La Popa Convent
Perched atop the highest point in Cartagena is Convento de la Popa, a convent built in the early 1600s. The complex looms over the city and offers spectacular vistas of Cartagena’s skyline and the Caribbean Sea. The complex houses a religion-themed museum and features a central square overflowing with greenery and bougainvillea. It’s best to take a cab to La Popa Convent as there aren’t any public transportation stops in the area, and the road leading up to the property is steep and long.
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
This grand fortress overlooks the isthmus of Cebrero and dominates part of Cartagena’s cityscape. Construction on the complex started in 1639 and was not completed until nearly 200 years later. Today, you can explore the battlements, bunkers, and underground passages that weave through the impressive structure.
Museo de Arte Moderno
Cartagena’s Museum of Modern Art, located in a 17th-century Royal Customs House, presents an array of rotating exhibits featuring sculptures, paintings, and abstract and contemporary art forms by global and regional artists, including a popular trio of contemporary Colombian artists.