WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Medellin Travel Guide

Discover Medellin through our Travel Guide – your ultimate resource for exploring this vibrant Colombian city. Uncover its culture, landscapes, and history!

Medellin UNVEILED

Exploring Colombia's Most Vibrant Metropolis

Let’s talk about the best city in the world! I know I’m hyping Medellin up a lot, but I promise it truly lives up to the hype. To set the scene: it’s in a valley so you’re surrounded by luscious deep green mountains everywhere you look, it’s a bustling metropolis with tall buildings and rooftops and despite being a major city, Medellin does a good job of still having tons of green space. It really is so so beautiful – and has even won awards for its innovation in modernizing the city! Medellin has truly become one of the ”it” cities of the world.

Medellin also has great gastronomy. Here you’ll find restaurants with amazing views, and you’ll hardly ever be able to say you had a bad meal. Nearly everyone I encounter who tells me they’ve been to Medellin agrees that it’s Colombia’s best city!

I come on a yearly basis, sometimes multiple times a year. It’s crazy to see how much tourism has increased over the years. It makes me happy because it tells me people aren’t viewing Medellin as a scary place anymore, but at the same time it’s strange being in certain areas (like El Poblado) and hearing nothing but English! Regardless, I encourage everyone to start or continue to visit my parents’ beautiful home city.

VANESSA'S INSIDER TIPS

My Travel Tips for Turks and Caicos

Here are some helpful Medellin travel tips to know before you go:

Visa Requirements

TBD

Local currency

TBD

Language

TBD

Plugs

TBD

Medellin Essentials

TBD

When to Go

Medellin is not called the City of Eternal Spring for no reason. It’s spring-like weather all year round so you can visit any time. April/May and October/November see the highest amount of rain but again, Medellin’s climate is generally mild and enjoyable all year.

Where to Stay

Nearly every tourist stays in El Poblado or Envigado. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for me personally I would not want to stay somewhere abroad where I’m walking around and everyone is speaking English. There are so many tourists here, they’re known as “gringo” neighborhoods. However, these areas do have a ton of hotels and nightlife and restaurants, so I understand the appeal. If you’re looking for something safe that still has that authentic feel, I highly recommend the neighborhood of Laureles!

How To Get Around

Medellin is massive. You can walk around within the area you’re staying in, but to get around the city, you’ll need to take an Uber or the metro. Ubers are technically illegal here, so don’t be alarmed if your Uber driver asks you to sit in the front with them so it’s not apparent that it’s an Uber. I love using Uber because it’s inexpensive and I don’t need to worry about a taxi ripping me off. I’ve only used the metro a handful of times but they are a quick and efficient way to get around. I would not use the bus because they aren’t that safe. I would also not use street taxis because drivers will likely scam you.

Is It Safe?

Medellin Solo Female Travel

Safety in Medellin has gotten better over the years but you still need to exercise caution. As a solo female traveler in Medellin, you might unfortunately experience some catcalling and things of that nature. Be extremely careful going out because someone could slip something in your drink to rob you or worse. Obviously, stuff like this happens all over the world, but in Medellin it’s unfortunately more prevalent.

When in an Uber or any car, be weary of any motorcycles getting too close to your car because they usually try to snatch your phone if they see it. I’ve used my phone as I’m walking and been fine, but I also blend in due to my appearance. If you stay in El Poblado or Envigado, you will be okay using your phone in public but still be mindful. Outside of those areas, I would recommend only using your phone inside a restaurant or mall.

Okay enough of the bad stuff – trust me don’t be scared of Medellin! Just follow my advice above and you will be okay. There’s a popular saying here, “No dar papaya,” and it basically means don’t give people a reason to notice you or make you a target. Keep that in mind, and you will be okay!

medellin ADVENTURES

My Recommended Itinerary for Medellin Travel

Medellin has a million things to do, but here’s what I recommend for Medellin:

Vanessa's Quick Thoughts

There’s so much to see and do in Medellin. You can easily spend a few days doing nothing but checking out the restaurant scene and that in itself would be fun! It’s the one place in Colombia I think deserves the most time to explore. Here’s what I recommend for Medellin:

Cultural and Educational Attractions

Pueblito Paisa
Pueblito Paisa

This is one of my favorite spots to get good views of the city.
Pueblito Paisa is located on Nutibara Hill and is a replica of a traditional Antioquian town. Antioquia is the department that Medellin is located in (think of it as the “county”). So you have the replica, which includes a main square, colorful buildings, and small shops that sells souvenirs, snacks, and crafts.
There’s also a museum that talks about the city which I highly recommend. Note that there’s no longer a parking lot at the top of the hill, so you’ll either need to get dropped off or walk all the way to the top.
Comuna 13
Comuna 13

Once known as the most dangerous neighborhood in Medellin, this neighborhood has completely transformed into a vibrant community now known for its street art.
I highly, highly recommend going on a walking graffiti tour here so you can learn about its history in depth.
You can easily spend a few hours in Comuna 13 seeing the street performers, eating from local vendors, and checking out the numerous viewpoints.
Plaza Botero
Half Moon Bay

We went here as part of a boat tour.
Watch out for the iguanas!
Antioquia Museum
Half Moon Bay

We went here as part of a boat tour.
Watch out for the iguanas!
Palace of Culture
Half Moon Bay

We went here as part of a boat tour.
Watch out for the iguanas!
National Palace Mall
Half Moon Bay

We went here as part of a boat tour.
Watch out for the iguanas!
Memory House Museum
Half Moon Bay

We went here as part of a boat tour.
Watch out for the iguanas!
Parque Explora
Half Moon Bay

We went here as part of a boat tour.
Watch out for the iguanas!

Pueblito Paisa

This is one of my favorite spots to get good views of the city.

Pueblito Paisa is located on Nutibara Hill and is a replica of a traditional Antioquian town. Antioquia is the department that Medellin is located in (think of it as the “county”). So you have the replica, which includes a main square, colorful buildings, and small shops that sells souvenirs, snacks, and crafts.

There’s also a museum that talks about the city which I highly recommend. Note that there’s no longer a parking lot at the top of the hill, so you’ll either need to get dropped off or walk all the way to the top.

Comuna 13

Once known as the most dangerous neighborhood in Medellin, this neighborhood has completely transformed into a vibrant community now known for its street art.

I highly, highly recommend going on a walking graffiti tour here so you can learn about its history in depth.

You can easily spend a few hours in Comuna 13 seeing the street performers, eating from local vendors, and checking out the numerous viewpoints.