Bogotá guides

Getting around Bogotá without a car for a month: costs and practical tips

Updated: 2026-10-26 · 5 min read

Getting around Bogotá without a car for a month: costs and practical tips

Organize your month by area

Living in Bogotá for a month without a car is feasible if you combine public transportation, walking, cycling and occasional app-based rides. The decision that most affects your routine is where you stay in relation to work, classes or regular activities.

Before booking, compare routes during working hours. An address that looks close on the map may require transfers or an uncomfortable walk. Locate supermarkets, stations and places you will visit several times a week.

If you are considering Atlantis 102, an apartment for monthly stays in Zona Rosa, check your usual connections from that location. Do the same for any accommodation: calculate the entire journey, including the walk to public transportation.

TransMilenio and SITP: how much they cost

In 2026, the fare for TransMilenio, SITP local buses and TransMiCable is $3.550 COP. Red buses run along trunk corridors; local buses reach areas without a nearby station.

The tullave card costs $8.000 COP, excluding credit. For a month-long stay, it is worth registering it in your name: this gives access to free transfers within a 125-minute window, subject to the system's conditions. Do not assume that every exit and re-entry counts as a transfer.

These calculations can help you plan your month:

• Two fares a day for 22 days: $156.200 COP.
• Two fares a day for 30 days: $213.000 COP.
• Ten additional fares for errands: $35.500 COP.

TransMiPass offers 65 entries for $160.000 COP for frequent users. Before buying it, check the conditions and how many entries you will use: with 44 monthly fares, paying individually costs less. Fares and benefits are detailed in the official TransMilenio guide for 2026.

If you are a foreign visitor, check which identification documents the card registration point accepts before traveling there. Bring your identification and verify where the process can be completed.

How to use the system without wasting time

Check your route before leaving and confirm the direction of service. Several buses with different destinations may stop at the same station; some skip stations. Check the stop list for the service you need.

From areas near the Autopista Norte corridor, identify stations such as Calle 85, Virrey or Calle 100. For other destinations, also compare local buses: walking to a trunk station does not always improve your journey.

During your first week:

• Try your regular route during the day, without an urgent appointment.
• Save the station name, service code and return stop.
• Top up before you run out of credit.
• Check for route updates before leaving.

If your schedule is flexible, compare how much your journey changes when you leave before or after the busiest period. Do not schedule a meeting immediately after a journey you are still unfamiliar with.

Keep your bag closed and in front of you in crowded areas. Put your phone away when approaching doors and entrances. If you need to check the map, stop somewhere you can do so calmly.

Uber, DiDi and Cabify: compare each ride

Apps are practical for getting home at night, carrying shopping or making a journey that would require several transfers. Install Uber, DiDi and Cabify and compare the same pickup point and destination before requesting a ride.

There is no single fare that tells you what it will always cost to travel from Chapinero to Usaquén or from Zona Rosa to La Candelaria. Check the available category, displayed price and pickup time.

DiDi confirms that it uses dynamic pricing and lets you check its effect before confirming. Its help center for Colombia also explains how to verify driver and vehicle details.

To budget, use actual quotes from your first few days. If an app shows $20.000 COP for a journey, ten equivalent rides would total $200.000 COP. This is a calculation example, not a guaranteed Bogotá fare.

Before getting in:

• Check the license plate, vehicle and driver.
• Review the selected payment method.
• Choose a permitted pickup point that is easy to identify.
• Share your trip with someone you trust whenever you consider it necessary.

Avoid agreeing to cancel the service and continue outside the app. Keep the trip record and check the receipt if there were destination changes or stops.

Cycling: useful for repeated journeys

Cycling is worth trying if you make frequent journeys and have a route you can ride comfortably. Check intersections, bike path continuity and parking; distance alone does not determine whether a route suits you.

To start, choose a short route during the day, without rushing. Examine the intersections along the Carrera 11 or Calle 26 corridors if they are part of your route. Bring a helmet, lights and rain gear.

Tembici offers shared bicycles. On its website, consulted in 2026, an individual ride on a conventional bicycle is listed at $4.850 COP for 15 minutes, with $150 COP per additional minute.

The page displays different monthly offers, so it is worth confirming the price and conditions available for your account in the app. Review the plans published by Tembici before paying.

Check that bicycles are available at your starting point and return spaces at your destination. When you finish, verify that the ride has ended in the system. Avoid leaving a shared bicycle parked while you have lunch: time and overage charges may continue to accumulate.

Sunday Ciclovía: how to make the most of it

Ciclovía operates on Sundays and public holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., according to the IDRD. You can participate on foot or with your bicycle without paying an entry fee.

Distinguish the recreational Ciclovía from permanent bike paths. The former temporarily opens road corridors for recreational activities; the latter are part of everyday infrastructure.

Check the route before leaving, especially if you plan to travel along Carrera Séptima: construction work may change connections. For your first outing, choose a section that is easy to retrace and finish with time to spare before closing.

Bring water, sun protection and money for personal expenses. Slow down near children, pedestrians and intersections. If you rent a bicycle, allow time for the return journey and drop-off.

What to avoid during the month

Avoid crossing Bogotá several times a day for errands you could group together. Schedule Usaquén, the city center and Teusaquillo on separate days when your schedule allows.

Do not choose transportation solely by price either. An app-based ride can help with a trip involving luggage; a bus may be more convenient for your routine; walking may cover neighborhood shopping.

During your first week, record actual expenses and travel times. With that information, you can decide how much credit to add, whether you need a bicycle subscription and how many app-based rides to budget for during the rest of the month.