Last updated: July 2026
Cartagena — Neighborhood Guide
Getsemaní is Cartagena's coolest neighbourhood — a former working-class barrio that has reinvented itself as the city's most vibrant artistic quarter, its streets alive with extraordinary street murals, lively plazas, and genuinely excellent dining.
Quick Answer
5 hotels reviewed · Price range: $$$, $$$$ · Last updated July 2026
Our Picks
5 hotels · Updated July 2026
Old City
A magnificently restored 16th-century merchant palace on one of the walled city's most beautiful streets, Casa Pestagua offers just nine suites of extraordinary beauty — carved wooden ceilings, colonial antiques, and a courtyard pool that invites pure indolence.
★ 9.5 Hotelier's Choice score, 40+ criteria · Many rooms include free cancellation
Old City
A garden-centred colonial retreat in the quieter San Diego quarter, Quadrifolio is celebrated as one of Colombia's finest boutique hotels. Its lush courtyard, individually decorated rooms, and remarkably attentive service justify every laudatory review.
★ 9.4 Hotelier's Choice score, 40+ criteria · Many rooms include free cancellation
Old City
Set within a transformed bastion of the city walls, Bastion Luxury Hotel is Cartagena's most dramatically sited property — with rooftop terraces directly atop the ancient fortifications and a rooftop pool that overlooks the entire walled city.
★ 9.3 Hotelier's Choice score, 40+ criteria · Many rooms include free cancellation
Old City
A beautifully considered 8-room boutique in the heart of the walled city, Amarla offers an intimate, owner-attended alternative to the grander colonial palaces — with a charming pool courtyard and a design sensibility rooted in Caribbean modernism.
★ 9.1 Hotelier's Choice score, 40+ criteria · Many rooms include free cancellation
Getsemaní
A pioneering luxury boutique in the artistic neighbourhood of Getsemaní, Casa del Coliseo demonstrates that the most exciting hospitality in Cartagena no longer necessarily sits inside the old walls. Bold murals, a beautiful pool, and genuine neighbourhood immersion.
★ 9 Hotelier's Choice score, 40+ criteria · Many rooms include free cancellation
About This Guide
Adjacent to the walled city and separated by a moat, Getsemaní was long considered off the tourist map but has transformed dramatically into one of Colombia's most culturally energetic neighbourhoods. The Plaza de la Trinidad becomes an open-air living room each evening as locals and visitors mingle, vendors sell local snacks, and impromptu music sessions erupt. The neighbourhood's murals are now a global attraction.
Insider Tips
Grab a fresh fruit juice from a street vendor on Trinidad Plaza — a quintessential Cartagena moment.
The neighbourhood is most alive on weekend evenings from 6pm onward.
La Cevichería nearby is one of Colombia's most celebrated seafood restaurants.
Keep Exploring
Common Questions
Getsemaní is excellent for culturally adventurous travellers who want authentic local atmosphere and are comfortable in a neighbourhood that, while much safer than a decade ago, retains raw urban energy.
Getsemaní is famous for its spectacular street art, the lively Plaza de la Trinidad, excellent budget restaurants, and proximity to the walled city.
Getsemaní is a 10-minute walk from the walled city. The airport is 20 minutes by taxi.
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Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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