Culture, Views and a New Life
Medellín, mostly known for its dark past, is now a bustling city full of life and activities perfect for any traveller. With its modern metro system and vibrant life it has become a haven for nomads and backpackers alike!
In this Medellín travel guide we will explore some of the best activities as well as budget, transportation and accommodation in this fascinating city!
How much time do I need?
When planning a visit to Medellín I would budget at least three days, preferably upwards of a week to really enjoy this vibrant city. It has become a nomad hub with people spending months in the city working remotely. This shows that there is plenty to do in Medellín, but by spending at least three days you make sure you get all the best activities!
Top Activities
There are plenty of stuff going on in the city, so here are some of my absolute favourites!
Comuna 13
A visit to Comuna 13 is a must when in Medellín. A neighbourhood with a long history of violence and drugs, is now one of Medellín’s top tourist attractions. Through street art, dance and music, the people of this community shows its resilience and desire to rewrite its darks past. Today the neighbourhood is one of the safest in Medellín.
This neighbourhood became infamous because of one very famous narco trafficker. In spite of also having helped people, many others have suffered here because of him. Out of respect to those families, I recommend avoiding any tours that are solely focused on him, and rather enjoy what the people are doing with their new start in this area. It’s great to learn about history and it must never be forgotten, but “tourism” is his name is best to be avoided.
Plaza Botero
Fernando Botero was a world famous artist with his unique style. Now, Plaza Botero, named in his honour, is a must visit in the historic centre of the city. Wander around the famous sculptures, and learn about the tragic event that killed many people when one of his statues got bombed. He later made another one, placed it next to the broken one as a symbol of the peoples resilience in Medellín.
El Poblado
El Poblado is a great neighbourhood to stay or wander around. A more bohemian vibe to life with plenty of parks and streets to wander, with great restaurants and cafes for a relaxed day.
Centro Historico
Most hostels in Medellín offer free walking tours that take you to some of the most important spots in the historic centre of the city. This usually includes places like Plaza Botero, Museu de Antiquoia, Parque Bolivar, Calle Junín and Avenida la Playa. A great way to deep dive into some of the old history of the city!
Jardín Botánico
A great way to spend an afternoon is to head over to the Botanical Garden. A great way to “escape” the big city and enjoy thousands of plant species, plenty of birds and even Iguana petting if you’re brave enough!
Museu de Antiquoia
Located next to Plaza Botero is the Museum of Antiquoia, a great museum full of sculptures and paintings from famous Colombian artists, including Fernando Botero.
Day trip to Guatapé
A two hour drive outside of Medellín you find the famous tourist spot, Guatapé. Get a tour or take a bus out there and climb up the famous mountain top called El Penol! Fill up your water bottle and mentally prepare to climb over 600 steps to the top for an amazing view!
Budget
For Medellín you should budget around $40 per day, which includes staying in dorms, eating local food and using local transportation. This might be a little higher depending on where you choose to stay. The El Poblado neighbourhood is a popular one for tourists and nomads, and is known as a safer neighbourhood where prices of course have increased a lot in recent years with the influx of foreigners.
Food
Cheap food is found everywhere in Medellín, but you might have to leave El Poblado if you are staying there. You find snacks like empanadas for a few dollars in many small shops. Also, make sure you try Bandeja Paisa, a famous Colombian dish found in Medellín. Depending on where you eat, this meal will fill you up for around $5-8.
Accommodation
Most of the hostels are located in El Poblado neighbourhood which is the safest and most “modern” place to stay. You can find a bed in a dorm here for around $15, but some of the more famous “party” hostels can go as high as $30 a night. These places are popular among nomads who are working, and are usually surrounded by cafes and restaurants with higher prices.
Transportation
The pride of Medellín is its metro system which works like a charm and is a super cheap and effective way of making your way around the city. Just be aware of your belonging so you don’t get pickpocketed.
The Teleférico or the cable car of Medellín is also a possible way of moving around, but is more for the experience and seeing the city from a different perspective.
When to go
The best time to visit Medellín is during the dry season between December and March. May and October gets the most rain, so you might want to avoid those. During the summer is also a great time, and in August you get to catch the Festa de las Flores festival.
It’s worth mentioning that the city’s nickname is the city of eternal spring because of its comfortable temperatures all year round. It doesn’t really change much throughout the year, making the city perfect to visit at any time.
Safety
Medellín is like any city in Latin-America. Walking around alone at night is not recommended depending on the nighbourhood you’re staying. Ask at the hostel for advice in your area. By taking some precautions though you will have a wonderful time in this energetic place! Just remember to never travel without travel insurance.
Safety Tips:
- Always have some cash at hand in case someone wants to rob you. Better to hand over a few notes than to be caught with nothing or lose your credit card.
- Always keep your valuables safely on you on night buses and never put your backpack in the overhead compartment.
- In large crowds be careful with your belongings. Things in your pocket can easily be taken, but also smaller backpacks, bum bags etc. Make sure you secure them to avoid pickpockets in these situations.
- Do not wander around alone at night in places you are not familiar with. If you have to, stick to well lit streets as much as possible. Preferable where there are more people. If you need to use your phone for maps, do it discreetly and never wave your phone or wealth around.
- Don’t wear flashy things and leave your expensive jewellery at home.
- Bring a padlock and use the lockers in hostels for all your valuables.
- Be careful with how much you drink, accepting drinks from others or the use of drugs. There are many stories out there, so try not to overdo anything unless you have people with you to take care of you.
By taking some precautions you will be fine in Medellín, and come back with wonderful memories of this beautiful little paradise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Medellín? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn commission from products or services I recommend. For more, see disclosure.
