Cartagena is stunning, historic, hot, humid, tourist-heavy in parts, and very different depending on where you stay.

The Walled City is one of Colombia’s most iconic historic areas, and Cartagena sits on the Caribbean coast with nearby islands and archipelagos that are part of its appeal.

But daily life is not the same as vacation life.

Know the difference:

Centro/Walled City: beautiful, walkable, busy, expensive, noisy in parts
Getsemaní: colorful, social, artistic, loud in parts
Manga: more residential, practical, close to Centro
Bocagrande: modern, convenient, touristy, beach access
Castillogrande: calmer, more residential
Crespo: practical, closer to airport
Zona Norte: newer developments, more spread out

The biggest daily-life factors are heat, AC, transportation, tourist pricing, and exact location.