Best Cities to Visit in Colombia on Your First Trip

There are many incredible cities to visit in Colombia that should definitely be on your bucket list for your first trip to the country. Colombia is an absolutely gorgeous country located in South America, boasting beautiful beaches, hiking, great markets, and friendly locals. The lesser-travelled country is among one of my favourite countries in South America.

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A first trip to Colombia isn’t complete without experiencing a few different diverse cities around the country. From the big city of Bogotá, the beautiful hikes in Tayrona National Park, to the dreamy beaches in Cartagena and the stunning city of Medellín, there’s certainly places to go for every travel taste!

Continue reading for my list of the 4 top cities to visit in Colombia on your first trip!

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1. Bogotá

Bogotá has historically had a rep for being an unsafe city to visit in Colombia. But, in more recent years, it is becoming increasingly safer to visit. That’s not to say you should be totally carefree! You should definitely research places to stay, where to visit before visiting (check out my Bogotá blog!), and precautions to take to ensure you stay safe.

In Bogotá, you can explore the historic La Candelaria area, which boasts beautiful architecture, and many restaurants, shops, and bars. Then, you can opt to check out the incredible museums the city has to offer, like the Gold Museum, which displays thousands of pre-Hispanic gold pieces. There are plenty of amazing things to do in Bogotá, which is a definite reason it makes my list of top cities to visit in Colombia on your first trip!

Be sure to download some Bogotá and Colombia travel apps to ensure you have a smooth trip!

2. Medellín

Medellín is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination and it’s no secret why! The city is filled with welcoming locals, great coffee, and plenty of great places to explore. You can wander the streets, admiring the graffiti-covered walls, stop at a cafe for a bit to eat, head out shopping, then experience the incredible nightlife that Medellín has to offer!

Medellín has a quite interesting history, with the drug cartel boom causing the city to be considered the most dangerous city on earth about 25 years ago. Since then, the city has turned a new leaf and become magnitudes safer. It has now become one of the popular cities to visit in Colombia for a first trip!

For more information about this great city, check out Touring Around Medellin!

3. Cartagena

The city of Cartagena is definitely my favourite place in Colombia. This is mainly due to the beautiful beaches and the historic Old City! The waterside city reminds me a lot about the city of Miami, with beautiful beaches and hotels along the peninsula. It is one of the more touristy cities in Colombia, but it is definitely still a low-key and underrated place to visit in South America.

There are plenty of fun things to do in the city for varying interests, including renting Jet Skis, relaxing on the beach, trying local food, and learning more about the historical parts of the city!

4. Santa Marta

Santa Marta is just a short drive to Tayrona National Park, which is why many tourists come to visit the city. But, the city itself is quite interesting and is a hub for many other awesome day trips. From here, you can hike through the jungle to the Lost City ruins, learn to scuba dive at the nearby fishing village of Taganga, hang out at beaches, and taste amazing local food!

What cities would you recommend to visit in Colombia on a first trip? Let me know in the comments!

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