city buildings under blue sky during daytime

Barranquilla

Travelers come to Barranquilla for Carnival, cumbia and street music, and for a working port city on the Caribbean coast.

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Barranquilla is a port city on Colombia's Caribbean coast, where the Magdalena River meets the sea. It is the capital of the Atlántico department and one of the largest cities in the country. The Carnival, a multi-day street festival held in the days before Lent, fills the streets with dancers, costume groups and brass bands. Its musical roots run through cumbia, mapalé and porro, and local restaurants serve coastal dishes.

Outside Carnival, Barranquilla suits travelers who want to see a working city up close. Its neighborhoods and markets show daily life on the coast, and the city makes a practical base for trips along the Caribbean coast. The weather is hot and humid year-round. The drier months from December to April are usually the easiest time to visit. Carnival dates move each year, usually falling in February or early March. Plan a few days to see the city and the festival, and add more if you want to travel on to other coastal towns.

Barranquilla in five

Set up a phone line before you arriveTaxi apps and bank confirmation texts often need a Colombian phone number. Set one up before you go so you are not hunting for Wi-Fi outside.Phones and eSIM
Carry small peso notes for taxisTaxi drivers may not have change for large notes, so keep 2,000 to 10,000 peso notes in your pocket. Ask for the meter or agree the fare before you get in.Money and costs
Ride Transmetro on the main avenuesTransmetro is the city's bus rapid transit, running in its own lanes on the main avenues. Load a card at a station before you board.Getting around
Plan dates around the four days of CarnivalCarnival is held on the four days before Ash Wednesday, so its dates move every year. Book beds early, since rooms fill and prices can rise.Festivals
Check your insurance covers medical care in ColombiaCheck the medical and evacuation limits before you fly, and keep the policy number on your phone.Travel insurance

Things to do in Barranquilla

See all attractions in Barranquilla

Museum · BarranquillaMuseo Romántico

Church · BarranquillaMary Queen of Barranquilla Metropolitan Cathedral

Museum · BarranquillaModern Art Museum Barranquilla

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BarranquillaPut the places you like in Barranquilla on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
Entry: Visa-free short stays for many passports; check Migración Colombia first Read more
Emergency: 123 general emergency; 112 also reaches police and ambulance
Tipping: 10% service often on the bill; extra tip optional
Time: UTC-5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Dry, breezy
FebruaryClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low25°Dry, breezy
MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Carnival season
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Dry, hot
MayRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Rains begin
JuneRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Wet season
JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Wet, humid
AugustRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Wet, humid
SeptemberRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Peak rain
OctoberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Peak rain
NovemberRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rain easing
DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Dry, festive

Average daily high and low in Barranquilla, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Feb Barranquilla's Carnival · Mar Barranquilla's Carnival

Right now in Barranquilla

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 32°
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 6 km/h
Chance of rain: 84%

Barranquilla

03:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today31°26°84%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 84%.
Tue31°25°91%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 91%.
Wed31°24°97%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 97%.
Thu29°24°91%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 91%.
Fri31°24°94%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 94%.
Sat31°23°88%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 88%.
Sun31°25°53%Sunday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 53%.

Updated 12:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3,192 COP

Amount

Converted to

COP · Colombian Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Barranquilla

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Feb–MarBarranquilla's CarnivalBarranquilla

Day trips by train

Puerto Colombiaabout 1 hour by carAn old pier town on the coast, with a long iron pier and beach restaurants.
Santa Martaabout 2 hours by carA Caribbean port city, with Tayrona National Park within reach.
Cartagenaabout 3 hours by carA walled colonial city. Give it a longer stay than a day trip.

Before you go to Barranquilla

eSIM for BarranquillaData for ride apps and bank textsRead the guide

Insurance for BarranquillaMedical limits and Carnival coverRead the guide

Cash and cards in BarranquillaPesos for taxis, card acceptanceRead the guide

Where to stay in BarranquillaCenter, El Prado and Riomar comparedRead the guide

Rules for Barranquilla, checked

Check your entry rules with Migración Colombia before you fly, since visa-free stays depend on your passport.Source
Declare cash above the legal limit when you enter or leave, and check the current threshold on DIAN's customs pages.Source
Carry a yellow fever certificate if your route passes through a country that requires one, and check the Ministry of Health site.Source

Plan around Barranquilla

Getting around Barranquilla

Transmetro, taxis and day trips out of the city

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and typical prices in pesos

Read the guide Visas and entry

Visa-free stays and what to check before you fly

Read the guide Carnival and festivals

Dates, parade streets and how to plan around them

Read the guide Culture and local life

Cumbia, the Malecón and everyday city life

Read the guide All of Colombia

Cities, coast and entry rules

Read the guide

Barranquilla FAQ

Is Barranquilla worth visiting?

Yes, for the Carnival, coastal food and the Malecón del Río along the river. For a beach holiday it is less suited, since the beaches are about an hour away by car at Puerto Colombia.

When is Carnival in Barranquilla?

It is held on the four days before Ash Wednesday, so the dates change every year. Book stays early, since rooms fill and prices can rise.

Can you visit Barranquilla as a day trip from Cartagena?

The drive takes about 3 hours each way by car, which leaves little time in the city. Plan at least one night in Barranquilla if you want to see it.

Do I need a visa for Colombia?

Many passports enter visa-free for short stays. Check Migración Colombia before you fly, since the rules depend on your passport.

Is Barranquilla safe for tourists?

Take the usual care of a large city: keep phones out of sight on the street and use a registered taxi or ride app after dark.