What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Cartagena, Colombia.
Photo: Igvir Ramirez / Wikimedia Commons
Cartagena is a walled colonial port city on Colombia's Caribbean coast, with a population of about 914,552. Visitors come for the Old Town's colourful streets, forts, and churches, plus day trips to the Rosario Islands for beach time. The weather is tropical year-round, but the best months are December, January, February, and March, when rainfall is lower and the heat is a bit easier to handle.
The main sights in Centro, San Lázaro, and Getsemaní can be covered in a few focused days, with extra time if you add a full day trip to the Rosario Islands.
Centro
The colonial core of Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with narrow streets, balconies covered in flowers, churches and shaded plazas. Walking without a fixed plan is the best way to see it. Midday heat is strong, so many visitors explore in the morning and late afternoon.
San Lázaro
The largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, built on a hill to defend the city from attack by land. You can walk its ramparts and some of its narrow tunnels, and the top has wide views over the old town. There is little shade, so bring water and a hat.
Centro
Thick stone walls that surround most of the old town, with bastions and old cannons along the top. Walking the walls at sunset is a popular local habit, and several bastions have bars facing the sea.
Getsemaní
A former working-class neighbourhood just outside the main walls, now known for street art, small bars and cheaper places to eat. In the evening, Plaza de la Trinidad fills with locals, street food stalls and music.
Centro
A colonial mansion on Plaza de Bolívar that once housed the Spanish Inquisition, now a history museum. It covers the city's past, from colonial times to independence, and displays instruments of torture used during trials.
Centro
A church and former monastery named after a Jesuit priest who worked with enslaved Africans arriving in the port. The cloister has a quiet garden, and a small museum tells his story and shows religious and Afro-Colombian art.
Centro
A small museum on Plaza de Bolívar run by Colombia's central bank, showing gold work and pottery made by the Zenú people of the Caribbean region. It has air conditioning, which makes it a good break from the afternoon heat.
Cerro de la Popa
A colonial monastery on the highest hill in Cartagena, with a calm inner courtyard and a small chapel. The main reason to go is the view over the whole city, the bay and the coast. Most visitors go by taxi or on a tour rather than walking up.
Islas del Rosario
A group of small coral islands off the coast, reached by boat from the city. People go for clearer water than the city beaches, snorkelling and quiet beach time. Boat trips can be rough when the wind is strong.
Centro
A long row of vaulted rooms built into the city walls, first used to store weapons and later as a prison. Today they hold craft and souvenir shops, and the walls above give views of the sea.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 31°C / 24°C | 3 days (12 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 29°C | 8.6/10 |
| Best month: February | 31°C / 24°C | 2 days (6 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 28°C | 8.8/10 |
| Best month: March | 32°C / 24°C | 5 days (15 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 28°C | 8.4/10 |
| April | 31°C / 25°C | 14 days (63 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 29°C | 7.2/10 |
| May | 30°C / 25°C | 23 days (145 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| June | 30°C / 25°C | 24 days (153 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| July | 30°C / 25°C | 22 days (132 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| August | 30°C / 25°C | 24 days (142 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| September | 29°C / 25°C | 24 days (139 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 31°C | 7.0/10 |
| October | 29°C / 24°C | 26 days (186 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| November | 29°C / 24°C | 22 days (188 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: December | 30°C / 24°C | 9 days (32 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 30°C | 7.8/10 |
Highs reach 30.7°C with only 3.3 rain days, making this a best month with a score of 8.6 for dry, sunny conditions.
The driest month, with highs of 31.3°C and just 1.6 rain days, earns the top score of 8.8 and a best verdict.
Still dry and hot at 31.6°C with 4.6 rain days, March keeps a best rating at 8.4 as rain starts to creep in.
Rain days jump to 13.8 and rainfall to 63mm as the wet season begins, dropping the verdict to good with a score of 7.2.
Expect 22.5 rain days and 145mm of rain with highs near 30°C; the green season brings tough, wet weather and a good score of 7.
One of the wettest months, with 24.1 rain days and 153mm of rain, though highs stay around 29.6°C; rated good at 7.
Rain eases slightly to 21.7 days and 132mm, but it's still frequent; highs of 30.1°C keep the good score at 7.
Heavy rain continues with 23.6 rain days and 142mm, alongside warm highs of 29.7°C; scored good at 7.
Among the wettest months, with 24.3 rain days and 139mm of rain and highs of 29.3°C; still a good score of 7.
The wettest month by rainfall, with 186mm over 26.3 rain days, though highs hold near 28.8°C; rated good at 7, reflecting tough rainy conditions.
Rainfall peaks at 188mm with 22 rain days, the wettest total of the year, while highs stay at 28.7°C; still scored good at 7.
Rain drops sharply to 8.8 days and 32mm as drier weather returns, with highs of 30.1°C pushing the score back up to a best verdict of 7.8.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Colombia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing, couples
The old walled city has colonial streets, balconies with flowers, plazas, churches and many restaurants, so most sights are a short walk away. It is the easiest base for a first visit. It is also the busiest and most touristy part of town, and street vendors can be persistent.
Good for couples, quieter stays, food lovers
This corner of the walled city feels calmer and more residential than the area around the main plazas. It has small squares, cafés and good restaurants, and you can still walk to the main sights. Some evenings bring music from nearby bars.
Good for nightlife, backpackers, street art
Just outside the walls, this former working-class area has street art, small plazas, hostels and lively bars, especially around Plaza de la Trinidad. It has a local, creative feel and is easy walking distance from the old city. It can be loud late into the night, especially at weekends.
Good for beach access, families, high-rise hotels
A strip of modern high-rise buildings on a peninsula south of the old city, with city beaches, shopping and supermarkets. It suits people who want a beach on the doorstep and bigger hotel rooms. The beaches are not the clearest in the region, and you will need a taxi to reach the historic centre.
Good for families, quiet, long stays
A residential area at the tip of the Bocagrande peninsula, with calm streets, apartment buildings and a waterfront walk on the bay. It is quieter and more local than Bocagrande. There is less to do in the evening, and the old city is a taxi ride away.
Good for long stays, local life, budget-conscious
An island neighbourhood linked by bridges to the centre, with old republican-era houses, a marina and everyday shops. It shows how locals live and is close to Getsemaní. It has few sights or restaurants for visitors, and some walks back at night feel long, so many people take a taxi.
A deep-fried cornmeal pocket with an egg cooked inside. It's a popular street breakfast in Cartagena, sold from carts near the old town and beaches.
A creamy seafood stew made with shrimp, fish and coconut milk. Given the city's coastal location, it's a common lunch dish in restaurants along the waterfront.
Shrimp marinated in citrus juice, served cold with onions and coriander. It's a popular light meal in the heat of the day, often sold by street vendors near the beach.
A yuca dough roll stuffed with meat or cheese, then fried. Locals eat it as a snack any time of day, bought from street stalls across the city.
A mixed plate of fried foods such as fish, plantain and yuca. It's typically eaten in the evening at informal street food spots.
Rice cooked in coconut milk, giving it a slightly sweet taste. It's a staple side dish served with fish or seafood meals throughout the city.
Yes, but expect rain. August scores 7 out of 10, rated 'good' rather than 'best'. It has 23.6 rain days and 142mm of rain, with highs of 29.7°C. Sea temperature is a warm 30.2°C, so swimming is pleasant even if afternoon showers interrupt sightseeing.
February scores highest at 8.8 out of 10. It has only 1.6 rain days and 6mm of rain, the driest month on record, plus 11.3 hours of sunshine daily and a high of 31.3°C. January, March and December also rank as 'best' months, all with low rainfall and strong sun hours.
Two to three days covers the main sights. The Walled City takes half a day, Getsemaní needs 2–3 hours, and the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and City Walls each take 1–2 hours. Add a full day if you want to visit the Rosario Islands, which is a full-day trip from the city.
It depends on the month. October is the wettest, with 26.3 rain days and 188mm of rain, while November brings 188mm too. By contrast, February has just 1.6 rain days and 6mm. The rainy season runs roughly from April through November, with June to October seeing over 130mm of rain each month.
Yes, year-round. Sea temperature stays between 28.2°C in February and 30.5°C in September, never dropping below 28°C. This makes swimming comfortable in any month, whether you visit during the drier January–March window or the wetter season later in the year.
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