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Cartagena travel guide

What to watch out for, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around — written for people arriving for the first time.

Last updated 2026-08-30

Ciudad Amurallada, Cartagena
Photo: Carlos Adampol · CC BY SA 2.0 · source

Common scams in Cartagena

18 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Cartagena, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.

Common scams in Cartagena — and how to avoid them →

Top places to visit in Cartagena

6 places worth your time in Cartagena, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Top places to visit in Cartagena →

Top food to try in Cartagena

6 dishes to eat in Cartagena, what is in them, and where they belong.

Top food to try in Cartagena →

Traditions and customs in Cartagena

5 customs and traditions in Cartagena — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Traditional things to do in Cartagena →

Getting around Cartagena

How to travel around Cartagena — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Getting around Cartagena: transport and taxi apps →

Rules to follow in Cartagena

3 laws, restrictions, and customs in Cartagena that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.

Rules to follow in Cartagena — laws and customs travellers must know →

Emergency contacts in Cartagena

3 emergency services in Cartagena you may need as a traveller — tourist police, ambulance, fire brigade and more. Save these before you go out.

Emergency numbers in Cartagena — police, ambulance, fire and tourist helplines →

Best places to shop in Cartagena

4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Cartagena — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Best places to shop in Cartagena — markets, malls, bazaars and street shopping →

Scam entries describe patterns reported in an area. They are not findings of fact, and they do not allege wrongdoing by any named business.