🇨🇴 Travel facts Colombia
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to Colombia — entry, tipping, plug type, customs and more. Compactly verified, with sources.
| Capital | Bogotá |
|---|---|
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Colombian Peso (COP) |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 11–12 hours |
| Emergency number | 123 |
| Plug | Type A/B · 110 V / 60 Hz · Adapter needed |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · not Schengen |
Do I need a visa for Colombia?
Passport required; visa-free for up to 90 days.
Return/ onward flight ticket is regularly checked; passport must be valid for 6 months. Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much should I tip in Colombia?
10% standard — often asked as 'servicio incluido' or added on.
Taxi: Round up.
Which plug adapter do I need in Colombia?
Adapter needed: plug types A / B, 110 V / 60 Hz.
Can you drink tap water in Colombia?
Partly — varies by region, bottled water recommended if in doubt.
Drinkable in Bogotá and Medellín; bottled water recommended on the coast and in rural areas.
What can I bring back from Colombia to Germany?
Non-EU: When returning to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air travel), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free.
Will my mobile phone work in Colombia?
No EU roaming — pre-book an eSIM or buy a cheap local SIM on-site.
Card or cash — how do you pay in Colombia?
Peso (COP); cash is widely used, cards are well accepted in cities.
What should I know about health in Colombia?
Travel health insurance with repatriation is recommended; check vaccination/health advice with the German Federal Foreign Office or tropical institute.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — binding is the German Federal Foreign Office (Colombia travel advice) . Health information does not replace medical travel advice.
