Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar

The Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar is the city's largest green space, often called the lung of Bogotá. Rather than a single park, it is a connected system of green areas in the Teusaquillo district, covering hundreds of hectares. Alongside the main parkland it takes in the Parque de los Novios, the Salitre Mágico amusement park, an aquatics complex, the El Salitre sports centre with its velodrome, and the covered Palacio de los Deportes arena.

Work on the park began in 1966, and it was formally named by a law of 1979. A Eucharistic temple was built here in 1968, a second in 1986 for the visit of Pope John Paul II, and the Plaza de Eventos was laid out in 1983, when about 3,300 trees were planted. The architect Arturo Robledo Ocampo designed later improvements. The park is managed by the city's sports and recreation institute.

The main greenspace centres on a lake of around 11 hectares, where you can hire pedal boats, and the Parque de los Novios has its own smaller lakes and boats too. Wide paths circle the lawns, and at weekends they fill with families, joggers, cyclists and picnickers. The Plaza de Eventos, with room for up to 100,000 people, hosts many of the city's large international concerts and free public festivals, including Rock al Parque. The record crowd for a concert here is usually given as Metallica's show in 1999.

Entry to the park is free. Weekends, especially Sunday mornings, are the liveliest times, while weekday mornings are quieter for a walk or run. Bring sun cream and a waterproof, as the sun is strong at this altitude and showers can arrive quickly. If you plan to visit during a festival, check the city's event information, since some areas are fenced off for concerts.

The park sits between the city centre and the west, next to the Jardín Botánico, which makes the two an easy pairing for a full day outdoors. The Salitre Mágico rides and the Parque de los Novios are within the wider park system. It suits families with children, runners and anyone who wants to see how Bogotanos spend their weekends.