Cartagena, Colombia
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.
Last updated 2026-08-11
1. Las Bóvedas
Photo: Kamilokardona · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
The 23 vaulted dungeons built into the city walls, now craft shops — hammocks, textiles, mola panels, coffee and souvenirs.
Where: BazaarMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 09:00–19:00Cost: Budget–Mid
2. Walled City boutiques and emerald shops
Photo: Ana Hidalgo Burgos Burgos. · Pexels License · source
The old town's colonial streets — Colombian designers, leather, and the emerald and jewellery houses around Plaza Santo Domingo.
Where: LuxuryMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 10:00–21:00Cost: LuxuryWatch out Emeralds sold on the street or by beach vendors are glass or synthetic. Anything genuine comes with a certificate from a recognised laboratory; ask for it before, not after.
3. Getsemaní
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The neighbourhood outside the walls — independent shops, street art, hostels and a growing design scene, at a fraction of walled-city prices.
Where: Street ShoppingMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 11:00–21:00Cost: Mid-range
4. Bazurto Market
Photo: Lombana · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
The city's real market, well away from the tourist circuit — fish, produce, spices and the Caribbean coast's food culture at full volume.
Where: MarketMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 05:00–16:00Cost: BudgetWatch out Chaotic and not a place to carry valuables. Go with a guide or in the morning, and leave anything you would mind losing at the hotel.
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