Cartagena is a beautiful and historic town on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Over the years, it has become a very popular tourist destination due to its reputation as a vibrant and fun city! With warm weather year-round, stunning colonial architecture, and an amazing food scene, Cartagena is truly one of the best places to visit in the world. Find out the top things to do in Cartagena!
Best Things to do in Cartagena
1. Watch the sunset at Café del Mar
Climb the walls of Old Town and catch a beautiful sunset over the ocean and the cool ocean breeze. You will want to head to Cafe del Mar early as the seats with the best view get taken. It opens at 5:00 PM but you can go up the walls anytime you want. If you’re on a budget, you can also just sit on the walls to see the sunset without being seated at the restaurant.
2. Dance around Plaza de la Trinidad
Head to Plaza de la Trinidad at night to catch locals just hanging around and having a good time. Music will play and people will dance and there’s plenty to eat and drink around! The atmosphere is laid-back and fun. There is also always some sort of entertainment happening here from musicians and dancers to acrobats and jugglers. It is a lovely spot to just hang out and meet people from all walks of life!
3. Try an arepa
If you’ve never had an arepa, you need to try one in Cartagena! An arepa is made out of ground maize dough and it’s filled with different ingredients from cheese to vegetables to meats. It is very popular in both Colombia and Venezuela. I had my first arepa at Quero Arepa and it was delicious! They have regular cheese-filled ones, but also tons of other combinations. My personal favorite had chicken, plantains, beans, and cheese. The sweet and salty combination was perfect 🙂
4. Visit Playa Blanca
If you come to Cartagena, you have to visit Playa Blanca. It has all the Caribbean charm with the sandy white beach and piercing blue waters. I know that other tourists have complained that the beach is overcrowded, but I highly recommend spending at least one night at Playa Blanca. I stayed further to the left (when you face the water) of where the boats/taxis/buses drop off. There were some vendors, but it felt like a private beach after 3:00 PM after most of the visitors left.
There are several options to get to Playa Blanca from Cartagena. You can go by boat, bus, or taxi. However, I have found the best way is by bus from Mamallena. Mamallena is a hostel that has its own shuttle bus that takes you to and from Playa Blanca. The bus is comfortable and air-conditioned, and most importantly on time. They run several times a day and the ride takes about 45 minutes. It is one of the cheapest options too at 50,000 COP (~$13 USD) for roundtrip transportation. Return tickets are open so you can return when you like if you wish to stay for a night or two.
5. See El Torre del Reloj
You cannot stop and not gasp at this iconic city gate! The squares around Torre del Reloj are filled with shops, restaurants, and bars that come alive at night. Highly recommend coming to the main square here and taking in the fun and vibrant atmosphere.
You also have to walk through the covered archways across from the clocktower because they’re full of street vendors selling Colombian sweets! You should definitely buy a few and try out these dulces.
6. Visit la Plaza Santo Domingo
Make a stop at this iconic square to see the famous Botero sculpture! Botero is a famous Colombian artist so it is worth stopping by to admire this public artwork. There are also some really nice restaurants and souvenir shops in this area if you’re looking to shop and dine.
7. Enjoy a drink and a view at a rooftop bar
Head to the rooftop of the Movich Hotel and you will feel like royalty at this 5-star hotel without having to fork out the costs of staying at one. When you walk into the hotel, just walk up to the front desk and ask if you can go to the rooftop for a drink. I saw other articles saying you can buy a day pass for $50 to swim in the rooftop pool, but there is a bathroom right before you get to the rooftop so you could easily change into a bathing suit.
8. Explore Old Town
You can spend hours just wandering the streets of Old Town with the vine-wrapped buildings and the brilliantly colorful walls. Take a stroll around the postcard-perfect streets. Have fun and get lost! You never know what you’ll find.
I highly recommend staying in Old Town because it is so walkable. If you do, make sure to bring earplugs because the streets will be filled with noise at all hours of the day…and night. Not a bad thing at all but just be prepared!
9. Have a coffee at Abacus Books & Coffee
I am a huge fan of coffee shops and Abaco Books and Coffee is a great one to visit while in Cartagena! I loved the relaxing atmosphere and browsing their large library of books. It is great for a midday stop especially when you’re escaping the heat.
10. Visit the Museo del Oro
The Gold Museum is a fascinating museum located across from Plaza de Bolivar! Stop by the museum to see pre-Colombian relics and over 600+ pieces of gold, silver, and ceramic pieces on display. Plus, it is free to visit!
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