Top 10 Things to Do in Medellín + Practical Tips

Orientation: Map of the Top Sights in Medellín

To give you a better overview of the city, we’ve marked all our favorite spots in Medellín on a map.

You can also download the map and view it offline:

Our map with the top things to do in Medellín

What are the must-sees in Medellín?

Here are our top 10 things to do in Medellín. In four days, you’ll have plenty of time to see them all.

• Comuna 13
• Plaza Botero
• Museo de Antioquia
• Botanical Garden
• Parque Arvi
• El Poblado
• Pueblito Paisa
• Laureles
• Mercado del Rio
• Guatapé

City tours of Medellín

Medellín is a fascinating, multilayered city. The dark past from the days of Pablo Escobar, the lush green spaces, the regional cuisine — there are so many stories waiting to be uncovered here.

A city tour is one of the best ways to experience Medellín through local eyes and really get under the city’s skin. We’d strongly recommend booking at least one during your trip to Medellín.

Our recommendations for city tours in Medellín
Book the Pablo Escobar tour through Medellín

Book the bike city tour with food and drink tastings

Book the street food and rooftop bar tour

Comuna 13

What do you need to know? Comuna 13 was once the most dangerous neighborhood in Medellín. Today it’s one of the top attractions in Colombia and seriously trendy. The hillside district is filled with colorfully painted staircases and building walls, while dance groups and rappers keep the music and good vibes going on every corner.

Is Comuna 13 worth visiting? Absolutely! You won’t find anywhere else as hip and colorful as this during your Colombia trip.

Our tip for visiting Comuna 13: The neighborhood’s history is anything but colorful — it’s marked by drug trafficking and brutal violence. On a guided tour through Comuna 13, you’ll learn about the district’s tragic past and understand just how remarkable its transformation has been.

Book the guided tour through Comuna 13

Plaza Botero

What do you need to know? Plaza Botero sits in the city center and is one of Medellín’s main squares. Scattered across the plaza are quirky, oversized statues by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Another highlight on the square is the Rafael Uribe Uribe Cultural Palace, which you can visit for free.

Is Plaza Botero worth visiting? Yes, it’s worth a stop — though honestly, it’s not our favorite spot in Medellín.

Our tip for visiting Plaza Botero: From here, it’s worth taking a short stroll to Parque de las Luces and the craft market at Parque de Bolívar. Beyond that, the city center doesn’t have a whole lot going on.

Museo de Antioquia

What do you need to know? Right on Plaza Botero stands one of Medellín’s standout attractions: the Museo de Antioquia. Inside you’ll find a huge collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings.

Is the Museo de Antioquia worth visiting? If you’re into museums and art, definitely. If not, you can skip it.

Our tip for visiting the Museo de Antioquia: Admission is 46,000 COP (10 euros) for foreigners. If you’re planning to visit several museums in Medellín, the Medellín Museum Pass is worth it at 104,023 COP (24 euros).

Book a skip-the-line ticket for the Museo de Antioquia

Get the Medellín museum pass

Botanical Garden

What do you need to know? The Jardín Botánico is a green oasis right in the middle of Medellín, located near the university, north of the city center. The grounds are beautifully maintained and full of plants, flowers, and wildlife — and the architecture is really cool too.

Is the Jardín Botánico worth visiting? Yes! Especially if you love plants. But even if you don’t, it’s a lovely place to slow down and take a stroll.

Our tip for visiting the Jardín Botánico: If you take the metro, get off at the Universidad station. Admission is free.

Parque Arvi

What do you need to know? Parque Arvi sits about 1,000 meters above Medellín and is noticeably cooler than the city below. Several hiking trails wind through the park, which you can explore on your own or with a guide. Trail fees start at 30,000 COP (7 euros).

Is Parque Arvi worth visiting? Yes — it’s one of our favorite spots in all of Medellín.

Our tip for visiting Parque Arvi: You get there by cable car, and the ride itself is a highlight — the views from the gondolas are stunning. Take the metro to Acevedo station, board the gondola to Santo Domingo, then transfer to the one heading up to Parque Arvi. That last gondola costs an extra 13,400 COP (3 euros).

Pueblito Paisa

What do you need to know? Just outside the city center rises the small hill Cerro Nutibara. At the top, you’ll find a viewpoint with a sweeping panorama of Medellín, plus a charming little village that recreates a traditional settlement from the Antioquia region.

Is Pueblito Paisa worth visiting? Yes — the village and the vantage point are absolutely worth seeing, even if it’s very touristy.

Our tip for visiting Pueblito Paisa: You can walk up the stairs on foot — they start on the south side of the hill at the Parqueadero Público Cerro Nutibara. A taxi is your easiest option to get there. And if stairs aren’t your thing, the taxi can take you all the way to the top.

El Poblado

What do you need to know? El Poblado is Medellín’s upscale, stylish, and international neighborhood. You’ll find plenty of shopping malls, great restaurants, and a wide range of places to stay. Above all, El Poblado is known for its countless trendy bars and nightclubs — the nightlife here is seriously lively.

Is El Poblado worth visiting? Sort of. If you’re not staying there, it’s really only worth the trip for a night out.

Our tip for visiting El Poblado: It’s also a great neighborhood to unwind in — many parts are noticeably quieter during the day than the rest of Medellín. Parque Lleras is a great spot to check out.

Mercado del Rio

What do you need to know? Mercado del Rio is a huge food hall packed with international restaurants — a real culinary journey. You’ll also find classic Colombian dishes alongside all the global options.

Is Mercado del Rio worth visiting? Yes — whether you’re there for a full meal or just a cold beer, it’s a great spot.

Laureles

What do you need to know? Laureles is the other somewhat upscale neighborhood — alongside El Poblado — that’s really popular with visitors. You’ll find a number of cool bars here, as well as the Atanasio Girardot stadium.

Is Laureles worth visiting? If you’re not staying there, it’s mainly worth the trip if you’re catching a soccer game at the stadium.

Our tip for visiting Laureles: It’s a great neighborhood for being active — around the stadium you’ll find plenty of joggers, cyclists, and skaters.

Get tickets for a soccer game in Medellín

Guatapé

What do you need to know? Guatapé is a small town just under two hours from Medellín. Here you’ll find the impressive granite rock Piedra del Peñol, which you can climb via 650 steps. At the top, a spectacular vista of the surrounding landscape awaits — much of it a vast reservoir. The town of Guatapé itself, with its colorful houses, is also well worth the excursion.

Is Guatapé worth visiting? Absolutely! The rock is very touristy, but totally worth it anyway. The scenery is breathtaking and Guatapé is a beautiful place.

Our tip for visiting Guatapé: It’s worth spending a night in Guatapé so you can visit the rock in the morning before the crowds arrive. If you’re short on time, booking a day tour from Medellín is your best bet.

Book the guided day trip from Medellín to Guatapé and Piedra del Peñol

Where to stay in Medellín?

The most popular neighborhood to stay in Medellín is El Poblado. This international and stylish district has a wide range of accommodation options to choose from.

When picking a hotel, we’d recommend keeping proximity to the metro in mind. All of our hotel picks are close to the metro.

Our hotel recommendations for El Poblado

A second popular area is Laureles. It’s a bit more authentic than El Poblado, but still tourist-friendly and safe — and you’re well connected to the metro here too. The selection of hotels in Laureles is smaller, though.

Our hotel recommendations for Laureles

Also check out all our hotel recommendations for Medellín:

How safe is Medellín?

In the early 1990s, Medellín was the most dangerous city in the world. But it has undergone a remarkable transformation, and today you can easily explore Medellín’s highlights. The tourist areas are safe during the day.

It’s best to avoid poorer neighborhoods, where the risk of being robbed is higher. At night, skip walking and take a taxi instead.

Always keep a close eye on your belongings. It’s best to carry valuables in a money belt worn under your clothing rather than in a backpack.

One major issue in Medellín is drink spiking. Because the city is known for its wild nightlife, it draws a lot of party tourists — and it’s not uncommon for visitors to have their drinks spiked in clubs. Never accept a drink from a stranger, and always keep an eye on your glass.

Getting to and around Medellín

Medellín has its own international airport, with flights arriving from Europe too — most of them via Madrid. There are also plenty of domestic flights, for example from Bogotá or Santa Marta and Cartagena — two cities with beautiful beaches in Colombia.

From the airport to the city

The airport is located outside of Medellín. Your easiest options for getting to your accommodation are an official taxi, Uber, or a pre-booked transfer.

Book a private airport transfer to Medellín
Getting there by long-distance bus

Long-distance buses — especially overnight buses — are a popular way to travel around Colombia. Medellín has two main bus terminals: Terminal del Norte and Terminal del Sur.

If you’re coming from the south (e.g., from Salento, Valle de Cocora, or Cali), you’ll arrive at Terminal del Sur. Most other buses (e.g., from Bogotá, Cartagena, Santa Marta, or Guatapé) arrive at Terminal del Norte.

From either terminal, you can take a taxi or Uber to your accommodation. If you’re traveling light, the Caribe metro station is right next to Terminal del Norte and gets you quickly to El Poblado and Laureles.

Book your bus connections in Colombia through Bookaway
The Medellín Metro

During the day, the metro should be your go-to — it’s fast, reliable, and gets you to almost all of Medellín’s major points of interest.

To ride the metro, you’ll need the Cívica metro card. You can buy one at station ticket booths for 11,500 COP (2.60 euros) and load it with credit right there. A single ride costs about 4,000 COP (1 euro). If you’re traveling as a pair, one card is enough for both of you.

Some stations have machines where you can top up your card — but these only accept cash and don’t give change.

Note: Avoid rush hour for topping up your card and riding the metro. Lines at the ticket booths get very long and the trains get packed.

The most important metro lines for visitors are A and B. Line A runs north to south, stopping at downtown, the north terminal, and El Poblado. Line B runs from downtown through Laureles to Comuna 13. You transfer between lines at San Antonio in the city center.

The cable cars in Medellín

Because Medellín is surrounded by mountains, cable cars are an essential way to reach the hillside neighborhoods. They’re integrated into the metro network, so you don’t pay again when you board the gondolas.

Buses in Medellín

With such a good metro network, you won’t need buses very often. We only took the bus once — from the San Javier metro station to Comuna 13. A bus ride also costs about 4,000 COP (1 euro).

Taxi, Uber, and Didi

At night, avoid public transit and walking. After dark, always take a taxi or rideshare.

We recommend using the Didi app in Medellín. It works like Uber and is the most widely used rideshare app in Colombia. Uber usually works too.

Rideshare apps are generally safer than hailing a taxi. But if you prefer a taxi, only use official providers — those are yellow taxis with a meter.

For more advice on getting around, check out our Colombia travel tips

Best time to visit Medellín

Medellín is a city of eternal summer. Temperatures stay between 77°F and 86°F (25–30°C) during the day year-round. Because the city sits at around 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level, it’s not as hot as other Colombian cities.

The sun shines most of the time. During the rainy seasons (April–May and October–November), you can expect more rainfall — but it usually only rains in the afternoon and at night, and the showers tend to be short and intense rather than days of continuous rain.