Bogotá moves more people through a single BRT system than almost anywhere else in the Americas, and it’s all run as one network: tap a card, and the same fare and the same card work on the express buses, the local buses, and the cable car up the hillside. There’s no metro yet — that’s still under construction — so TransMilenio is the backbone of getting around.
The basics
The system has three parts, all under the TransMilenio umbrella:
- TransMilenio troncal — the red articulated and bi-articulated buses that run in dedicated lanes down the city’s main corridors, stopping at enclosed stations you enter through fare gates. This is the fast, high-capacity core of the system.
- TransMiZonal — the blue local buses that cover neighborhoods the trunk lines don’t reach. You flag these down at street-level stops, not enclosed stations.
- TransMiCable — a cable car serving the hillside neighborhoods of Ciudad Bolívar, where steep terrain makes buses impractical.
You’ll also see dual routes (gray/red, often lettered “K” or “M”) that run partly on the exclusive troncal lanes and partly on regular streets, and alimentador (feeder) buses that shuttle between troncal stations and surrounding blocks at no extra cost once you’re inside the system.
A Metro Line 1 is under construction — an elevated rail line — and is targeting commercial operation in March 2028. It isn’t running yet, so don’t plan a trip around it for now.
How to pay
Everything runs on the TuLlave card, and cash isn’t accepted anywhere in the system — buses and stations alike.
- Basic card ($8,000 COP) — anonymous, sold at any TransMilenio station. It works fine for riding, but you don’t get free transfers, credit travel, or balance protection if it’s lost.
- Plus card, i.e. personalized ($8,000 COP) — registered to your name and ID at a personalization point. This is the one you want if you’re staying more than a day or two: it unlocks free transfers, lets you ride on credit if your balance runs short, and protects your balance if the card is lost or stolen.
Tap your card on the reader at troncal station entrances, or on the validator as you board a zonal, dual, or feeder bus.
Fares
A single ride is a flat $3,550 COP, whether you’re on a trunk bus, a zonal bus, or TransMiCable — there’s no distance-based pricing.
- Transfers: with a personalized Plus card, your next ride is free for 125 minutes after you first tap in. The catch: it doesn’t apply between two trunk (troncal) services, on the same route, or re-boarding at the same stop — it’s meant to link different parts of the system, not let you re-ride the same bus.
- Credit travel: if your balance is too low, a personalized card will still let you board — up to two rides — and deduct the balance on your next recharge.
- Frequent riders: the TransMiPass is a separate prepaid card for regular commuters — $160,000 COP for 65 rides a month, capped at 6 rides a day.
- Reduced and free fares exist for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents, but they require Bogotá residency and registration — not something a visitor can access.
Getting from the airport
El Dorado International Airport (BOG) sits west of the city, and TransMilenio runs two ways in from Terminal 1:
- M86 bus — the airport-departing direction of the M86-K86 dual route, running from Terminal 1 into the city with stops including Museo Nacional and along Calle 26. Runs weekdays 4:30am–10pm, Saturdays 5am–10pm, and Sundays/holidays 6am–9pm. Tap your TuLlave card — no cash.
- Feeder route 16-14 — a connector from Terminal 1 to Portal El Dorado, the main hub station where you transfer into the full troncal network.
Either way, the fare is the same $3,550 COP as any other ride. If you don’t already have a TuLlave card, the airport has a TuLlave point for buying, recharging, and personalizing them, on the first floor of the international pier.
Apps to download
- TransMi App — the official app: real-time bus locations, route search, and a step-by-step trip planner.
- TuLlave Plus — for buying or recharging your card online and checking your balance.
- Google Maps — solid for general trip planning; TransMilenio’s routes are built in.
When it runs
The system generally operates from about 4:00am to 11:00pm, though exact hours vary by route and day of the week — check your specific route before relying on a late trip. There’s no overnight service. Peak hours are 6–9am and 4:30–7:30pm, when trunk stations and buses get seriously crowded — avoid them if your schedule allows it.
Accessibility
Articulated and dual buses have wheelchair spaces and priority seating near the doors, and TransMiCable’s cabins have folding seats to make room for wheelchairs. Trunk and cable stations have ramps, and some have elevators or stair-climbing platforms. Braille route modules are installed at about 81% of zonal bus stops. Riders registered with a disability can also get a disability TuLlave card loaded with 1 to 12 free trips a month, depending on their SISBÉN poverty classification — though that requires Bogotá residency and registration.
Etiquette & local quirks
- No cash, ever. Get a TuLlave card before you try to board anything.
- Watch your belongings on crowded trunk buses, especially near the doors — keep your phone put away and bags in front of you rather than on your back.
- Blue seats near the doors are priority seating for elderly, pregnant, or disabled riders — give them up.
- TransMiCable is worth riding for its own sake — the views over Ciudad Bolívar as the cable car climbs the hillside are dramatic, and it’s the same fare as any other ride.
Good to know
- TransMilenio has been ramping up police motorcycle patrols — over 1,000 added system-wide since 2024 — and drivers are trained to activate an emergency protocol (code TM-26) for suspected sexual harassment. Report harassment to the city’s Línea Púrpura hotline (01 8000 112 137).
- A metro is finally coming: Line 1 is under construction and targeting commercial service in March 2028. Until then, TransMilenio and the buses are how you get around.
- Personalizing your TuLlave card takes a few minutes and your passport at a personalization point — worth doing the moment you land if you’re in town for more than a couple of days, since it’s the only way to get free transfers.