Where to Stay in Cartagena

Cartagena is a vibrant Colombian city made up of several neighborhoods, each with its own charm.

The top three areas most popular among tourists are:

Walled City/Old Town which is a historic area found in centro.
Bocagrande located by the coast line and thus has beaches.
Getsemani a trendy area described as the hipster neighborhood.Now, which of these three neighborhoods should you stay in?

Getsemani is my neighborhood pick in Cartagena.

This neighborhood is my favorite due to its bustling nightlife, colourful buildings, lively plazas, and amazing street eats. Furthermore, some specific reasons I recommend you stay in this area:

The other neighborhoods are fairly walk-able from Getsemani. To begin, Old Town is about a 15 minute walk and Bocagrande is about a 30 minute walk. While the Walled City also has a pretty incredible nightlife, walking back (or cabbing) is fairly safe. Furthermore, Muelle de la Bodeguita, where you can catch a boat to some of the islands is a 10 minute walk from Getsemani.
Better food: This may be a personal opinion, but I feel the restaurants in Centro and Bocagrande are more “tourist traps”. That being said, the places to eat in Getsemani feel more authentic. Moreover, more food stands can be found in Getsemani.
Hotels are less expensive: Bocagrande tends to have some bigger hotel chains and hotels overall are pricier in the Old Town.

Rex Angel Tip: While located on the coast line, Cartagena is not actually known for its beaches. However, if you you do wish to have some beach time during your trip, I suggest splitting your stay between two neighborhoods. Personally, I spent my first few nights in Getsemani, went to Minca, and then spent the last two days of my trip in Bocagrande.

Safety in Getsemani and Cartagena.

Safety is always a concern for women, especially solo female travelers. Getsemani was once an area know for drugs and prostitution. However, the neighborhood definitely now is a a trendy hispster area. That being said, you will find locals offering drugs on busy streets. But if you simply mind your own business, you will be fine. Take normal safety precautions as you would anywhere in the world!