Bogotá

Once a sacred site for the ancient indigenous community of Muiscas, La Candelaria neighbourhood is where Bogotá was founded back in 1538. Naturally, this is the first stop for many tourists. Steep stone streets are lined with colonial buildings that house cafes, restaurants and artisanal shops. Some buildings are showing signs of their long life, while others have been revitalised with colourful street art. You will find major cultural hotspots like the Gold Museum, Museo Botero, the colonial-era cathedral dedicated to the Virgen de la Candelaria and the neoclassical Capitol flanking Bolivar Plaza. Navigate the winding streets of the historical centre yourself or follow a guided tour of La Candelaria.

The National Museum of Colombia houses in a sprawling 19th century prison built in the style of a fortress. Without a doubt, this is the biggest and oldest museum in Colombia. Permanent exhibitions will introduce you to over 20,000 archaeology and ethnography samples from Colombian treasures dating 10,000 years BC, up to twentieth century indigenous and afro-Colombian art and culture. Fine art lovers must not miss the chance to see paintings by masters Débora Arango, Fernando Botero, Enrique Grau, Ignacio Gomez Jaramillo, Santiago Martinez Delgado, Alejandro Obregón, Omar Rayo, Andrés de Santa María and Guillermo Wiedemann.

Fernando Botero is known for his peculiar artistic style — he paints portrait and creates sculptures of people, animals, and fruits, but makes them all plump like an exaggerated cherub. Born in Medellín, he's probably the most internationally famous Colombian artist. Enjoy the beautifully renovated colonial house with a lush courtyard and be amused by one chubby art piece after another.

Plaza de Bolívar is the political heart of Colombia. The massive square is surrounded by the Cathedral of Bogotá, the mayor's office and the Capitol Building. The Palace of Justice, once besieged by the infamous Pablo Escobar, is also here. Just around the corner you'll find the heavily guarded Casa de Nariño — the official home and principal workplace of the President of Colombia. Spend some time on this square crowded with street-sellers, pigeon and monumental buildings. An absolute must-see.

Every weekend, the sweet little village of Usaquén on the city's edge hosts a flea market. So many beautiful things to decorate your house or to gift to friends back home: blankets, ponchos, pictures, jewellery, antique kitchen stuff, purses, personalised leather bags and famous Colombian mochilas — the list goes on and on. Cash is king. The flea market is a major attraction for tourists and locals. Numerous cafes and restaurants have sprung up in the area, serving traditional Colombian dishes as well as international cuisine.

Museo Santa Clara is a former church built in the 17th century. These days it is open as a museum and is jam packed full of beautiful art. You can both discover the colonial-era Baroque architecture and explore temporary modern art exhibitions. Don’t miss the murals and the 950 wooden, hand-carved and gold-foiled flowers covering in the ceiling.

This art museum showcases local and international artists from the 16th century to the present day. From the numismatist's dream of old coin minting machines to exquisite masterpieces from all over Latin America — this a thoughtfully designed art lover's dream. The galleries of this modernist building seem endless. Along the way, enjoy the courtyards, fountains and a cosy cafe.

The MAMBO is a multicultural and dynamic art space that investigates, communicates and exhibits Colombia's cultural heritage and the various expressions of modern and contemporary art. There is no permanent exhibition, but a series of temporary ones spread over the four floors on the gorgeous brick building designed by architect Rogelio Salmona.