The city's hippest, most atmospheric neighbourhood, just outside the walls — once rough, now a bohemian delight of vivid street art, flag-draped lanes, buzzing Plaza de la Trinidad, hostels, salsa bars and the best nightlife and value in town. Lively, colourful and up-for-it, a short walk from the old town; the base for travellers who want street art, nightlife, a real local buzz and better prices than inside the walls. The coolest, most vibrant place to stay.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€50–110
typical per night in Colombia
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Cartagena — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Getsemaní and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Torre del Reloj & Plaza de los Coches6 min walk523 m
- Caribbean-Colombian food7 min walk561 m
- The Walled City8 min walk678 m
- Plaza Santo Domingo & the plazas10 min walk805 m
- Castillo San Felipe de Barajas10 min walk835 m
- The city walls at sunset13 min walk1.1 km
- A sunset harbour cruise19 min walk1.6 km
- Bocagrande (beach)28 min walk2.3 km
- The Rosario Islands104 min taxi34.7 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 4.Getsemaní & its street art — The bohemian barrio of Getsemaní, just outside the walls, is Cartagena at its most vibrant and creative — a warren of lanes strung with colourful flags and umbrellas, walls covered in brilliant street art and murals, and the buzzing Plaza de la Trinidad, which fills every evening with locals, music, dancers and street food. Wander with a camera by day and soak up the buzz by night; grittier and cooler than the polished old town, it's the beating, authentic heart of the city. A joyful, photogenic must.
- 9.Salsa, rumba & rooftop bars — Cartagena's nights are hot in every sense — dance salsa and champeta at legendary Café Havana in Getsemaní, sip cocktails at chic old-town rooftop bars with sea and rampart views, or party on a booze-cruise 'chiva' bus. The city pulses with Caribbean rhythm after dark, sultry and joyful; take a salsa lesson, bar-hop Getsemaní's plazas, and dance late in the warm night. Some of the best nightlife in Colombia, and a highlight of any visit. Sultry, musical and hugely fun.
- 11.Street food & the fruit-sellers — Cartagena's streets are a delicious feast — sizzling arepas de huevo and carimañolas from the carts, fresh oysters and ceviche, and the iconic palenqueras, women in bright dresses balancing bowls of tropical fruit on their heads. Snack your way around the plazas and Getsemaní, cool off with a fresh mango or a coconut lemonade, and taste the city's Afro-Caribbean flavours cheaply and authentically. A vibrant, tasty and only-in-Cartagena experience; graze as you wander. Cheap, fun and delicious.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Getsemaní; flights via Google Flights.