Museums in Colombia: 15 Visits Worth a Wet Afternoon

1.Bogotá City Tour with Monserrate, Gold and Botero Museums

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 584 reviews · 5 - 7 hours · from $65Our pick

This private 5 to 7 hour Bogotá tour combines La Candelaria, Chorro de Quevedo, Bolívar Square, Monserrate, the Gold Museum, and the Botero Museum. Your English or Spanish speaking guide adapts the pace, explains Colombia’s conflict and peace process, and leads tastings of chicha, fruit, juices, and coffee. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“It is the best tour we have ever had (and we have travelled a lot). Especially our tour guide Nick Ramirez was exceptional with his local knowlidge. We absolutely recommend this tour and especially for first time visitors. It is a must and worth the money.”

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2.City Tour, Monserrate, Gold Museum, Plaza de Bolivar

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 168 reviews · 6 hours · from $88

You’ll tour Bogotá by private vehicle and on foot with an English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Edwin, José, or Diego. Expect the Gold Museum, Botero Museum, Plaza de Bolívar, La Candelaria, Chorro de Quevedo, and Monserrate. Museum entries and hotel pickup are included, but Monserrate’s ticket is extra.

“Intersting tour, efficient service, friendly and helpful guide, and good value. A bit rushed throught the gold museum.”

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3.City Tour, Monserrate, Gold Museum, Botero Museum, Plaza Bolívar

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 146 reviews · 6 hours · from $81

Spend six hours exploring Bogotá with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide, private transport, museum tickets, a light snack, and time in La Candelaria, Plaza Bolívar, Chorro de Quevedo, Monserrate, and Simón Bolívar Park. Monserrate entry and the funicular cost extra, so budget for that separately.

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4.Cristo Rey, Tertulia Museum and Downtown Cali City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 44 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $88

Spend about six hours with a private guide exploring Cristo Rey, Cali’s historic plazas, La Tertulia Museum, and downtown food stops. Air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup simplify the day, while the walking sections bring you closer to local life. Guides have included Juan, Camilo, Andrea, Paul, and Liz, though assignments vary.

“It was great to have a personal tour guide. Juan was knowledgable and enthusiastic about his home city, Cali. We saw so much and it was great to also taste some local fruit and coffee. Recent this tour”

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5.La Candelaria Private Tour Bogotá + Local Lunch + 2 Museums (6 Hrs.)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $179Top rated

Spend six private hours in Bogotá with a guide such as Melissa, Camila, Esteban, or Maria Paola. Walk La Candelaria, visit the Gold Museum and Banco de la República museums, eat a local lunch, and shape the final stops around your interests. Hotel pickup, private transport, admission, and lunch are included.

“We had a six hour trip to see the main sites of Bogota as well as two museums Melissa was very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide - her detailed descriptions of the various famous sites an artist of Bogota made us really get a deep understanding of the Colombian culture and way of life. The tour included fast entrance to the top sites, which made the process very easy and effortless.”

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6.Gran Malecón, Carnaval Museum and Downtown Barranquilla City Tour 6H

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $82

This private six-hour Barranquilla tour combines downtown landmarks, San Nicolás Square, La Ventana al Mundo, the Gran Malecón, local snacks, and the Carnaval Museum. Hotel pickup and drop-off keep the day simple, while guides such as Samy or Sami can adjust the plan if a museum is closed.

“The tour guide was pleasant. I would not call this a 6H tour of Barranquilla City unless it also includes the travel. The tour did not seem well thought out. I visited more places on a bike tour for $35 USD than this Gran Colombia Tour for $82 USD. That would be what I recommend if you want to get a good sweat. I paid nearly $300 USD for two tours for two people with Gran Colombia Tour and feel like I just made a donation for a bad tour. For anyone who is crazy enough to do this tour I recommend that you give them a list of places…”

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7.Museum of Antioquia Skip-the-Line Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 34 reviews · 4 hours · from $93

Spend up to four hours at Medellín’s Museo de Antioquia, home to a major collection by local artist Fernando Botero. Skip the regular line through express security, then explore the museum and Plaza Botero at your own pace. An optional museum tour runs daily at 2 PM. Food, drinks, and hotel transport are not included.

“Die Boteroausstellung lohnt sich in Kombination mit den Skulpturen auf der Plaza Botero.”

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8.Walking Tour Cartagena Old City with Gold Museum and Plaza de Bolivar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $67

Meet your English-Spanish guide at Las Bóvedas for a three-hour walk through Cartagena’s walled city. See Plaza de Bolívar, San Pedro Church, the cathedral, the Clock Tower, and the Zenú Gold Museum. Guides such as Belkin, Inri, Martin, Sam, and Rafael have led past tours. Comfortable shoes and sun protection matter.

“My guide was delightful. Well informed, considerate, and warm. I enjoyed spending the afternoon with her. However, the tour turned out not to be what I expected. I would have preferred a tour that included the markets, the old wall and its history. Instead we walked the streets, visited each of the main plazas and looked at church facades. That was on me for not informing myself better. However, I asked for and was signed up for a group tour. Instead, only the guide showed up at the appointed time.. I was disappointed because I wanted a group tour to meet other travelers. So I was taken on an individual…”

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9.Private Candelaria Walking Tour and Gold Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 4 hours · from $75

Spend four hours with a bilingual private guide such as Fabio, Mauricio, Alexandra, or Lorena, visiting Bogotá’s Gold Museum and walking La Candelaria. See Plaza de Bolívar, Chorro de Quevedo, Calle del Coliseo, government buildings, and the Chamber of the Golden Offering, with hotel pickup, private transport, and coffee included.

“Wir hatten einen wunderschönen Nachmittag, mit sehr viel Kultur, Geschichte, tollem Kaffee, absolut empfehlenswert.”

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10.Pablo Escobar Tour incl. museum & transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 17 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Spend five hours with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide visiting Medellín locations linked to Pablo Escobar, including Inflexión Memorial Park, Montesacro Cemetery, and Casa Museo Pablo Escobar. Transport, museum entry, and guiding are included. One guide named Adri receives special praise in the booking feedback.

“The tour was decent. The sites are amazing to see and you get a balanced understanding of the entire context. Speaking in both Spanish and English wasn’t ideal as there were fairly long periods where we didn’t know what was being said. The bus is quite noisy so it can be hard to hear.”

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11.Cristo Rey, Tertulia Museum & Downtown Cali City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 16 reviews · 6 hours · from $91

Spend six hours seeing Cali from Cristo Rey, touring the Tertulia Museum, tasting Colombian coffee and local fruit, and walking through downtown. Your English or Spanish speaking guide, such as Juan Camilo or Viviana, handles transport, tickets, and hotel pickup. Expect a private, active day with some weather exposure and walking.

“I loved my tour with Viviana. She is just a ball of sunshine. I got to do everything I wanted to do. I got a whole lot of photos. She was very patient and accommodating. She was also very informative. You can tell she is very passionate about her city I would recommend this tour.”

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12.Tour of Jaime Duque Park, Zoo, and Aerospace Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 15 reviews · 6 hours · from $117

Travel from Bogotá to Jaime Duque Park with private transport, a live Spanish or English guide, and five hours to explore monuments, Wakatá Biopark, the aerospace museum, gardens, castle, and family attractions. Lunch is not included, and museum hours should be confirmed before you go.

“The park is beautiful and the zoo is nice too. My son and I had a great time. Recomended”

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13.Private Candelaria Walking Tour with Gold Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 3 hours · from $63

Spend three private hours in Bogotá with an English-speaking guide, starting at the Gold Museum and continuing through La Candelaria. You’ll see murals, churches, government buildings, and historic squares, with museum admission, a Colombian snack, and a soft drink included. Past guides such as Joel, Iván, and Maira were praised for personal service and clear explanations.

“El chavo súper amable, nos explicó absolutamente todo y súper bn! Súper seguro la vdd mil veces regreso.. Bogotá es hermoso y eso que venimos en mal tiempo!”

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14.Shared Tour to Monserrate Hill and Gold Museum in Bogota

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 3 hours · from $70

Join a small group of up to 10 for a three-hour visit to Monserrate Hill and Bogotá’s Gold Museum. Ride up to the 17th-century sanctuary, see broad city views, then explore more than 55,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts with a guide speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French, or Portuguese. Daniela and Naty are among the guides praised for their helpful, engaging tours.

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15.Malecón, Carnaval Museum, Downtown Barranquilla City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $89

Spend six hours exploring Barranquilla with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and private transport. Visit Paseo Bolívar, San Nicolás Square, La Ventana al Mundo, the River Avenue boardwalk, and the Carnaval House Museum. The tour also includes traditional Caribbean snacks, making it a useful first look at the city’s history, symbols, and food.

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