Overlooking the compact square, the deep-red Convent of San Diego (Convento de San Diego) dates back to the 17th century and was designed by the same architect responsible for Cartagena’s cathedral. Vendors sell everything from jewelry and Cuban cigars to paintings and street food, and once the sun sets, traffic is blocked on two sides so that the restaurants lining the square can open up more seating outside. The square is featured on the majority of Cartagena walking or bike tours, which typically combine it with San Felipe de Barajas Castle and Las Bóvedas, an underground handicraft market in a space formerly used as dungeons.
The square is flat and therefore easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Vendors surrounding the square sell classic Cartagena street food such as carimañolas, a Caribbean-style fritter, and arepa de huevo (corn bread with eggs).
Plaza de San Diego has plenty of bistro-style restaurants and bars with outdoor seating, and is the perfect spot for a sunset cocktail.
A short walk from Plaza de San Diego, you’ll find La Cevichería—a restaurant immortalized by the chef Anthony Bourdain. Advance bookings are a must if you want to dine there.
The plaza is located on Calle 39 in the neighborhood of San Diego, part of the Walled City of Cartagena. It’s a few minutes’ walk from Casa de Gabriel García Márquez (House of Gabriel García Márquez), and is best reached on foot during a wander around the San Diego neighborhood. Hop-on, hop-off buses tend to stop at the Plaza de Santo Domingo, which is a 10-minute walk from the square.
Every evening, Plaza de San Diego comes alive with street performers entertaining the crowds, so head there after sunset to see the plaza at its most atmospheric. It’s open 24 hours a day throughout the year, but avoid visiting too late in the evening.
Comprising 16 blocks that are home to some of the city’s brightest buildings, San Diego is undoubtedly Cartagena’s most Instagrammable neighborhood. Top historical landmarks include the yolk-yellow and white San Toribio Church and Plaza Fernández Madrid, dedicated to one of the heroes of the Colombian revolution. You’ll also find a range of fusion restaurants that artfully combine Caribbean and Colombian flavors, as well as the unique Restaurante Interno, located inside a women’s prison and staffed by female inmates.