Layover Guide

Making the most of your stopover at El Dorado International Airport — hotels, city tours and transit tips.

Your BOG Layover at a Glance

City AccessAccessible

Minimum layover for city6 hours

Best use of a long layover

Cerro de Monserrate — the funicular or cable-car ride to the hilltop church for panoramic city views — takes roughly 45-60 minutes round trip once you're there; go early to beat afternoon cloud cover and queues.

Inside the airport

Get a coffee at a Juan Valdez counter, browse duty-free, or book a few hours in the airside Wait N Rest sleep cabins near Gate 54 in Terminal 1 if you just need to reset rather than leave.

Wait N Rest offers airside sleep cabins from around USD 19 for 3 hours right in Terminal 1; conventional hotels sit roughly 1-2 miles from the terminal and rely on shuttle service rather than walking access.

For a city visit, standard Colombian entry rules apply — most passport holders from the Americas, EU, UK and Australia enter visa-free for up to 90 days. A separate short-stay transit visa is required only for a specific list of nationalities (per Resolución 3717 de 2023) who need to pass airside without formally entering the country.

Transit visa requirements vary by nationality and change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate of Colombia before travel.

Layover Duration Guide

Under 3 hrs

Stay Airside

Grab a meal, use the lounge or rest. Not enough time to clear immigration and return safely.

3 – 6 hrs

Airport Exploration

Explore landside facilities, duty-free and airport dining. Consider a transit hotel if you need rest.

6 – 12 hrs

Quick City Visit

Enough time to visit Bogota city centre if transit visa permits. Allow 3 hrs buffer for return and re-entry.

12 hrs+

Overnight Stay

Book a nearby hotel. You can explore Bogota properly — consider a guided tour to maximise your time.

Hotels Near BOG

Staying close to the airport? Airport hotels and transit hotels let you rest without a long transfer.

Recommended · Hotels

Find Hotels Near BOG

Airport hotels, transit stays and Bogota city centre options — free cancellation on most bookings.

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City Tours from BOG

Short on time? Layover tours are designed to fit your connection window — pickup from the airport, back before your gate opens.

Recommended · Tours

Bogota Layover Tours

Half-day and layover-specific tours with airport pickup. See the highlights of Bogota without missing your connection.

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Practical Tips for Your BOG Layover

Use left-luggage storage at El Dorado International Airport if you plan to leave the terminal — most airports offer coin lockers or staffed storage near arrivals.

Get a Colombia eSIM before your layover so you have data for maps and translation the moment you land.

Download offline maps for Bogota in advance — useful if you leave the terminal and connectivity is patchy.

Always allow at least 3 hours buffer before your next departure when leaving the airport — immigration queues are unpredictable.

Check your next airline's check-in deadline. Some require you to be at the gate 45–60 minutes before departure.

Recommended · eSIM

Stay Connected in Colombia

Activate a Colombia eSIM on Airalo before you travel — instant data, no SIM card queue at the airport.

Browse Colombia plans →

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