Best things to do in Cartagena, Colombia: 20 essential plans!
Thinking about what to do in Cartagena de Indias? This city is the most touristic in the Colombian Caribbean and no doubt, one of the most visited in Colombia.
The reasons are obvious: colonial houses, colored walls, wooden balconies, cobbled streets, lanterns, ramparts, flowers that brighten the landscape, and as if that were not enough, fantastic views of the Caribbean Sea.
Cartagena de Indias enthralls. So much so that we have already visited it a couple of times and we are always willing to return! In this article, we are going to tell you about the places to see and best things to do in Cartagena, Colombia that you should not miss (based on our experience) so that you can organize your visit to the city, no matter how many days you stay.
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How to travel across Cartagena?
✅ Visiting Cartagena on your own?
Almost all the sites that I mention can be visited on your own without any problem and on foot. What I always recommend is to hire a free walking tour such as this one to have a first approach to the city and then continue touring on your own, to have more idea and sense of location! Even so, there would be other places where you will need to hire an excursion, due to distance or security matters.
If you would like to do the visits on your own, but without having to walk so much due to the heat, there is an affordable panoramic bus that has 14 stops in the most important places, even some further away that are not recommended to go on foot. Tickets last 48 hours, so you can manage your time, going up and down wherever you want.
🚍 Book here the tourist bus to tour Cartagena at your own pace.
✅ Hire a guided tour
On the other hand, in case you do not have enough time to organize a free visit, or you prefer to be guided and explained everything during the tour, there are complete tours of Cartagena, with tickets included at a very good price.
➡Book here the complete guided tour of Cartagena.
There is also the option of a private tour, which is convenient if you want to explore the city just with the guide and according to your preferences.
➡ Book here a private tour of Cartagena.
Top 20 things to do in Cartagena, Colombia
There are many interesting places to visit in and around the city, ideally to spend at least a couple of days. Let’s have a look at the list of some of the key places so that you can organize your days in Cartagena in the best way.
🚩 An excellent place to spend the night is the Casa Pombo boutique hotel, well located and beautiful. Looking for something cheaper? Las Carretas hotel, right in the city center.
1. Enter the city through the Clock Tower
This symbol of Cartagena will be welcoming you to the “Corralito de Piedra” since it is the main entrance. On the other side, you will find the Plaza de Los Coches square.
2. Visit the Cathedral of Cartagena (and see it from different streets)
Oh, the Cathedral! It is breathtaking and it became my obsession to look for it in every street to take pictures of it from different angles. The typical photography is from Calle de la Iglesia, so don’t miss the opportunity!
The history of the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria has some curious components.
Its construction began in 1577, making it one of the oldest on the continent. But in 1586, the English privateer Drake attacked Cartagena, leaving half the city destroyed. As if that was not enough, he asked for money in exchange for stopping, and he sent a warning: he bombed the cathedral that was still under construction (but already the most important building for the locals.) He achieved his goal and was paid 110,000 ducats of silver!.
They rebuilt it again and when it was almost finished in 1600, part of it collapsed due to the weight of the structure. Between twists and turns, it was only possible to finish it in 1612.
Where is it? It’s in the Plaza de Bolívar and you can enter for free.
📷 Book here a free walking tour to visit the most important parts of the city, something highly recommended to do in Cartagena during your first day!
3. Walk all the squares of the historic center
Each square is different, which reminded me a bit of La Havana. In some, you can see famous sculptures and in others take a rest under lush trees.
The squares of the historic center that you should visit are:
- Plaza de Los Coches square: here is the Clock Tower, which we already talked about, and the Portal de Los Dulces, where typical Caribbean sweets are sold.
- Plaza de la Aduana square: where the old Customs House is located, which is today the Cartagena City Council.
- Plaza de Santo Domingo square: here you can see the sculpture called La Gorda Gertrudis by the great Botero, in front of the church of Santo Domingo, the oldest in the city.
- Plaza San Pedro Claver square: another of the typical images of the city is this square with the church of San Pedro Claver in the background. There are amazing sculptures by Edgardo Carmona made with scrap metals.
- Bolívar park: where public executions were carried out and today it has lush trees, ideal for spending the harshest hours of sun. Besides, some of the best places to see in Cartagena are here, such as the Cathedral, the Palace of The Inquisition, and the Gold Museum.
- Plaza de Santa Teresa square: next to the wall, this square is very picturesque. Here you will find the luxurious Charleston Santa Teresa Hotel and the Naval Museum. If you go up to the walls you will have an exceptional view.
4. Walk on the walls, something unique to do in Cartagena
A great wall surrounds the historic center of Cartagena, built to defend the city from attacks by pirates and corsairs (one of them and perhaps the most famous, Francis Drake).
You can travel almost the entire perimeter of the neighborhood by walking on the walls for 11 km. It is free and there are fantastic views, both of the downtown buildings, as well as the sea and the skyscrapers of the area of Bocagrande.
Along the way, you will cross some of the most important bastions, such as Santo Domingo, San Francisco Javier, Santa Catalina or San Ignacio.
⚠ Please avoid doing this activity at noon! There is no shade at all and the Caribbean heat can be fierce. Early in the morning or at sunset are the best options. Although for the evening I prefer to spend it in the area of the Baluarte de Santo Domingo, perhaps in the Café del Mar.
5. Visit the museums
There are several museums to visit in Cartagena de Indias, but the two most striking are:
- Zenú Gold Museum with more than 600 pieces of gold, silver and pre-Columbian ceramics. It is free and closes on Sundays.
- Palace of the Inquisition where the Historical Museum of Cartagena works.
6. Boat trip at sunset
An excellent option to enjoy the sunset watching the bay of Cartagena is taking a boat trip. It takes about 1 hour and a half and includes an open bar of rum and soft drinks (there is also a bar to buy other drinks) and you will have fantastic views of the ramparts and the skyscraper area.
➡ Book here the sunset boat tour.
There is also the possibility of hiring the tour with dinner included: starter, main course, dessert, and a glass of wine plus the views of illuminated Cartagena! Truly romantic!
➡ Book here the dinner cruise in Cartagena.
7. Walk around the San Diego neighborhood
This neighborhood is within the historic center, to the northeast.
The main parks or squares are the Fernández de Madrid and the San Diego square, wonderful indeed since they are wooded and surrounded by colored houses.
It’s really attractive with large colonial houses and one of the best areas to stay in Cartagena. I recommend the hotel at the Park or the Casa Gloria if you are looking for something nice located, with a pool and good quality/price ratio. Another interesting alternative is the 3 Banderas hotel situated in Cochera del Hobo street, one of the most picturesque in the neighborhood with houses with large wooden windows that worth visiting.
You can’t miss entering the Church of Santo Toribio, which I liked a lot for its simplicity, its wooden ceilings, and how cool it was inside!
It is also the neighborhood of García Marquez, but I’ll tell you about that in the next point.
8. Follow the steps of García Marquez: something different to do in Cartagena
The Nobel Prize in Literature Gabriel García Marquez spent many years of his life in Cartagena.
Here Gabo published his first newspaper article, in the El Universal newspaper, and also chose to build his house on Calle del Curato (street) in front of the Santa Clara Bastion and the city walls, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
Even Cartagena was the ideal setting for some of his novels.
The secret loves of Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza in Love in the Time of Cholera and the misfortunes of the girl Sierva María in Of Love and Other Demons take place in Cartagena.
A Reason more than enough to read them for the first time or re-read them before visiting the city.
Most of the sites are in the San Diego neighborhood, such as the Santa Clara convent where the Sofitel luxury hotel is located today, which is where the book Of Love and Other Demons begins.
Now his remains rest in the Cloister of La Merced of the University of Cartagena, as he himself requested.
📷 If you are interested in the life of García Marquez, this guided tour in English goes through the neighborhood and follows in the footsteps of the writer, not to be missed! It’s for sure one of the best things to do in Cartagena!
9. Eat too much candy until your teeth hurt in the Portal de Los Dulces
Do you like candy? In that case, you should not miss the Portal de Los Dulces, on one side of the Plaza de Los Coches.
They are different stalls that sell typical sweets from this part of the Colombian Caribbean. They are extra sweet, so I recommend moderation so as not to sicken (I speak from experience!).
10. Stroll through colonial streets and go back in time
The first time we went to Cartagena we visited the essential things and we didn’t have much time to wander aimlessly. When I came back alone, with plenty of time to spare, I did it and it was truly exceptional.
Colorful facades, colonial buildings, wooden balconies.
Bougainvillea (or Santa Rita) fuchsia, red, white, orange, and violet.
Plazoletas (small squares) and churches.
Everything forms a unique set, where I promise you that walking aimlessly and enjoying it’s one of the best memories that you will take home.
I recommend doing it both day and night because the atmosphere with the lanterns changes, and it’s even more magical. Besides, don’t worry that inside the walled city it is very safe at all times.
11. Go up to the Castle of San Felipe de Barajas
It cannot be denied that the Castillo de San Felipe is impressive. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984 and, in 2007 after a vote, it was selected as one of the 7 wonders of Colombia.
The views from the top of the castle, with the huge Colombian flag, are very typical.
The full rate costs 25,000 Colombian pesos (about 7 dollars), a bit expensive considering that it doesn’t include a guide or audio guide (I need to be honest.)
When you visit the castle, don’t miss the monument to the Old Shoes.
Don’t forget to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat; I had to buy one right there on the first trip because my head was hot as fire!
How to get there? The castle is outside the colonial zone, passing the neighborhood of Getsemaní. One of the touristic bus stops that I mentioned at the beginning is Castillo San Felipe (you can book it here).
💯 This complete tour of Cartagena includes the entrance to the castle as well as a guided tour of the city.
12. Visit the main churches
There are many churches in Cartagena, but the ones you really shouldn’t miss are the San Pedro Claver Sanctuary and the Santo Domingo Church, which is the oldest in the city.
And of course, the Cathedral, of which I have already spoken before.
13. Look for murals in the Getsemaní neighborhood, a must in Cartagena
Getsemaní is a fashionable neighborhood, very picturesque, with more simple colored houses than those in the historic center. It’s full of graffiti and street art on its walls, which gives it a special flair. Visit Getsemaní is one of the best things to do in Cartagena.
This neighborhood has changed a lot over the years (I noticed it on my last trip), and today you can walk almost as safely as in the old town.
During the day it is ideal to wander around in search of graffiti. At sunset, a good plan is to go to the Plaza de la Trinidad to have a beer and enjoy the atmosphere. Anyway, I will make a post about this neighborhood because I loved it and it was one of the neighborhoods where I stayed on my last visit to Cartagena de Indias (at the well-located but simple and inexpensive 1811 Hostel).
To get there from the historic center, you have to go through the door of the Clock Tower and go through the Muelle de Los Pegasos, with sculptures of a horse with wings and the Camellón de Los Mártires, from where you will see the Convention Center. During the day I like to cross the Parque del Centenario de la Independencia to get to Getsemaní, and thus try to avoid the sun a bit with the shade of the trees.
📷 A good option to explore and learn about Getsemaní is doing a free walking tour or taking this bicycle tour in search of the best murals.
14. Have a delicious Colombian coffee, one of the best things to do in Cartagena
This should be number 1, right? I swear it is one of the first things I do when I arrive in Cartagena (and in any destination in Colombia.)
Colombian coffee is a tough thing to beat. Not for nothing is the best soft coffee in the world.
You will find many places to try it, some of the best are Café Quindío or the famous Juan Valdéz, which are located throughout the city. If you don’t like your coffee so hot, you can have fresh and delicious smoothies.
Anyway, if you want to buy some to take back home, you better choose coffee beans, which preserve their properties. I promise that every time you prepare it and feel the aroma of the coffee, your mind will take you back to Colombia.
(At home we have the Huila from Juan Valdez’s gourmet selection and the Tostión Media from Café Quindío, but we have very little left for both of them… time to get a ticket to Colombia!).
15. Taste typical dishes of the Colombian coast
When you visit Cartagena, there are certain things that you should not miss trying.
From my point of view, tasting the cheese “arepas” and the “Bono bread” is an essential thing to do in Cartagena.
Not to mention the fruits! It’s worth buying a “palenquera” with their colorful costumes, so you make the most of it and take a picture with them.
In fact, there are some tours that take you to taste typical street food. Be sure to book them in advance (here!).
16. Visit (at least from the outside) some important buildings
Apart from the Cathedral and the churches, there are other buildings that are worth taking a look at when you walk through Cartagena de Indias. The ones that I like the most and I recommend you do not miss are:
- the University of Cartagena (and the small square in front, called Plaza de Los Estudiantes, which generally has a book fair).
- the beautiful Heredia Theater.
- Las Bóvedas, where today they sell souvenirs and buy items from numismatics.
17. Go to the beach in Bocagrande
Are you looking for beaches without leaving the city? Then Bocagrande is the best option.
It’s also an area of hotels, skyscrapers, restaurants, and bars, as well as a shopping center and casino, so you can spend the whole day in Bocagrande without getting bored.
To be honest, it’s not my favorite area of the city, but I really enjoy walking along its boardwalk at sunset.
The beach in the city of Cartagena is not pretty. If you have time, it’s better to go to Playa Blanca beach or take an excursion to the Rosario Islands (or go to the beaches in Tayrona Park, which would be the glory!)
🌴 Read about the best beaches in Cartagena
18. Enjoy Caribbean beaches near Cartagena
Now, let’s talk about beaches that are more like the ones people always dream of. There are two that are a short distance from Cartagena de Indias:
You can visit for the day or even stay on the islands.
Playa Blanca beach is one of the most beautiful, where you can find rustic and cheap accommodation options (this is a nice place to stay). Bear in mind that in high season, it is usually very crowded.
As for the Rosario Islands, when looking for a tour you can choose different islands, some with a better beach, others with better possibilities for snorkeling (this tour is a good choice).
If you have time you could even add a few days on San Andres Island.
🌴 Book your tour to Playa Blanca here or the Rosario Island tour here.
19. See the sights of Cartagena from Cerro de la Popa
It is said that the best views of Cartagena are obtained from Cerro de la Popa, where the Candelaria Convent is located.
Of all the things to do in Cartagena, Colombia, that I mention in this article, this is the only place that we haven’t gone to in any of our visits to the city. The reason? They always gave us so many security warnings in case of climbing, that we preferred to avoid it.
If you go I recommend that you don’t do it on foot.
➡ Book excursion to Cerro de la Popa + Castle, tickets included! 👌
20. Visit the Bazurto Market
Who else loves browsing local markets when visiting a city?. Bazurto is a traditional, typical market, where nothing is set up for tourism (as is in the old town) and in which you will see very few tourists.
Between the aisles, everything is sold: fish, spices, clothes, fruits of all kinds, etc. Besides, this is a great chance for you to try traditional Colombian food. Markets are always a paradise for those of us who enjoy photography, but please, always ask for permission.
I strongly suggest you go on a tour or with someone local since it’s far from the center. It’s also best to wear casual and comfortable clothing, not to carry valuables, and to watch your belongings at all times.
In fact, there’s even a Bazurto Market tour that follows in the steps of the great Anthony Bourdain. An excellent and safe option to visit this authentic place in the city.
👉Book here the Bazurto Market tour.
Best things to do in Cartagena at night
My favorite plan during the night in Cartagena is always to give it a go and walk through the illuminated streets of the historic center and with fewer people, but I confess that I am quite boring!. The San Diego neighborhood is also super nice to walk at night, with many bars and restaurants.
Something not to be missed in Cartagena at night at least once is to go to the Plaza de la Trinidad in the Getsemaní neighborhood. There are several street food and beer stalls, with a very nice atmosphere.
By the way, I really need to mention two places that I like for their Cuban style and music. One is Donde Fidel, in the Plaza de los Coches. The other is Café Havana in the Getsemaní neighborhood, where every night there’s live salsa music and they are also Cuban (it starts around 11 at night, but you have to arrive much earlier to get a seat).
Looking for some fun?. There are “Chivas rumberas” (colorful buses) with music and drinks that are really common among tourists and they take you to a disco. You can book it here.
There are also parties in Cartagena in different places, such as the one held on Wednesdays at the Media Luna hostel, although it is not necessary to sleep there.
Surely there are more local alternatives outside the historic center or Getsemaní neighborhood, but if you are not with someone from the city, you better go for these areas which are the safest to move at night, something essential when we visit a new city.
What to do in Cartagena if you travel alone?
Simply the same as I said before! Cartagena within the tourist area is very safe and you will be able to move calmly, during both day and night. Anyway, at night it is always advisable to take basic precautions, such as avoid walking through streets without people, especially in Getsemaní.
Believe me, I never felt unsafe traveling alone to Cartagena, but I also didn’t move through tricky areas and always returned to my accommodation relatively early.
The tourist area of Cartagena is the safest in Colombia, said by the Colombians themselves, but I will explain it better in the guide to travel to Cartagena (soon).
Map – Best things to do in Cartagena, Colombia
And these have been the main places to visit and best things to do in Cartagena, Colombia. Just the essentials! What else would you add for someone who is organizing their first visit? Waiting for you in the comments!
