9 of the best free things to do in Bogotá, Colombia's vibrant capital

17.08.2023 - 10:31 / lonelyplanet.com / Art

Fear not, financially challenged traveler, Bogotá has a bounty of free and economical things to do if you know where to look. Public transportation is cheap and much of the art and entertainment requires neither a ticket nor a tuxedo – it’s played out on the street. 

There’s also a wide network of funky, reasonably priced hostels, many of which offer private rooms. The downtown Candelaria neighborhood – an ideal location due to its proximity to most of the city’s historic sights and nightlife – has an excellent selection, the bulk of them housed in buildings with shady patios, wooden balconies, and a few shoots of greenery. If you’re stuck for choice, look no further than the Cranky Croc, a boutique-standard hostel with gorgeous common areas, slick dorms and fancy new private “pods.”

Here are some top things to do for free in the Colombian capital.

Of Bogotá’s numerous flea markets, this Sunday affair in the northern neighborhood of Usaquén is undoubtedly the best. “Flea market” is a bit of a misnomer. Not everything sold at Las Pulgas’ various stalls is secondhand with items running the gamut from handmade jewelry to figurines crafted from old Venezuelan bank notes. Even if you’re not buying, it’s worth dropping by to savor the bustling weekend atmosphere amplified by the Ciclovia (you can cycle all the way from Candelaria). Many Bogotanos decamp here for Sunday brunch.

Planning tip: The market is adjacent to the Plaza Central de Usaquén and takes place every Sunday between 9am and 5pm.

The Ciclovia is the genius idea first hatched in 1974 which, for one day of the week, transforms Bogotá from a snarling knot of traffic jams into a bona fide biker’s paradise.

Every Sunday between 7am and 2pm, 127km (79 miles) of the city’s streets are given over exclusively to cyclists, runners, walkers, rollerbladers and any other car-less wanderer. Over 1.5 million people regularly take part, meaning the atmosphere is high-spirited and festive with streetside stalls, free outdoor exercise classes, bike repair stations (also free) and spontaneous entertainment.

Planning tip: Taking part will cost you the price of a bike rental, or absolutely nothing if you bring your own. You can rent bikes from Bogotá Bike Tours in Candelaria.

Bogotá’s most atmospheric square is smaller, grittier, and more charismatic than the more monumental Plaza de Bolívar. Plonk down on the steps of the whitewashed San Miguel del Príncipe hermitage or grab a pew at one of the bars and cafes opposite and you won’t have to wait long for something entertaining to happen: a circle of hacky-sack players, a roving musician or two, a group of local boho students comparing tattoos. On Friday afternoons at around 5pm, Spanish storytelling sessions convene