The 8 Best Hotels
in Cartagena
Cartagena is one of the Americas' most seductive colonial cities, a UNESCO-listed port town where 16th-century Spanish ramparts wrap around candy-coloured mansions and flower-draped balconies. The hotel scene here is unusually intimate: most properties occupy restored casas coloniales inside the Walled City, converting courtyards into plunge pools and converting slave quarters into design suites. Cartagena sits on the Caribbean coast and pulls a global crowd, yet prices remain meaningfully lower than comparable historic cities — a boutique with rooftop pool that would cost €400 per night in Dubrovnik often runs €150-200 here. The Getsemaní neighbourhood has emerged as a grittier, more authentic counterpoint to the polished Centro Histórico, offering independent guesthouses and street-art energy at a fraction of the walled-city premium.
We've narrowed it down to 8 hotels — 3 splurges, 3 mid-range, and 2 budget picks. The splurge tier here means genuine heritage palaces with rooftop bars and curated art collections, not just a fancy chain logo. Mid-range in Cartagena punches well above its price: you'll find colonial courtyards and proper AC for €80-150 a night. Budget picks are concentrated in Getsemaní, where small guesthouses deliver real character for under €60.
| Hotel | Neighborhood | From €/night | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Casa San Agustín | Centro Histórico | €280–520 | Splurge |
| Sofitel Legend Santa Clara | Centro Histórico | €310–600 | Splurge |
| Tcherassi Hotel + Spa | Centro Histórico | €240–480 | Splurge |
| Hotel Boutique Quadrifolio | Centro Histórico | €130–210 | Mid-range |
| Hotel Amarla Cartagena | Centro Histórico | €110–195 | Mid-range |
| Casa Lola Hotel Boutique | Getsemaní | €85–160 | Mid-range |
| Casa Viena Hostel | Getsemaní | €28–75 | Budget |
| Hotel Casa Real Cartagena | Getsemaní | €45–90 | Budget |
Where to stay in Cartagena
Cartagena's hotel geography divides cleanly into the Walled City (Centro Histórico) and the emerging barrio of Getsemaní just outside the walls. Where you stay shapes the entire texture of your trip — price, noise level, atmosphere, and who you're likely to meet all differ significantly between the two.
The UNESCO-listed old town is where the most dramatic hotels are — converted convents, merchant palaces, and flower-hung casas coloniales. Streets inside the walls are quieter at night than you'd expect; the real noise stays near Plaza Santo Domingo and Plaza de los Coches. Prices here run 30-50% higher than Getsemaní for equivalent quality. Best for first-timers and those who want to step outside their door into postcardCartagena immediately.
Just outside the walls, Getsemaní has been Cartagena's creative neighbourhood for the past decade — street murals by international artists cover every surface, cumbia plays from corner bars, and fruit vendors work the same plazas that colonial-era enslaved people once organised in. Hotels here are 25-40% cheaper than the Walled City, and the neighbourhood genuinely feels lived-in. It's safe to walk at night on main streets; darker side lanes warrant the usual urban awareness.
A narrow peninsula of glass-and-concrete towers jutting south from the old city, Bocagrande is Cartagena's beach neighbourhood and feels like a completely different city. The beach itself is accessible but crowded and murky; the real draw is the strip of seafood restaurants and the fact that large-format chain hotels here are cheaper than anything comparable in the Walled City. Best for beach-first travellers and families who don't need colonial character.
The island of Manga sits between the old city and Bocagrande and is primarily a residential neighbourhood of upper-middle-class Cartageneros. A handful of small boutique guesthouses have opened here, offering a quieter base with taxi or water-taxi access to the Walled City. Prices are moderate. Marbella, further east, is more working-class and rarely chosen by tourists, but useful to know if arriving or departing by land transport.
Hotel Casa San Agustín
Three interconnected colonial mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries form this quietly exceptional hotel, their thick whitewashed walls keeping rooms cool even in the Caribbean midday heat. The courtyard pool is long enough to actually swim in — rare in the Walled City — framed by original stone archways and tropical palms. Rooms feature hand-painted tiles, four-poster beds, and an art collection assembled from Colombian artists. The breakfast, served in the vaulted restaurant, is among the best in the city.
- Three restored 17th-century colonial mansions
- Lap-length courtyard pool with stone arches
- Colombian art collection throughout
- Walking distance to Plaza Santo Domingo
- Exceptional breakfast included in rates
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
A 17th-century Clarisan convent converted into Cartagena's most storied grand hotel, with original chapel vaulting, cloister gardens, and a vast free-form pool in what was once the convent orchard. The scale here is unlike anything else in the city — high ceilings, long corridors of pale stone, rooms that feel genuinely monastic in their calm. The Caribbean-facing rooftop bar at sunset is a Cartagena ritual for a reason. It's the one chain hotel in the city that earns its place on this list.
- Former 17th-century Clarisan convent
- Original chapel and cloister fully preserved
- Large outdoor pool in historic orchard garden
- Rooftop bar with Caribbean sunset views
- Full spa and multiple restaurants on-site
Tcherassi Hotel + Spa
Owned by Colombian fashion designer Silvia Tcherassi, this nine-room property is the most visually arresting hotel in Cartagena — a colonial house restructured around a double-height lobby of white stone and dark wood, with a plunge pool overlooking terracotta rooftops. Each room is individually dressed with contemporary Colombian design and the owner's signature textile sense. The in-house spa uses local botanicals. With only nine rooms it sells out fast, and the atmosphere is more private house party than hotel.
- Only 9 rooms — near-private house feel
- Colombian fashion designer-owned and designed
- Rooftop plunge pool with Old City views
- In-house spa with local botanical treatments
- Striking double-height lobby architecture
Hotel Boutique Quadrifolio
One of the Old City's genuine hidden gems: a lovingly run eight-room guesthouse in a 200-year-old colonial house, with a small central courtyard pool surrounded by ceramic urns and ferns. The Italian-Colombian owners have curated every corner — antique maps, ceramic floor tiles original to the house, a library of actual books. Rooms are not large but are thoughtfully furnished with cool white linens and strong AC. Breakfast is homemade and genuinely delicious. The ratio of charm to price is perhaps the best in the Walled City.
- 8-room owner-run colonial guesthouse
- Original 18th-century floor tiles and courtyards
- Small courtyard pool with tropical planting
- Homemade breakfast included
- Excellent personal service and local tips
Hotel Amarla Cartagena
A restored colonial house with a rooftop terrace that punches well above its price point — guests get a 360-degree panorama of terracotta roofs, cathedral towers, and the harbour beyond. Rooms wrap around a central courtyard with a plunge pool and are finished in clean whites and natural woods rather than heavy colonial reproduction furniture. The location on Calle de las Damas puts you steps from the city walls and the marina. Staff are notably warm and attentive for a property of this size.
- Rooftop terrace with Old City panorama
- Steps from the city walls and marina
- Central courtyard with plunge pool
- Clean contemporary-colonial interiors
- Helpful staff with strong local knowledge
Casa Lola Hotel Boutique
Getsemaní's most refined boutique sits in a beautifully restored Republican-era townhouse with high ceilings, hexagonal floor tiles, and a rooftop bar that catches the afternoon sea breeze. Unlike most of the neighbourhood, Casa Lola feels polished without being sanitised — the surrounding streets still have murals, fruit vendors, and cumbia drifting from open doors. The on-site restaurant serves excellent ceviche. Staying here means you're in the heart of where Cartagena locals actually socialise, at prices 30-40% below equivalent Walled City options.
- Restored Republican-era townhouse in Getsemaní
- Rooftop bar with sea breeze and city views
- 30-40% cheaper than comparable Walled City hotels
- On-site restaurant with strong ceviche
- Walking distance to Old City plazas
Casa Viena Hostel
The most consistently recommended budget stay in Cartagena for well over a decade, Casa Viena is a family-run hostel in a colonial house with both dorms and private rooms, all kept impeccably clean. The rooftop common area catches the evening breeze and fills with travellers comparing day-trip notes. Staff speak English, German, and French, making it particularly popular with European backpackers. Private doubles with AC are surprisingly quiet and comfortable; the dorms are well-ventilated. Breakfast is basic but cheap.
- Long-established family-run hostel in Getsemaní
- Staff speak English, German, and French
- Rooftop terrace for evening socialising
- Both private rooms and dorms available
- Consistently top-rated budget option in city
Hotel Casa Real Cartagena
A solid, no-frills guesthouse on the Getsemaní–Centro Histórico border, offering private rooms with strong AC and good beds at a price that leaves plenty for rum cocktails and boat day-trips. The colonial courtyard is small but pleasant for morning coffee, and the location means you can walk to the Walled City in under five minutes. It lacks the boutique polish of pricier neighbours but delivers the fundamentals cleanly and reliably. Good choice for travellers who plan to spend little time in the room.
- Five-minute walk to the Walled City
- Private rooms with reliable strong AC
- Small colonial courtyard for breakfast coffee
- Good value in a well-located neighbourhood
- Simple, clean, and honestly priced
Frequently asked questions
Is Cartagena's Walled City actually walkable or is it too hot to do on foot?
Are hotels in Cartagena expensive compared to the rest of Colombia?
When is the best time to book hotels in Cartagena, and how far in advance?
Is Getsemaní safe to stay in, and have the security concerns improved?
Do Cartagena hotels typically include breakfast, and is it worth paying for?
What's the best base for day trips to the Rosario Islands or Playa Blanca?
Can I find hotels in Cartagena with proper pools, or are they mostly just plunge pools?
How we chose these hotels
Our editorial team reviewed Cartagena's hotel landscape and selected 8 across budgets, prioritising properties that capture local character — heritage architecture, owner-run boutiques, surf-town informality — over generic resort-chain accommodations. Where two hotels are comparable, we pick the smaller, owner-run option.
None of these hotels paid to be included, and we have no commercial relationship with any of them. Use the "View on Google Maps" links above to find each property's official website, current rates and availability. Prices are estimated nightly ranges in EUR for a double room and will vary by season and availability. Recommendations are reviewed every six months; this guide was last updated April 2026.
When to visit Cartagena
For everything you need to plan a Cartagena trip — neighbourhoods, food, things to do, day trips, transport — see our complete Cartagena travel guide.