The Brooklyn
of Cartagena is
Getsemaní.

The case for Getsemaní

Street art covers every wall on Callejón Angosto. Salsa pours out of open doorways past midnight. Old guys play dominoes in Plaza de la Trinidad while tourists photograph murals ten feet away. Getsemaní is louder, cheaper, and more real than the walled city next door, and it doesn't care if you noticed.

Since the first International Festival of Urban Art in 2013, murals have spread across more than a dozen streets in Getsemaní, with the local CapTagEna Collective alone counting 20+ artists who have shaped the neighborhood's walls.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Cartagena.

San Diego

San Diego is the quieter corner of the old walled city. Colonial balconies dripping with bougainvillea, small plazas, fewer hawkers. Good for wandering with no plan.

Manga

Manga sits on its own peninsula across the bay. Faded Republican-era mansions line the waterfront. It's residential, unhurried, and refreshingly tourist-free.

Pie de la Popa

Pie de la Popa climbs the hill below La Popa monastery. Working-class roots, incredible city views, and a growing creative scene that hasn't tipped into self-awareness yet.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Getsemaní.

All 23 spots mapped out

Getsemaní, corner to corner.

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Our 23 top picks

The Getsemaní guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyCOP
LanguageSpanish
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsDecember to March
Local time UTC-5
Plug type US plug · 110V/60Hz
Emergency123
Local tip
Skip the restaurants on Plaza de la Trinidad. Walk two blocks in any direction and prices drop by half.
Latin America · Colombia

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Head to head

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Common questions

Things to know about Getsemaní.

What is the Brooklyn of Cartagena?
The Brooklyn of Cartagena is Getsemaní. Street art covers every wall on Callejón Angosto. Since the first International Festival of Urban Art in 2013, murals have spread across more than a dozen streets in Getsemaní, with the local CapTagEna Collective alone counting 20+ artists who have shaped the neighborhood's walls.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Cartagena?
Getsemaní is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Cartagena. Street art covers every wall on Callejón Angosto. Salsa pours out of open doorways past midnight. Old guys play dominoes in Plaza de la Trinidad while tourists photograph murals ten feet away. Getsemaní is louder, cheaper, and more real than the walled city next door, and it doesn't care if you noticed.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Cartagena?
Getsemaní is the hippest neighborhood in Cartagena. Murals stack three deep on Callejón Angosto, salsa leaks from doorways past midnight, and nobody inside is performing any of it for you.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Cartagena?
Getsemaní is Cartagena's trendiest neighborhood right now. New galleries and third-wave coffee bars are quietly elbowing in next to the domino tables in Plaza de la Trinidad, and the rent hikes are following close behind.
Where do creatives live in Cartagena?
Getsemaní is where Cartagena's creatives gather, just outside the walled city. Murals have spread across more than a dozen streets since the first urban art festival in 2013, and a local collective counts more than twenty artists shaping the walls. Cheaper and rawer than its polished neighbor.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Cartagena?
Getsemaní is the most bohemian neighborhood in Cartagena. Street art covers nearly every wall, salsa pours from open doorways past midnight, and old men play dominoes while tourists photograph murals ten feet away. It is louder, grittier, and more real, and it does not care if you noticed.
Where should I stay in Getsemaní, Cartagena?
The best boutique hotels in Getsemaní include OSH Hotel Getsemani, Hotel Capellan de Getsemani, and Casa Jaguar Cartagena. Minimalist concrete-and-wood rooms in a neighborhood that wears its murals like wallpaper.
Is Getsemaní in Cartagena safe at night?
Getsemaní is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Cartagena expensive?
Cartagena rates $$ on a global travel scale. Affordable, with good value for food and drink.
When is the best time to visit Cartagena?
December through March is dry season, with steady trade winds, lower humidity, and reliable sun - prime for island day trips and rooftop evenings. April and May bring short afternoon showers, and September and October are the wettest. The heat holds near 31°C all year, so schedule walks before 10am or after 4pm whenever you come.

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