The first country I ever visited in South America was Colombia 7 years ago and I quickly fell in love. The vibrant culture, the friendly people, and the strides the country has made to overcome its sordid past are all reasons I can’t stay away. This was my third trip to Colombia and to Cartagena and I can’t believe how much this city has changed over the years! Keep reading for the best things to do in Cartagena to enjoy the city authentically.
👉 Don’t have time to read the whole post? My recommendation for one of the best things to do in Cartagena is a street food tour.
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Know Before You Go
Why Visit Cartagena?
If this blog post is your first introduction to this magical city, here are a few reasons you should definitely have it on your list.
- The Old Town of Cartagena was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 and it’s stunning
- It has a lot of colonial history and was, and still is, an important port in Latin America
- You can take an easy day trip to the nearby Rosario Islands where you’ll find white sand beaches
- While it is a popular tourist attraction, there are still ways to get a little off the beaten path
How to Get to Cartagena
Getting to Cartagena is relatively straightforward. You’ll find direct flights from various cities across the US. Alternatively, you can fly into Bogota and then take a domestic flight down to Cartagena. From the airport, it’s a 15 minute drive to the walled city of Cartagena.
Where to Stay in Cartagena
When I first visited Cartagena it was highly recommended to only stay within the walled city. Luckily, that has since changed as the surrounding areas have undergone massive improvements. I personally recommend staying in Getsemaní, a hip and vibrant neighborhood just outside the walled city. Of course, staying within the walled city is always an option, too just be aware that it is much more touristy and expensive.
Getsemaní hotel recommendations
Walled city hotel recommendations
Best Time to Visit Cartagena
December-April is when you’ll encounter the best weather but also the most crowds. If you travel in the off season you may encounter either extreme temperatures or a lot of rainfall but you’ll have less crowds and better prices. It’s up to you!
Top Things to do in Cartagena
Do a Street Food Guided Tour w/ a Local Guide
My number one recommendation to do in a new city is a walking food tour. It is the best way to get a great overview of the city, learn about the culture through tasty bites, and learn about the history from a local.
I always love the tours I do and this one was no different. Through this street food tour we got to sample fresh fruit and other local delicacies from street vendors, saw incredible street art, and learned all about the history of the city from the Spanish Inquisition onwards.
Though we met inside the walled city, the majority of this tour was done in Getsemaní and is absolutely a great way to get a sample of local life (we even stumbled onto a random street and joined a dance party!).
Note, that the tour can differ based on the tour guide but it looks like the other travelers also had a great experience!
Our tour guide also gave us the tip to look for banyan trees because you can always find some great happening under them. Indeed, we found lots of great food vendors under the shade of banyan trees!
Don’t have the budget? Free walking tours are also a great option!
Explore Getsemaní
Getsemaní has lots of fun things to do and is a great place to walk around. This neighborhood didn’t always boast the colorful street art nor did it always have the infectious, vibrant and vivacious energy. Up until about 8 years ago, it had a pretty seedy reputation and was definitely not a spot for tourists. Luckily, the residents decided to change that and it is now a colorful not-to-be-missed neighborhood that is easily one of the best places to visit in all of Cartagena!
Things to do in Getsemani:
- Wander around and take in all of the breathtaking street art
- Check out the hanging umbrellas on Callejón Angosto
- Buy some artwork. All of the artwork you see in the Walled City is generally made by artists that reside in Getsemani so it’s best to purchase artwork from them directly here (it’s also cheaper!)
- Eat street food!
- Grab a beer at Beer Lovers. We tried some local Colombian craft beers and it was some of the most interesting beer we’ve ever had!
- Grab food from food trucks and sit by the water at Muncipal
- Check out the rooftop of Selina for sunset
Try Phenomenal Colombian Coffee
Coffee in Colombia is complicated. On average 75% of their coffee is exported, leaving behind lower quality coffee for citizens. Cafe culture is relatively new in Colombia but is becoming increasingly popular.
Trust me when I say that these are an experience not to be missed. You’ll find incredibly knowledgable baristas and a ton of brewing methods to choose from. They also take the time to explain the origin of the beans to you and typically make the coffee right in front of you.
I highly recommend going to both of these two spots in Getsemaní for some of the best coffee in Cartagena:
In general, I also recommend checking out the Juan Valdez coffee chain. It is basically like the Colombian version of Starbucks but wayyy tastier.
By the way, tinto is the Colombian equivalent for a “cup of Joe”. It can be brewed in a variety of ways but if you’re just looking for a standard cup of coffee you would order a tinto.
Take a Day Trip to the Rosario Islands
Why not get out of the city and check out the white sand beaches of the Rosario Islands? There are 27 different islands, though not all of them are inhabited. The islands are comprised of some of the most beautiful beaches in Colombia.
Playa Blanca is a popular beach that you will see in many search results but it is very touristy and therefore very crowded. Personally, I’d opt for one of the other islands for your day trip!
Walk Around the Walled City of Cartagena
Yes, the Walled City of Cartagena is touristy but it is also incredibly beautiful and still worth a visit. At all hours of the day, except for early morning, you’ll find the historic center bustling with energy. You can find street performers and live music on every corner. I highly recommend just walking around with no particular destination in mind so you can get lost in the picturesque streets, marveling at the colonial architecture.
If that isn’t your style, here are a few things to do in the Walled City of Cartagena:
- Check out the Iglesia de Santo Domingo
- Marvel at the Clock Tower
- Explore the various plazas such as Plaza Santo Domingo and Plaza San Diego. There are so many beautiful ones nestled in the old city walls
- Speaking of old city walls, take a stroll on them. They run the perimeter of the historic center and are a great way to view the city from a different perspective
- Watch the sunset at the Movich Hotel. A lot of places will recommend Cafe del Mar and while this is a great place to see the sunset, it gets extremely crowded. The Movich hotel has a rooftop bar with the most stunning sweeping views of the city.
Sip and Dine at Some Incredible Restaurants and Bars
I won’t lie, Cartagena can be a little tricky for vegetarians. Luckily, we found plenty of street food and a few restaurants that had scrumptious vegetarian options. For meat eaters (especially seafood lovers), you’ll find that Cartagena has some of the best restaurants in all of Colombia!
Our hands down favorite restaurant was Alma. Every single thing about this meal was perfection from the ambiance in their stunning courtyard to the service to the flavors. 10/10 recommend this spot!
We also sampled a few bars and here are my two recommendations within the walled city:
- Alquimico – this is clearly a popular place and as long as you don’t mind a pretty loud spot, this is a great place to grab a drink. Their cocktails are inventive and each floor of the bar has a different menu
- El Baron – if you’re looking for a bar where you can have a conversation over a unique cocktail, El Baron is a great place for that. We loved this little bar. They have outdoor seating right on the plaza but we loved the ambiance inside too much to grab one of the outdoor tables. You really can’t go wrong!
Tourist Traps to Look out for in Cartagena
Cartagena is a popular destination after all and you’ll find the Walled City is teeming with people trying to make some money (hey, you can’t blame them!). To avoid people constantly trying to get your attention and sell you something, spend more of your time in Getsemaní, otherwise here are tourist traps to avoid.
- Don’t ever dine at a restaurant that has someone standing outside yelling to passerby’s to look at their menu. Just don’t. It’s definitely a tourist trap and it is most likely mediocre food for higher prices
- Buy artwork in Getsemaní to be more likely to buy it from the actual artist and to get a better price
- There are women who are dressed in traditional garb who will offer to take a photo with you. If you decide to do so just know they expect to be paid
- There are groups of men who will follow you and rap about you until you essentially pay them. I won’t lie, it’s pretty annoying. Try to avoid this by either not making eye contact or walking into a store until they go away
Bottom Line
There are so many fantastic things to do in Cartagena de Indias that are not just the typical tourist activities. Getsemaní is easily the neighborhood where I recommend you spend the most of your time. The best way to go from being a tourist to a traveler is to recognize when a spot is touristy and still find the authentic experiences. Though the Walled City is touristy, I recommend you walk around and just be mindful of the tourist traps.
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