Visiting Cartagena: Top things to do in Cartagena Colombia in one day

Cartagena, Colombia is surely one of the most beautiful cities in South America — or even in the world. Its walled city is impossibly colorful. It combines modern street art with traditions dating back hundreds of years. And while it has a dark history, today it’s diverse and friendly. Visiting Cartagena is a must on any Colombia itinerary.

 

Cartagena is quite a large city, with barrios extending well down the coast. But most of the main attractions are in a compact area in and around the Walled City. If you’re on a short trip, you can cover all the top things to do in Cartagena Colombia in one day.

 

In this post, I’ll cover 7 activities to do on your Cartagena trip. I hope this helps you plan the perfect visit to this city!

 

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1. Walk around Old Town Cartagena Colombia

 

 

Easily the best part of visiting Cartagena is exploring its walled city, and more specifically, the perfectly-preserved Old Town. This is where you’ll find all the colorful buildings with balconies covered in vines and flowers and pretty little plazas with sidewalk cafes.

 

The appeal of the Old City isn’t in specific sights or attractions, but in soaking up the atmosphere. If you’re a photographer, you’ll love the architecture and colors, the fresh fruit vendors peddling their wares, and the street performers.

 

A few areas deserve special mention for being particularly pretty — the streets north of Carrera 3 between Iglesia de San Pedro Claver and the Cathedral; right across the street from Abaco Bookshop for the perfect photo of the Cathedral; Plaza de Bolivar; the streets surrounding the Church of Santo Domingo; and the streets leading to Las Bovedas.

 

The Old Town is #1 on everyone’s list of the top things to do in Cartagena Colombia, so it gets very crowded. And with narrow streets and lots of traffic, getting the perfect photos is a constant challenge. I highly recommend getting up early and heading off to explore by 8 or 9 am — you’ll have good light until around 11, and few people or taxis to block your shots. The evening is also a nice time to wander around, but more people are out and about, including on Cartagena tours by horse and buggy.

 

2. Explore Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

 

 

Cartagena de Indias was under constant siege by pirates throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. So in the mid-1600’s, the Spanish colonizers began construction of this impressive fort to protect the Walled City.

 

Today when you visit Cartagena Colombia, you can visit the fort to learn about its colonial history. It’s a fun place to explore — you can climb to the top for spectacular views over the Caribbean, especially at sunset. Even better, you can scramble through the elaborate network of tunnels, which were designed to make it easy to evacuate the fort when under attack. (Today they’re well-lit, but steep and narrow.)

 

Allow at least an hour and a half to see the fortress. Admission is 25,000 COP. You can easily walk here from the Old Town. It’s one of the highlights of visiting Cartagena.

 

3. Check out the street art in Getsemani

 

 

Cartagena may be famous for its history, but its modern side is equally intriguing and charming. This is especially on display in the neighborhood known as Getsemani.

 

Getsemani is an extension of the Old Town, still within the Walled City of Cartagena. But while the Old Town is perfectly preserved, Getsemani feels a bit more lived-in — some of the building facades are faded and crumbling. You’ll rub shoulders with locals running auto repair shops out of colonial mansions, and street vendors everywhere. But what makes Getsemani one of the best things to do in Cartagena Colombia is its incredible street art scene.

 

A few of the most iconic murals include The Three Warriors (on Carrera 11 near Hotel Boutique Casa Isabel), the Maria Mulata (in Plaza de la Trinidad), and Infectious Smile (on Calle De La Sierpe). Calle de San Juan also has a large concentration of colorful murals.

 

Allow an hour for a walk in Getsemani to see the murals and architecture when visiting Cartagena.

 

4. Visit the Gold Museum

 

 

One thing you’ll quickly realize when visiting Cartagena is it’s ridiculously hot and humid, all the time. So when you’re desperate for a few minutes of air conditioning, pop into the town’s fascinating and free Gold Museum.

 

It’s nothing compared to Bogota’s Museo del Oro, but if you haven’t learned about the pre-Hispanic cultures that inhabit Colombia and seen their stunning works of craftsmanship, this is a great place to start.

 

The museum is small — you only need about thirty minutes to breeze through — but a worthwhile addition to your Cartagena trip. Each room has explanations of the pieces on display. The focus is on the Zenu people.

5. Buy a book at Abaco

 

 

I always love finding quirky bookstores when I’m traveling. And Abaco in Cartagena is one of my favorites.

 

This shop right near the Cathedral has a wide array of Spanish-language books, along with a smaller English-language collection. The bookshelves line the side of the shops — and in the middle is the coffee shop, where you can sit while you read your new purchase.

 

The iced coffee is awesome, you can sit in the air-conditioned shop or on the porch with cathedral views, and the service is good. When you need a break from sightseeing while visiting Cartagena, this is the place to go.

 

6. Go to the Museum of Modern Art

 

 

Cartagena’s street art is justifiably famous — but it’s not the only amazing collection of modern art in the city. The Museum of Modern Art displays paintings, sculptures, and more from a rotating set of Colombian artists. It’s one of the lesser known but still best things to do in Cartagena Colombia.

 

The museum occupies two floors of a colonial mansion, which is part of the appeal. It’s beautiful inside and out. The pieces on display range from more traditional landscapes and still life, to abstract works and even some multimedia. Almost all of the featured artists are from Colombia, and the majority are local to Cartagena.

 

You’ll need about an hour to visit the museum. Admission is 8,000 pesos. The hours are a bit random — 9 am-noon and 3-7 pm Monday-Friday, 10 am-1 pm Saturday, and 4-9 pm Sunday.

 

7. Learn about Colombian coffee — and then enjoy the perfect cup

 

 

Colombian coffee is some of the finest in the world. It’s largely produced on small farms in the Zona Cafetera. Most of the best beans are exported, leaving local Colombians drinking tinto — sludgy instant coffee with lots of sugar. But you can still get some great java on your Cartagena trip if you know where to look.

 

Cafe San Alberto offers one of the best coffee experiences outside the Zona Cafetera. First, the coffee itself is amazing. Order a cappuccino and don’t even think about putting sugar in it. The shop is small, but you can still sit in the air-conditioned entryway surrounded by photos from the hacienda where the beans come from. You can also buy beans to take home — the staff will vacuum-seal them.

 

If you want to dive deeper into the world of Colombian coffee, try the “Coffee Baptism” experience. You’ll learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about how to produce coffee and why different beans taste different. It takes two hours, costs $30 USD and you have to reserve in advance (at the shop).

 

Cafe San Alberto is right around the corner from the Cathedral. A cappuccino costs 7,000 COP. They also have delicious-looking snacks, but no WiFi.

 

And with that, your one day in Cartagena will be coming to a close. Spend your evening eating fish soup, watching the street performers in Plaza de la Trinidad, or dancing the night away at Havana. If you have more time — even just 36 hours in Cartagena — consider a day trip to Playa Blanca and the Rosario Islands.

 

Where to stay when visiting Cartagena

 

 

Cartagena can seem like it has more boutique hotels than people. But despite the huge tourist numbers, accommodation is still pretty good value for money.

 

I highly recommend booking a room at the fabulous Patio de Getsemani. This small family-run place has squeaky-clean rooms, each with their own bathroom, in a great location in Getsemani (a ten-minute walk from Old Town Cartagena Colombia).

 

Among the reasons I love this place: The breakfasts are fantastic. The owners are super-friendly and helpful. The namesake patio (really a roof deck) provides great views over the Caribbean. The air conditioning works great and the rooms are spacious.

 

Rooms start around $50 a night and include breakfast. It truly is the best value you’ll find when you visit Cartagena Colombia.

 

How to get to Cartagena

 

 

Visiting Cartagena is one of the most popular things to do in Colombia, so it’s easy to reach this city.

 

The airport is just 3 km outside the city — ten minutes in a taxi (15,000 COP). Prepaid, fixed-price taxis are to your right when you leave the airport. Flights run to most major cities in Colombia like Bogota and Medellin, and to destinations across the Americas — including Panama for connections to the United States.

 

If you’re headed to Santa Marta (the base for the popular Lost City Trek and gorgeous Caribbean beaches like Costeño Beach and Parque Tayrona), your best bet is to catch a shuttle through Berlinas Tur. Their office is near the airport. Buses run every 20 minutes, cost 40,000 COP, and as much as people say it will take three hours, plan on at least five. The other good option is to book a shuttle with Marsol — for 50,000 COP, they’ll pick you up from your Cartagena guesthouse and drop you off at your Santa Marta guesthouse, or vice versa. It’s no faster than Berlinas and you must book in advance.

 

For public transport to destinations further afield, such as to San Gil, you’ll have to head to the main bus terminal. It’s a 45-minute taxi ride from Old Town Cartagena Colombia. You can also get cheaper (and slower) buses to Santa Marta from here.

 

Overall, visiting Cartagena is one of the most magical experiences you can have in South America. From the gorgeous Old Town to the quirky streets of Getsemani and the historical intrigue of its forts, it offers plenty to do for one day. It’s one of the best places to visit in Colombia — so don’t miss it!

 

Have you visited Cartagena? What was your favorite thing to do? Leave a comment!

 

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