If you want history served with a generous portion of vitality in Colombia, the best places to stay in cartagena. The Caribbean city, formerly known as Cartagena de Indias during the Spanish colonial era, was established in 1533, and you can sense this as you stroll through its historic center’s streets, plazas, and buildings that date back centuries.
Best Places to Stay in Cartagena central districts come to life at night as travelers, nomads, and residents enjoy vibrant drinks in bars housed in refurbished and occasionally unrenovated historic houses.
best areas to stay in cartagena
Centro
Cartagena’s old walled city and core is located in the Centro neighborhood. With its numerous streets and crowded monuments, this is the Best Places to Stay in Cartagena spot to visit if you want to learn about the town’s past. The 500-year-old Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, the 1577-built, colorful Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría, and the stunning baroque structure that originally housed the Palace of the Inquisition are a few places to start.
Vibrant squares like Plaza Santo Domingo, surrounded by terrace restaurants, have an amusing Botero sculpture and host street performers and dancing at night; these are also great places to join in on the fun. Many bars in this area stay open late, making for a terrific nightlife, like El Baron’s drinking lounge.
Most of the time, lodging in Centro entails staying in stunning historic structures. This covers everything from boutique properties in villas with pools in the courtyard to sophisticated hotels housed in 17th-century buildings. Prices range from surprisingly low to extremely exorbitant.
Bocagrande & Laguito
Cartagena’s contemporary face is Bocagrande, located on a spit of land that curves south of the city center. This area has many skyscrapers, government buildings, high-rise hotels, and luxury designer clothes boutiques. This is the place to stay in Cartagena if you want something more modern. This area also has a large number of high-end hotels and restaurants, both domestic and foreign.
The small lake in Laguito, at the tip of the peninsula, bears the name “laguito” in Spanish. In the vicinity, along with a range of lodging options, the Hilton offers dining and drinking options with a view of the water. Sundowners will enjoy an unobstructed view of the sunset over the lake from Playas El Laguito, making this a perfect location for sunsets.
Getsemaní
Though some parts of this region remain unsafe to explore after dark, Getsemaní, once recognized as a tough and crime-ridden area, is undoubtedly improving. Getsemaní is currently recognized as Cartagena’s hipster-friendly side; old buildings featuring vibrant paintings and graffiti have been transformed into tourist destinations, like the rainbow-like Calle de las Tortugas.
There are many pubs, eateries, cafes, and nightclubs in this area where you may mingle with backpackers and Cartagena’s cool people. This town has something to offer everyone, even the safest place to stay in cartagena party animal.
San Diego
San Diego lies just north of the walled city. This area of town exudes a rather bohemian vibe, aided by the Art College of Bellas Artes being situated here. The region has a unique vibe because there are many enjoyable spots for students to hang out.
There are plenty of sights to see in San Diego. Parts of the city’s ancient defended walls and the Cordon Amurallado and the Las Bovedas Market can be seen. This hip retail destination resembles a cave due to its former usage as a jail. Additionally, there is the Casa de Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a replica of the home of the Colombian author, where You can find out more about his life and accomplishments.
This area has several excellent restaurants, and it’s a great place to take a stroll along the waterfront at sunset to Fisherman’s Beach. San Diego offers a variety of lodging options, from laid-back hotels with terraces and pools to energetic hostels.
Manga
The island of Manga is located south of Getsemaní. This residential area has many trees, tree-lined streets, and peaceful parks like Parque Pastelillo. An easygoing section of town, this is a more sedate option from the center if you want to spend your Cartagena vacation with your family or as a couple.
There are few attractions in this part of town, therefore it could be more touristy. Though you can see the boats sway in the sea from the marina, the main goal of this laid-back neighborhood is to fit in.
Manga has incredibly reasonably priced hotels and apartments. You may enjoy a hassle-free, independent time at this place because some even have tiny pools and views of the sea. It’s a cool city, with everything just a short distance from the most ancient areas.
Marbella
Nestled between Santander Avenue and the Caribbean Sea, Marbella is a somewhat tranquil region north of the capital, famed for its sandy Playa Marbella beach. It includes palm trees, sun loungers, and parasols. This location is well-liked for beach volleyball, tanning in the sun, and body surfing. You are free to watch if you’reyou’re not up for a game.
There’sThere’s a pedestrian route running down the seafront here. There is even a skate park here, making it a great place to picnic and observe local life. From here, it’sit’s a short cab trip to the walled city, but taxis are relatively easy to flag down in Marbella.
Despite not being directly adjacent to The airport, it is just far enough away that you can’t hear the jets, yet close enough to make it simple to travel to an early flight. In addition to high-rise chains and flats, Marbella offers a variety of seaside hotels.
La Boquilla
La Boquilla is a long island located to the north of Marbella. the La Boquilla, formerly a fishing community and frequently referred to as such, is only five minutes by car from the airport and 25 minutes from Cartagena’s downtown.
the La Boquilla is divided into two distinct areas: the ancient town of La Boquilla, located further to the north, and Morros, which is home to upscale gated communities and towers. In addition to modest local motels and cozy inns for a more budget-friendly stay, Morros offers a few contemporary brand hotels with views of the Caribbean.
This older section needs to be more cohesive. Enjoy the mouthwatering fried fish at one of these places, full of neighborhood classic restaurants and bustling fishermen hauling in the day’s catch. Enjoy leisurely walks down the shore, tanning on the beach, and sipping cocktails from one of the mobile cocktail vendors while you’re back in Morros!
Crespo
If you intend to fly into or out of the city, Crespo, situated in the northern region of Marbella, is at a prime location. Nearby, the Rafael Núñez International Airport is easily accessible. Although there aren’t many attractions or things to do, staying in this part of town does offer you a really handy position.
Should you choose to remain in this more contemporary area of Cartagena, you will discover plenty of hotels and apartments in the mid-range and lower price range, most of which are close to the airport.
