Walk the old walled city — colonial balconies draped in bougainvillea
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Getsemaní neighbourhood: street art, craft cocktails, and live salsa
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Day trip to Islas del Rosario — crystal-clear water and coral reefs
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Sunset from Café del Mar on the city walls
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Fresh ceviche and fried fish at Bazurto Market
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Castillo de San Felipe — the largest Spanish fort in the Americas
Local tip
Before you go to Cartagena
Old town is best on foot — it's compact and beautiful. Negotiate taxi prices before getting in or use InDriver/Uber. Beware of street vendors who overcharge tourists.
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Cartagena is a magnetic port city, where colourful colonial façades and geraniums in window boxes carry you back to an earlier era. It can get busy with cruise tourists and touristy hassle, but behind the walls of the Old Town, a real city waits - a place where you can slow down, enjoy phenomenal food and immerse yourself in Colombian rhythms.
Why visit Cartagena
Cartagena is one of South America's most photographed cities, and rightly so. Spanish conquistadors founded the city in 1533, on a site where indigenous settlements had already existed thousands of years earlier. Today, that same spot has become a place where history speaks from every street corner - an intricate maze of cobblestone streets, balconies covered in flowers and grand churches on spacious squares. This isn't just architecture; it's a time capsule that's still alive and breathing.
But Cartagena is about more than beauty. It's a gateway to some of the most spectacular diving experiences in the world, at prices that any backpacker's wallet can handle. The nearby Rosario Islands offer crystal-clear waters and underwater worlds you shouldn't miss. Add to that phenomenal food, ranging from traditional Caribbean dishes to surprising options like the best falafel you'll find in Colombia, and you'll understand why visitors linger here.
Leave the Old Town and main tourist areas to discover the real Cartagena - it's worth the effort
Plan your diving trip to the Rosario Islands carefully; it's one of the top reasons to be here
Expect busy streets, hustlers and touristy hassle, especially in the centre - this isn't an off-the-beaten-path destination, but it does offer live music on the squares and sunsets over the Caribbean
When to go
Cartagena attracts visitors all year round, largely thanks to direct flights and cruise ship visits. That also means the city is busy pretty much permanently - there's no real low season when you'll have it to yourself. The climate does vary, though. Temperatures stay consistently warm to hot, but your experience depends more on the rain and dry patterns than on the heat.
The best time to go is during the dry season, when you're less likely to run into sudden storms that can disrupt your plans. That said, it's worth knowing that prices and accommodation availability shift with the seasons. In the dry season you pay more, but at least you'll have fewer problems with full hostels or closed businesses. In the wetter, quieter season you can sleep for up to three times cheaper - the choice comes down to whether you value comfort or saving money.
Book accommodation ahead during busy periods; good places fill up fast
It's warm all year round and more humid than you'd expect - bring plenty of water and insect repellent
Plan your visit around what matters most to you: low season for a tighter budget, dry season for reliable weather
How to get there and get around
Cartagena is easy to reach, thanks to direct international flights to Rafael Núñez airport. Once you land, you're pretty much straight in the tourist centre - no hours-long bus ride needed. That's a big advantage over many other Colombian destinations. Getting around the city itself is easy on foot. The Old Town is compact enough to explore on foot, though your feet will probably ache after a day on the cobblestones.
If you want to head further, to islands or nearby destinations like Santa Marta or Playa Blanca, there are bus options, though airlines also offer cheap domestic flights that save you time. For the Rosario Islands, diving companies like Diving Planet arrange transport to and from your accommodation, so that's hassle-free. A local tip: if you fancy some motorcycling to discover hidden natural beauty, you can also rent a bike - the roads in Colombia are reasonably well maintained, though you'll need to be a confident rider.
Many international flights land directly here, saving you a lot of time compared to other Colombian cities
Wear comfortable shoes - the cobblestones look great but aren't kind to your feet
Book ahead if you're heading to the islands; transport fills up fast, especially Diving Planet for diving trips
Top experiences in Cartagena
Your main activity here should be walking and soaking it all in - this is a place to slow down and take everything in at your own pace. The Old Town has endless corners to discover: squares with live music, side streets where you'll find sellers of local artwork, and terraces where you can sit for hours with a drink while the world goes by. Many visitors can tick off the main sights in a single day, but the real magic is in simply wandering and losing yourself in the atmosphere.
Diving, though, is the other key reason to be here. Colombia has some of the cheapest diving prices in the world, and the Rosario Islands are easy to reach from Cartagena. Diving Planet offers professional bilingual guides and all-inclusive day trips or overnight diving trips, including transport, lunch and equipment. You can even get your PADI open water certification here for far less than in Western countries. For something more relaxing, beaches around Cartagena like Playa Blanca are popular, though they can get busy. If you want to go further afield, the San Bernardo Islands are an option, with white sand beaches and less touristy hassle. Fancy something more authentic? Step off the standard tourist trail and look for local communities and traditional food - you'll find places like Novo Kebab, where they make better falafel than you'd expect in a Colombian port city.
Diving off the Rosario Islands is a must if you love the sea - it's cheap and world-class
Plan at least two full days - you can rush through the highlights faster, but Cartagena is more about slowing down than speed
Steer clear of the 'free sample' drug scenario entirely; saying no and walking on is the only safe response
Practical tips and precautions
Your money goes a long way in Colombia. Hostel dorms cost around 15,000-45,000 COP a night (roughly 4-12 euros), with private rooms for as little as 40,000-80,000 COP. Food is cheap - you'll find a set daily meal (plato del día) for 3-4 dollars, which is enough to keep you going all day. Even in a tourist spot like Cartagena, you can live on 20 dollars a day if you keep things modest and consider couchsurfing or camping. More interested in tours and unique experiences? Budget for 50 dollars a day. Cash machines are available all over the city, and you can withdraw money relatively safely as long as you use common sense.
Safety here is mostly about common sense. The stories about forced drug sales are true and serious - people have been led to cash machines and threatened. The key is this: don't accept free samples or "friendly" offers from strangers, and never go to unfamiliar areas alone or at night. Beyond the tourist zones you're safer, and you'll see the real Cartagena. Take out travel insurance for yourself - it covers you against illness, accidents, theft and cancellations. For emergencies, call 123. On health: mosquitoes show no mercy, so bring good insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes and plenty of water. This isn't a place for backpackers looking to stay off the beaten path - it's busy, commercial and full of hustlers. But if you understand that and prepare yourself accordingly, the rewards are unmatched.
Buy travel insurance before you leave - it's essential and cheap
Say no to free samples or drug offers; saying no and walking away is your only safe option
Bring insect repellent and plenty of water - it's more humid than you think, and the mosquitoes are no joke
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