Awesome Things To Do In Medellin, Colombia

 

Looking for the best things to do in Medellin? First of all, remember: Medellin is like an enclave. There is no other city in Colombia that resembles it. Not even close.

If Colombia fascinates many a traveller with its stunning landscapes and its colourful cities, Medellin surprises and offers many new things; safety, a vibrant urban atmosphere and forward-thinking development.

There are great places to visit in Medellin and we’ll share the best with you here.

Forget what you know or think you know about Medellin. Forget what Netflix or the media told you about the drug cartels.

The truth is that the former most violent city in the world is quickly becoming a haven for digital nomads.

Whether you come from the cold altiplano in the South or from one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, it should definitely figure on your Colombian bucket list. So let us tell you here about some of the best things to do in Medellin.

Best Things To Do In Medellin

Understand Colombia at the House of Memory Museum

This museum (“Museo Casa de la Memoria“) retraces the dark past of Medellin, when it was the playing field of corrupt politicians, drug lords and the paramilitary.

It gives many striking examples of what was bad, but also of what was and remains good; the efforts by the residents to tackle the problems, improve their conditions and live a normal life.

It’s hard to find words to describe how important this museum is. But let us try. It will leave you speechless with its description of the past atrocities, and buzzing with hope for a better future.

It’s a must-see for anyone who wants to understand Medellin and learn more interesting facts about Colombia.

Entrance to the museum is free and the explanations are in Spanish, English & French.

Check For Free Events!

Every time we arrive in a new city, we ask our host and look up online what’s happening during our stay.

You would be surprised at how many free events you could find in many towns, and especially in Medellin.

Whether you want to take a dance class, watch a movie, practise Spanish or just meet people for a drink, you’ll find something for you. Just look up “eventos en Medellin Colombia“. 

The Culture Palace, the massive neo-Gothic building on the Sculptures’ Square, hosts free exhibitions and various events.

It’s worth visiting if only for the mesmerising views from its rooftop terrace! Check the events online.

Enjoy People Watching on Plaza de las Estatuas

One of the best places to visit in Medellin is the “Sculptures’ Square”, a perfect introduction to what the city is about.

It’s lively, colourful, but also safe and friendly, and offers enough culture to get you coming back. It hosts no less than 23 massive bronze sculptures made and donated by local master Fernando Botero, hence its name. In fact, it’s also known as Plaza Botero.

There are street vendors, tourists, prostitutes, business people, old men sitting on benches, etc.

The whole palette of local life is concentrated here! So do like them; get some buñuelos (doughnuts) from one of the local cafes and sit down to enjoy the buzz around you.

Learn About Colombian Art at The Museum of Antioquia

This is a very good art museum that is right on our beloved Sculptures’ Square. The entrance is a bit pricey at 18,000 pesos.

But it counts with 3 floors and a large collection of very varied works from different times. It’s probably your best introduction to Colombian arts, if that’s something you’re interested in.

The highlight is, of course, the extensive collection of Fernando Botero pieces, but not only. Admire also the 11 massive murals by Pedro Nel Gómez and the interesting introspective works of Antonio Caro. Check the collection online.

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Avoid El Poblado

El Poblado is among the most popular places to visit in the city. It’s a touristy area and has the busiest nightlife in Medellin, full of bars, clubs and English-speaking crowds.

So yeah, it gets much attention from travel guides, but there’s nothing authentic here. It’s probably great if you’re a party traveller; otherwise, it will just get on your nerves, to be honest.

We advise you find accommodation closer to the actual centre of Medellin: for example in districts Boston, Naranjal or Conquistadores. Who knows, you might even find a place from where you can access all major points by foot.

Wander in More Local Districts

Colombian cities are often made up of a hype touristy area which is safe; a historic centre, which gets seedy at night; and the rest, oscillating between the unattractive and the downright dangerous. Check Bogotá, Cali, Santa Marta, even Cartagena in some respect: it’s always like this.

But Medellin is different. And that’s the main reason why it attracts so many foreigners, for shorter or longer stays. Firstly, most districts are safe (see our final part about the safety).

Secondly, it offers to the urban explorers different areas with their own features, their own charm, their own local life.

There are quite a few places to visit in Medellin that we strongly recommend. Spend time strolling in the lively district of Boston; the Prado district, the oldest in town with its Egyptian Palace (you read well); the hype and trendy Ciudad del Rio, with its food market and the Modern Art Museum; and insider’s secret Manrique Oriental, a calm barrio with cool local vibes.

See Comuna 13 Differently

Of course, you’ll go to Comuna 13. The former most dangerous neighbourhood in the world is now a magnet for tourists interested in graffiti.

It’s a very colourful area that doesn’t breathe much of a local air but is definitely worth a stroll. After all, it’s now one of the top Medellin attractions.

There’s really no need to book an expensive graffiti tour online. Just take the subway until San Javier metro station; young guys will be waiting right there to provide donation-based tours.

It’s also possible to simply walk around on your own. But not only will you lose the meaning behind the graffiti, you might also wander off in parts of the district that aren’t so friendly. The touristy part is crowded but very concentrated.

The option we heartily recommend is to take a “social tour” rather than a “graffiti tour”. You might not get to understand the graffiti but you will understand much of the story of the barrio; how it rose and what it means for peoples’ lives nowadays. In our opinion, this is much more important.

The one we did was with Paola from Veci Tours, donation-based, and we were very happy with it.

Have a Stroll in Parque de los Pies Descalzos

We very much enjoyed that park when we went there on a Saturday afternoon. It’s surrounded by offices so I don’t know how busy it is during the week.

It’s also a good place to grab lunch outside in the “City of Eternal Spring” (as Medellin is known for its year-round mild weather).

The idea of the park is to create an atmosphere of zen and peace in the city centre. Feel free to enjoy it according to its name, which means “Barefoot Park“.

There is indeed a zen garden, a bamboo wood, a sand area and two foot-baths that you can enjoy barefoot. A real paradise for family travels with children and a cool place to visit in Medellin!

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Visit The Botanical Garden

I have to admit, I had a bad image of ‘botanical gardens’ before visiting the one in Medellin. I saw them as open-air museums where one walks along tediously reading the difficult names of all kinds of plants.

The botanical garden in Medellin is more like a public park. There are very diverse parts recreating the many landscapes of Colombia: jungle, desert, lake, etc.

There are also patches of grass where locals gather to share a moment, enjoy the sun or have a picnic. Like a public park, I tell you.

It’s free even, except to visit the exhibition halls. Plus, the turtles and iguanas at the pond are great.

Ride The Only Cable Cars Network in Colombia

The cables cars were built to improve the connection of the further districts up the hills – which are traditionally poor and dangerous – to the city centre. It’s modern, clean, safe and quiet.

Definitely one of the great things to do in Medellin, as well as a way to travel and enjoy the views on this city built like Rome on seven hills.

Residents of Medellin (Medellinenses) speak of a ‘metro culture’ – meaning the respect they have for their public transportation system.

It’s impressively clean and modern! If you’re used to the subway in Paris, London or New York, for example, you’re in for a surprise.

Enjoy The Views From Jardín Circumvalar

What used to be a dangerous part of town only a decade ago is now a large park offering one of the best views of the city. It was approved and refurbished with the help of local residents, one of the town council’s many social programmes.

You can go there either by bus or cable car. Keep in mind that it ascends quite steeply until the “JARDIN” writing that you see from far below; or even further up to the monument on top of the hill.

Take a Breath in Parque Arví

Looking for a green break from the city? Arví Park, located 30 km away from Medellin, is the biggest park nearby.

It’s divided into two main parts, offering different experiences and managed by two different organisations; the largest part with two ecological areas is managed by Comfama, while the “Parque Piedras Blancas” belongs to Comfenalco.

It’s accessible by bus or cable car from the centre, or by foot from the Jardín Circumvalar. Check directions, prices and potential events on the official websites linked above.

Visit The Paisa Villages: Santa Fe de Antioquia and Santa Elena

The Paisa are the traditional inhabitants of Medellin and its province, Antioquia. They are known for being hard-working, enterprising people who, at some point in history, moved further to the South.

They established there what is known today as the “Coffee Axis”, which produces one of the world’s best coffees.

That region should be on your Colombia route and we highly recommend doing a guided tour of a fair trade and eco-friendly coffee farm.

Have you ever heard of the Juan Valdez coffee brand and seen its logo? It represents the typical Paisa farmer; a mustachioed man with a hat, a white poncho, and a mule.

Well, you might see some of those in Medellin. But you’re even more likely to meet them in one of the old villages of Santa Fe de Antioquia or Santa Elena, the flower-making village.

They both retain most of their colonial architecture and the charm of secluded mountain villages and are great day trips from Medellin. You can get there by bus from Medellin’s Northern Bus Station.

Attend The Festival of The Flowers

The Festival of the Flowers (“Feria de las Flores“) is a yearly festival that is famous all over Colombia.

During one week, the city adorns itself with a parade of multicoloured flowers that come with the villagers down the surrounding mountains and circles through town.

It is among the top things to do in Medellin in August and includes a horse parade, an automobile parade and concerts.

We strongly recommend booking your accommodation long in advance if you plan to visit Medellin at that time.

Is Medellin Safe?

We’re very happy you’ve decided to give Medellin a go! But you might ask: is Medellin safe? We promise you will feel safer there than in any other city in the country.

Of course, it remains important to keep your wits about you and not “give papaya”, as the Colombians say.

That is, stick to common sense and don’t look like easy prey to pickpockets or muggers. That way we can say Medellin is safe.

Some neighbourhoods on the outskirts are still under the domination of drug trade and poverty.

You’ll certainly have no reason to go there anyway, but it’s always good to know about the places to avoid. Ask at your accommodation or the tourist office.

The very centre around the cathedral is perfectly fine during the day but turns a bit shady when night falls. We recommend not to cross it at night and stay safe in Medellin.

About The Authors: Anna and Anthony are long-time travellers, polyglots and all-kinds-of-art-lovers. They write about eco travels, nature hikes and cultural discoveries in South America on the budget travel blog Green Mochila.