THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN MEDELLIN
Once upon a time, Medellín was famously known as one of the most dangerous places in the world. Thankfully, in the past twenty years, the city has completely transformed itself. Although not all the past drug problems are gone, the city has turned around and is no longer the murder capital of the world it once was. Now, it’s a popular city among digital nomads, backpackers, and regular travelers. There are many things to do in Medellin!
Referred to as the city of eternal spring, you can imagine why I loved this city so much. The climate was amazing, the mountainous Andes Mountain views were incredible, friendly locals, getting around was easy, and the vibe was perfect! I fell in love with the city as soon as my taxi arrived and I knew instantly it was a city I could live or spend some time in. I ended up spending six weeks in this green and beautiful city.
Because I love the city, I recommend staying a week. But you can definitely make it to the best and most popular spots in about four days. So here are my top recommendations for the best things to do in Medellin.
The Best Things To Do In Medellin
Table of Contents
Things to Do In Medellin
Tour Comuna 13
Comuna 13 was once the most violent part of Medellín. This neighborhood had problems with drugs, murder, crime and was highly unsafe. However, after many police raids and improvements, the community began filling the area with street art. Now, this neighborhood has become a safe and popular place for tourists to visit.
There are businesses, tour guides, and the place is even innovated with escalators for easy access. You can visit with a tour company or roam the streets yourself. Comuna 13 was one of my favorite spots to visit in Medellín and has a great vibe.
Wander Parque Arvi
Parque Arvi is no regular park! This park is 16,000 hectares and is filled with trails and places to hike. It is worth a visit. To get there, you can take the metro cable ride up to the mountain, where you will be rewarded with incredible views of the city and the park. The entrance is free, but to get there by gondola (metro cable), you pay 10,000 pesos. I recommend taking a full day to visit and enjoy this vast park.
Pueblito Paisa
Pueblito Paisa is a popular attraction in Medellín located on top of Cerro Nutibara. It is a small replica of the town of Antoqioquia. The small town square is made of cobblestone, has a fountain, a white church, and colorful buildings. Surrounding it, you have terrific views of the city of Medellín and its mountains. You will also find tourist shops selling souvenirs, and many food stands to fill your hunger.
Medellin Metro Cable
Even though the Medellín Metro Cable is for transportation, it felt more like an attraction to tick of my list of things to do. It was one of my favorite activities in the city because of the panoramic views. You can soar above the city to get a view of the city and the mountains. My favorite line (L) goes to La Aurora station. The other line (J) goes all the way up to Arvi Park, where you get views of the city and aerial views of the forest in Arvi Park. Don’t miss riding the metro cable!
Parque Lleras
Parque Lleras is a small park located in the center of Poblado, but its surrounding area is filled with restaurants, vendors, musicians, and people out enjoying. It is the place to hang out during the night, but you can take a stroll during the day too and pop into the small boutique stores. Locals and tourists alike enjoy this area. The area has a bohemian vibe, music, dancing and is an excellent place for going out for a drink with friends.
Plaza Botero
In this plaza, there are 23 sculptures completed by Botero in this plaza which are pretty interesting. The area is surrounding it is busy, and there are lots of vendors, artists, and people taking photos. The plaza is in the center of Medellín, and nearby you can find other places to visit. To be quite honest, it didn’t feel like the safest place to be, so just be aware while wandering around and enjoying the art.
Plaza Cisneros/Parque de las Luces
Also located in the city center, is Parque de las Luces in Plaza Cisneros. There you can admire the 300 light towers that decorate the plaza. The city put these light poles in place to help make it more attractive and inviting to tourists. They are constructed out of concrete and metal. At night the poles illuminate and look quite stunning.
Jardin Botanico
One relaxing place in the city to get away from the noise and chaos is the Botanical Garden. With a free entrance, you will enjoy 14 hectares of land and find many different species of plants and animals. It is the perfect place for picnicking or even going for a walk in nature. My favorite was finding giant lizards and lying in the grass.
Visit a Museum
If you’re into history and art, Medellín has many museums to visit. One of them is Museo de Antioquia which is home to work by Botero (like those the sculptures at Plaza Botero located outside the museum) and also has a wide variety of photographs and sculptures by other famous artists.
Casa de la Memoria is another museum to visit to learn about the history of the armed conflict in Colombia. You can learn about the struggles Colombians overcame and how life turned around.
Take a Day Trip to Guatape and El Peñol
A day trip to Peñol and Guatapé is the most popular one from Medellín. Guatape is a colorful village located near the lake. The whole town seems to be designed to attract tourists, and they did a fantastic job at it. It is famous for its colorful homes decorated with bas-reliefs (or blank) which each have a story to tell. The town is only a few minutes from El Peñol, which is the main attraction.
El Peñol is a granite monolith with over 700 stairs to climb. However, when you reach the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking 360-degree view of the artificial lake (reservoir) below.
The most popular way to get there is all-day long tours from Medellín. There are many tour companies and hostels that organize the trips. The tours are packages that include boat tours, bus ride there and back, food, and stops at nearby towns. Although I didn’t do it, staying one night in Guatapé would be a great option.
Getting to Medellin
Because Medellín is far from other popular places in Colombia, you’ll most likely need to fly there. However, the airport is located well outside the city center and is quite expensive. It can be up to 70,000 COP by taxi. The other option is to hop on a shared taxi (4 people) over to Centro Commercial San Diego for about 20,000 COP and take the metro or Uber to reach Poblado or other parts of the city.
Where To Stay
There are a few great areas to stay in Medellín, but El Poblado is probably the best option. It is considered one of the safest areas, is clean, and well developed. This area has many cafes, boutique stores, malls, and the most accommodations. El Poblado also has a large expat community and lots of friendly people. However, it might be the priciest area in comparison.
The second area where you can consider staying is Laureles. It is less touristy but similar to el Poblado with expats and digital nomads, mainly those who stay longer. This area has many cafes and restaurants too.
What To Pack For Medellin
Here are some items to pack with you when visiting Medellin:
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
