Cartagena itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Cartagena, day by day: the walled old town's Clock Tower Gate, Palace of the Inquisition, Church of San Pedro Claver and Cathedral, Getsemaní and Castillo San Felipe de Barajas first, then La Popa, Plaza de San Diego, Las Bóvedas and sunset on the city walls as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Cartagena in 1 day
Day 1
Plaza de Santo Domingo
Lively square by the city's oldest church, with outdoor restaurant tables and Botero's reclining woman sculpture.
Palace of the Inquisition
Baroque mansion that was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition, now a museum of the city's history with a grim display of the tribunal.
Church of San Pedro Claver
Seventeenth-century church and cloister honouring the Jesuit who ministered to enslaved Africans, with a museum and his relics.
Clock Tower Gate (Puerta del Reloj)
The main gate of the walled city, topped by a clock tower, opening onto the Plaza de los Coches.
Getsemaní and Plaza de la Trinidad
Colourful neighbourhood outside the walls known for street art and nightlife, centred on the square in front of the Trinidad church.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
The largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, on a hill above the city, with ramparts and tunnels to explore.
City walls at Baluarte de Santo Domingo (Café del Mar)
A bastion of the old sea walls facing the Caribbean, with the Café del Mar bar; the classic place to watch the sunset.
Cartagena Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral by Plaza Bolívar, with a fortress-like exterior, a bright bell tower and a simple interior.
Las Bóvedas
Row of vaulted rooms built into the city walls as storerooms and later a prison, now craft and souvenir shops.
Cartagena in 2 days
Day 1
La Popa Monastery viewpoint
Seventeenth-century convent on the highest hill in Cartagena, with a cloister and the widest view over the city and bay.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
The largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, on a hill above the city, with ramparts and tunnels to explore.
Getsemaní and Plaza de la Trinidad
Colourful neighbourhood outside the walls known for street art and nightlife, centred on the square in front of the Trinidad church.
Church of San Pedro Claver
Seventeenth-century church and cloister honouring the Jesuit who ministered to enslaved Africans, with a museum and his relics.
Palace of the Inquisition
Baroque mansion that was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition, now a museum of the city's history with a grim display of the tribunal.
Clock Tower Gate (Puerta del Reloj)
The main gate of the walled city, topped by a clock tower, opening onto the Plaza de los Coches.
Cartagena Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral by Plaza Bolívar, with a fortress-like exterior, a bright bell tower and a simple interior.
Plaza de Santo Domingo
Lively square by the city's oldest church, with outdoor restaurant tables and Botero's reclining woman sculpture.
City walls at Baluarte de Santo Domingo (Café del Mar)
A bastion of the old sea walls facing the Caribbean, with the Café del Mar bar; the classic place to watch the sunset.
Day 2
Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Zenú)
Small free museum on Plaza Bolívar showing gold work and pottery of the Zenú people of the Caribbean coast.
Las Bóvedas
Row of vaulted rooms built into the city walls as storerooms and later a prison, now craft and souvenir shops.
Plaza de San Diego
Relaxed square in the San Diego quarter of the old town, with restaurants and evening crowds.
Watch: Cartagena
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Cartagena
December to April is the dry season and the most popular time, with sea breezes but crowds and high demand around Christmas and New Year. The rest of the year is hotter and more humid, with afternoon showers that are heaviest around October and November. The Hay Festival brings writers to the city in late January, and the Independence festivities are held in November.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Cartagena on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Cartagena on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Cartagena on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Colombia from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Cartagena
- Cartagena is hot and humid all year: visit Castillo San Felipe and La Popa early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and carry water and a hat.
- Sunset on the city walls is a local ritual; the Café del Mar bar on the Baluarte de Santo Domingo opens in the late afternoon.
- Getsemaní is liveliest in the evening, when Plaza de la Trinidad fills with street food stalls, music and people.
- Taxis have no meters; agree the fare before getting in, and expect persistent street vendors in the walled city.
- La Popa is on a hill outside the centre and is best reached by taxi rather than on foot.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cartagena Cathedral: Ryan, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Castillo San Felipe de Barajas: Martin St-Amant (S23678), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church of San Pedro Claver: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Clock Tower Gate (Puerta del Reloj): Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Zenú): Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0
- La Popa Monastery viewpoint: Petruss, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palace of the Inquisition: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaza de Santo Domingo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
