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How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From BOG
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION25m
TRANSIT40m
EXPLORE2h
RETURN40m
BUFFER45m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~25 min · BOG
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Most nationalities do not need a visa to transit Colombia or enter as a tourist for up to 90 days. Verify current entry requirements before travel.
Transit into the city
40 min
Taxis from the official rank outside arrivals take about 35–40 minutes to central Bogotá and cost approximately COP 40,000–60,000. TransMilenio bus routes connect to the city for a fraction of the price but take 60–90 minutes. Uber also operates from the airport. No metro link yet.
Explore Bogotá
~2h of free time
At BOG, stay airside—El Dorado has strong food options and lounges, and landside traffic plus security delays add risk.
We recommend you stay airside: Bogotá traffic and distance make short exits impractical.
A very limited nearby stop is possible only if traffic is unusually light.
Pick one well located neighborhood and enjoy food, history, and walking. Traffic and elevation changes slow things down, so fewer stops create a better experience.
Return to BOG
40 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 85 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~45 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at BOG typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
🍴
Bogotá Food Walking Tour
Taste the best of the city with a local guide. Perfect for a layover.
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
Colombian Peso (COP, sometimes written $ or COL$). Cards work at restaurants, malls, and hotels, but carry cash for taxis, small vendors, and TransMilenio card top-ups. Bank ATMs in the city give better rates than airport exchange counters.
Language
Spanish. English is common at El Dorado Airport, upscale hotels, and some restaurants in Chapinero and Zona T, but basic Spanish helps everywhere else.
Visa
Most Western passports (US, Canada, EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand) enter visa-free for up to 90 days. All travelers must complete the Check-Mig online form between 72 hours and 1 hour before arrival into Colombia. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
TransMilenio K86 from El Dorado to La Sabana station runs about 45 to 60 min for roughly COP 2,900 (Tullave card required, sold at SITP counters in Arrivals). Official white airport taxis to La Candelaria take 30 to 50 min and cost about COP 35,000 to 45,000 depending on traffic. No rail link.
Weather
Cool highland climate year-round at 2,640 m (8,660 ft). Daytime 14 to 20°C, nights drop to 8 to 10°C. Dry windows are December to February and June to September; rainy peaks hit April to May and October to November. Pack a light jacket and a rain layer in any month.
Tipping
Restaurants ask if you want to include the 10% propina voluntaria, and most diners say yes. No tipping at taxis or counter cafes. COP 2,000 to 5,000 per bag for hotel porters.
Emergency
123 (Colombia universal, for police, fire, and ambulance).
Time Zone
COT (UTC-5). Colombia does not observe daylight saving time, so it stays UTC-5 year-round.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
