Cartagena
Best areas to stay in Cartagena by traveller type
First trip: stay inside the walled city (Centro) for walkable sights and safety after dark. Couples and nightlife: Getsemaní, 5–10 minutes on foot from the clock tower. Families and longer stays: Bocagrande or Laguito for beaches and bigger rooms. Budget: Getsemaní hostels. Stay outside these and you add a taxi to every meal.
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GuideCartagena
Key facts
- Best for first-timers
- Centro (walled city) — everything walkable, lit and guarded at night
- Best for nightlife and food
- Getsemaní — 5–10 min walk from the Torre del Reloj
- Best for families
- Bocagrande and Laguito — beachfront, larger rooms, calmer streets
- Best for budget
- Getsemaní hostels; Centro is the priciest per night
- Airport transfer
- Rafael Núñez (CTG) is about 15 minutes from the walled city
- Typical taxi across the centre
- COP 8,000–20,000 (2026 estimate)
- High season
- Dec–Apr; book Centro and Getsemaní weeks ahead
Top picks
Cartagena's tourist core is small: the walled city (Centro), Getsemaní just outside the clock tower, and the beach strip of Bocagrande and Laguito to the south. Pick by what you will do most, not by the photos — most visitors spend their days in Centro and their evenings in Getsemaní, so a bed in either removes a taxi from the plan.
Centro suits a first visit: you walk to the cathedral, the walls, the museums and the best restaurants, and the streets are patrolled and busy after dark. Getsemaní is the same experience with more street life, cheaper beds and a 5–10 minute walk to the clock tower. Bocagrande and Laguito trade colonial streets for a beach, air conditioning and family-sized rooms, about 10–15 minutes by taxi from Centro. Outside these three, you are commuting.
- Book Centro or Getsemaní if your trip is 2–4 nights and sightseeing-led.
- Book Bocagrande or Laguito if you have children or want a pool and beach.
- Book Manga or Crespo if you are staying a month or flying out early.
| Area | Best for | Typical nightly rate (2026 estimate) | Walk to Centro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centro (walled city) | First trip, couples, walkability | COP 350,000–1,200,000 | 0 min |
| Getsemaní | Nightlife, food, budget, solo | COP 60,000–500,000 | 5–10 min |
| Bocagrande | Families, beach, longer stays | COP 250,000–800,000 | 10–15 min by taxi |
| Laguito | Families, quiet, sea views | COP 300,000–900,000 | 15 min by taxi |
| Manga | Long stays, apartments, calm | COP 200,000–600,000 | 10 min by taxi |
| Crespo | Airport-close, local feel | COP 150,000–450,000 | 10 min by taxi |
Rates are 2026 estimates for a double room in high season; check current prices before booking.
Map
The three main areas sit in a line: Rafael Núñez airport (CTG) in the north, then Crespo, then the walled city and Getsemaní, then Bocagrande and Laguito on the peninsula to the south. The airport is about 15 minutes from the walled city by taxi or app, so no area is far from arrival.
Inside Centro, address numbers are confusing and many streets are one-way; hotels on the plaza side are noisier at night. Getsemaní's Plaza de la Trinidad is the loudest corner after dark. Bocagrande's seafront avenue carries traffic all day.
| From | To | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTG airport | Centro / Getsemaní | About 15 min | COP 15,000–30,000 by taxi |
| CTG airport | Bocagrande / Laguito | About 20 min | COP 20,000–35,000 by taxi |
| Centro | Getsemaní | 5–10 min on foot | Free |
| Centro | Bocagrande | 10–15 min | COP 8,000–20,000 |
| Centro | Muelle de la Bodeguita (island boats) | 5–10 min on foot | Free |
Times are off-peak; traffic on the Bocagrande avenue adds 5–10 minutes.
Tips
Book early for December to April. Cartagena fills for holidays and long weekends, and Centro and Getsemaní sell out first; prices in the same hotel can double. If your dates are fixed and the core is full, Bocagrande is the reliable fallback.
Choose by noise and heat, not only by price. Colonial buildings in Centro and Getsemaní often have thin walls, interior patios that echo, and rooms without windows; ask for a room away from the street and confirm air conditioning, which matters in the coastal heat. Streets flood briefly in heavy rain.
Use apps or hotel-called taxis at night rather than hailing on the street, and keep to lit blocks. The walled city and Getsemaní are busy and generally fine after dark; quieter stretches of Bocagrande and the road to Crespo are less so. For longer stays, apartments in Manga or Bocagrande usually beat hotel rates.
- Confirm air conditioning and hot water before booking — not every budget room has both.
- Ask for a courtyard-side room in Centro and Getsemaní to cut street noise.
- Stay inside the walls or in Getsemaní if your trip is under four nights.
- Check whether the rate includes breakfast; it rarely does in high season.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Which area is best to stay in Cartagena?
For a first trip, Centro inside the walled city: you walk to the main sights and restaurants and the streets are busy after dark. Getsemaní is the cheaper, livelier alternative 5–10 minutes away. Bocagrande and Laguito suit beach and family stays.
Which area is best for first-time visitors in Cartagena?
Centro or Getsemaní. Both put the cathedral, the walls, the museums and the evening restaurant strip within a short walk, and both are about 15 minutes from Rafael Núñez airport. Bocagrande adds a taxi to every sightseeing trip.
Which area is best for families in Cartagena?
Bocagrande or Laguito: beachfront, larger rooms, pools and calmer streets, 10–15 minutes by taxi from the walled city. Families who want to walk everywhere can stay in Centro instead, but expect higher prices and more noise.
Is Getsemaní safe at night?
The area around Plaza de la Trinidad is busy and generally fine after dark, but keep to lit streets, avoid quiet blocks, and use an app or hotel-called taxi rather than hailing on the street. Do not carry valuables you do not need.
How much does a room cost in Cartagena?
2026 estimates for a double room in high season: hostels in Getsemaní from about COP 60,000, mid-range rooms COP 250,000–500,000, and walled-city boutique hotels COP 350,000–1,200,000. Check current prices before booking.
Should I stay in Bocagrande or the walled city?
Stay in the walled city if you are sightseeing and eating out, and in Bocagrande if you want a beach, a pool and a bigger room. Bocagrande is 10–15 minutes by taxi from Centro, so you can still visit the old town daily.
Deep dive
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