Walking Tour Cartagena Old City: Gold Museum & Plaza de Bolívar

Las Bóvedas to the Gold Museum: three hours inside Cartagena's walls

A guided walking tour of Cartagena's Old Town starts at Las Bóvedas and moves through the walled city's cobblestone streets, stopping at the Gold Museum, Plaza de Bolívar, the Cathedral and the clock tower. Your bilingual English-Spanish guide leads the route at your own pace, and entry tickets to all attractions are included. The Gold Museum closes Mondays and can be swapped for another museum if the group prefers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Las Bóvedas15m
2. Bolivar Square30m
3. Cartagena Old Town1h
4. Gold Museum20m · entry included

Walking tour of Cartagena Old City

• Meet guide at Boveda #1
• Visit Bolivar Square
• Explore Cartagena Old Town streets
• See the Clock Tower entrance
• Visit the Gold Museum

The experience

Your guide meets you at Bóveda #1, the starting point for a three-hour walk through Cartagena's colonial center. From there, the route takes you through the walls and bastions of the old city, past the clock tower that marks the main entrance, and into the maze of streets where the architecture and layout tell the story of how the city changed hands and purposes over centuries. You move at your own pace, absorbing as much or as little detail as you want from the guide's commentary on the buildings, the fortifications and the people who lived here.

The Gold Museum holds the collection that anchors the tour: pre-Colombian gold and ceramics from the main cultures of the region, displayed in a way that explains how the indigenous peoples of this coast lived before the Spanish arrived. After the museum, you reach Plaza de Bolívar, a square that has been called the Inquisition plaza and the Cathedral plaza at different points in Cartagena's history, depending on what was happening there. The Cathedral itself and the San Pedro Church are stops along the walk, and you also pass through Plaza de San Pedro Claver. The guide speaks both English and Spanish, so the tour works whether you're traveling solo or with Spanish speakers.

The tour includes entry to all the attractions mentioned, so there's no separate ticket buying at each stop. If the Gold Museum is closed (it shuts on Mondays), the guide will substitute another museum the group is interested in. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat. You're on your feet for the full three hours, and the Caribbean sun is direct on these narrow streets.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• entry tickets to the Gold Museum, Plaza de Bolívar, Cartagena Cathedral and other attractions on the route.
• walking tour of the walled old city, the clock tower and the colonial streets.

Options for this experience

2 options

Option WITHOUT TransportGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00 and 15:00The tour leaves at 9 am or 3 pm, with no transportation service included.

Transfer to the meeting point is included.Guide in English or Spanish · 09:00 and 15:00Includes transfer to the meeting point, with pickup at 8:30 am or 2:00 pm.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 15:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Impulse Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you prefer a guided walk with museum entries bundled in rather than exploring the old city on your own, or if you want a bilingual guide to explain the colonial architecture and pre-Hispanic artifacts as you move through each site.

Traveler reviews

4.67★★★★★★★★★★

30 verified traveler reviews

5 ★25

4 ★1

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years).

What is the Gold Museum and what will I see inside it?

The Gold Museum houses a collection of pre-Colombian gold and ceramics from the main indigenous cultures of the region, showing how people lived on this coast before Spanish colonization. Entry is included in the tour.

Where does the walking tour start and how do I get there?

The guide meets you at Bóveda #1, part of the old fortifications at the edge of the walled city. You can book the tour with or without a transfer from your hotel to the meeting point. Public transportation options are also available nearby.

How long is the tour and will I be walking the whole time?

The tour runs three hours and you walk at your own pace through the cobblestone streets, stopping at each attraction to learn about the architecture and history. It's suitable for all fitness levels, and children from age 2 are welcome. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

What happens if the Gold Museum is closed on the day of my tour?

The Gold Museum closes on Mondays, and the guide will swap it for another museum the group is interested in visiting instead. Let the operator know if you have a preference.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, though the old city does have cobblestone streets and some uneven surfaces typical of colonial architecture.

What should I bring or wear for this walking tour?

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking cobblestone streets, and bring a sun hat or cap. The Caribbean sun is strong and there's limited shade in the narrow streets of the old city.