Has anyone been to Bogotta Colombia? Is it a nice place to visit?

I live in Bogota and it is absolutely gorgeous. The first answer is truthful. The country does have some problems and hotspots due to the FARC drugdealers. It is a LOT better since President Uribe took office.

You would be right to not trust anybody on the streets. If you are walking around by yourself you may be approached by one person and another man comes up and asks what the other man wanted and then says he needs to register you as a foreigner. The real police NEVER try to get you to wander a few blocks with them. Basically, don't make yourself a target by flashing money and jewelry. It is better to travel in pairs. Do not let taxi drivers pick you...you pick the taxi at say a stoplight. Better yet, call a taxi. Use ATMs in the malls in the food courts upstairs. Not as likely to be targeted by taxi and accomplice inside with cell phone.

Now for the good stuff.....the city never sleeps. There is always something to do. There are restaraunts eveywhere with good food. The nightlife and bars cater to all types. There is a lot of culture....museums, theatre, historical places. The people are very friendly. Lots of parks. Concerts. Jump in a cab and go outside the city to Chia and spend a day at restaraunt that doubles as a farm with bands, dancing horses, and other entertainment.

Come and enjoy....it is as safe as any other large city in the world. Check out the links below.

Despite Colombia's reputation for violence, Bogota is relatively wealthy city, with good infrastructure and relative stability.

Most of the problems you here about Colombia take place in other regions of the country.

Needless to say, there is still a great of crime that go in the city, and acts of terrorism still occur, though infrequently.

But, to answer your question, it IS a beautiful place to visit.

If you decide to go, please be careful and try your best to keep a low profile, especially if you don't visibly pass for a Latin American. And, above all, don't trust anybody. Westerners have been kidnapped from the city in the past.

You have been warned.

It IS a very nice place to visit. You need to be careful as when you go to ANY other big city in the world. You wouldn't take risks in NYC, would you.

Also, as in most big cities, Bogota has plenty of great places to visit. It's a beautiful city with all the comfort, lots of shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, museums, etc.

You'll love it, believe me.
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O Yea. It has everything. I live here and I love It!!

I have been dying to visit Bogota for the past couple years. (I just can't seem to save enough for the plane tickets:-( ) But anyway, although I have never been there, I have seen every travel program about it, read every website, spoke to many people that have been there and consensus is that it is a beautiful modern city that also has old world charm. No matter what you are into partying meuseums whatever they have it all. If you have the opportunity to go don't pass it up.

If you want to talk to some Bogota experts you should check out www.colombianblog.com

:-)

Yes. See the Gold Museum. Monserrate. Go fishing at Neusa. Take a bus to Villavicencio. The scenery is wonderful. Go to Melgar. Its hot humid and has great places to dance. (Villavo too for that matter) Eat at Carbon De Palo on 106 and 19. Go shopping next door at the artesanal. Go to the top of the Colpatria tower. See Candelaria. Check out all the cool churches. Try the Arepas Costenas. (with egg) Try San Cocho. Try Ajiacol. (The restaurant at Monserrate is a good place) Have some ice cream at Crepes and Waffles. Great place run by ONLY women who are single and head of households. Eat at Luna near the Andino mall if you like italian or Amarti in Usaquen. Bogota IS a great place. Just be smart. Dont flash a lot of cash. Dress poor unless you are doing business then its 100% suits except on Fridays. Ive spent a lifetime trying to know all of Bogota and Colombia and havent even scratched the surface.