Cartagena is one of the most popular cities in Colombia and it truly makes a wonderful travel destination! This port city, located on the Caribbean Sea, is colorful, charming and packed with things to do. It’s also very safe – which is always one of the first questions people ask me regarding travel to Colombia. Cartagena should absolutely be on your travel list and that’s where this guide comes in! Keep reading for 10 incredible things to do in Cartagena for the absolute best trip!
A Few Practical Tips
- Cartagena is a very affordable city, as is all of Colombia. However, it’s definitely more expensive to visit Cartagena than it is to visit other cities, like Bogota or Cali. This is because Cartagena is a huge tourist destination.
- That being said, Cartagena is still very affordable and you can absolutely visit on a budget – even a tight budget.
- The dry season in Cartagena is December – April, and many people consider this the best time to go. Weather wise, it probably is, but it’s also so much busier in the city during these times.
- Most recently, I traveled to Cartagena in May and it was great. There were fewer crowds and it hardly rained at all.
- Carry cash! While you can pay in most restaurants, cafes, higher-end shops and museums with credit cards, cash is still very important for small purchases. You’ll definitely want cash for street food, coffee, small artisan purchases, etc.
- Stay in the Walled City (Old City) or Getsemani. I’ll get more into this later, but everything is walkable in these two neighborhoods – and they’re walkable to each other. This is where most of the activities are, as well as great restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
Now that we have these tips out of the way, let’s get right into the best things to do in Cartagena!
Amazing Hotels in Cartagena
Like I mentioned above, I definitely recommend staying in the Walled City or Getsemani! Both are walkable, central, and have tons of restaurants and shops. Personally, I prefer the Walled City, but I’m glad I’ve stayed at hotels in both areas.
Hotel Recommendations in the Walled City:
- Hotel Casa La Mantilla
- Nacar Hotel Cartagena
- Townhouse Boutique Hotel
- Hotel Boutique Bovedas de Santa Clara
- Soy Local Centro Historico
- Inexpensive and cute!
Hotel Recommendations in Getsemani:
- Osh Hotel Cartagena
- Hotel Casa Lola
- Posada La Fe
- Viajero Cartagena
- Private rooms & hostel style rooms
- Affordable
1: Go on a Walking Tour of the Walled City
I love a walking tour! It’s such a fun way to get to know a city with a local and to also learn your way around and spot places you want to go back to.
There are so many walking tours to choose from in Cartagena. Some visit either the Walled City of Getsemani, and others visit both!
I recommend doing a walking tour on your first day to get your bearings. Tour guides always have fantastic restaurant recommendations, so be sure to ask what their favorites are! I got a lot of amazing restaurant recommendations from my walking tour guide and I’ve included the best ones in this post.
Amazing walking tours in Cartagena:
- Private Walking Tour in Cartagena Walled City & Getsemaní
- Historic Center & Getsemaní Shared Tour in Cartagena
- Getsemani Private Walking Tour
- Gabriel García Márquez Literature Tour
- Perfect for book lovers!
- Walking Tour and Lunch at Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Spot
2: Check Out San Felipe de Barajas Castle
This fort was built in 1639 by the Spanish and is located on the Hill of San Lázaro. The fortress is huge and incredibly impressive to visit. It’s also easily walkable from the Walled City and Getesmani.
You can purchase tickets at the fortress and tour on your own, or go on a guided tour to learn more about the interesting history of the castle and the Spanish history in Cartagena.
One thing to keep in mind, a lot of the fortress is outside in direct sunlight and it gets very, very hot in Cartagena. There are some areas with shade, but you’ll need to bring water and be prepared for being in the direct sunlight.
The fortress closes at 6pm, so if you go closer to the end of the day, there may be some relief from the sun. The same can be said for early in the day.
Guided tours of San Felipe de Barajas Castle:
- San Felipe de Barajas Castle Guided Walking Tour with Tickets
- Walled City, San Felipe Castle & Popa Convent Cartagena City Tour
- This is a great combo tour!
3: Eat All the Street Food
Colombian food is so good – and the street food in Colombia is next level! While there are tons of delicious cafes and restaurants to visit in Cartagena, don’t miss out on the street food.
You can buy fresh juices, fruits, empanadas, patacones, breads and more from vendors and street food stalls and it’s all so, so good.
I, especially, loved trying all the fresh juices and fruits but honestly everything I had was delicious. Just wandering around the city and trying out different street food is such a fun way to spend an afternoon.
In order to find the best street food spots, I recommend a street food tour. I absolutely loved mine and I visited so many amazing spots I wouldn’t have found otherwise – (world’s largest shrimp cocktail sound good to anyone?!)
Amazing street food tours:
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena
- Street Food Like a Local
- Bazurto Market Tour and Cooking Class in Cartagena
- Not a street food tour, but this looks so fun!
4: Explore the Colorful Getsemani Neighborhood
Getesmani is a colorful neighborhood that’s easily walkable from the Walled City. There are tons of amazing hotels, shops and restaurants here and this is where a lot of people choose to stay when visiting Cartagena. It’s lively, fun and a great place to be!
I definitely recommend exploring this neighborhood and grabbing coffee and brunch. Then you’ll want to pop into all the cute stores!
I stayed at hotels in both the Walled City and Getsemani and both are great options to base yourself. I like the Walled City a little more (I think it’s cuter), but Getsemani is really fun and popular. It also has some fantastic hotels!
Guided tours of Getsemani:
My favorite cafes and restaurants in Getsemani:
- Manna Breakfast & Lunch
- Libertario Coffee Shop
- El Beso Restaurant
- Di Silvio Trattoria
- Stefano’s Bistro
- Tacos del Gordo
- Very casual, but inexpensive and delicious!
5: Take in the Views of the City from Convento de la Popa de la Galera
You’ll need to drive (go in an Uber) to get to Convento de la Popa de la Galera, but it’s so worth it! Located at the top of Mount la Popa, at the highest point of the city, you’ll find this convent, cloister and chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de la Popa.
The views from Convento de la Popa are stunning. You have 360 degree views of Cartagena and they are, of course, beautiful to see. I recommend going towards the end of the day to try to catch the beginning of sunset.
The convent is open daily from 8-5:30 and is about a 15 minute drive from the city.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Convento de la Popa, there are also guided tours available! Most combine visiting Convento de la Popa with San Felipe de Barajas Castle, so it’s a great way to see and learn more about two amazing sites.
Guided tours of Convento de la Popa:
6: Check Out the Cute Cafes
Cartagena is packed full of cute cafes! Something that surprised me about Cartagena is the sheer number of beautiful restaurants that seem to be built to attract photographers and Instagrammers. What surprised me even more, though, is that many of them have really good coffee and food!
If you enjoy an aesthetic coffee shop, cafe or restaurant, you’ll love Cartagena!
There’s tons to choose from in both the Walled City and Getsemani, but a few of my favorites that are super cute AND have delicious food are:
- Nia Bakery and Cafe – Walled City
- Mila Cafe and Bakery – Walled City
- Epoca Cafe – Walled City
- Ábaco Libros y Cafe (Bookstore and Cafe) – Walled City
- Pezetarian (Sushi) – Walled City
- Libertario Coffee Shop – Getsemani
- El Beso Restaurant – Getsemani
These are just a few of my favorites, but wandering around the streets of Cartagena, you’re sure to find so many more!
Note: As I’m sure you know, coffee production is huge is Colombia! Colombian coffee is delicious and, in addition to having coffee at local cafes, I definitely recommend a coffee tasting tour. This is such a fun way to learn more about Colombian coffee and its production.
Coffee tasting tours:
- Specialty Coffee Workshops in Cartagena
- This includes stops at two of my favorite cafes!
- Cafe Route Flavors and Culture of the Old City: Walking Tour
7: Enjoy Dinner or Drinks on a Rooftop
Just like Cartagena is home to tons of beautiful cafes, its rooftop game is also next level. You’ll find tons of great restaurants and bars on rooftops that offer awesome food, drinks and views.
Just like the cafes, these are spread all over the city and there is certainly no shortage. Going at sunset for dinner and drinks is a fantastic choice.
A few of my favorite rooftop restaurants in Cartagena include:
- Mar y Zielo
- Buena Vida Marisquería Caribeña & Rooftop
- Magnolia Rooftop
- Located inside the Nácar Hotel in the Walled City
- Apogeo Restaurant & Rooftop
- Ajeno Rooftop Bar
- Located on the rooftop of the Osh Hotel in Getesmani (which is one of my faves!) they serve drinks and light bites
A couple other fun things to do in Cartagena are to take a cocktail making class or go on a bar crawl!
8: Walk Along the Walls of the Old City
The Old City of Cartagena, also called the Walled City, gets its name for being surrounded by 11km of walls that were originally used for defensive purposes. The walls were built in the 16th century to defend the city from attacks, specifially pirate attacks.
The Walled City is a UNESCO World Heritage site! Now, you can walk along many parts of these walls ane enjoy the views.
While walking along the walls offers beautiful ocean and city views any time of day, it can get very, very hot. Sunset is the perfect time to walk on the walls and watch the sun go down!
9: Visit the Many Museums
There’s a lot to do outside in Cartagena, but if you happen to get a rainy day (or would like to escape the heat with some AC), visiting a museum is a great option. Cartagena has quite a few to choose from, for a variety of interests.
Some of the best, and most popular, include:
- Museo del Oro Zenú – Gold Museum
- Museo Naval del Caribe – Naval Museum
- Museo de Arte Moderno Cartagena – Moden Art
- Casa Museo Rafael Núñez – Past residence of former President Rafael Núñez
All of these museums, with the exception of Casa Museo Rafael Núñez, are located in the Walled City. Casa Museo Rafael Núñez is very close by, just outside of the walls. With the relatively inexpensive entry cost, it’s easy to visit as many as you’d like – depending on how much time you have.
10: Take a Day Trip to the Rosario Islands!
If you want to visit the beach while you’re in Cartagena, which I’m sure you do!, the best way to do it is by going on a day trip to the Rosario Islands. These day trips are extremely popular and the beaches and water are much more beautiful and clean than the are in Cartagena itself. It’s some of the most spectacular blue water in the region!
There are tons of day trips to choose from, depending on the vibe you want. There are party trips, relaxing private trips and everything in between! Pick one that looks best for you and enjoy an incredible beach day.
To get to the Rosario Islands, you’ll take a boat. It’s about an hour each way, but the ride is beautiful and definitely a fun part of the day trip. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll spend time on beautiful beaches, take in the sun and enjoy the day.
Day Trips to the Rosario Islands
- Rosario Islands with Lunch and Snorkeling
- See 5 Rosario Islands with Lunch & Snorkel Option
- Luxury Private Boat Island Hopping to the Rosario Islands
- Private tours are more expensive, but when you’re splitting the cost with a group, I think it’s the best option! That way, you can have exactly the experience you want. Many trips to the Rosario Islands are very party focused, and if that’s not your thing, this is the best way to go!
Visiting Barú
If you want to visit the Rosario Islands but don’t want to take a boat, you can drive to Barú. Barú is the most accessible Rosario Island, for this reason. There are many hotels on Barú and you can spend a day (or two!) relaxing by the water.
Amazing Hotels in Barú:
- Las Islas
- Aura Hotel
- Soy Local Islawa
- On the water, but not really a “beach”
If you want to spend more time in the Rosario Islands, and don’t mind the boat trip, there are tons of gorgeous hotels to choose from. Most all of these hotels will help you arrange transportation and most have their own boats that take guests back and forth.
If you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway, in my opinion, this is the way to do it!
Beautiful Hotels in the Rosario Islands:
Note on the beaches in Cartagena:
The beaches right near the Old City are not ideal for swimming. The water is quite gray and polluted and often the waves a large and you’ll see red flags flying – essentially meaning “do not swim.”
While you can go to these beaches and enjoy the sun, I definitely recommend taking a trip to the Rosaio Islands instead.
If you’d like to stay in a nice beach area, but not travel to the Rosario Islands, the hotels in Bocagrande (about 10 minute by car from the Walled City) are another great option! Here you’ll find tons of nice hotels and restaurants and the beaches are some of the best in mainland Cartagena.
Hotels in Bocagrande:
Q&A: Things to do in Cartagena
- Is it safe to walk around Cartagena?
- The short answer is yes. Especially in the major tourist areas. There is a large police presence in Cartagena and I felt very safe the entire time – especially in the Walled City.
- Of course, like with any city, use common sense, be aware of your surroundings and avoid dark alleyways/areas, being out late at night alone and wearing anything very expensive/flashy.
- The short answer is yes. Especially in the major tourist areas. There is a large police presence in Cartagena and I felt very safe the entire time – especially in the Walled City.
- Is Cartagena expensive?
- Cartagena is considered to be an affordable place to travel. This is especially true if you’re coming from North America or Europe, where your money will go a long way.
- That being said, Cartagena is more expensive than other major cities like Bogotá and Medallin. While you can still find very affordable options, the hotel and restaurant prices in Cartagena are quite a bit higher than other cities.
- Cartagena is considered to be an affordable place to travel. This is especially true if you’re coming from North America or Europe, where your money will go a long way.
- Does Cartagena have Uber?
- Yes! Uber in Cartagena is a great, safe, affordable option.
- What is the best month to visit Cartagena?
- Peak season in Cartagena is December – April, which is the dry season. This is also the busiest and most expensive time to visit. Visiting during the rainy season is also a good option, May – November. While it’s humid and there may be showers, they’re usually brief. I visited for a week during the rainy season and it didn’t rain at all during the day – just occasional nighttime showers.
- Is 3 days in Cartagena enough?
- Three days is the minimum I would spend in Cartagena. This gives you two days to explore the city and one day to take a trip to the beaches on the Rosario Islands!
In Conclusion
So there you have it! I hope you found this post with the best things to do in Cartagena to be helpful. If you have any questions, or anything to add to this post, let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram, @twosistersabroad.
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♡Kate
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