Five hours is enough for Bogotá's hill, its old quarter and its gold, as long as you pick the right half of the right day. This guide is for you if you have a morning or an afternoon free in the capital, often at the start or the end of a longer trip. It helps you choose between the two start times, decide how to get up Monserrate, and spot the days that change the plan.
Pick the day, then the start time
The tour leaves at 07:00 or 13:00. Which one suits you depends mostly on the day of the week, because the Gold Museum sets the limits.
The museum belongs to the Banco de la República. Its published hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:00; Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. It is closed every Monday, even when the Monday is a holiday. Hours can change, so check the museum's site before you go.
That gives a simple rule:
- Monday: the museum is shut whichever slot you book. If the gold is the reason you are going, choose another day.
- Tuesday to Saturday: both starts work.
- Sunday or a holiday: both starts work, but the museum closes early, so on the 13:00 start it comes earlier in the afternoon.
Sunday has two more effects. Entry to the Gold Museum is free for everyone that day. And from 07:00 to 14:00 on Sundays and holidays the city hands about 127 kilometres of its main roads to cyclists, runners and walkers for the Ciclovía. The morning drive can take a little longer.
Cloud, rain and the view from the top
Bogotá has no real summer or winter. The city's own climate guide, drawing on IDEAM, the national weather service, names January, February, July and August as the drier months. The other eight are wetter, and April has the most rainy days.
Daytime highs are usually 18 to 20°C and nights drop to 8 to 10°C. In the dry spell at the start of the year, dawn can fall below 5°C, which you will feel on an early start at the top of the hill.
So a clear view from Monserrate is never certain. Your odds are better in the drier months. In the wetter ones, bring a jacket and keep an open mind about the order of the day. If the hill is in cloud when you arrive, your driver can start in La Candelaria and try the top later.
Up the hill: cable car, funicular or the steps
Two lines climb from the base station, a cable car and a funicular. The operator runs one or the other depending on demand and the weather, so you may not get to choose. The ticket is not part of the tour; you buy it on the day.
Both lines run daily, from early morning, with shorter hours on Sundays and holidays. They are adjusted around Easter and other busy dates, so check the official site before you go.
Walking up is possible, but think it through first. The stone path climbs 1,605 steps over 2,350 metres, all of it above Bogotá's own altitude. It is free, opens at 05:00 and stops letting walkers in at 13:00, and it is closed on Tuesdays for maintenance. There are no toilets on the way.
The city's sports and recreation institute, which runs the path, asks pregnant women, people carrying babies, people over 75 and anyone with a heart or breathing condition not to walk it. If you still want to, only the 07:00 start leaves room for it. Tell us when you book.
The altitude, and travellers who need help
Bogotá sits at about 2,640 metres and the sanctuary at 3,152. If you flew in yesterday, the hill adds another 500 metres to a climb your body is still getting used to. Walk slowly at the top, drink water and leave the steps for a later trip.
For anyone with limited mobility, the cable car has adapted access and the staff lend wheelchairs. The paths at the summit are uneven and sloping, though, so come with someone who can push. In La Candelaria the car covers the long distances between stops.
What to book or bring
- A Gold Museum time slot. The Banco de la República asks visitors to book their visit in advance on its website. Do it before the day, and especially for a Sunday.
- A check on the galleries. Some rooms close in turn for conservation and maintenance. If one gallery is the reason you are going, look at the museum's site first.
- A rain jacket and a warm layer, whatever the forecast says at breakfast.
- Sun cream, for the summit and the open plaza.
- Comfortable shoes for the cobbles of the old quarter.
- Some local cash for the coffee stop and small purchases.
Children under 12 and adults over 60 enter the Gold Museum free on any day it is open.
Who this half day suits
It suits a first afternoon in Bogotá, a free morning before a flight, or a group that wants the city's main sights without filling a whole day. The private car means short legs between stops and a driver waiting at each one.
If you have a full day, the Bogotá in a day tour adds the Botero Museum, lunch and Usaquén. For the trips out of the city, see our guide to day trips from Bogotá.
Questions people ask
Is the Gold Museum labelled in English?
Yes. The texts in the permanent galleries are in Spanish and English.
How big is the collection?
More than 34,000 gold pieces, plus around 25,000 objects in stone, ceramics, textiles and precious stones from pre-Hispanic cultures. The permanent display runs across four galleries, so an hour gives you a good look rather than the whole thing.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the half day
Check the day of the week against the museum's hours, choose the start time, and book the museum slot. The stops, timings and what is included are on the Monserrate, La Candelaria and Gold Museum private tour page. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
