An Insider’s Guide to Cartagena, Colombia : Beyond the Nightlife

Cartagena, Colombia is often introduced as a city of salsa rhythms and vibrant nightlife, but there’s a whole other Cartagena waiting to be discovered.

With centuries of history, thriving creative communities, and experiences that stretch from its colonial streets to its island shores, this Caribbean treasure offers far more than partying and cocktails.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning for a deeper dive, here’s how to explore Cartagena’s many layers with insider flair.

Start your journey in the Walled City, where Townhouse Art Hotel brings a different energy. Colorful, eclectic, and social, it’s perfect for travelers seeking creativity and connection. Its rooftop bar is a favorite among locals and travelers alike, offering jewel-toned plunge pools, small plates inspired by global street food from chef Pedro Mosqueda, and cocktails with a playful twist.

Downstairs, the sultry piano bar, Members Only, offers an unparalleled experience - it’s the first and only burlesque jazz piano bar in Cartagena. While Cartagena is famous for salsa and dance floors, there are subtler, stylish options too.

Members Only channels the intimacy of New York or Madrid speakeasies, with live jazz and a house pianist who keeps the vibe sultry and soulful. Order a martini or old-fashioned, dress with a touch of old glamour, and settle in for an evening that feels timeless.

For a more luxury experience, Casa Carolina is redefining luxe boutique hospitality. Housed in a restored 16th-century presbytery, this 15-room hotel blends colonial architecture with contemporary design. Coral stone sculptures, painted walls, and towering columns nod to its history, while a rooftop pool, yoga studio, and wellness café make it a sanctuary for today’s traveler. It’s a place where heritage and high design coexist seamlessly.

If your vision of Cartagena includes sandy toes and sea breezes, head just 20 minutes away to Blue Apple Beach on Tierra Bomba island. Recently recognized in the 2025 MICHELIN Hotel Guide, this boutique hotel and beach club feels like staying at the stylish home of a worldly friend.

Expect laid-back luxury, sustainability at its core, and gastronomy led by chef Pedro Mosqueda, whose MICHELIN training shines through every dish. Horses, scuba diving, and lazy afternoons complete the private-island atmosphere.

Cartagena’s food scene is as vibrant as its streets. Begin your mornings at Nía Bakery, where pastries celebrate Colombia’s biodiversity. Don’t miss the Breton cookie with lulo jam or the Mambe Latte—an Amazon-inspired specialty.

For a lunch or dinner that honors tradition while pushing boundaries, Carmen delivers contemporary Colombian cuisine in a romantic colonial house. Each dish is a love letter to artisans and farmers, paired with handcrafted cocktails that showcase tropical fruits and ancestral spirits.

In Getsemaní, Cartagena’s creative heart, two restaurants stand out. El Beso elevates street food with fresh seafood and vegetarian twists, while Salón Tropical highlights the Caribbean’s bounty with seasonal seafood, live music, and a warm, festive atmosphere.

For a completely different take, step into Casa Bohème—a space where dining fuses with music, design, and art. A restaurant and wellness studio by day and at night and a blend of nightlife and creativity as the sun sets.

Between live DJ sets, immersive sound therapy, and eclectic programming, it’s more than a night out—it’s an invitation to connect with Cartagena’s artistic soul.

Beyond dining, Cartagena offers experiences that reveal its deeper rhythms.

Lunático Experience is more than a cooking class: it’s a chance to prepare traditional dishes with local chefs, taste aged rums with artisanal chocolates, and sip cocktails infused with Colombian botanicals—all with sweeping views of San Felipe Castle.

On the water, Boating Cartagena curates private charters to the Rosario Islands, Barú, and hidden coves along the coast. With personalized service and hospitality-trained crews, each trip feels both luxurious and authentically local

No trip to Cartagena is complete without shopping—and here, it’s about more than souvenirs. Lucy Jewelry introduces visitors to Colombia’s most precious export: emeralds. In an intimate, direct-to-client setting, guests learn from GIA-certified specialists how to recognize quality and craftsmanship, while browsing exceptional stones that embody Colombian excellence.

Cartagena’s islands are where city heat melts into island breezes. While the Rosario Islands have become popular with travelers over the years, nearby Tierra Bomba island has quickly become a favorite beach destination for Cartagena visitors and locals alike. With a mix of lively and relaxing beach clubs, boutique hotels and adventure activities, it’s a no-to-miss destination.

On Tierra Bomba, Amare Beach offers a barefoot, bohemian vibe where locals and travelers mingle under coconut trees. Stop by for a Costeñita (a local beer), and a fresh shrimp bowl followed by a dip in the sea and you’ll quickly understand why it’s become a beloved retreat.

For something more polished but equally relaxed, return to Blue Apple Beach for lazy afternoons stretched between sun, sea, and exquisite dining. With its mix of sustainability and sophistication, it remains a must for anyone seeking the island lifestyle. Day passes include roundtrip boat transfer to and from the city.

For those curious about sustainability, the Green Apple Foundation offers a different kind of tour. Born out of Blue Apple’s efforts to manage waste on Tierra Bomba, the foundation now leads all of Cartagena’s recycling initiatives.

Visitors to Blue Apple Beach can tour the on-site Green Apple Facility and witness glass transformed into art by local women artisans, crush bottles into sand, or even make their own candle—a meaningful way to understand tourism’s role in positive change.

Cartagena is a city of contrasts: colonial architecture alongside street murals, barefoot island beach clubs next to MICHELIN-level dining, centuries-old traditions reimagined with modern creativity. Step beyond the nightlife, and you’ll discover a destination that is layered, diverse, and endlessly inspiring.

The magic of Cartagena lies not just in its history or its beaches, but in the way it continues to reinvent itself—always with warmth, color, and a rhythm uniquely its own.