Posted 16/07/2024 | 16th July, 2024
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Medellin is one of my favourite spots in Colombia. There is so much to do here, but it’s also a great base from which to take day trips and explore the surrounding areas.
Once considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world, Medellin is now a bustling metropolitan city. After a few days here, you’ll quickly learn why it’s so popular with travellers and expats.
So, here are all the best things to do in Medellin, Colombia – perfect for your first visit!
11 Marvellous Things to Do in Medellin
Plaza Botero
After spending a few nights in Bogota earlier in the month and visiting the wonderful Botero Museum there, I was eager to see what the Botero Park in Medellin had in store. And it’s safe to say I wasn’t disappointed!
This park is packed with Botero statues in the iconic, larger-than-life style we all know and love! It’s a great place to wander around for an hour, soak in the atmosphere, and take some great photos.
There is also a nice cafe beside the museum. So, you can enjoy a coffee and admire the statues from a distance.
Botanical Gardens (Jardín Botánico de Medellín)
If you’re a little nervous about backpacking Medellin due to its less-than-savoury reputation, I recommend starting your time in the city with a trip to the botanical gardens. You will quickly realise that the city is beautifully green, and the botanical gardens take this to the next level.
The botanical gardens are relatively small yet very beautiful. They have sections for different plant styles. A few small signs with information are dotted around the park and written in Spanish and English.
The best part is that there are tortoises wandering around everywhere! I actually visited the nature reserve in San Gil and was shocked to see the tortoises piled on top of each other in a very small enclosure. Here, they appear to have complete free reign of the park!
It’s completely free, you just need to show your ID to get in. I noticed that this was needed a lot across Colombia (even to pay for things on card in some shops). I recommend having a scanned copy of your ID on your phone which was always accepted, to reduce the risks associated with carrying your passport around.
Getting to the botanical gardens in Medellin couldn’t be easier. Simply take the A line on the metro and get off at Universidad. From here, it’s just a five-minute walk.
Comuna 13 Tour
The Communa 13 Tour is definitely the must-do attraction in Medellin. In fact, if I only had one day in Medellin, I would spend it taking the Communa 13 tour.
Communa 13 has a very dark and tragic past, which resulted in thousands of people losing their lives. It was once considered one of the most dangerous areas in Colombia, with no one being allowed in or out of the neighbourhoods.
Since 2002, the area has been completely regenerated, with new tourism attractions, sports and education facilities, and much better amenities for the 100,000+ locals who call this place home.
I thoroughly recommend taking a walking tour of this area with a local guide who can break down the area’s history while highlighting the different regions. They can also point you in the direction of the best rap and breakdance and show you the famous street art.
We booked the free walking tour, which departed at 13.30 pm. Usually, I’m a big fan of taking the first walking tour of the day, but in this instance, the afternoon was perfect.
That’s because, by 4.30 pm, when the tour is finished, Communa 13 is livening up! The bars are busy, and the music is pumping. This means you can slow down, enjoy a drink, and soak in the atmosphere.
Our guide stressed the importance of tourism for the continuous work in the area, so we thought it only right to do our part and kick back with some chicharron and drinks!
Yes, you could visit this area on your own, but you certainly wouldn’t get to the places your tour guide would take you or appreciate the complex history of this district.
A Note on The Communa 13 Tour
This tour has absolutely nothing to do with Pablo Escobar, and the people of Medellin are disappointed with the tourism associated with this person from Colombia’s past. Please do not support these Pablo Escobar tours and/or purchase associated souvenirs —there are much better ways to explore the city and spend your hard-earned cash!
Plaza Cisneros, Monumento a la Raza, & Monumento a Gilberto Echeverry y Guillermo Gaviria
I have to be honest, I wouldn’t make the trip to see these three sights individually, but they are great to see together, and they are all just a couple of minutes’ walk from San Antonio Metro Station.
Plaza Cisneros, also known as Parque de las Luces (Park of Lights), is a public square in Medellín, Colombia. It features 300 towering light poles that create a striking nighttime display. Originally a deteriorating area, it was revitalised as part of the city’s urban renewal efforts.
The plaza symbolises Medellín’s transformation and commitment to public space and safety, serving as a key cultural and social gathering spot. While I felt safe and comfortable here during the day, I would still avoid it at nighttime.
The Monumento a la Raza in Medellín is a prominent sculpture at the La Alpujarra Administrative Center. Created by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, it stands 38 meters tall and commemorates the history, struggles, and cultural heritage of the Antioquian people.
The monument features dynamic, expressive figures and elements that reflect the region’s spirit and resilience, making it a significant cultural landmark in the city.
The Monumento a Gilberto Echeverry y Guillermo Gaviria in Medellín honours the former governor of Antioquia, Guillermo Gaviria, and his peace advisor, Gilberto Echeverri, who were kidnapped and killed by FARC guerrillas in 2003. It features two large, intertwined hands symbolising peace and unity, commemorating their efforts and sacrifices for peace in Colombia.
Explore El Poblado
There is no denying that El Poblado is packed with Gringos. It’s seriously the home of ex-pats, and after a few months of backpacking around Latin America, it was unusual to hear so many people speaking English!
However, it is a fun, vibrant part of the city with great amenities. There are plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants, as well as lots of excellent accommodation options. I recommend taking an afternoon to explore the colourful streets and sample plenty of delicious Colombian coffee.
Parque Arvi
Parque Arvi was one of my biggest pleasant surprises and was certainly one of my favourite activities in Medellin.
Getting to the park is half the adventure! You need to take two cable cars, which offer incredible views. The first will take you over the city, and the second will carry you over the park. During the second ride (which took around fifteen minutes), I felt like I was heading into Jurrasic Park; it was amazing!
Many people visit the park without doing the hike. While the views from the cable car are spectacular, I would 100% recommend doing the hike for the best, well-rounded experience. It only took an hour and a half and was a peaceful experience.
While the hike is on the more expensive side (60,000 COP per person), it is well worth it, and it has made Parque Arvi a great attraction for the day rather than just a pit stop.
Guatape (Most Popular Day Trip From Medellin)
There are two main attractions in Guatape: the town itself and La Piedra del Peñol (the Guatape Rock). Both are great fun, and are considered some of the best and most popular things to do in Medellin.
The rock itself offers spectacular views of the reservoir and is a fun challenge to climb. Don’t let the 750 steps put you off. I was still slightly traumatised after hiking Volcano Acatenango a few weeks prior, but plenty of people of all ages and abilities made it up.
It only takes around twenty minutes to climb to the top, and when you arrive, beer, soft drinks, and ice cream will be waiting for you!
We took the organised day trip from Medellin to Guatape, and I would not recommend it. Other than at the rock itself, we didn’t get nearly enough time for any of the activities (only forty minutes in the town!).
Instead, I would recommend visiting by yourself. You can take a bus from the north terminal, which takes around two hours. Traffic in Medellin is a little crazy, though, so be prepared for this to take longer. Going it alone means you can enjoy the town at your own pace, stopping for lunch and drinks as you wish.
Visit Jardin
Jardin is located in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region and provides a long, yet doable day trip from Medellin. If you’re schedule allows, I would reccomend spending a few days in this wonderful region. I spent five nights in Salento and loved it, there is so much to enjoy here.
But, if you’re short on time a day trip from Medellin to Jardin could be perfect. You can take the bus from the south terminal in Medellin, which takes around three hours to reach Jardin. Of course, this is an extremley long day trip but an excellent way to see another side of Colombia.
Whilst in Jardin, be sure to admire the brightly painted houses and drink exceptional coffee. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try your hand at paragliding (I did this is San Gil and loved it!) or horseback riding.
Ciclovia Sundays
On Sundays, across Colombia (and much of Latin America), many of the roads are closed to vehicles and taken over by bicycles and pedestrians. I would 100% recommend joining in, even if you’re not a cyclist or a runner.
I spent a few hours walking around the route, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere. There are plenty of cafes to grab lunch in after you’ve worked up a sweat!
Brush Up (or Learn) Spanish!
If you’re travelling to Colombia (or any country in the region), you really, really need to know some basic Spanish. I took a Spanish course in Guatemala, and I cannot stress how much it transformed my travels there.
Medellin is a great place to learn and practice your Spanish, as there are so many ex-pats in the city. Some great places to consider are:
Go to a Football (Soccer) Match
Unfortunately, my schedule didn’t align with the football fixtures, but a night at a football match is widely considered one of the best things to do in Medellin.
The football stadium is easily accessible by the metro at the aptly named ‘Estadio’ station. As you would expect, the stations are extremely busy around match times, so I recommend topping up your travel card beforehand.
Whilst the city is now considered safe for tourists, I would still recommend heading to the football in a group and taking only busy, well-lit streets. As with all sports fixtures, tempers can often flare, and you don’t want to be caught in the middle of any unsavoury altercations.
Safety in Medellin
Unfortunately, after travelling to over twenty countries across five different continents, we were robbed for the first time in Medellin.
Fortunately, this wasn’t a violent crime and no one was harmed. However, they stole my husband’s phone, which was not only hugely disappointing (because he lost a £600+ phone) but also a massive headache regarding regaining access to all bank accounts!
This happened whilst boarding a metro at a busy station we have visited multiple times.
I cannot stress this enough: If you use the metro in Medellin wear a money belt under your shirt and store your phone in there. Pickpockets work extremely quickly, and you will not see it coming.
I wouldn’t let this experience put me off Medellin, or using the metro. However, always keep your phone and wallet hidden away in a zipped compartment.
Things to Do in Medellin – FAQs
Cash or Card in Medellin?
Card is accepted almost everywhere in Medellin, so I recommend using it wherever possible. It’s best to always keep some small notes and change with you for paying at smaller vendors.
Where Should I Stay in Medellin?
Most tourists stay in El Poblado, an area filled with expats, vacationers, bars, cafes, and restaurants. Laureles is also another popular place to stay, especially if you want a more ‘local’ vibe.
How Do I Get Around in Medellin?
The Metro in Medellin is efficient, inexpensive and clean. However, be sure to keep your valuables safe, as pickpocketing is rife. Taxis are also inexpensive in Medellin.
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