Best Hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City for All Budgets and Travelers

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Planning your trip to Cartagena and wondering where to stay in Cartagena’s Walled City?

The Walled City, sometimes also called Old Town or the Old City, is always my top recommendation for where to stay in Cartagena so you can immerse yourself in all the city’s historic charm.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of great hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City with many hotels in Cartagena’s Old Town housed in neat colonial era buildings.

In this post, I’ll share my recommendations for hotels in Cartagena’s Old City at different price levels and give some awards for the best hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City for different types of travelers.

Best Hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City Overview and Quick Picks

Below, I’ll go into much more detail about the best hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City, including options at different price points.

I’ll also award some superlatives for the best hotels in Cartagena, Colombia’s Old City for different types of travelers with categories like the best rooftop pool and the best hotels for families, romantic getaways, and young travelers.

But if you’re in a hurry, here are some quick picks for the best Walled City hotels in Cartagena:

• Best High End Hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City:
  • Casa San Agustín
  • Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
  • Charleston Santa Teresa
• Best Mid Range Hotels in Cartagena’s Old City:
  • Sophia Hotel
  • Casa Córdoba Estrella
  • Hotel Boutique Las Carretas
• Best Value Hotels in Cartagena’s Old Town:
  • Casa India Catalina
  • Hotel At the Park
  • Hotel Don Pedro de Heredía

Best Hotels in Cartagena Old Town Detailed Look

I’ve hand chosen this curated list of Walled City hotels in Cartagena based on a combination of my experience living in Cartagena for 11 years, word of mouth, and reading reviews.

If you read my guide to the best areas to stay in Cartagena, you’ll see I strongly recommend the Walled City as the best area to stay.

It’s just so easy to walk to so many great Cartagena restaurants and many of the best things to do in Cartagena!

It’s also very safe (see my Cartagena safety tips here, by the way), including walking around at night.

Plus, you get to immerse yourself in all of Cartagena’s charm!

See my complete guide to the Cartagena Walled City for ideas of things to do and places to eat in the Walled City.

What Neighborhoods to Find the Best Hotels in Cartagena’s Old City

Here’s some insider info based on my time living in Cartagena:

Looking for the best places to stay in Cartagena’s Walled City can be challenging due to the names of neighborhoods and interchangeable use of terms.

First, the terms Walled City, Cartagena Centro (Cartagena City Center), Centro Histórico (Historic Center) are often used interchangeably.

Some booking platforms also distinguish the following three neighborhoods within the Walled City:

• Centro (or Centro Histórico)
• San Diego
• Matuna

These areas all feel like they sort of blend together into one big neighborhood today, but they were historically distinct dating back to the colonial era.

Centro is the heart of the city, while San Diego is the northeast section of the Walled City that historically was more residential.

Matuna is a neighborhood that is located on land that was once a creek that ran between Centro and neighboring Getsemaní.

All the booking platforms and even the self reporting of hotels characterize and categorize these in their own way.

Check a box for Centro and they might very well include all hotels in the 3 areas, or even also include neighboring Getsemaní, technically part of the historic city center but usually considered a distinct neighborhood.

Or, checking that box might just get you hotels in the smaller area defined as Centro on that platform, and you might miss a hidden gem in San Diego.

I’d suggest choosing Centro or San Diego and avoiding La Matuna.

Although, there are also plenty of great hotels in Getsemaní.

So, I hope this list of best hotels in Cartagena, Colombia’s Old City will help clarify that confusion and help you decide the best Walled City hotels in Cartagena for you in ways that can be tougher to filter through on the big hotel booking sites.

We’ll start by breaking the best hotels in Cartagena, Colombia’s Old City down by price, then award some superlatives for the best fit for different types of travelers.

High End Best Hotels in Cartagena, Colombia’s Old City

Let’s start with the high end and nicest hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City.

It’s pretty hard to beat the Casa San Agustín, located in 3 historic homes in the heart of Centro. It’s got lovely rooms, a great restaurant, and is generally considered the very finest hotel in Cartagena.

The Sofitel Santa Clara and the Charleston Santa Teresa are a close second and third. They are both located in lovely, historic convents converted to be hotels and will make you feel much more decadent than monkish.

The Casa Pestagua, home of a count, and the Bastión Luxury Hotel, and Hotel Movich, home to the best view in the city, round out the best high end options.

The Casona del Colegio is also a terrific luxury value (read our review of staying here) with the suites being similarly priced to the standard rooms at the priciest of the high end hotels in Cartagena’s Old Town.

Midrange Walled City Hotels in Cartagena

The hotels listed above are all absolutely terrific, but I actually think this range is where you can find great value on the best hotels in Cartagena, Colombia’s Old City.

There are some especially good boutique hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City that offer great bang for your peso.

On the nicer and slightly higher end side, the Sophia Hotel, the Casa Claver Boutique Loft, the Townhouse Boutique Hotel, and the Casa Córdoba Estrella are all really good options.

For something more affordable but still nice, Hotel Boutique Las Carretas is one of the best values in all of Cartagena, and the Casa Pizarro, and Casa la Cartujita are also both great combinations of cost and quality.

Value Best Hotels in Cartagena Colombia’s Old City

Finally, let’s talk budget friendly Cartagena Walled City hotels.

I haven’t simply simply listed the cheapest here, but picked out some options that are affordable while still looking nice.

The Hotel Don Pedro de Heredia is a great combo of price and amenities like a nice pool and colonial charm.

Ditto for the Casa India Catalina.

Hotel At the Park also has really rave reviews and is a terrific price for a small boutique hotel.

If you’re looking to get even more budget friendly while also clean, comfortable, and convenient, the Hotel Tres Banderas, the Hotel El Viajero and Hotel El Viajero 2 are pretty tough to beat.

Or, for some barebones options, consider doing a private room (or dorm, for that matter) at a hostel like Viajero Hostel.

Best Hotels in Cartagena, Colombia’s Walled City Superlatives

Ok, we’ve gone over lots of great options for places to stay in Cartagena’s Walled City based strictly on budget, but let’s talk about the best options for different types of travelers.

Finest Hotel in Cartagena: Casa San Agustín

It’s pretty tough the beat the San Agustín!

It’s a lovely hotel that is consistently rated the best in Cartagena for its lovely setting and great service. I know from experience that the restaurant and bar here are both great. All of the hotels is just really lovely and charming too.

It’s also located in a great spot, with an easy walk to everything!

Maybe the new Four Seasons in Getsemaní will challenge it once it opens up sometime in late 2025 or early 2026, but for now, there’s just simply no better hotel in Cartagena if you have the budget for it.

Neatest Historic Setting: Sofitel Santa Clara

The Sofitel Santa Clara is such a cool property!

It’s located in an historic convent, complete with high ceilings, big archways, and charming courtyards.

It’s also located in the (mostly) quieter San Diego part of Cartagena’s Walled City, but still right near great restaurants like La Cevichería and a easy walk to everything to do and see in the Walled City and nearby.

Service here is consistently rated terrifically, and the courtyard pool is to die for lit up at night! I also love restaurant Jardín here, the bar El Coro, and the rooftop bar Botika.

It’s a pretty easy second choice for the best hotel in the Cartagena Old City!

Best Rooftop Pool: Charleston Santa Teresa

I’ve designated this the best rooftop pool, but the truth is the Charleston Santa Teresa is pretty much interchangeable with both options above for the best luxury hotel in Cartagena’s Walled City.

It is a bit larger, with more rooms, than the two options above, so feels a little less boutique, but it is also set in a historic convent, and is closer to major landmarks like the Cartagena Clocktower.

It’s also known for great service, and I know from experience that its bar and restaurant is also terrific (order the crab nachos and the spicy, ginger pork tips, trust me!).

It’s that pool that sets it apart though!

There are larger pools (although not many in the Walled City) and pools that have better views, and probably pools that have better drinks, but there’s no better combination at any of the Cartagena Old Town hotels.

Even if you don’t care about the pool, this would make a great place to stay for a couple, a family, or just about anyone else.

Most Romantic Small Boutique Hotel in Cartagena’s Walled City: Casa Pestagua

All the options above would make great choices for romantic hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City, but I think the Casa Pestagua really stands out for a romantic getaway.

That’s mostly because it’s smaller. With just a small handful of rooms, it’s very intimate here.

Oh, and those rooms are absolutely lovely. This was a mansion built for the Count of Pestagua, by the way, and, well, it shows!

So, this really makes for a great place to relax and enjoy your significant other’s company while being immersed in Cartagena’s charm, all while getting great service, of course!

Best Cartagena Walled City Hotel for Families: Casa Claver Loft Boutique

Honestly, most hotels in Cartagena’s Walled City are pretty decently family friendly and accommodating of children.

However, one of the tricky parts of finding a good option for a family in the Walled City is that many of the smaller boutique hotels don’t have rooms with two beds.

However, the Casa Claver Loft Boutique Hotel solves this issue with its loft apartment style rooms, including a multi-bedroom option. There’s even a kitchenette with stove and proper fridge.

It’s a good option for a happy medium that offers the space and comfort of an AirBnB but the security and service of a hotel.

Best Sunset View: Hotel Movich

The pool at Hotel Movich isn’t as large as the one at the Santa Teresa, but its view of the Walled City, with the bay and the modern high rise buildings of Bocagrande beyond, is the best sunset view in the city.

In fact, it tops the list of my favorite places for sunset drinks in Cartagena.

The hotel is also really nice.

Rooms are elegant and blend modern sensibility with the colonial character of Cartagena, and service here is also top notch.

Best for Young Travelers (and Coolest Rooftop Bar): Townhouse Boutique

We love the rooftop bar at Townhouse. They have great cocktails, and really good food too. There’s often a DJ and always good vibes.

There’s also a cool Prohibition era speakeasy themed jazz and burlesque bar on the bottom floor, which is very unique for Cartagena.

I love the unique style of Townhouses’s rooms too. They are decorated with a tropical decor featuring lots of palm trees, sunsets, and seabirds.

Oh, and the location is terrific, right in the heart of the Walled City!

It’s a little different than just about any other of the Old Town, Cartagena hotels, and it’s eclectic style and good bars is why I’ve chosen it as the best spot for young travelers, but I think it’s a good fit for anyone else too.

Best Luxury Value: Casona del Colegio

I mentioned this above, but we once did a staycation at the Casona del Colegio and loved it.

There’s a cute rooftop pool with a great view of the cathedral, and we loved the drinks and food at the hotel. Service was also great.

It’s in a great location in the heart of the Walled City too.

I really think it’s a great value as well. We did a suite, and it was lovely and even had a mini splash pool.

The corner suites with their little jacuzzis on the balcony look even better, and they are similarly priced to regular rooms at the higher end properties like the Santa Clara. They would make a great choice for a romantic getaway, but this would be a good spot for a family or just about any other traveler too.

Best Midrange Value: Las Carretas

I think Las Carretas is probably the best value in all of Cartagena.

It’s very highly rated and has terrific reviews. Rooms are really nice and capture the charming, colonial vibes of Cartagena perfectly at prices that are so much more reasonable than the higher end boutiques.

You have to sacrifice on the size of the pool, but you’ll want to get out to the best Cartagena beaches or the lovely Rosario Islands anyway.

So, if you’re looking for a nice place to stay in Cartagena’s Old Town that won’t break the bank, it’s got to be one of your top considerations.

Best Budget Friendly Hotel: Casa India Catalina

The Casa India Catalina isn’t the cheapest hotel in Cartagena’s Walled City, but it’s very reasonably priced.

And even at that budget friendly price, you still get a cute, little courtyard pool and lots of Cartagena’s colonial charm.

The hotel is nicely reviewed, and it’s in a good location.

So, while you might be able to find something cheaper, you get terrific bang for your peso here.

Best Hostel in Cartagena’s Old Town: El Viajero

If you’d prefer the social atmosphere of a hostel, whether staying in a dorm or in a private room that feels more like a hotel stay, the El Viajero Centro is a great choice.

Myself and the other volunteer teachers I worked with my first year in Barú Island used to stay here sometimes on the weekend and always thought it was one of the better organized hostels in Cartagena.

It’s been updated recently to be nicer too, and would be one of my picks for the best hostels in Cartagena, period.

It’s in a terrific location in San Diego and has a cool courtyard with a small pool and bar. There is also a Getsemaní location, which used to be Selina and was recently acquired by Viajero.

Which place to stay in Cartagena’s Old Town will you choose?

As you can see, there is no shortage of good options for where to stay in the Walled City of Cartagena, regardless of your budget or what you’re looking for in your hotel.

I hope this post helped you decide which of the Walled City Cartagena hotels would be the best choice for you trip. More importantly, I hope you have a great stay and a great time in Cartagena.

I’d love to hear about where you stayed and what you thought in the comments. Do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan too!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!