Medellin is the second biggest city in Colombia and the most famous, by far, for tourism.
Medellin, “The City of Eternal Spring”, has become a hub for digital nomads from across the globe, and for good reason. The city is situated in a beautiful valley nestled up amongst the mountains on all sides. There is amazing nightlife, fabulous cafes serving freshly grown Colombian coffee, and wonderful culture to immerse yourself in. Not to mention the beautiful Colombian women. Medellin is also very modern and has all the amenities you would expect in the first-world like fast internet, hot showers, Uber, etc.
We spent a month in Medellin and had plenty of time to immerse ourselves in the city. No matter what kind of person you are, there is no doubt something in this city for you. Hiking in nature to waterfalls, sipping on fresh Colombian coffee, dancing Salsa with beautiful Colombian women, … Medellin will not disappoint you.
Here is a list of our top things to do in Medellin.
Things to Book Now for Medellin 🇨🇴
- Hotel in El Poblado 🏨
- Day trip to Guatape 🪨
- Travel Insurance 🥼(Safety Wing)
Medellin Travel Guide – Things to Do
As a general philosophy when we travel, we want to do things that we cannot do when we’re at home, and we want to do them for cheap. Things that are outdoors in nature will also be prioritized.
With this being said, I present to you our top Things to Do in Medellin.
1 – Comuna 13 Tour
When you come to Medellin, you will probably stay in El Poblado or Laureles. Both are very touristy and will not give you insight into how the majority of Medellin live. This is where Comuna 13 comes in.
Comuna 13 was one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the most dangerous city in the world (Medellin) for a long time. In the early 2000’s, the government went to war with some of the gangs and guerrillas hiding out here. Over time, the neighborhood was cleaned up and the government installed a series of escalators to help the locals ascend the mountain into which the community is built.
Comuna 13 is an authentic Colombian neighborhood that is very safe for tourism. I recommend you take a free tour with Zippy Tours so that you can get the whole breakdown on the history of the neighborhood. We wrote a whole post on the tour here, and how much we loved it. The tour is free and comes with a suggested tip at the end of 35,000 COP. It is given by Laura, a wonderful woman who grew up in the Comuna and still lives there to this day. She even takes you to her house at the end of the tour.
This is our top MUST DO when visiting Medellin.
➡️ Read: Zippy Tours Comuna 13 Complete Review 🚶♂️
2 – HIKE
Because Medellin is nestled in a valley, there are A TON of hikes to do in the surrounding areas. Our two favorites were …
1– La Catedral Hike to Salto del Angel
‘La Catedral’ was the prison that Pablo Escobar built for himself back in the 90’s, and Salto del Angel is THE BEST waterfall to visit near Medellin. You can hike from La Catedral to the waterfall and back in just a few hours. La Catedral is only a 15 minute taxi ride from Envigado (just South of El Poblado).
AND
This one starts in the Belen neighborhood of Medellin in the Southwest. It’s about an hour up and an hour down, and is very doable for just about anyone. The views at the top are insane. And there’s a beautiful Calisthenics park at the top. This hike is very local, a lot of people from the neighborhood do this a few times per week. There’s people selling freshly squeezed juice at the bottom which makes the hike that much more enjoyable.
3 – Free Walking Tour
This tour from Real City Tours is phenomenal. Small groups (no more than 6) and very personable guides. This tour covers El Centro, the downtown area of Medellin. I think what makes this so special is that there’s a ton of history to Medellin. The city was ranked as THE most dangerous city in the world back in the 1990’s, and has become a traveler’s paradise pretty quickly. There’s a lot to say in between those two things, and this free walking tour does a good job in bridging the gap.
🏨 View all your hotel options in Medellin here!
4 – Visit a Fruit Market
Every morning at 4 AM, tons of local farmers bring their produce to Plaza Minorista in downtown Medellin. This is where all the corner stores and mini-markets located around the city get their produce. You can come here and try all of the exotic fruits of Colombia that you’ve never heard of. Have you tried Borojó, Carambolo, Cherimoya, or Curuba? This is the place to do it.
If you want to do a tour of a Colombian fruit market while having a guide explain to you what you are seeing in English, there is a great one on Viator here. ($38)
🥑 Book your fruit market tour here!
5 – Guatape and El Penon
La Piedra del Penol is the second-largest rock in South America, and can be climbed in approximately 15-20 minutes. (there are very conveniently constructed steps) Guatape is the town located about 10 minutes drive from El Penon. Most people climb El Penon, then visit the colorful town of Guatape – all in one day before heading back to Medellin.
This is the most common day trip from Medellin, and you will probably recognize some tourists from your time in El Poblado while you are here – either climbing the rock, or wandering the streets of Guatape. This day trip is definitely a tourist trap – but you should probably see it at least once. The view from the rock looking over the surrounding lakes of Guatape is very beautiful.
If you want to take a tour of Guatape from Medellin, I recommend this one. For $35 you get a van from Medellin to Guatape and back, breakfast and lunch, a local, english-speaking guide, and friends to share the experience with. I honestly think this is a really good deal, as you are going to spend this much or more by taking public transportation anyway.
👉 Book your tour to Guatape here!
6 – Parque Arvi / Metrocable
Parque Arvi is a beautiful park at the edge of Medellin. You need to take a cable car to get there. The cable car is a wonderful experience in and of itself, and should not be missed when in Medellin. You will be way above the city and able to check out the lush green forest below you.
Once you get to Parque Arvi, there are a bunch of different hiking trails you can choose from. This place is very calm and peaceful.
➡️ Read: Ultimate 2 Week Colombia Itinerary 🇨🇴
7 – Visit Plaza Botero
Home to amazing architecture and cool museums, Plaza Botero is at the heart of Medellin’s historic Old Quarter. Plaza Botero is dedicated to the Medellin-born artist Fernando Botero, who donated 23 of his massive sculptures to the city.
👉 Book a tour to Plaza Botero here!
8 – Tour Laureles
Laureles is the second-most common tourist neighborhood in Medellin. If you want a safe, tourist-friendly neighborhood with still some native Colombian authenticity – come to Laureles. Have lunch at Uno Mas Uno, our favorite ‘Menu-del-dia’ in all of Medellin. Get some coffee at Rituales, a lovely coffee shop. Then walk around Parques del Rio Medellin, a beautiful and safe park situated right on the river.
We love Laureles because it is safe for tourists and has great restaurants and cafes, but does not come with all the tourist traps of El Poblado. Every time I walk around El Poblado I get asked by young males on the corners if I want to buy weed, cocaine, etc.. It’s kind of like Miami. And honestly a lot of times when I walk around in El Poblado, I forget that I’m not in the US. This neighborhood is loaded with American tourists.
Laureles is a much more calm, tourist friendly neighborhood to explore while still being able to take in some local Colombian culture.
➡️ Read: The Best 5 Hikes in Medellin 🥾
9 – Get out of Medellin
Get out of Medellin for a few days. A lot of tourists will come to Colombia for a week or two and never get out of Medellin or Cartagena. This is a mistake.
Our favorite experience in all of Colombia was visiting Jardin. This town is only a three hour bus ride from Medellin, but really … it’s a world away. Jardin is an authentic, small Colombian town nestled in a valley with LOADS of things to do. Hiking to waterfalls, coffee farms, trout farms, exploring the town, etc.
Our favorite part of Jardin? It’s safe. Unlike the big cities, you can walk anywhere in Jardin and not be worried about your safety. The people here are some of the nicest people we met in Colombia. Jardin is a beautiful look into life in a Colombian pueblo. Don’t miss it!
🚌 Book your bus ticket to Jardin here! 🎟️
Best Cafes and Restaurants in Medellin
Although a lot of people find Colombian food bland and flavorless, there are nonetheless some really good eats and coffee to be had in Medellin. If you know where to go, you will most definitely find some fantastic places. Here are a few suggestions below:
Best ‘Menu del Dia’ – Uno Mas Uno in Laureles
Best Coffee – Pergamino in El Poblado
➡️ Read: Best Cafes for Remote Work in Medellin ☕️
Our Favorite Restaurants – NAZCAL (Peruvian), Los Birra Express (Birra Tacos), El Zorro (Pizza)
Where to Stay in Medellin
Almost all tourists stay in El Poblado. This neighborhood is loaded with Americans, and you will find every first world comfort you could imagine here. Food and accommodation will also be more expensive here as it is exclusively catered to tourists.
🏨Book Your hotel in Medellin Here.
If you want a cheaper, calmer, more local neighborhood to stay that still has all the modern comforts you’ll need, we recommend Laureles. Great food and cafes, cheaper prices, more authentic. This is where I would stay if I came back to Medellin.
Getting Around Medellin, Colombia
First off, the public transport is very good in Medellin. The metro is clean, safe, and super reliable. The buses are cheap and super easy to navigate.
➡️ Read: Taxis in Colombia – Complete Transportation Guide 🇨🇴
Taxi vs Uber
A lot of travel blogs will tell you to exclusively take Uber because the ride is tracked, etc. You really don’t need to do this in Medellin. We almost exclusively took taxis and never had a problem. There is always a meter running, and the price is very clear. Not to mention there are A TON of taxis everywhere in the city, and it is no doubt the quickest way to get anywhere.
When we tried to Uber places we usually ended up waiting 10 minutes for our driver to arrive, and lots of times the drivers would cancel and then we would have to wait another 10-15 minutes.
Taxis are a great way to support the local economy and practice your Spanish. Uber takes a large percentage of the ride fare. Do you really want your money going back to some large corporation in the US?
💡 Unlike Taxis in Istanbul 🇹🇷, we would say taxis are pretty safe in Medellin!
How Much Does Medellin Cost?
Medellin is very cheap for an American, even if you’re not trying to save money. You can easily eat like a king in the expensive neighborhood of El Poblado for $15 a person. And depending on how you scale this, you can also eat very well for $5. It all depends on what you want. If you want to save money, get out of El Poblado.
➡️ Read: Living in Medellin – The Pros and Cons 🇨🇴
Costs of Traveling in Medellin
This will vary A LOT based on accommodation, transportation, and the activities you do. But know that Medellin can be done on a very small budget if that’s what you are looking for. Flights can be had from the US for as little as $100, direct from Miami to Medellin on American Airines.
🇨🇴 Travel Insurance 💌
Don’t forget Travel Insurance for your trip. Safety Wing covers emergency medical, dental, trip interruption, lost luggage, and more.
Best Time to Visit Medellin
We visited Medellin in February, which is the hottest month of the year. Even though Medellin is referred to as the “City of Eternal Spring”, it can still be quite hot during the day.
Summertime in Medellin is from December to March – these are the hottest and driest months. If you come during the cooler months (March, April, May) you will no doubt experience more rain in the “City of Eternal Spring”.
Everything’s a trade-off.
➡️ Read: Complete Guide to Taxis in Colombia 🚕
Safety in Medellin, Colombia
The ever-lasting question whenever Colombia is brought up as a travel destination… “BUT is it SAFE??”
The saying in Colombia is ‘No das papaya’ , meaning don’t give people a reason to steal from you. If you don’t give people a reason, then you will be fine, no doubt.
The view that Medellin is any more dangerous than any big city in the US is unfounded. Just like when in any big city … watch your bag, don’t go to bad neighborhoods, keep your phone away, etc.
There is no reason to fear Medellin more than you would any other big city around the world.
SEE 👉 Colombian Slang to Learn for your Trip 🇨🇴
Summary – Medellin Travel Guide (Things to Do)
Medellin is an amazing place to visit in Colombia. If you’re only going to visit one place in Colombia, Medellin would be the best place by far. The weather is perfect, the city is loaded with things to do, the prices are right, and the cultural experience will no doubt be one to remember. Colombia is easily one of our top 5 countries that we’ve ever traveled to.
🇨🇴 Some other Colombia posts 👇
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your trip to Medellin!
