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A brief guide on where to stay in Bogotá. There are several options for every taste and budget in every area of the city.
Where to Stay in La Candelaria, Bogotá
On several trips to Bogotá, especially while leading tours, I’ve stayed in La Candelaria. It’s a great place to base yourself if you’re going to explore the historic city center.
Candelaria House Boutique
My favorite place to stay so far is Candelaria House Boutique. It’s a historic house built in the mid-18th century that has been converted to a boutique hotel by its wonderful owner. You wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at the façade, but it’s a beautiful place to stay.
The hotel has only a few rooms, but they’re nicely decorated and extremely comfortable. Each room is carpeted and decorated with an antique.
Breakfast is served in a lovely dining room, also filled with antiques. We opted to order out and have dinner there as well, and had some great conversations with the owner, who also happens to be an antiques dealer. I look forward to staying there again.
Hotel de la Opera
A boutique luxury option with an excellent location in La Candelaria is Hotel de la Opera. I’ve stayed there with a tour group. There’s a colonial section on the lower floors and a modern section on the 7th floor where I stayed. A swimming pool, spa, and two restaurants are just some of the features along with a wonderful staff. The only negative is that there’s no air conditioning. It’s not often needed in Bogotá, but our room seemed to be very warm at the end of the day.
Hotel Casa Galería
I stayed twice at the Hotel Casa Galería. It’s an old home that has been converted into a boutique hotel. The staff attention is wonderful and I felt like a guest in a home rather than in a hotel. A personalized breakfast is served any time in the morning and there is a café on site. The staff even woke up at 4am to make me breakfast before a very early flight!
The hotel is located right next to the historic plaza Chorro de Quevedo, many bars and restaurants, and a short walk from Plaza de Bolívar. The area after dark is a dodgy but there’s no need to worry about the security of the hotel.
Zohar Hostel (Permanently Closed)
I’ve also stayed at Zohar Hostel (December 2015). It’s got the best location of all the hostels in La Candelaria. The owner is very friendly and helpful and speaks perfect English. Rooms are comfortable, with some private rooms with private bathrooms available. It’s just a couple blocks uphill from several of the main attractions in the area and there are many great restaurants nearby.
Where to Stay in Teusaquillo and Santa Fe, Bogotá
On a couple trips, I’ve stayed just north of La Candelaria in Santa Fe and Teusaquillo. I had a better experience in Teusaquillo.
Hotel Ibis Bogotá Museo
Hotel Ibis Bogotá Museo is a business hotel next to the National Museum in Santa Fe. It has great rates for small yet clean and comfortable rooms. There’s a 24 hour restaurant in the lobby, which is good because there aren’t so many places open for dinner in the area. I also liked the view from my room.
Hotel Plaza 36
One of the best places I’ve stayed at in Bogotá is Hotel Plaza 36. It’s located in a large brick home in a quiet residential district in Teusaquillo. The price was quite a steal for our double room.
The hotel was immaculate and comfortable with excellent WiFi and great security. It was extremely quiet at and peaceful at night and I could say it was probably the best night of sleep I’ve had in a hotel in Colombia. The instant hot water in the shower was a huge plus. The small personalized breakfast is a great start to the morning, and there are a couple restaurants within walking distance. The TransMilenio is just a few blocks away. The only issue was that the staff wasn’t very helpful giving directions to some very well-known touristy towns just outside of Bogotá. Other than that, they were very attentive and pleasant.
Where to Stay in the North of Bogotá
I’ve stayed in the north of Bogotá mostly for visa runs, but also the occasional personal trip.
Hotel Marbella Chicó
Hotel Marbella Chicó (formerly Hotel Suite Chicó) is a simple hotel located in the north of Bogotá, just a short walk from the Colombian immigration office (Migración Colombia). It’s on a quiet street and has a nice staff and decent buffet breakfast.
Our room was terribly small and it was impossible to sleep at night. The room was just outside reception and we heard the phone ringing and conversations all night. The bathroom sink had a broken stopper that wouldn’t let the sink drain. Overall, this hotel fell below expectations.
Hotel Faranda Belvedere
For a trip to get a Colombian visa, I stayed at the Hotel Faranda Belvedere (formerly the GHL Style El Belvedere). It’s located a few minutes’ walk from the Ministry of Foreign Relations (great if you have to extend your tourist visa or get a different type of visa). I was upgraded at no cost to a huge comfortable junior suite with a bedroom and separate sitting area upon arrival. A decent breakfast was included and the WiFi was good.
Where to Stay Near the US Embassy in Bogotá
There are several good options near the US Embassy in Bogotá. I’ve had to stay nearby to renew my passport and take care of personal business.
TRYP by Wyndham Bogotá Embajada
For our son’s passport appointment at the US Embassy, we stayed at the TRYP by Wyndham Bogotá Embajada. We were able to get a suite with a great view for a discounted price, and enjoyed the room very much. It was comfortable, had a big bathroom, and the little one loved crawling around the living room.
The hotel came with a complimentary breakfast, which was so-so. Otherwise, service was friendly. We ordered room service from the restaurant and the food was very good.
Hotel Expo Inn
For a visa appointment at the US Embassy for Marisol, we stayed at the Hotel Expo Inn. While the proximity to the US Embassy was great and staff was excellent, the room was lacking a bit. The pillow was too big and uncomfortable to sleep on, and it was a bit noisy as we could hear every conversation from the front desk below. The hotel served its purpose but I wouldn’t stay there again.
Where to Stay Near El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá
I’ve had to do a few overnight layovers flying in and out of Colombia. There are plenty of great options for every budget, some with free shuttles to and from the airport.
Movich Buró 26
The Movich Buró 26 is located just a few minutes from El Dorado International Airport. It’s a business hotel and rooms aren’t cheap, but it’s a comfortable way to spend a night if you have a layover. My room was big and comfortable, WiFi was fantastic, and it was nice and dark at night.
There’s nothing around the hotel but there’s a restaurant next to the lounge in the lobby that has a good selection on the menu. I had a ceviche for dinner. For breakfast, there’s a huge buffet with decent food.
A Bogotá on Holidays
On two overnight layovers, I’ve stayed with A Bogotá on Holidays. They offer free shuttles to and from the airport nearby and breakfast is included in the rate. Rooms are small and simple with hot water and good wifi.
Unfortunately, one time they overbooked and sent me to another hotel, Dorado Gold. It was a nice hotel but the noise from the club outside was terrible. It was impossible to sleep and I had to get up at 5am for my flight to Pereira. What’s worse is that I didn’t arrive until nearly 1am. I wasn’t happy about that incident. Otherwise, they’ve been excellent.
