You may have seen Cartagena on Instagram – it’s a city filled with colorful buildings, vibrant music, and delicious food. It makes for the perfect beachy vacation and is a must when visiting Colombia! Keep reading for how to spend 4 days in Cartagena.
A little history: The port city of Cartagena, officially named “Cartagena de Indias” is located along the coast of Colombia. It has a long history of fending off invaders and pirates. The city of Cartagena was officially founded by the Spaniards in 1533 (though people have been in the area since as early as 4,000BCE).
How to spend 4 days in Cartagena, Colombia (Itinerary)
One could easily spend 5+ days in Cartagena and the surrounding areas. From exploring the islands surrounding the city to getting lost in the Old City, there’s a lot to do! Here’s a high-level itinerary for how to 4 days in Cartagena.
Day 1: Explore the old city
“The Old City” references the area of Cartagena surrounded by the stone wall. It is what you think of when you think of the bright colors and quaint colonial buildings. Start the day getting lost down the little streets. As it can get quite hot, most tours are in the afternoon which is perfect for your first day. After some solo exploring, end the day with a tour. You can book a free tour here. (Tip: we booked one of these and while it wasn’t the best tour ever, it did give us a good feel of the city, and it’s free! The tour guides do work off tips however so don’t forget to tip!)
Day 2: Islas del Rosario
On day 2, plan to get out on the water. There are so many options when it comes to the Islas del Rosario. This National Park features 27 islands and is about a 45-minute boat ride from Cartagena. If you are looking for a more relaxed beach day, pre-book with one of the beach clubs on the islands. We booked the Bora Bora Beach Club and had a great experience. If you’re looking to tour a few different islands and try things like snorkeling, consider a tour like this one.
Day 3: Getsemani & Convento de la Popa
The barrio of Getsemani, located about a 15-minute walk from the Walled City, is known as the hipster artsy community. Get lost down the little streets and stumble upon mural after mural. You’ll also find fun hostels, bars, and art galleries. The area is pretty self-explanatory, so we opted to do some reading before visiting and touring ourselves. Looking for something unique to do in the area? We took a dancing class on a rooftop which you can find here.
End your day at the Convento de la Popa which has the highest viewpoint of Cartagena. This 17th-century convent has gorgeous views of the city.
Day 4: Castillo de San Felipe & shopping/ re-exploring
There are a lot of options for day 4 of your trip. I personally like to spend my last day re-exploring, picking up souvenirs, and taking it slow. You can also check out the Castillo de San Felipe (the fortress protecting the city) if you opt for this option.
A few other ideas for how to spend your last day:
- Take a day trip to the town of “Palenque” (home to the palenqueras)
- Check out La Boquilla fishing village
- Bath in the volcanic mudbaths at Totumo Volcano
Where to stay in Cartagena:
Staying in the Old City is a must in my opinion. It’s centrally located, near tons of shops and restaurants, and it’s just vibrant. Cartagena has some of the cutest boutique hotels! We stayed in an Airbnb in the Old City, and if we had to do it over I’d pick a boutique hotel. Mainly because homes in the Old City don’t have hot water due to the old plumbing. Here are a few options:
- Hotel Casa Pombo: ~$170/night
- Casa Claver Loft Boutique Hotel: ~$150/night
- Casa de Alba: ~$220/night
- Ananda Boutique Hotel: ~$300/night
- Casa San Agustin: ~$570/night
8 Top Things to do in Cartagena:
Bora Bora Beach Club 
Getsemani
Looking for a checklist of quintessential things to do in Cartagena? See the below list:
- Day trip to Islas del Rosario
- Buy souvenirs at Las Bovedas Market
- Walk along the city wall
- Take a dancing class
- Check out the view from the Convento de la Popa
- Explore the Castillo de San Felipe
- Walk around the Oly City
- Explore Getsemani
Where to eat in Cartagena:
In our 4 days in Cartagena, it felt like we ate everywhere. Most spots were pretty good and some had a bit too much hype. Here’s a breakdown of what to try!
breakfast, brunch & coffee
Cafe Epoca 
Abba Gallery Coffee
Ábaco Libros y Café – a bookstore with a small coffee shop.
Cafe del Mural – one of the most famous coffee shops in Cartagena. Check their hours because they change daily and are usually only open during the afternoon.
Cafe Epoca – my favorite breakfast spot! Great ambiance, the best coffee we tried in Cartagena, and a big menu. They also offer lunch and dinner.
Cafe de la Mañana – quaint coffee shop for a quick breakfast.
Beiyu – farm-to-table cafe with fresh ingredients.
Abba Gallery Coffee – located within a cute artisan gallery (made up of trendy shops)
lunch & dinner
El Baron 
Buena Vida
El Barón – cocktails & light bites. Sit inside for a more romantic vibe, or sit on the plaza to do some people-watching. Note: they also do brunch.
La Vitrola – a famous Cartagena classic. It’s a traditional dining setting with classic Colombian dishes. Book a few weeks in advance to ensure you get a table (they only take reservations by phone).
Buena Vida – so good we went here twice! A really fun ambiance with a fun rooftop. A great option for lunch or dinner.
Cuzco Cocina Peruana – Peruvian food for when you need a break from Colombian.
Doña Lola – delicious steaks in a nice ambiance.
Best views in Cartagena ( & drinks)
Townhouse Hotel 
Alquimico
Townhouse Hotel Rooftop – amazing spot to grab a drink and watch the most gorgeous sunset.
Cafe Havana – a Cartagena classic for Salsa-lovers.
Movich Hotel – another great rooftop with a city view.
Alquimico– multi-level bar with a rooftop that turns into a club. It’s actually gotten quite a few international awards!
La Jugada – another fun bar/restaurant.
Donde Fidel – salsa bar highly recommended by locals.
things not worth the hype:
I spent so much time researching Cartagena restaurants, and time and time again three spots popped up – Alma (romantic dinner spot), Cafe del Mar (sunset spot on the wall), and La Cevicheria (recommended by Anthony Bourdain). I of course had to try all three – and I’d say to “skip them.” There are much better sunset views, romantic spots, and ceviche to find in Cartagena!
Tips for visiting Cartagena:
Carry cash – Many places are cash only. This is particularly important when arriving at the airport and catching a cab. Either exchange money in Bogota, or exchange as little as possible at the Cartagena airport. You’ll get the worst exchange rate ever, so try to wait until you get into town!
Stay in the Old City – While you’ll find that Getsemani and the modern side of Cartagena are more affordable, staying in the Old City is a must. All our friends who stayed outside of the wall had regrets about constantly needing to grab cabs to get to bars, restaurants, and activities.
Avoid the Emerald street sellers – Cartagena is one of the best places in the world to buy emeralds as they are native to Colombia. You’ll get a much better deal here than in the US. That being said, trying to figure out where to go and how not to get ripped off can be stressful. Avoid the sellers leading you into their shops. I visited a few out of curiosity and the quality and selection weren’t great. Try Lucy’s or the Emerald Trade Jewelry Factory for the highest quality.
There are no cars in the Old City on Sundays. We left on a Sunday and quickly learned that we’d have to drag our heavy suitcases to the city wall in order to get a cab. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s good to know!
Bug spray is a must! – Our cab driver on the way into town provided us with his number 1 tip – buy bug spray ASAP. Dengue is quite common in the area (we had no idea). So be sure to lather it on multiple times per day.
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