Cartagena, Colombia: A Short Travel Guide

Cartagena is a vibrant city located on Northern Colombia’s Caribbean coast. It’s known for its iconic walled Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that brings visitors back to colonial times. But beyond its historic charm, Cartagena has many sandy beaches, an exquisite culinary scene, and a lively atmosphere. In this travel guide, we share our top things to do in Cartagena as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.

View from Convento de la Popa

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Check out our video about Cartagena to see the best things to do through our camera!

Best Things To Do In Cartagena

• Explore Bocagrande

• Spot animals at Parque Centenario

• Visit San Felipe de Barajas Fort

• Join a cooking class

• Party in a Chiva Rumbera bus

• Walk on the Walls of Cartagena

• Get a view from Convento de la Popa

• Boat tour to Rosario Islands

• Visit the Historic Center (Free Walking Tour)

• Experience Getsemaní

Go on a boat tour to Rosario Islands

Download our Google Map with all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay here.

Cartagena Old Town

Places To Stay In Cartagena

• Cartagena Legends ($): simple, clean budget-hotel in Getsemaní with small swimming pool

• Mood Matuna Hotel ($$ - where we stayed): mid-range hotel with spacious, comfy rooms in Getsemaní

• La Passion by Masaya ($$$): more upscale, beautifully-designed hotel in Getsemaní with rooftop pool, bar and restaurant

Cartagena Old Town streets

Places To Eat And Drink In Cartagena

• 51 Sky Bar: come for the view over Bocagrande, the drinks and food is overpriced

• Alquimico: one of the top bars in the world, each floor has a different menu - rooftop has great vibes and delicious cocktails

• Beer Lovers Cartagena: nice bar with lots of beer choices

• CANCHA Cevichería: good ceviche - large portion as a meal, fresh fish, well marinated in citrus

• Candé: beautiful inside and delicious menu with super tender beef and a good wine selection (make reservation if possible)

• Celelé: Every dish was totally unique and unlike anything we’d had before

• Coroncoro: very popular with the locals, try the cazuela de mariscos and seafood rice

• Demente BAR TAPAS: great pizza and cocktails

• EL BALUARTE SAN FRANCISCO JAVIER: restaurant on the old town walls with beautiful sunset view - definitely touristy though but has good food

• El Beso Bar-Restaurant: delicious ceviche and patatas bravas

• El Bololó: amazing healthy bowls

• Espiritu Santo: Cartagenian traditional food

• Esquina del Pandebono: to try traditional pan de bono

• La Cevicheria: sea food

• La Garza Café: nice espresso bar

• Libertario coffee: good coffee

• Los tacos del gordo: tiny place but really good tacos outside of Mexico, it's also very cheap

• Nia Bakery Coffee Shop & Cocktails: very nice coffee and banana bread

• Restaurante Donjuan: beautiful restaurant with a nice selection of Italian-inspired or fusion dishes

• SAN PEDRO CAFE·MIRADOR RESTAURANTE: there are two parts - regular restaurant and drinks bar - food and drinks are great, but definitely more pricey

• San Nicolas: nice restaurant with local and global cuisine

• San Valentin: typical Colombian food

• Taboo: disco club

• The Cluck Pub: pub with great atmosphere and live music

Ceviche at El Beso Restaurant

Map Cartagena, Colombia

Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Cartagena on Google Maps, follow and save the list, do the following:

1. Tap on the link to open it (click button below)

2. Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.

3. Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
   

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Cartagena will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

Save Google Maps Places

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Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Cartagena

• Booking.com for places to stay

• Skyscanner for cheap flights

• GetYourGuide for local tours

• Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals

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Are you having a hard time planning your trip to Cartagena? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.

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Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles about Colombia:

• Is Colombia Safe?

• Bogota

• Medellin

• Salento

• Colombia Top 15