Fun Fact Fiesta Logo

Discover 7 Amazing Fun Facts About Bogota: Uncover the Hidden Gems of Colombia's Capital City

illustration of bogota
Get ready to explore the vibrant capital of Colombia, Bogotá, through a delightful array of quirky and fascinating tidbits that will leave you craving to know more!

1. Goldilocks' Dream Climate

If the Three Bears from Goldilocks ever decided to vacay in Colombia, they'd surely end up in Bogotá: its impeccable temperature is juuust right! The serious reveal: Thanks to its soaring altitude, Bogotá enjoys a splendidly moderate climate allowing residents and visitors alike to bask in year-round comfort sans heaters or air conditioners.
Source => theguardian.com

2. Colonial Architecture & Dragons

Once upon a steamy cup of joe in the land of cacao, where the tobacco-leafed dragons roamed: Bogotá, founded in 1538, showcases stunning colonial architecture - with gems like the cathedral, San Ignacio and San Francisco churches - and today stands tall as a vital financial and cultural hub, powered by banking, transportation, and business industries.
Source => mrnussbaum.com

3. Ciclovía's Car-Free Celebration

Imagine a world where humans reclaim their concrete jungle and turn it into a cyclist's paradise - where highways become bikeways, and the only fuel needed is the power in your legs: Every Sunday and public holiday, Colombia's major cities, including Bogotá, close over 120 km of streets to cars for "Ciclovía," allowing people to run, skate, and cycle freely since 1974. About 2 million people join the fun, indulging in food stalls and performances as they ride, stride, or glide the car-free routes.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Sunday Funday on Wheels

Who needs cars when you've got legs and wheels galore? Bogotá’s Sunday Funday: Since 1974, Ciclovía turns over 76 miles of streets into a car-free playground for around 1.7 million people to walk, run, and cycle every Sunday and holiday from 7 am to 2 pm. This massive recreational event has inspired more than 400 cities around the globe to embrace a less vroom-vroom approach to urban living.
Source => vox.com

VIP Plants at the Botanical Garden

5. VIP Plants at the Botanical Garden

In Bogotá, plants aren't just green-thumb hobbies, they're VIP guests at the city's botanical extravaganza: Home to Colombia's largest botanical garden, José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden doubles as a research and conservation hub for Andean and Páramo ecosystems, boasting over 5000 orchid species and rare collections of endangered Andean flora – making it a plant-lover's paradise and an educational amusement park for budding botanists.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Merry Litmas with Velitas

In Bogotá, they say, "Merry Litmas!" as they light up the town for the Virgin Mary's big day: On December 7th, El Día de las Velitas sees Bogotá's residents fill the city with candles and paper lanterns on every possible surface, kickstarting the Christmas season with illuminating festivities, extended hours for malls and museums, and various shows like live nativity scenes and caroling events.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Month-Long Secret Love Handshake

In Bogotá, roses and chocolates are like a secret handshake among friends, keeping the conspiracy of love alive for an entire month: The Colombian capital has its very own twist on Valentine's Day, known as the day of Love and Friendship, celebrated on the third Saturday of September which features a "secret friend" tradition that involves anonymously gifting roses, sweets, and notes to a chosen companion until the big reveal on the day itself, trading the over-commercialization for genuine tokens of appreciation.
Source => alianzaporlasolidaridad.org

Related Fun Facts