How to Get to Bogotá: El Dorado Airport (BOG), TransMilenio and Transit

As the primary aviation and highway crossroads of northern South America, Bogotá connects directly to capitals across North and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe, as well as every department of Colombia. Understanding the layout of its airport terminals, bus stations, and rapid transit corridors makes crossing the Sabana de Bogotá far easier.

Arriving at El Dorado International Airport (BOG)

El Dorado International Airport (IATA: BOG, ICAO: SKBO) occupies a 690-hectare site 12 kilometres west of the historic centre across the Fontibón and Engativá localities at an elevation of 2,547 metres. Its two 3,800-metre parallel runways handle nearly half of Colombia's commercial air traffic. Terminal 1 (the main H-shaped complex) serves all international flights alongside the majority of domestic routes, while the circular Puente Aéreo (Terminal 2) handles select regional services. Follow the broad Avenida El Dorado (Calle 26) expressway east to reach hotels in La Candelaria, Centro Internacional, or Chapinero.

• Authorised Airport Taxis and Ride Apps: Official yellow taxis queue at signed dispatch booths outside the ground-floor arrivals kerb; check the official site or airport dispatch screen for current zone guidance before boarding.
• TransMilenio Airport Link: A free feeder bus connects Terminal 1 with Portal El Dorado, where trunk buses along the Calle 26 (Line K) corridor run directly east toward Museo Nacional and Universidades station near La Candelaria.
• Intercity Bus Terminals: Long-distance coaches from Medellín, Cali, the Coffee Cultural Landscape, and Santander arrive at Terminal de Transporte Salitre in the western Salitre district, while buses from Zipaquirá, Villa de Leyva, and Tunja also stop at Terminal del Norte near Calle 192.

Using TransMilenio, SITP Buses and the Tullave Card

Opened in December 2000, the TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system operates 12 dedicated trunk corridors (troncales) spanning 114.4 kilometres across the capital, complemented by blue SITP urban buses and the TransMiCable gondola in Ciudad Bolívar. To board any TransMilenio station or SITP bus, purchase and top up a rechargeable Tullave smartcard at station ticket booths. Avoid riding the trunk buses during the weekday morning and early evening rush hours, when platforms become tightly packed.