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Bogota gay travel guide: gay bars, clubs, hotels & awesome things to do

Stefan Arestis
Bogota gay travel guide: gay bars, clubs, hotels & awesome things to do

Our gay travel guide to Bogota to help you plan a fun and safe trip, based on our first-hand experience traveling in Colombia as a gay couple.

Ever been to a club with 5,000 other gay boys with 13 rooms spread across 5 floors?

Neither had we until we went to the huge Theatron gay club in Colombia's capital city, Bogota. The gay scene here is all about this infamous mega-club, which is the largest in Latin America. It's like no other place we've ever been to and is certainly the largest gay club we've visited.

There is of course more to this city than Theatron club, with many different gay places to hang out as well as an exciting foodie scene and beautiful hotels. The historic Old Quarter is a delightful area to see the Spanish colonial influences and explore some of the most interesting museums.

We've put together our detailed guide to our favourite gay bars and clubs in Bogota, the best gay friendly places to stay or eat, as well as our favourite sightseeing things to do in this vibrant city.

Heads up: We just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. That means if you book something through one of those links, we'll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep our blog going – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥

Explore the country of Colombia with other gay travellers by joining a tour by Out Adventures

Explore Colombia on a gay tour

Out Adventures' brand new Colombia tour is hotter than Maluma! Beginning in Bogotá, the carefree escape will have you shaking your arepa at the largest LGBTQ club in the Americas, hiking humid jungles in Tayrona National Park, and soaking up the country's sand, sun, and sea in coastal Cartagena. The optional gay salsa class, food tour, and snorkeling excursion make this adventure muy caliente!

Find out more

Is Bogota safe for gay travellers?

As gay travellers in Bogota, we felt safe and we found it to be a welcoming city. We didn't have any problems sleeping in double beds in the hotels we stayed at and never felt like we had to hide who we were. In terms of public displays of affection, we only felt comfortable walking hand in hand in some parts of Chapinero, where most of the gay scene is located. As with most big cities in the world, there are areas you need to be cautious of whether you're straight or gay, so keep an eye out on your belongings wherever you are.

When it comes to gay rights, Colombia is one of the most advanced and progressive countries in Latin America. A full range of anti-discrimination laws were passed in 2011, adoption is completely allowed by both single and married couples, gays are allowed to openly serve in the army and in 2016, gay marriage was legalised. Colombia even has a law protecting your “right to express public affection in public”. Very few countries in the world we've come across have this! And if that wasn't enough, Bogota elected its first lesbian mayor in October 2019 – the fabulous Claudia Lopez!

In terms of transgender rights, Colombia is one of the most progressive. For example, the right to change legal gender has for years been allowed in Colombia, but since 2015, it was possible without psychiatric or physical evaluations. Also in 2015, Colombia allowed a “neutral” or “blank space” section for gender in birth certificates, and in the same year, transgender people were allowed to openly serve in the army.

In light of such progressive LGBTQ laws, it is not surprising that Bogota has one of the best gay scenes in Latin America.

We felt perfectly comfortable posing for sweet photos while travelling in and around Bogota.
We felt very accepted during our time in Bogota

The gay neighbourhood of Bogota

Chapinero is the gay neighbourhood of Bogota. It is an affluent area of the city, around 30 minutes taxi ride (sometimes a lot longer!) north of the touristic downtown “Candelaria” area. There are more than 100 gay bars, clubs and shops in Chapinero, including of course: Theatron! Chapinero is also home to Colombia's first LGBTQ community centre.

Whenever we visit Bogota, we aim to be close to the city's gay scene, so we book a hotel or Airbnb in Chapinero. On our first visit to Bogota, we stayed in Candelaria, which as well as being the touristic area, is also very fun and hip due to the high student population. However, Candelaria is a long 30 minutes taxi ride to Chapinero, which can easily turn into a 1-hour drive during rush hour.

Going on a rainbow gay tour of Bogota is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the gay nightlife.

Experience Bogota's gay nightlife on a tour

Our friends at Out in Colombia, an excellent gay local tour company, offer a gay nightlife tour of Bogota. We found this to be a fantastic way to discover the gay scene. You'll be greeted by a gay local guide, who'll take you to the best gay bars and clubs in Bogota for an unforgettable night out! We've partnered up with them to offer our readers an exclusive 5% discount off their gay tour quoting NOMADICBOYS05.

Fill out this form to check availability for the Bogota gay tour and get a 5% discount.

You can also contact Out in Colombia directly, make sure to mention our name to enjoy the 5% discount.

The incredible and colourful interior of Theatron super club in Bogota
A quiet moment for Seby at Theatron

Gay-friendly hotels to stay in Bogota

We love a gay hotel! Not only do we feel more welcome as a couple, but it's also a great chance for us to get tips off the other guests on the best places in the city to check out. In Bogota, we were spoiled for choice!

These are the ones that we tried and felt welcomed as a gay couple. Alternatively, you can book very affordable accommodation with a local host through either AirBnB or MisterBnB.

Landing in Bogota soon?

Arriving in a new country can be stressful and getting from the airport to your accommodation with piles of luggage is not ideal on public transport. We like to book a private transfer from Bogota airport to our hotel so we can relax and get ready to party!

01

Hotel Gay San Sebastian

Hotel Gay San Sebastian is the perfect gay accommodation in Bogota!

Why we love it


  • An actual gay hotel!
  • Sauna for relaxing
  • Very affordable
  • Great location in gay district Chapinero

Located in the centre of the Chapinero gay district is the TOTALLY GAY “Hotel Gay San Sebastian”! Since opening in 2013 this small boutique hotel has catered to LGBTQ guests and is a very affordable option.

We love the quirky and colourful decor throughout, as well as the very welcoming staff.

The location is fantastic because you're walking distance to gay bars of Chapinero.

Staying here feels more like you're staying with a gay family rather than being in a big hotel. It also has a nice sauna to relax in, as well as a hotel bar and restaurant. While the hotel is very affordable, everything is lovely and clean, perfect for relaxing after all your sightseeing and partying!

If you're not into pink ballerinas, don't worry as not all the rooms are as bold as the one in the picture. The balcony bar is a gorgeous spot to have a cocktail and look out over the city before heading out for the evening. We took full advantage of this each evening, as the only way to get us to stop complaining about sore feet and how exhausted we are from walking all day, is to shove a tasty drink in our hands!

Check availability

STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL

Misterb&b is the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ community. Unlike on Airbnb, you know your host is gay, voiding any nasty surprises when you check-in. It is also a great way to meet gay locals and discover the underground gay scene. Click below to get 10 € (or $10) off our first booking.

02

Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia

Bogota gay guide Sofitel gay friendly hotel
Feeling grand at the Sofitel's plush entrance

Why we love it


  • Gorgeous luxury hotel
  • Located close to Chapinero
  • Wonderful in-house restaurant
  • Such comfortable beds!

The Sofitel is Colombia's first luxury hotel and it's absolutely gorgeous. It's the sort of place you could imagine staying for your honeymoon, with a large grand James Bond-like entrance hall, and the most charming hotel staff we've ever met.

It is located in the high-end El Retiro neighbourhood, near the gay scene in Chapinero and close to some of the best restaurants of the city.

Even though you're close to so many great restaurants in Bogota you'll also not want to miss out on the Sofitel's in-house restaurant Basilic. We are suckers for Mediterranean cuisine. It also serves delicious French cuisine, meaning Seb felt right at home (he's never admitted to eating snails though…) Oh, and the decor is incredible too, with a huge skylight in the restaurant's ceiling.

Our favourite thing about the Sofitel is their beds! They're so comfortable that you feel like you're in a cloud and never want to leave. It was the best night's sleep we've ever had in a hotel. Bedrooms with romantic balconies overlooking the city are just the icing on the cake.

Check availability

03

Graffiti Hostel

Graffiti Hostel is a great gay friendly budget accommodation choice for your trip to Bogota!

Why we love it


  • Funky murals and pops of colour everywhere!
  • Very affordable
  • Fun activities on offer
  • Free breakfast included

For a truly hip choice of budget accommodation in Bogota, you have to check out the Graffiti Hostel!

As you might expect, there are awesome murals throughout this gay-friendly hostel, as well as lots of quirky details like a bathtub library (a bathtub converted into a coffee table with books in it) and foosball tables.

If you like graffiti art and colour, you'll be in heaven here.

Growing up, neither of us were the rebellious kind, so you wouldn't catch us with a graffiti can in our hands. Yet, since our stay here, we are pining to become the next Banksy, as the incredible artwork dotted around the hotel has given us serious inspiration!

You can choose to stay in bunk beds in dorm rooms or in a double room for a bit more privacy. This hostel is even pet-friendly, as long as you organise to bring your furry friend ahead of your arrival (we're not talking about bears in this case!).

As well as foosball tables you'll be able to play board games in the common areas and socialise with other guests. Both of us are pretty sore losers, but we risked playing a game, and are proud to announce we are still together!

The staff are so friendly and helpful, especially the lovely lady who cooks your free breakfast each morning.

Check availability

Gay bars in Bogota

Bogota has a really large gay scene, with many many gay bars. The majority are based around Carrera 9 street between Calles 58 to 60 in the Chapinero neighborhood. There are far too many to list them all here, so we've highlighted the ones we visited and loved. You can also check out our complete guide to the best gay bars in Bogota for more.

Note that the awesome Color House Cafe Bar has closed down for good. We will miss it.

  • El Recreo de Adan: one of the coolest gay bars we've been to, with a seating area where you can play the classic, albeit potentially risky to a relationship, game of Uno with your friends. We love the atmosphere here, made sweeter by the super cute charming waiters. It is located in the Zona Rosa neighborhood on Carrera 12A #79-45 and is open Tues-Sun from 5 pm till late.
  • Leos Bar Mistica: a gay dive bar with a fun atmosphere. Leos hosts the best LGBTQ rumba in the city! On Friday evenings they have karaoke and ꜱtriþpers(!) and on Saturday nights they have a bear night. Leos Bar is located at Calle 59 N 9-36 and it is open daily until around 3 am.
One of the crazy margaritas at gay bar El Recreo de Adan in Bogota.
Enjoying our huge and crazy margarita at El Recreo de Adan

Gay clubs in Bogota

Bogota is all about the massive Theatron Club; “the largest gay club in Latin America” – as every Colombian gay guy you'll meet will proudly remind you! It's in a former theatre hall turned into a gay boy's playground. On Saturday evenings, around 5,000 come here to party into the early hours. There are other gay clubs worth checking out as well though, such as Punto 59 and Disco Jaguar. Try and spend enough time in Bogota to check out a few.

  • Theatron de Película! Theatron is split into 13 mini clubs, which are spread over 5 floors. Each one has its own theme, for example, one room is devoted to 1980s hits, another to salsa music, there's one which is men only and more. We went on a Saturday night and only managed to see a fraction of this mega-club. We would return to Bogota simply to come here again, it's definitely one of our favourite clubbing experiences. Theatron is located at Calle 58 10-18 and is open on Friday and Saturday evenings until 5 am.
  • Punto 59: Puntro 59 is an institution in Bogota, a long-running gay bar and club that is almost as popular as Theatron. The dance floor gets crowded with hot, sweaty gay men dancing the night away and the vibe is very fun. Drinks are also cheap and they have regular karaoke nights. Located at Cra 13 # 59 24 Int 6 Chapinero, Punto 59 is open daily until around 3 am (later on weekends).
  • Disco Jaguar: This is a fun and kitschy disco club, which even has a gay shop attached! Like the animal, the bar is cunning, striking, and domineering. There are two main dance rooms, one playing electronica and the other a mix of Latino music and gay anthems. Disco Jaguar is very popular so gets quite crowded here on weekends. It is located at Carrera 7 # 59-30 and only open Thursday-Saturday from until 2.30am.
  • El Mozo Club: This is the fanciest gay club in town, with a beautiful terrace bar open from 5 pm. El Mozo hosts regular drag shows, dancers, top Colombian DJs and international guest DJs. There's even a sister lesbian club called La Moza, so the girls are not left out. Located at 85 Street No 12-51, El Mozo is open Wednesday-Saturday from 5 pm until 3 am.
Bogota's gay clubs are very fun for drinking, socialising and dancing; especially mega-club Theatron!
Theatron: great music, cute boys, yummy drinks = the perfect night out in Bogota!

Gay cafes in Bogota

Aside from all the bars and restaurants, Bogota has some nice gay cafes that offer up both food and drinks. These were our favourite gay cafes in Bogota:

  • Village Cafe: this is such a quirky, colourful gay cafe/bar, with pink lighting, stained glass windows, and a lot of fabulous purple! Village cafe opens at 4 pm and is a great place to come for a quiet cocktail, a delicious light meal and to listen to music that isn't too loud to hear yourself think. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. It's located at Career 8 No. 64 – 29.
  • Estacion Cafe: this is a more intimate gay bar in Bogota and ideal to come for a few cocktails before heading to the almighty Theatron! You can also have a meal of delicious filet mignon or cordon bleu before going out to party. Estacion has a cover charge of 6,000 pesos ($2) and is open every day from midday (from 4 pm on Saturday/Sunday) until 3 am. It is located at Calle 62 #7-13.
Bogota has a truly eclectic gay scene with so many cool gay bars and cafes!
Nomadic Boys at one of Bogota's very cool gay cafes

Gay events in Bogota

Bogota has a fantastic Pride, alongside other events gay travellers will love. These are our favourite gay and gay-friendly events in Bogota.

  • Gay Pride Weekend (June): Bogota's gay pride festival and parade take place every June. The annual march starts at Parque Nacional and makes its way down Carrera Séptima before arriving at Plaza de Bolívar. There are lots of parties happening in the gay clubs of Chapinero during Pride, making this a fun time to visit Bogota!
  • Festival Internacional de Cine Diverso LGBT+ Bogota (June): Diverso Cinema Festival is a film festival dedicated to showcasing both short films and feature films which tell stories of a diverse community. This is the first and (so far) only International LGBTQ Film Festival in Colombia.
  • Feria Internacional del Libro de Bogota (May): since 1988, Bogota has hosted an international book festival as a way of promoting reading as a fun and informative pastime. During the festival, there are more than 500 exhibitors including publishers, distributors, booksellers, and of course, authors. This is a gay-friendly festival that’s perfect for the bookworms out there.
  • FIT – Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota (March/April): This 17 day performing arts festival takes place every two years (on even-numbered years) in Bogota. The world's most important theatre companies from five continents participate. Events take place at various venues around the city and include street theatre, international concerts, classical dance, storytelling and children’s theatre.
Celebrating gay pride in Bogota!
Marcha LGBT 2013 Bogotá” by Diego Cambiaso is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 / cropped from original

Gay saunas in Bogota

These are some of the best gay saunas in Bogota to check out:

  • Baño Turco Saint Moritz: Saint Moritz is one of the biggest and oldest gay saunas in Bogota, which has recently been renovated. They offer massages and have regular shows featuring ꜱtriþpers or drag acts. You can find Saint Moritz at Calle 65 #13-30 Piso 2 and it is every day from 2-10 pm.
  • Cómplices Spa: Cómplices is another fun place, that's a mix of gay sauna, bar, health club and entertainment complex. There's a beautiful Roman-style pool, Turkish baths, a sauna, 2 Jacuzzis, bar area and private relaxation rooms. They also host regular ꜱtriþ shows and themed parties, so make sure you check their Facebook page to see what's coming up. Located at Carrera 13A # 38-60, Cómplices is open every day from 2-9 pm.
  • Dagoas Spa: if you're looking for a sauna that's open late then Dagoas is perfect because it's the only 24-hour sauna in Bogota. This is actually a gay hostel that also has a large Jacuzzi/pool with a pretty fountain, a Turkish bath, sauna, showers, a small bar, and masseur services. Dagoas is open all day every day and is located at Calle 59 #9-34.
Bogota has some lovely gay saunas for relaxing and meeting handsome locals.
Bogota's gay saunas are steamy spots to relax and meet handsome locals!

Our favourite things to do in Bogota

Candelaria is Bogota's downtown neighbourhood, which is around 30 minutes taxi ride away from Chapinero. The city's best touristic sites can be found here. If you head outside of the big city you will also find many small pretty towns and villages, which you can visit as part of a day trip. Here are our favourite things to do and see in/around Bogota!

For more inspiration, especially if you're travelling as a couple, check out our 5 romantic things to do in Bogota as well.

Experience Bogota's gay nightlife!

Bogota has a great gay scene, with lots of fun gay bars and clubs to enjoy.

As we've mentioned, Bogota has an amazing gay scene, particularly if you're into partying and nightlife! You absolutely must experience Theatron at least once, as well as some of the many other fun gay bars. If you're travelling to Bogota by yourself, or just want an introduction to the gay scene, then you could also join a local tour of the best gay bars. Even if you're not big into partying, there are quieter gay bars and cafes to hang out in, nearly all of which offer an experience unique to Bogota.


Cable car to Monserrate Mountain

Hike or catch a cable car to the top of Monserrat Mountain for incredible views over Bogota.

Monserrate Hill is a famous landmark of Bogota, which should be visited simply for the incredible views. It's also considered very sacred by locals who visit it as a sort of pilgrimage, particularly the white 17th-century monastery at the top which features a shrine devoted to El Señor Caído (“The Fallen Lord”). Located at an altitude of 3,172m (10,407 ft) there are a variety of restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops to visit as well as the church. You can travel up the hill by cable car, funicular or, if you're up for it, hike up the whole way!


Go cycling in the city

Cycling is a fun way for gay travellers to Bogota to explore the city.

Getting around the city by bike is a really fun way to experience Bogota and the bicycle infrastructure here is excellent! There are over 300km of specially designated bicycle lanes. On Sundays between 7 am and 2 pm, lots of main roads in the city are closed for an event called “Ciclovía”, which aims to encourage more locals to cycle in the city. There are plenty of bike rental companies in Bogota if you want to explore the city on two wheels. We recommending checking if your hotel offers bike rentals or consider joining a guided bike tour to see the sights with a local guide.


Awe at all the gold in the Museo del Oro

Learn about Indigenous Colombians and how they used gold in every day life at Bogota's gold museum.

Bogota's Gold museum has the largest collection of gold in the world and is the most visited attraction in the country. A trip here is like a cultural adventure through Colombia's indigenous past as you learn how gold was used in day-to-day life and marvel at the beautifully crafted displays. One of the most famous pieces to be seen is the Muisca Raft piece, which started the legend of El Dorado and has never left Colombia! There's also a cafe, restaurant and gift shop to enjoy after your exploration of the museum. Museo del Oro is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am-6pm and Sundays 10am-4pm.


Explore Candelaria

Bogota gay guide street art in Candelaria

This neighbourhood has many cute small cobblestoned streets and is famous for its street art, thanks to Justin Bieber. In fact, Bogota is one of the top 20 cities in the world for seeing gorgeous street art. We really enjoyed exploring this area filled with colonial architecture and colourful murals. Just take care to only bring with you what you need and leave as many of your valuables as possible in your hotel's safe as Candelaria is a bit unsafe; Stefan's bag was stolen from a cafe here. If you'd rather visit the area with a group then you might like to join a tour to see the street art and meet some of the local artists.


Visit the Salt Cathedral

Gay Bogota - don't miss out on a day trip to the amazing salt cathedral.

Located in Zipaquirá, around 1 hour away from Bogota, this underground cathedral was carved out of salt and is only one of three such structures in the world; the other two are both in Poland. It is simply stunning and was voted #1 of the 7 Wonders of Colombia in a poll in 2007. The salt cathedral and mine is a great spot to visit on a day trip from Bogota. Once there, entry is 50,000 pesos (around $17) per person, which includes an audioguide in English. You can also book a tour to visit the town and cathedral from Bogota, which includes transport there and back.


Trekking, rappelling and rafting

gay guide bogota things to do outside the city

Tobia is a small agricultural town, around 2 hours away from Bogota, known for its stunning scenery and extreme sports. We came here as part of a big adventure day trip, which included trekking in the Tiger Creek Mountain, rappelling down the 75m (246ft) Barandillas waterfall, zip-lining over the Rio Negro valley and rafting down the wild rapids of the Rio Negro. Afterwards, we relaxed with lunch then splashed around in the swimming pool at ‘base camp'. This was definitely one of our favourite things we did while in Bogota.


Watch a football match at the El Campín Stadium

Watch a football match at Bogota's El Campin stadium and enjoy the electric energy of the crowd!

The Estadio Nemesio Camacho, commonly known as El Campín, is the main football stadium in Bogota and the home ground of the teams Independiente Santa Fe and Millonarios. Even if you're not a big football fan (like our Seby!) it's still worth coming just to feel the huge energy of the local supporters. Football is life for Latin Americans and they get super passionate about it! The stadium is also a popular venue for international musical acts as it can hold up to 36,343 spectators. Big artists such as Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Shakira, U2, The Rolling Stones and One Direction have all performed here.


Marvel at the Botero Museum

Fernando Botero is one of Colombia’s most iconic and influential artists, we love the exaggerated figures in his work! A prolific sculptor and painter, Botero donated more than 100 of his own works to this museum, as well as pieces from his collection by artists such as Picasso, Monet, Matisse and Klimt. It's free to visit the museum, although you can also hire an audio guide or join a private tour if you'd like to learn more about Botero and his artistic legacy. If you're travelling to Medellin while in Colombia as well, don't miss out on seeing more of his sculptures in the outdoor museum of “Botero Plaza”.


Visit a traditional coffee Hacienda

Coffee lovers definitely need to visit a local coffee plantation when staying in Bogota.

90 minutes from Bogota is the Hacienda Coloma, a beautiful coffee plantation in a stunning location. If like us you're super passionate about your morning brew, then exploring a coffee plantation is a must! At this Hacienda you get to learn all about the process of making coffee, from growing the chupola to the washing, pulping, drying and roasting of the beans. The gardens at Hacienda Coloma are so gorgeous that we definitely recommend having lunch here. If you don't have your own transport you can join a tour of this lovely hacienda.


Gay-friendly restaurants in Bogota

Bogota boasts some of the best restaurants and most creative chefs in the country. These were our personal favourite gay-friendly restaurants we enjoyed during our time here:

Andrés Carne de Res

For an incredible experience, delicious food and amazing waiters/performers you must visit Andres Carne de Res in Bogota

This amazing restaurant actually has a few locations but the easiest to get to in Bogota is Andrés DC. The crazy decor, live shows and dancing are reason enough to visit, while the food is just the icing on the cake. The menu is 40 pages long and features delicious dishes from grilled octopus to steak, as well as vegetarian options and lots of yummy cocktails. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, which is no mean feat since this place gets absolutely packed. It's really quite difficult to describe Andrés Carne de Res, you'll just have to experience it yourself!


Capital Cocina y Cafe

Capital Cocina is a gay friendly and cosy restaurant in Bogota serving traditional Colombian cuisine.

Serving up traditional Colombian dishes and tapas, Capital Cocina y Cafe is a very cozy little restaurant in the old town area of Candelaria. It's small and the tables fill up fast because the food is so good! They do yummy Colombian comfort-style food, like pork chops, steak, and grilled chicken, although they also have vegan options. The English-speaking staff is so lovely and while the prices are low, the portions are massive. For about $6 you can get a delicious three-course meal.


Agadon

For the best burgers in Bogota (plus crazy freakshakes) don't miss out on Agadon!

Agadon was our favourite place to come after a night on the town, their burgers are the best thing to cure a crazy night out with too many drinks! Aside from the biggest, juiciest burgers we've ever seen, they also serve “freakshakes”, big salads, sandwiches, soup, nachos, ribs and chicken drumsticks (and oh em geee, the pancakes!) They're open on Sundays from 9 am for brunch but only after 12 pm the rest of the week. They're also open til late so you can have dinner as well as some craft beers before heading out for the night.


Capitalino Restaurant

Capitalino Restaurant in the Grand Hyatt Hotel is an excellent spot for Colombian cuisine in Bogota

Inside the Grand Hyatt Bogota is the charming Capitalino Restaurant, which serves plenty of Colombian specialties as well as more international dishes. Along with delicious food, the service here is amazing and there's also an outdoor terrace if you want to eat al fresco. We had a divine soup of prawn, achiote, avocado, puffed rice and coriander oil, while there are also juicy burgers or steak for those who prefer more classic food. Make sure you save room for some of their delectable desserts!


Before you go

We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Bogota. Read on to find out everything the gay traveller should know before they go.

Travel insurance: No matter where you are things can go wrong, whether it's missing a flight or having your passport stolen. Make sure you have adequate coverage on your trip to Bogota by using an insurance provider like Heymondo. We love using Heymondo Travel Insurance because their cover is very comprehensive and it's easy to make a claim online if something goes wrong.


How to get there: If you are flying to Bogota you will be arriving at the El Dorado International Airport. From the airport to the city centre it's only about 20 minutes (in good traffic) and you can catch a public bus if you don't have much luggage. If you have more than a small bag (or simply don't want to have to deal with the hassle of public transport when you first arrive) then you could do what we usually do, which is book a private transfer from the airport to your accommodation. It's also possible to get to Bogota via bus from other Colombian cities such as Medellin.


Visa requirements: If you have a passport from the EU, US or Australia then you probably won't need a visa to visit Colombia for up to 90 days as a tourist. If you are planning to stay longer, come from another country or just want to be 100% sure, check your personal visa requirements here before booking anything for Bogota.


Getting around: Bogota is served by one of the best bus systems in the world, the TransMilenio network which covers 112km with a fleet of over 2000 buses. Generally, catching a bus is cheaper and safer than getting a taxi as they often have scams, and Uber is technically illegal in Colombia. Check out this website for more information about using Bogota's public transport.


Vaccinations: When travelling to Bogota you should make sure you are up to date with all routine vaccines (especially measles as there have been some outbreaks in Colombia recently). The CDC also recommends vaccinations for Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on what activities you are planning to do on your trip you may also need other vaccinations, so make sure you check the CDC website before you go.


Currency: The currency used in Bogota, and throughout Colombia, is the Colombian peso which is abbreviated to COP. The regular dollar symbol is used with Colombian pesos, or sometimes COL$ to distinguish it from other currencies. $1 US converts to about COL$3100, £1 to around COL$4,000 and €1 to roughly COL$3600.


Tipping culture: There isn't really much of a tipping culture in Bogota and the rest of Colombia. Some travellers might tip a few thousand pesos (50 cents to a dollar in USD) to hotel housekeeping for good service. In restaurants and spas, a 10% optional service charge is usually added to your bill so you can choose whether to tip and know how much would be reasonable. You wouldn't normally tip a taxi driver but you should probably tip a tour guide between 5-10% of the tour cost, particularly if you think they did a good job.


Internet access: You should be able to access good, free WiFi in the hotels, hostels, bars and restaurants of Bogota. If you think you may need to use a lot of bandwidth then you might also like to bring your own portable WiFi device with you or get a local sim card.


Online privacy: There aren't any restrictions on internet usage in Colombia so you won't have any trouble using gay dating apps or accessing certain websites. If you do prefer to keep your browsing history private then you could use a VPN like the ones ExpressVPN offer. We always use ExpressVPN when travelling because they're easy to use, reliable and affordable.


Accommodation: If you want to see more accommodation options for Bogota then we recommend using Booking.com to search online. We always use Booking.com because they have a huge selection with the best prices, excellent customer service and often free cancellation if needed.


Sightseeing and adventure: We found most of the fun activities we tried in Bogota on the GetYourGuide website, which we love! There are always so many choices, the online booking process is very easy and the 24/7 customer support is excellent.


When to visit: Obviously, if you want to visit Bogota for gay pride and the Diverso Cinema Festival then June is the time to go! Because of it's elevated position, the weather in Bogota is generally mild year-round, although it tends to rain less in the periods between December-February and June-September, which make them ideal for visiting.


Gay map of Bogota

We've put together a gay map of Bogota for you, which shows where all our favourite gay bars and clubs are, as well as all the other places or things to do that we've mentioned here. Use it to help plan your own fabulous trip to Bogota!

Our guide to the best gay bars, clubs and cafes in Bogota along with things to do, gay friendly restaurants and more!

For more inspiration:

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Our favourite gay bars, clubs, hotels, places to eat and things to do in Bogota, Colombia
Stefan Arestis

Hey everyone, I'm Stefan, the curly-haired Greek flavor behind the gay travel blog Nomadic Boys. Together with my other half, I have explored more than 90 countries across 5 continents. What I love most about traveling is discovering the local gay scene, making new friends, learning new cultures. I've written about LGBTQ travel in numerous online publications such as Gaycation Magazine, Gaycities, Gay Times and Pink News as well as for other non-gay-specific publications including Lonely Planet, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Huffington Post. Check my full bio here.

John

Friday 23rd of April 2021

Thanks so much for your great guide to Bogota. However, you forgot to mention the most important reason to go. The boys are the hottest in South America!

Stefan Arestis

Friday 23rd of April 2021

Thanks John. But I'll think you'll find we did mention that - several times :)

Dennis Hanshew

Saturday 21st of December 2019

I followed your advice to pre-arrange both pick-up and return from/to the airport with Impulse (taxi service). Due to a missed flight connection, the original pick-up was missed but I agreed to pay for it nevertheless. However, a 2nd driver was supposedly arranged but he was not there on my arrival and I had to take a street taxi instead. Impulse said that he was there and I had likely missed him in my "rush out of Immigration" and they charged me anyway. Entirely bogus, the driver was not there. In an abundance of caution for my return to the airport and departure, I re-confirmed the pick-up time with Impulse twice, I sent them a map link for directions to my apt, I sent them physical description and I even sent them photos of the apartment building and area to pull off of Carrerra 1 for the pick-up. I was on a tight schedule. I waited for the driver for 15 minutes past the confirmed pick-up time but he never showed. I texted Impulse several times and got no response. As a last resort I had to take a street taxi. This company is a DISASTER. You should pull your recommendation from your site.

Stefan Arestis

Monday 23rd of December 2019

Hi Dennis, thanks for your comment and really sorry to hear about this disastrous experience! However, we have no idea who Impulse is and we do not recommend them in our article. We do however recommend GetYourGuide who offer a variety of excellent services in Bogota like airport pickups, so I assume this was one of the local agents they use there. I've nonetheless raised this with them and appreciate you letting us know!

Kurtis Overton

Saturday 9th of November 2019

I’m looking forward to following your advice on places to stay and things to do when I travel to Bogota and Medellin in June 2020 for two weeks. Last June, I visited Santiago,Chile for two weeks and followed your hotel (The Aubrey)and restaurant advice. It was a great trip thanks to your expertise. I’m looking forward to another great trip following your advice. I’m booked at the Sofitel Victoria Regia in Bogota and NH Collection in Medellin. Again, thank you for such wonderful gay tourism advice.

Stefan Arestis

Sunday 10th of November 2019

Our pleasure Kurtis! So pleased we were able to help :)

Dennis H

Saturday 2nd of November 2019

This is awesome. I'm headed to Bogota next week and looking to figure out what to explore.

Stefan Arestis

Sunday 3rd of November 2019

THEATRON :)

Brad

Saturday 4th of November 2017

Nice guide. I’ve lived here for seven years so can recommend a few more gay spots in Chapinero:

Indie Cave - gay hipster joint (2 doors down from el Perro) which plays indie pop. It’s small, very friendly and usually packed on weekend nights.

La Cueva del Oso - bear bar next to Theatron. They play the same crosssover music as in most Chapinero clubs, but it’s an older crowd and sweet to see men of all shapes and sizes dancing together.

Village Cafe - nice sitdown place for cocktails, often with dj on weekends playing hip house music.

Also, a safety tip: Pickpockets are real pros and can be anywhere so I recommend leaving cell phones and wallets in your hotel rooms, unless you really know how to secure them.

Nomadic boys

Saturday 4th of November 2017

Awesome thanks Brad!!