I spent two months in Bogotá in March and April 2021, right after an amazing time in Medellín. I figured I should check out Colombia’s capital and business center. Big mistake.
Bogotá is a big, gray, genuinely cold city perched high in the mountains that somehow manages to be depressing despite being near the equator. If you’re expecting tropical Colombian vibes, prepare for disappointment. This place will have you reaching for a jacket while questioning your life choices.
The Elevation Reality Check
Here’s what nobody tells you about Bogotá: it sits at 8,660 feet (2,640 meters) above sea level. Despite being near the equator, the elevation makes it genuinely cold year-round. You’ll need jackets, warm clothes, and probably better apartment heating than what you’ll actually get.
Coming from sea level, some people get altitude sickness. Even if you don’t, everything feels harder – walking upstairs, basic activities, even thinking clearly. It’s like your body is constantly running at 85% capacity.
The weather is perpetually gray and rainy, with mountains in the distance that aren’t nearly as impressive as Medellín’s dramatic valley setting. It’s just… bleak.
What Bogotá Actually Feels Like
Bogotá is flat, sprawling, and lacks any real charm. With about 8 million people in the metro area, it’s one of South America’s largest cities, but it feels more like a giant bureaucratic mistake than a place people would choose to live.
The city spreads out endlessly without the compact, walkable character that makes other Latin American cities appealing. It’s just gray buildings, traffic, and the constant feeling that you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The lack of tourists and gringos is both good and bad – less competition but also less international energy and fewer people who understand what you’re going through as a foreigner.
Brief History: Why It Became This Way
Bogotá was originally inhabited by the Muisca people before Spanish colonization in 1538. It became the center of the Viceroyalty of New Granada and later played a crucial role in South American independence movements.
As Colombia’s political and business center since independence, it concentrated government and institutional power. This created the serious, business-focused atmosphere that makes it feel less vibrant than other Colombian cities.
Rapid 20th-century growth created the sprawling, somewhat chaotic city you see today – all the downsides of urban expansion without the charm of planned development.
Getting Around: Traffic Nightmare
Bogotá has the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system, which is functional but crowded and can be sketchy safety-wise. Traffic is absolutely terrible throughout the city.
You’ll want to stick with Uber or taxis to avoid the chaotic public transport and safety issues. The city lacks the walkable charm of better Latin American destinations – everything requires planning and transportation.
Key Areas to Know
- Zona Rosa/Zona T: The nice area with upscale restaurants and nightlife – stay here if possible
- Chapinero: Another decent area with restaurants and bars, more local feel
- La Candelaria: Historic center with colonial architecture, but sketchy and not that impressive
- Business districts: Glass office buildings that are dead outside work hours
The People: Rolo Culture
People from Bogotá (called “rolos”) are known for being more reserved and formal than other Colombians. The business and political focus creates a more serious atmosphere where people are work-focused rather than socially warm.
It’s less welcoming than other Colombian cities – you feel the difference immediately if you’re coming from somewhere like Medellín where people are naturally warmer and more social.
The lack of tourist saturation means fewer English speakers outside business contexts, and less patience for dealing with confused foreigners.
Cost of Living: Actually Pretty Reasonable
One of Bogotá’s few redeeming qualities is that it’s actually quite affordable, even with the capital city markup.
Accommodation
- Budget apartments: $300-600/month
- Nice places: $600-1,200/month
- Business-level housing: $800-1,500/month
Daily Expenses
- Food: $20-40/day
- Transportation: $5-15/day
- Entertainment: $10-30/day
- Total daily budget: $35-85
You can live well for relatively little money, which helps offset some of the other negatives. It’s more expensive than other Colombian cities but still affordable by international standards.
Food Scene: Business Dining
Bogotá has all the standard Colombian dishes plus more upscale restaurants catering to the business crowd, which means higher prices than other Colombian cities.
Local Specialties
- Ajiaco: Traditional Bogotá soup with chicken, corn, and potatoes
- Tamales Bogotanos: Local version of tamales
- Various hearty soups: Designed to deal with the cold weather
The nice restaurants are concentrated in Zona Rosa/Zona T area. Being the capital, there are more international options than in other Colombian cities, but nothing that justifies choosing Bogotá over better destinations.
Weather: The Constant Downer
The weather is genuinely a major problem. It’s cold year-round despite being near the equator, constantly overcast and rainy, which adds to the overall depressing atmosphere.
Seasonal Breakdown
- Dry season (December-March): Less rain but still cold and gray
- Wet season (April-November): More rain and even more depressing
- Year-round reality: Never really warm, always need layers
Most apartments don’t have good heating, so you’ll be cold inside too. The weather is a major factor in why Bogotá feels depressing compared to other Colombian cities with tropical warmth and sunshine.
Safety: Real Limitations
Bogotá is definitely more dangerous than Medellín, especially outside the nice areas. I didn’t really go out much at night because I didn’t want to get robbed.
The safety concerns genuinely limit your freedom of movement and ability to explore. You need to be constantly aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying wealth, and stick to safe areas like Zona Rosa and business districts.
Public transport can be risky, which is why Uber and taxis become necessary rather than optional. The danger factor really limits how much you can explore the nightlife and social scene safely.
The One Good Thing: Dating Scene
Here’s Bogotá’s single redeeming quality – the dating scene can actually be quite good. Since there aren’t many gringos around, you get less competition and more novelty factor as a foreigner.
The women are attractive, and the lack of tourist saturation means you’re not dealing with gringo-burnout like you might in Medellín where foreign guys are everywhere. Local women are genuinely interested in meeting foreigners since it’s less common.
If you’re a Western guy, this might be Bogotá’s only real advantage over other Colombian cities – less competition from other expats and genuine curiosity from locals.
Nightlife: Limited by Safety
The nightlife exists and could potentially be good, but safety concerns seriously limit exploration. Zona Rosa and Chapinero have bars and restaurants, plus lots of business networking events.
But you’re constantly calculating risk versus reward when deciding whether to go out, where to go, and how to get there safely. It’s much less vibrant than Medellín’s social scene, partly because safety issues keep people more cautious.
Tourist Attractions: Adequate But Uninspiring
Bogotá has the standard capital city attractions:
- La Candelaria: Historic center with colonial architecture (not that impressive and can be unsafe)
- Gold Museum: Museo del Oro with pre-Columbian artifacts, actually pretty interesting
- Monserrate: Cable car to mountaintop church with city views
- Salt Cathedral (Zipaquirá): Underground cathedral in a salt mine, about an hour away
The attractions are fine but nothing compelling compared to other South American destinations. You can see everything worth seeing in a few days.
Digital Nomad Assessment
Pros:
- Best business infrastructure in Colombia
- Professional networking opportunities
- International companies and business opportunities
- Affordable cost of living
- Major international airport
- Less tourist saturation
Cons:
- Cold, depressing weather year-round
- Safety concerns limit freedom
- Altitude adjustment challenges
- Ugly, sprawling city layout
- Less social warmth than other Colombian cities
- Limited English outside business contexts
Digital Nomad Rating: 5/10
Good for business-focused nomads who need Colombia’s economic center, terrible for lifestyle nomads seeking the warm, vibrant Colombian experience.
Bogotá vs. Other Colombian Cities
Versus Medellín: Medellín wins by a landslide – better weather, prettier city, more fun atmosphere, safer, more international community.
Versus Cartagena: Cartagena has beautiful colonial architecture, tropical weather, and Caribbean vibes.
Versus Cali: Cali has incredible salsa culture, warmer weather, and more social energy.
Versus smaller cities: Almost any smaller Colombian city has better weather, more charm, and friendlier people.
Bogotá is honestly the least appealing major Colombian city for most travelers.
Why People Choose Other Cities
When you can have Medellín’s perfect weather, mountain views, modern infrastructure, and international community, or Cartagena’s colonial beauty and tropical beaches, why would you choose cold, gray, dangerous Bogotá?
Who Should (And Shouldn’t) Visit Bogotá
You Might Need Bogotá If:
- You have specific business needs in Colombia’s economic center
- You’re interested in Colombian politics and government
- You’re doing a comprehensive Colombia tour
- You prefer fewer tourists and more “authentic” experiences
Skip Bogotá If:
- You want the warm, tropical Colombian experience
- You’re looking for beautiful scenery and good weather
- You prefer safe, tourist-friendly destinations
- You have limited time in Colombia
- You want to enjoy nightlife and social scenes
- You’re seeking the vibrant Latin American lifestyle
My Honest Verdict
Overall Rating: 4.5/10
I spent two months in Bogotá and honestly wouldn’t go back. Coming from Medellín made the contrast painfully obvious – Medellín is better in almost every way that matters for quality of life.
The elevation factor makes everything harder. The cold weather is genuinely depressing. The safety concerns limit your freedom. The city layout is ugly and sprawling. The social warmth that makes Colombia special is largely absent.
Two months was way too long – one month maximum, or just business trips rather than trying to actually live there.
What Actually Works
- Business opportunities and professional infrastructure
- International airport for regional travel
- Affordable cost of living
- Dating scene advantages for foreign men
- Less tourist saturation
What Doesn’t Work
- Cold, gray, depressing weather
- Safety concerns affecting daily life
- Ugly urban sprawl
- Less social and cultural warmth
- Altitude adjustment challenges
Better Alternatives in Colombia
Honestly, pretty much anywhere else in Colombia is more appealing for lifestyle travelers:
- Medellín: Perfect weather, beautiful setting, great expat community, safer
- Cartagena: Colonial beauty, tropical weather, Caribbean culture
- Cali: Salsa capital, warm weather, energetic nightlife
- Smaller cities: Better weather, more charm, friendlier people, lower costs
The Bottom Line
Bogotá is Colombia’s necessary business center but a poor choice for lifestyle travel. The combination of cold weather, gray atmosphere, safety concerns, and lack of charm makes it the least appealing major Colombian city.
If you need to do business in Colombia, this is where it happens. But if you’re looking for the warm, vibrant, beautiful Colombia that draws people from around the world, skip Bogotá entirely.
Your time in Colombia is infinitely better spent in Medellín, Cartagena, or any number of smaller cities with better weather, more charm, and the social warmth that makes Colombia special.
Save Bogotá for when you absolutely have to be there for work. Otherwise, choose literally anywhere else in Colombia and thank me later.
Have you experienced Bogotá’s gray reality, or did you find something I missed? Did the altitude and weather affect you the same way? Share your Colombia experiences in the comments – especially if you disagree with my assessment!
