Hotel de la Ópera

The Hotel de la Ópera is the classic choice for travellers who want to stay in the historic heart of Bogotá. It occupies a colonial house and a republican-era house on Calle 10 in La Candelaria, which owners and architects adapted into a hotel in a restoration that took three years and was completed in 1997. The aim was to keep the character of the buildings, and the rooms reflect three centuries of the city's urban history.

There are 42 rooms, decorated with Italian-made furniture and equipped with central heating, Wi-Fi, cable television and safes. Rooms are spread between the colonial house, on the first to third floors, and an art deco-style section on the seventh floor. The hotel describes itself as a five-star property and has two restaurants: La Scala, on the ground floor, serves Mediterranean food in a republican-style setting, while El Mirador, on the upper floor, has views over the colonial rooftops and the domes of the San Ignacio church and the cathedral.

The location could hardly be more central. The hotel stands directly beside the Teatro Colón, faces the Palacio de San Carlos, sits diagonally across from the Museo Colonial, about 50 metres from the San Ignacio church and one block from Plaza de Bolívar. The Museo Botero, the Museo Santa Clara and La Puerta Falsa are all within a few minutes' walk, and Calle 10 is pedestrianised at this point, which keeps traffic noise down.

The hotel suits couples, culture lovers and first-time visitors who want to walk to the main sights. It offers packages such as a birthday plan, a couples' plan and a plan that includes a ghost tour of La Candelaria, and spa packages with a relaxation circuit. Guests who plan to spend evenings in Chapinero or the north should budget for taxi rides.

The hotel's website lists a WhatsApp line, +57 310 485 9851, for reservations and enquiries. The centre is quieter after dark than the north of the city, so arrange a taxi through reception for late returns. Ask about rooms in the colonial house if you want the most historic setting, or about the upper floors for views.