Bucaramanga

Dubbed "The City of Parks," Santander's capital has some fine green spaces and is a suitable spot to recharge your batteries. It comes to life at night, when dozens of clubs, hundreds of bars and the students of 10 universities don their party hats.

Buca, as it's known to locals, is one of Colombia's major cities, with a greater-metropolitan population of about a million; it's packed with skyscrapers and surrounded by mountains. It's not overrun with visitors and is a pleasant place to get a taste of the region's culture.

Parque Santander is Bucaramanga's heart. Further east are newer, posh neighborhoods with hotels and nightspots.

Explore Bucaramanga

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Museo Casa de Bolívar
Another piece in the historical jigsaw of Simón Bolívar's life (Colombia is full of them), this slightly musty museum is housed in a colonial mansion…
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Jardin Botánico Eloy Valenzuela
Located a short walk from the park in Floridablanca, this lush botanic garden beside a pretty stream is a good place to take a break from the city,…
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Capilla de los Dolores
In Parque García Rovira, this diminutive chapel is Bucaramanga's oldest surviving church; it was erected in stone from 1748 to 1750. Its simple…
C
Catedral de la Sagrada Familia
Facing Parque Santander is Buca's most substantial piece of religious architecture. Constructed over nearly a century (1770–1865), it's a massive,…
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Casa de la Cultura
One of Bucaramanga's best preserved colonial mansions, the Casa de la Cultura is currently occupied by an educational institution, but visitors are free…
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Mercado Central
Buca's colorful, well-organized central market is worth a stroll, especially for its 4th-floor food court with all manner of local eats and mountain…
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Museo de Arte Moderno de Bucaramanga
A bright little museum with two exhibition rooms with rotating exhibits of modern paintings and sculptures. There's also a garden with sculptures and a…
I
Iglesia de San Laureano
This twin-towered, pale-yellow, colonial-period church dominates the east side of Parque García Rovira.
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Iglesia de San Pedro
A towering brick church in the east of the city.

M
Museo Casa de Bolívar
Another piece in the historical jigsaw of Simón Bolívar's life (Colombia is full of them), this slightly musty museum is housed in a colonial mansion…
J
Jardin Botánico Eloy Valenzuela
Located a short walk from the park in Floridablanca, this lush botanic garden beside a pretty stream is a good place to take a break from the city,…
C
Capilla de los Dolores
In Parque García Rovira, this diminutive chapel is Bucaramanga's oldest surviving church; it was erected in stone from 1748 to 1750. Its simple…
C
Catedral de la Sagrada Familia
Facing Parque Santander is Buca's most substantial piece of religious architecture. Constructed over nearly a century (1770–1865), it's a massive,…
C
Casa de la Cultura
One of Bucaramanga's best preserved colonial mansions, the Casa de la Cultura is currently occupied by an educational institution, but visitors are free…
M
Mercado Central
Buca's colorful, well-organized central market is worth a stroll, especially for its 4th-floor food court with all manner of local eats and mountain…
M
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bucaramanga
A bright little museum with two exhibition rooms with rotating exhibits of modern paintings and sculptures. There's also a garden with sculptures and a…
I
Iglesia de San Laureano
This twin-towered, pale-yellow, colonial-period church dominates the east side of Parque García Rovira.
I
Iglesia de San Pedro
A towering brick church in the east of the city.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bucaramanga.

See
Museo Casa de Bolívar
Another piece in the historical jigsaw of Simón Bolívar's life (Colombia is full of them), this slightly musty museum is housed in a colonial mansion…
See
Jardin Botánico Eloy Valenzuela
Located a short walk from the park in Floridablanca, this lush botanic garden beside a pretty stream is a good place to take a break from the city,…
See
Capilla de los Dolores
In Parque García Rovira, this diminutive chapel is Bucaramanga's oldest surviving church; it was erected in stone from 1748 to 1750. Its simple…
See
Catedral de la Sagrada Familia
Facing Parque Santander is Buca's most substantial piece of religious architecture. Constructed over nearly a century (1770–1865), it's a massive,…
See
Casa de la Cultura
One of Bucaramanga's best preserved colonial mansions, the Casa de la Cultura is currently occupied by an educational institution, but visitors are free…
See
Mercado Central
Buca's colorful, well-organized central market is worth a stroll, especially for its 4th-floor food court with all manner of local eats and mountain…
See
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bucaramanga
A bright little museum with two exhibition rooms with rotating exhibits of modern paintings and sculptures. There's also a garden with sculptures and a…
See
Iglesia de San Laureano
This twin-towered, pale-yellow, colonial-period church dominates the east side of Parque García Rovira.
See
Iglesia de San Pedro
A towering brick church in the east of the city.

Guidebooks

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