Are you travelling to Colombia and wondering what to do in Medellín?
You’re definitely in the right place… Grab yourself a coffee and let’s have a look at the things you can do during your stay in the city of eternal spring.
With lots of fun to be had, Medellín is popular with backpackers, and for some people, the city is one of the best destinations to visit in Colombia.
Once touted as the most dangerous city in South America, I ignored the negativity online, picked up my trusty old backpack and went anyway.
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Things to do in Medellín: Travel Guide
I first made a trip to Medellín in 2015 after hearing about the Paisas, their exuberant lifestyle and how it was one of the top places in Colombia.
The city had started to earn its new reputation as the place to be in South America and meeting the right people was key to accessing all its beauty.
In this guide, I’ll share some of my experiences in Medellín and give you insight into what to expect, as well as some of my favourite things to do.
If you plan to stay in El Poblado you can read my guide, the full lowdown.
Medellín Typical Costs and Budget
Cost Breakdown:
🇺🇸 1USD — 🇨🇴 4,255COP
My daily budget:
Up to 200KCOP
Suggested budget:
100K-150KCOP/$25-35US
Is it possible to travel to Medellín on a Budget? Of course 🙂
Below, I’ll share some very basic Medellín travel tips to give you ideas on how to save your cash so you can reserve it for more important things.
You’ll need at least a few days here to a week to be able to settle in and get used to the city. There is far more than meets the eye, and I have found that the more you explore this city, the more interesting it becomes.
10 Things to do in Medellín
Now that you’ve got an idea of what to expect in terms of cost and some general travel advice, let’s see what you can get up to in Medellín:
1. Restaurant Hacienda
When it comes to traditional food in Medellín, you have tons of options. So when you want an authentic dining experience with local food prepared in a typical Antioquian style Hacienda will not disappoint.
This place can get very busy with locals (especially during lunchtime), so don’t expect a super speedy service. Just be sure to order a Limonada de Coco sit back and watch the waiters work their magic in true Medellín style.
Eating here, you can expect a mountain of food, especially if you order the Bandeja Paisa, one of the most popular dishes with visitors to Medellín.
Everything about the place is fantastic: the decorations, the pleasant, attentive waiters, and even the traditional clothing that they wear.
2. El Castillo Museum
Dare I say this is a bit of a hidden gem in the city. This mediaeval Gothic-style castle has a very interesting story.
Here you can escape the city and explore the gardens. The castle offers a guided tour of the permanent exhibition displaying antique furniture, antiques, and paintings collected from around the world.
Expect your guide to speak Spanish throughout the tour, so brush up on your Spanish conversation skills beforehand.
Otherwise, you can just sit and enjoy the beautiful, fully well-pruned garden, along with the view of the valley.
3. Metro Cable: See Medellín From Above
Traffic can get very hectic in Medellín. Hence, taking the Metro cable was one of the transportation experiences I enjoyed the most.
The metro cable transportation system is managed by the government, and it is a well-recognised regeneration initiative for urban settlements.
It offers tourists an insight into the barrios (neighbourhoods) from an up-close and interesting perspective.
There are two major cable transport routes in Medellín; one of them provides access to the East of the valley and the other to the West.
I recommend this plan, and it’s actually one of my top things to do in Medellín. It’s perfect for having a whole view of the city and its people.
💡Smart Travel Tip
Get a Civica card to save money and time when using public transport. This works on the Metro, Metro Bus, Tram, and Cable Cars.
4. Museo Casa Gardeliana
This landmark is a must for Tango lovers. It gives you the chance to get off the beaten track and explore a slice of Medellín’s musical history and deep connection with tango.
This is a great place to come if you are learning how to dance tango or just want to see the Gardel statue, which is located on the same block as the museum in the Manrique neighbourhood.
5. Arvi Park
On my arrival to station Santa Domingo Savio, I took another cable car to Parque Arví, one of the tourist attractions in Medellín.
The car goes through the forest for about 15 minutes, and it is all breathtaking fun. I definitely have to go back there one day soon.
You’ll need to pay a small entrance fee to access the park, but it’s well worth it, and you can even hike the trails without hiring a guide.
6. Eat Bunuelos
Buñuelos are known as a Christmas treat, but for many locals they are an evergreen treat that can be enjoyed all year round.
These small and sometimes giant dough balls are filled with cheese and give your mouth a unique flavour explosion that is difficult to replicate.
The special cheese used and the oil temperature are the key to getting everything right. Sabaneta is one of the best places to try Buñuelos so get on the metro and head to Parque Sabaneta to sample yours.
7. Comuna 13
If this is not one of the best things to do in Medellin, it’s definitely one of the most sought after. A trip to one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the world is at the top of the list of many travellers.
I’ve listed this as one of the most unusual things to do in Medellin, partly because doing the Comuna 13 tour has become so popular.
Entire families’ lives have improved through the influx of people eager to learn more about the transformation of the neighbourhood.
It’s worth noting that you can take the bus and visit the Comuna by yourself. This would be considered a self-guided tour of Comuna 13.
This is a great cultural experience to have if you have enough time to visit while in Medellin, just be prepared to use your feet for walking uphill.
8. Berrio Park
You cannot visit Medellin without exploring the city centre or downtown area for yourself. Get off at the Berrio Park Metro station.
I suggest you do a day tour; it will give you a better insight, and you’d feel more at ease walking around with your camera gear.
Just like with the Pablo Escobar tour, this downtown area of the city is not usually recommended by locals, nor is it an area for the faint-hearted.
Meeting local people is among the unique features of visiting Medellín if you’re interested in learning about Paisa culture and you also have Plaza Botero which is just a few footsteps away from the station.
9. Museum House of the Memory
The house of memory will give you insight into Colombia’s history.
The museum provides a historic overview of specific events from different cities and regions via audio guides of each display.
Inside you’ll also find maps and graphical displays (with English translations) that allow you to interact with the information. Expect rich clippings from newspapers and television.
The ‘Memory space’ which celebrates the lives of important and significant people in the community is a nice addition.
Carry some headphone with you as won’t be able to fully interact with the installation. However, not to worry if you don’t, it is still worth a visit.
10. Mi Viejo Pueblo
If you’re looking for souvenirs, head to this hidden artisanal market on the main Walking Street in downtown Medellín.
You’ll find all sorts of gifts at reasonable prices and you can negotiate on bigger ticket items in many cases. The vendors are open to showing you their store and you can take pictures inside without any problems.
Medellín Travel Tips
⤵️ Dan’s Travel Tips For Medellín:
- Only use flip-flops if you want to look and be treated like a tourist. It’s not common that locals use them, not even on Sundays.
- Remember universal rules for safety in Medellin, especially downtown. Don’t walk with your phone out and try to look like a local.
- Try Vegetarian Resto a vegan restaurant with guaranteed delicious food. It’s located in the Suramericana, close to Laureles-Estadio.
- You can use Uber and InDriver as alternatives to traditional taxis.
- Travel by Metro is easy. If you want to use it occasionally, buy a card for $5.100 and charge enough money for your travels. It’s cheap.
- Although if you plan to use the Metro so often, it’s a good idea to have a personalised travel card. It’s free. Go to the Civica office in San Antonio, Itagüí, or Niquia Station with a copy of your passport and you can get the travel card which offers you a cheaper fare.
- Visit Ciudad del Río, where you’ll find cultural venues like Museo de Arte Moderno MAMM, a cinema, restaurants, and green spaces.
- Spend a weekend in Jericó or Jardín. Just 2.5 hours from Medellín and best known for high-quality Colombian coffee and ecological hikes.
- Be sure to visit Café Otraparte in Envigado, it’s not the best place for coffee but is quiet and perfect for hanging out with friends.
- Mercado del Río is a cozy place with plenty of great food. It’s located just in front of Ciudad del Río, next to Industriales metro station.
Things to do in Medellín
When you’re looking for things to do in Medellin, keep in mind that it’s possible to see most tourist attractions within the space of just a few days.
If you’re looking for a quieter pace of life you can get yourself to Jericó in just a few hours for a much more off-the-beaten-track experience.
I recommend extending your stay to get a good feel of the place and its people. So, with that said how many days in Medellín will you spend?
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I was just researching Medellin the other day and it seems like a fascinating city. I particularly like all of the Botero statues around the city. While it’s amazing (and totally cool) that he would donate millions of dollars worth of statues to his home city the story of the exploded bird statue was what really touched my heart. Leaving the damaged statue up as a reminder of the 22 people who died from the blast is a touching memorial.
Great idea about flying directly to Medellin. It seems logistically easier than overland travel and a smidgen safer as well.
That would be so convenient to have cable cars take you to the Eastern part of Medellin, another to the Western part, and a third through Arvi Park. Using the civica card is a big bonus! Although I couldn’t quite appreciate what Mayorista was all about except for the fruits and vegetables. Is it a market?
Carol, thanks for asking. The Mayorista is a huge wholesale market where you can find many different types of products and services (agriculturally speaking). It’s a very important platform for the city and is responsible for most of the produce arriving into Medellín and it’s surrounding area. I will update the article to reflect this later.
What a delightful city to visit. I am hoping to explore that part of the world sometime soon. When i thought of Columbia, I used to think about Bogota. Now I think I would definitely like to see Medellin. This guide of things to do makes me feel comfortable to go there and experience the local culture, and of course I will be trying the local coffee.
I am dying to visit Columbia and I always thought of visiting Bogota. But reading your post about Medellin, I am inspired to put it as well in my ‘places to visit’ list of 2018. Your tip to use the local buses located outside the terminal to get into a city is something I follow during my travels too.
Oh I would love to visit Columbia… I think so many things have changed in the last years. In university, where I as studying Latin American studies, Medellin was still considered one of the most dangerous cities…. Now I would love to explore!
I know of Medellin because of Escobar and it’s definitely a city that has seen a lot of loss over decades, so reading this post and learning about how it is slowly turning into a wonderful and modern place, not to mention that simultaneously it is keeping its heritage and traditions alive, makes it quite the destination. A wonderful article that covers all aspects of the city and the perfect guide for a visit.
I have never heard of Medellín, but it looks great! Colombia has been on my bucket list for a very long time! I love the look of those cars! Pretty awesome!
I have never been to Columbia but it’s definitely up there on my list! I would love to try visiting some of those awesome cafes. This is the perfect guide for a city to visit in Columbia if I make it there sometime soon, thanks!
Most innovative city? Now, that’s something intriguing! I’d love to visit the city myself!
Arvi Park sounds totally my kinda place! I always take the Free Walking Tour in all cities. Its the best way to have an overview and its ‘free’!!! Haha!