during an adventure walk and if you are one of those who prefer the quieter side of nature, then you can book a ride through the mountains, en donde solo tendrás que preocuparte de disfrutar. [caption id="attachment_12575" align="aligncenter" width="675"]Colombia Immerse yourself in the adventure of the eastern hills! / Foto: Juliana Estrada[/caption]  
The vital advice for any of these activities is to make them with expert guides as it is easy to get lost on the way. Check all our tours in Bogota Book a layover tour in Bogota 
By: Laura García Betancur, Colombian journalist and audiovisual communicator from the University of Manizales, Colombia.