Quick answerBogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia, with 8,034,649 people inside the city limits in 2022. The wider metropolitan area had about 11.7 million people in 2022. It is best known for the Gold Museum, the La Candelaria and the Monserrate. Its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Colombian peso.
Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia, with about 8.03 million people (8,034,649 in 2022). It stands on a high plateau in the eastern Andes, 2,640 metres above sea level.
Key facts
| Country | Colombia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 8,034,649 (2022) |
| Population (metro) | 11,658,211 (2022) · Bogotá metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 2640 m above sea level |
| Time zone | America/Bogota |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Colombian peso (COP, $) |
| Coordinates | 4.71111° N, 74.07222° W |
Overview
Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia, on the Bogotá savanna, a high plateau in the eastern Andes. The city proper had 8,034,649 residents in 2022, while the metropolitan area held about 11.66 million people, and the city sits 2,640 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest capitals in the world. It is the seat of Colombia's government and the Capital District.
Bogotá was founded in 1538 by the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, on the site of a Muisca settlement. Its landmarks include the historic La Candelaria district, with the Plaza de Bolívar, the cathedral and the presidential palace, the Gold Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of pre-Hispanic gold, and Monserrate, the mountain sanctuary that overlooks the city from 3,152 metres. The city is also known for its universities and its Ciclovía, when main roads close to cars on Sundays for cyclists and pedestrians.
Today Bogotá is Colombia's political, economic and cultural centre, home to the stock exchange, the headquarters of most big Colombian companies, and El Dorado International Airport, one of the busiest in Latin America. It is known for its museums, its street art, its markets such as Paloquemao, and for the contrast between its colonial centre and its modern business districts.
What Bogotá is known for
- Gold Museum
- La Candelaria
- Monserrate
- Plaza de Bolívar
- Ciclovía
- High-altitude capital
Landmarks
- Plaza de Bolívar
- Gold Museum
- Monserrate
- La Candelaria
- Bogotá Cathedral
- Botero Museum
- Paloquemao Market
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bogotá?
About 8.03 million people live in Bogotá (8,034,649 in 2022). The wider metropolitan area had about 11.66 million people. That makes Bogotá the largest city in Colombia and one of the largest cities in South America.
What is Bogotá famous for?
Bogotá is famous as one of the highest capitals in the world, at 2,640 metres, and for the Gold Museum, the colonial La Candelaria district and the Monserrate sanctuary. It is also known for its Ciclovía, when main roads close to cars on Sundays.
Where is Bogotá located?
Bogotá is in central Colombia, on a high plateau in the eastern Andes. It is the capital of Colombia and the Capital District. Its coordinates are 4.71° N, 74.07° W, and its time zone is Colombia Time (UTC-5).
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Keep exploring
- Colombia — the country Bogotá is in
- Medellín — another city in Colombia
- Cali — another city in Colombia
- Barranquilla — another city in Colombia
- All cities in Colombia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.