How safe is Bogota for tourists? From choosing safe accommodation to transport options, here's what you should know.
Photo © iStock/ChandraDhas
At a Glance
- Safety in Colombia varies significantly by region, from high-risk areas to tourist-friendly cities like Bogotá
- Bogotá is generally safe and popular with travelers, but awareness is important
- Travelers should keep a low profile and avoid displaying valuables
- Using trusted transport, staying in safe neighborhoods, and watching for scams helps reduce risk
Colombia was long viewed as highly dangerous for tourists, due both to a decades-long civil war, and the brutal violence of infamous drug kingpins like Pablo Escobar. Fortunately, conditions in this South American nation have improved over the past decade thanks to more forceful policing of drug trafficking, and a 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the country’s main guerilla army.
That is not to say Colombia is now a stable nation, as it still has ongoing issues with guerrilla warfare and remains a hub of global cocaine production. But Colombia’s reputation for traveler safety has improved so greatly that it’s become one of South America’s most-visited nations, receiving more than 6 million tourists in 2025. Here’s your guide to safely enjoying this beautiful, diverse country.
Does Bogota deserve its reputation as a dangerous city?
Colombia’s capital, Bogota, is a gigantic city of about 12 million people perched at an altitude of 2,600m, high in the Andes Mountains. Fortunately, for residents and tourists, Bogota is 350km from the border with Venezuela, along which terrorism, narco-violence, and human trafficking is rife.
This complex situation is highlighted by the Australian Government’s travel advisories for Colombia. While it ranks multiple parts of Colombia at level 4 – which means Do Not Travel – Bogota is only rated at level 2, which indicates it is relatively safe for visiting. However, Bogota still poses many risks to tourists, such as:
- Fake taxis that are used to perform kidnappings, theft or robberies against unsuspecting foreigners.
- Drinks being spiked with a drug that essentially turns the victim into a compliant zombie, who will blindly follow instructions.
- Robberies by night and pickpocketing by day in busy areas of Bogota’s chief tourist precinct, La Candelaria.
How to avoid being conspicuous
One of the riskiest things a tourist can do in Bogota is to stand out from the crowd. While most travelers will avoid a city’s most dangerous neighbourhood or walking alone at night, many seem unaware their conspicuous clothing and behaviour can attract the attention of street criminals. Here’s five tips for remaining more anonymous in Bogota:
- Avoid wearing clothes that are blatantly touristy: bright colours, brash patterns, or emblazoned with the names of foreign places like “Harvard” or “London”. Instead, blend into the crowd by wearing plain clothes in muted colours.
- If using an ATM, or changing money at a currency exchange, make sure to quickly and subtly put all your currency in your wallet or purse, and tuck that in a safe spot, before you begin walking away. Bogota pickpockets are known to linger at such sites.
- Reconsider your need to carry a selfie stick. No item screams “tourist” louder than this long, obtrusive photography tool. Instead, just do standard selfies, which are much quicker and more discrete.
- In public, keep your valuables out of view whenever possible. Put your camera back in its bag once you finish shooting images, and don’t carry your phone in your hand when not using it.
Bogota nightlife
Bogota is a city that dances and drinks deep into the evening. But while enjoying its wonderful nightlife, tourists need to take heed of the following risks.
- Bogota is infamous for drink spiking incidents involving a terrifying drug called scopolamine, which is very difficult to detect due to being flavourless and odourless. This substance puts victims into a waking, yet zombie-like state, during which criminals can easily get them to withdraw money from ATMs, or sexually assault them.
- Bars and nightclubs in Bogota are known for having no-nonsense security guards, who have a short fuse when it comes to drunken or disrespectful behaviour. Tourists who misbehave in these venues may face swift, violent action.
- Solo female travelers are discouraged from partying alone in Bogota, due to the risk of drink spiking, in particular.
Kidnapping is a threat
Express kidnappings are widespread in Colombia, according to the UK Government, which advises its citizens to be wary of these brief, opportunistic abductions. It warns foreigners are key targets of these kidnappings, which typically occur late at night, and involve a criminal posing as a taxi driver.
This person threatens their passenger with violence if they don’t either send them money online immediately, or accompany them to an ATM to make a large withdrawal. Although they normally release the abducted person soon after, sometimes the victim is beaten or murdered. Guerrilla soldiers and drug gangs also carry out many kidnappings in Colombia, but they tend to abduct wealthy locals more often than tourists.
Which forms of transport are trustworthy?
Picking the correct form of transport is one of the key ways to boost your safety while traveling in Bogota. The US Government bans its staff based in Colombia from riding motorcycles, hailing taxis on the street, or using any form of public transport. Here’s the lowdown on taxis, rideshares, buses and trains:
- Given the aforementioned scourge of fake taxi kidnappings, it is advisable not to hop into a random taxi on the street.
- Instead, use a ride sharing or taxi app, like Uber, Cabify, or DiDi. This offers you far greater safety, because the app lets you track your location, and discloses the identity of your driver. If you’re uncertain which app to use, get advice from the front desk staff at your hotel.
- Bogota’s extensive Bus Rapid Transit system is hit or miss. Safety is reasonable on board the buses, but its stations are known to be laden with pickpockets and robbers.
- Tren Turistico is a tourist sightseeing train that departs several times a week from Bogota, doing a scenic round trip into the surrounding countryside. It has a good level of security, with few crimes reported on board.
Should you consider travel insurance when visiting Bogota?
Travel insurance may be something to consider when visiting Bogota. While taking precautions can help reduce risks, unexpected situations such as medical issues or theft may still occur. Having a policy in place may help travelers manage some of the financial and logistical challenges that can arise while abroad, and the emergency assistance line may help ease the mind when dealing with a problem. As with any insurance, coverage and benefits vary, so it’s important to review the details carefully to understand what may be included before you travel.
*Travel insurance coverage may not be the same or available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage
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