Bucaramanga: Tourism, Things to Do & Places to Visit

Bucaramanga, known as the "Ciudad Bonita" (Pretty City), is the capital of the department of Santander and one of Colombia's leading cities.

Bucaramanga is a thriving city with major industries and plenty of attractions for visitors.

Bucaramanga is a great destination for a trip. The city has a strong identity; its streets, buildings and parks reflect the character of its people. It is also known for its intense industrial activity, its universities (including the Industrial University of Santander), its shops, its architecture, the towns around it and the beautiful landscapes of Chicamocha National Park.

Bucaramanga sits on a broad plateau in the Eastern Andes, 920 meters above sea level.

How to get to Bucaramanga

The city is very well connected to the rest of the country by good roads. The main routes link it with Bogotá, Tunja, the Caribbean coast, Barrancabermeja, Medellín, Cúcuta and Venezuela.

The distances are: Bogotá 405 km, Barrancabermeja 138 km, Cúcuta 200 km, Tunja 283 km, Santa Marta 540 km, Barranquilla 578 km, Medellín 403 km.

Bucaramanga also has Palonegro International Airport, which handles domestic flights.

Things to do in Bucaramanga

Bucaramanga is a pleasant city for tourists, and the downtown is easy to explore on foot. At its center is Parque Santander, always lively and busy. Around it stand some of the city's most characteristic buildings, such as the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the Club del Comercio and the La Triada shopping center, along with the main banks and hotels.

Top sights in Bucaramanga

Luis Carlos Galán Civic Plaza: facing the Palace of Justice, created in tribute to the great Colombian politician born in Santander.

Café Madrid Station: a gem of 1950s railway architecture, from the era when the train was the most popular way to travel between Bogotá, the Magdalena Medio and the Caribbean coast.

Metropolitan Market Center: a popular market built to give the city's street vendors a home.

Museum of Modern Art: a hub for local and international art, with high-quality exhibitions and courses and workshops. Carrera 26 and Calle 37.

Casa Luis Perú de la Croix: this old building houses the City Photography Museum.

Municipal Institute of Culture: the most important center of Bucaramanga's culture, with exhibition halls, a library and art courses and workshops.

Capilla de los Dolores: the oldest chapel in Bucaramanga, declared a national historic landmark, with very old works of sacred art inside.

Bucaramanga: City of Parks

Bucaramanga is also known as the "City of Parks", so it is a good idea for every visitor to get to know some of them.

Parque de las Palmas: the hub of Bucaramanga's food and bar scene, the traditional spot for a night out. Carrera 29 and Calle 44.

Parque Cultural del Oriente: a recently built park with a modern style and a wide variety of trees, also known as Parque Mejoras Públicas. It hosts cultural, artistic and sports activities every weekend. Carrera 28 and Calle 36.

Parque del Agua: built by the public water utility, perhaps the city's most attractive park, with beautiful greenery, canals and ponds, and a clear message about water conservation. Carrera 34 and Calle 20.

Parque de los Niños: a family favorite, very busy on weekends, with playgrounds and sports facilities. Carrera 27 and Calle 32.

Places to visit near Bucaramanga

Chicamocha National Park (Panachi)

Chicamocha National Park, also known as Panachi, is 54 km from Bucaramanga and one of the most visited sites in the department. The park covers 254 hectares protecting the ecology of the Chicamocha Canyon. Its main attractions include the cable car, the ostrich park, Pueblito Santandereano and the Monument to Santander Identity. More information at: Parques de Santander

San Gil

The town of San Gil is 96 km from Bucaramanga and a very popular weekend destination. San Gil is a historic town with well-preserved buildings and a major center for adventure sports such as rafting, paragliding and rappelling. You can also visit the El Gallineral Ecological Park, with trails for walks amid nature.

Barichara

Barichara has a reputation as one of the prettiest towns in Santander and has been declared a national heritage site of Colombia. It has very attractive architectural heritage, with old buildings in excellent condition. Barichara is 110 km from Bucaramanga and 21 km from San Gil.

Girón

Girón is a historic town well worth visiting, declared a National Monument of Colombia and known for its architecture, which preserves valuable colonial buildings. In Girón you can visit the Señor de los Milagros Cathedral and the Corregidor Chapel, the wetland, the Calicanto Bridge, the tourist promenade, the Museum of Religious Art and the La Mansión del Fraile Museum. Girón is 9 km from Barichara.

Socorro

The town of Socorro has a very well preserved historic center with beautiful colonial buildings that are part of Colombia's heritage. Places to visit in Socorro include the Cathedral, the Capuchin convent, the San Rafael Chapel, the Pantheon of the Heroes, the Chiquinquirá Church and the Horacio Rodríguez Plata Casa de la Cultura.

Guane

Guane is another historic town ideal for a visit from Bucaramanga. Its highlights are the Santa Lucía Church and the notable Museum of Paleontology, Archaeology and Anthropology.