Plaza de Bolivar
This is the first port of call for most visitors to Bogota; built in the centre of the historic part of Bogota, this square has a statue of Simon Bolivar in the middle (built by Pietro Tenerani, an Italian artist, in 1846). Little is preserved from the original colonial times, but a walk around the square still makes for an interesting venture and will allow you to take in governmental, political and other buildings (including an astronomical observatory).

Plaza de Bolivar
Free admission.

La Candelaria
This is the historic centre around the Plaza de Bolivar. Despite some unfortunate architectural influences from 20th century, the barrio remains largely soaked in the colonial spirit and lifestyle. Some buildings are being restored to their former glory, some are still dilapidated. The first buildings were built in the 16th century and today's La Candelaria is actually a group of old districts such as La Catedral, Egypto and La Concordial. The area was declared a National Monument in 1964. The streets of the old Santa Fe are full of old Spanish style mansions with heavy doors, large halls, spacious rooms, patios, thick walls and various styles of balconies. The 19th- and 20th- century buildings are locally known as Republican. La Candelaria of today has a strong bohemian, cultural and academic flavour.

Historical town centre
Free admission.

El Museo del Oro (Gold Museum)
Internationally renowned, the Banco de la República Gold Museum boasts some 34,000 gold pieces from all major pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia, making it one of the most important gold museums in the world. Guided tours are conducted twice daily (in English at 1100 and 1500).

Calle 16, corner of Carreras 5 and 6
Tel: (1) 343 2222.
Website: www.banrep.gov.co/museo/esp/home.htm
Admission charge.

Cerro de Monserrate
One of the peaks overlooking the sprawling city (Sabana de Bogota) from the east, Cerro de Monserrate towers 3,160m (10,367ft) above Bogota. There is a church on the top with a statue of Senor Caido from 1650s to which numerous miracles are attributed. The present church was erected when the original chapel was destroyed in the 1917 earthquake. It gets very busy on Sunday when a large number of pilgrims and tourists flood the place. Apart from the church itself, the surrounding area is very commercialised with food and souvenir stalls offering mainly pork and chicken in all forms and colours and inevitable pastries (almost always coated in sugar) as well as souvenirs. But the view from the peak is magnificent. On a clear day one can spot Los Nevados, the volcano range in the Cordillera Central, 135km (84 miles) away to the west. The peak is accessible via cable car, funicular railway or by foot.

Cable car and funicular railway
Carrera 2E no 21-48 (at the foot of the mountain)
Tel: (1) 284 5700.
Admission charge.

Museo Botero
The art collection donated by Colombian artist Fernando Botero is thought to be one of the most important in the country's history.  The collection consists of 120 artworks, mainly paintings, drawings and sculptures by European artists such as Picasso, Chagal, Dali, Renoir, Matisse and Monet.

Calle 11 no 4-21
Tel: (1) 343 1223.
Free admission.

Church of Santa Clara
Probably the most representative of the cluster of colonial churches in town. Built between 1629 and 1674 as a part of the Poor Clares Convent, its walls are completely covered by paintings and statues of saints, all dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Carrera 8 no 8-91
Tel: (1) 341 1009.
Admission charge.