Medellín is one of the few cities I've fallen in love with at first sight. There's no shortage of amazing things to do in Medellín, Colombia, from salsa dancing and paragliding to discovering the local food culture.
Once dubbed “The Most Dangerous City in the World” by Time magazine due to the drug-fueled violence of Pablo Escobar, in the last 20 years Medellín, has transformed.
In addition to significant improvements in public safety, there's been an enormous surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service more impoverished neighborhoods located high on the mountainsides, as well as new parks and libraries.
Now, Medellín is becoming one of the “it” cities globally, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring there.
Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons I spent three and a half years living in Medellín.
There are more than enough things to do to keep any visitor busy. Plus, travel in Colombia continues to be an excellent bargain compared to other countries in South America.
While it's not as cheap as Ecuador or Bolivia, your money will go a lot further than it does in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay.
Table of Contents
Medellín Attractions
Explore the Numerous Parks and Plazas
The natural beauty and unique climate of Medellín is something to behold.
Set 4,905 feet (1,495 meters) above sea level in a valley surrounded by tall green mountains, its proximity to the equator ensures constant spring-like temperatures year-round.
The pleasant weather lends itself well to enjoying the dozens of parks and plazas to be found in and around the city.
Each space offers its unique design and personality, all of them being excellent places to grab a seat and watch the locals go about their daily lives.
My favorite places in Medellin include:
Plaza Botero
Located in the heart of downtown Medellin, Plaza Botero is home to 23 of Fernando Botero's larger-than-life sculptures. The plaza can be reached via the Parque Berrio metro station.
Make sure to step inside the Museo de Antioquia, which faces the plaza. The entrance is free, and you can see paintings by Botero as well as other Latin artists.
Parque Berrio
Across the street from Plaza Botero, Parque Berrio is a small park filled with juice vendors and local street performers playing traditional Colombian music.
Jardín Botánico
Easily accessible from the Universidad metro station, the city's botanical gardens host numerous events, concerts, and festivals throughout the year. Go here when you want a break from the city noise.
Parque Explora
Across the street from Jardín Botánico, the Parque Explora complex features Latin America's largest freshwater aquarium and an outdoor park with interactive games demonstrating the laws of physics.
Pueblito Paisa
Pueblito Paisa is a mock pueblo built atop Cerro Nutibarra, a small hill in the valley's center. The hill offers terrific, near-360-degree views of the city.
It's about a 20-minute walk up from the Industriales metro station, or you can take a taxi.
El Castillo Museo y Jardines
Inspired by the castles of the French Loire Valley, El Castillo was constructed in 1930.
Admission to the property, including the gardens and a guided tour of the castle's interior, costs 12,000 pesos ($4). The easiest way to get there is by taxi.
Parque Arvi
Escaping east over the mountains to one of the region's largest nature reserves is as easy as jumping on the metro system.
A regular ticket will take you as far as Santo Domingo.
Once you exit the metro, buy another ticket for the separate metro cable that runs from Santo Domingo to Parque Arvi. The cost is around 5,000 pesos ($1.50).
Planning a trip to Medellin? Check out my Medellin Travel Guide.
Adventure Sports
Medellín offers visitors several ways to get their adrenaline going.
Paragliding
Paragliding is one of the most popular tourist activities, especially among backpackers, thanks to dependable thermals and low prices.
You'll be hard-pressed to beat 130,000 pesos ($40) for a 15- to 20-minute tandem flight anywhere else in South America.
The action takes place in the mountains north of the city, about an hour's bus ride from the Caribe bus terminal.
Flights are weather-dependent but otherwise available every day of the week from several companies.
Mountain biking and ATVs
Given the rugged topography, it should come as no surprise that there's ample opportunity to go riding in and around the city.
Whether you prefer mountain biking or ATVs, there is an increasing number of tour companies like Adventure Trails catering to foreign tourists and Colombians.
Soccer matches
South America has a reputation for unruly fans, making soccer matches between Medellín's two local teams, Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín, a real spectacle.
Supporters for each of the teams occupy bleachers at opposing ends of the stadium.
They shout, sing, and unfurl giant banners throughout the full 90 minutes.
Ticket prices are well under 40,000 pesos (usually between $5-12), and even if you're not a huge soccer fan, the experience can send shivers down your spine.
See also: Top 10 Things to Do in Colombia
Pablo Escobar Tours
The legacy of Pablo Escobar is still a cause for division amongst residents of Medellín, with some people seeing the man in a positive light.
In contrast, others do their best to relegate the violence of the '80s and early '90s to the history books.
Curiosity from foreign tourists, many of whom know nothing more of Medellín before they arrive than its association with Escobar's Medellín Cartel, has led to a boom in Pablo Escobar tours.
A typical half-day tour will include visits to sites of historical significance, such as the building adjacent to his last safe house where he was ultimately killed, and to his family grave in the city of Itagüí, south of Medellín.
Through Viator, tours are available for as little as 60,000 pesos ($20-30) per person.
All three sites can also be visited independently using a combination of the metro and taxis.
See also: The Best Hostels in Medellin
Take Salsa Lessons
Cali may be the salsa capital of Colombia. But, there are many dance studios in Medellín where you can learn salsa dancing and other Latin styles, including the bachata and tango.
Santo Baile specializes in Cali-style salsa and is run by Mayra Cutiva, a Cali native who's danced and taught salsa for 20 years.
Under the tutelage of her and the other teachers, you can go from wallflower to So You Think You Can Dance in a few weeks.
The cost of one-hour private lessons has risen in recent years, but it's still a bargain by Western standards.
Expect to pay at least 75,000 pesos ($25-30) per hour, with discounts for purchasing four or eight hours at a time.
If you want to spend less, sign up for group classes.
Studios typically host regular dance parties for students and their friends and partners, thereby allowing them another venue beyond the city's bars and clubs for showing off their new moves.
See also: How to Learn Tango in Buenos Aires
Sample the World's Best Coffee
Colombia is one of the world's top coffee producers. Therefore every visitor has to sit down and enjoy a cup.
Ironically, Colombians haven't had a big coffee culture for a country so highly respected for their beans.
Sure, you'll see it available everywhere, from vendors selling little cups on the street to small shops and restaurants, but for the most part, they aren't selling the country's higher quality, export-grade coffee.
There are a few places you can go to ensure a quality cup. First and foremost, the Juan Valdez Cafes are Colombia's version of Starbucks.
They offer delicious coffee, pastries, and free Wi-Fi.
In 2014, Starbucks opened its first cafe in Bogotá, followed by multiple locations in Medellin, Cartagena, and other cities.
If you prefer family-run coffee shops, head to Pergamino in Parque Lleras.
Since opening in 2012, it has received rave reviews from travelers and expats and has attracted a loyal Colombian clientele.
Discover Colombian Food
I like to poke fun at Colombian food for its lack of spices, but the truth is I've discovered quite a few meals I enjoy here.
More importantly, I've tried to find the best restaurants in Medellín, where you, too, can sample authentic Colombian dishes.
Beyond the food, these places all have excellent atmosphere and service as well.
Brasarepa
Located in Envigado, a city just south of Medellín, Brasarepa serves up typical Colombian dishes in an unpretentious setting.
The restaurant was featured in Anthony Bourdain's 2008 Colombia episode of No Reservations. Lunch here will run you about $5.
Hato Viejo
Hato Viejo began with a downtown location over 30 years ago and continues to go strong today.
Try the bandeja paisa, a signature dish from the region, including spicy ground meat, pork cracklings, fried egg, fried plantains, refried beans, rice, avocado, and a small side salad. Entrees average $12.
Ajiacos y Mondongos
Ajiaco is a potato-based soup with shredded white meat chicken, corn, capers, avocado, and cream.
It's originally from Bogotá but is available throughout Colombia.
At Ajiacos y Mondongos, expect to pay around 20,000 pesos ($7). For the adventurous, try the mondongo (tripe soup).
Marmoleo
For a unique dining experience and some of the best steak (imported from the US) in the city, check out Marmoleo.
Entrees run from $15-30, making it the costliest restaurant on the list.
They also hold special events, including horse parades and fashion shows.
As they say in Colombia, ¡buen provecho!
See also: Introduction to Traditional Colombian Food
Nightlife: How to Party Like a Local
Medellín balances the feel of a small pueblo in the mountains with the vivaciousness of a major Latin American city.
Colombian nightlife options are limited early in the week, but the activity in bars and dance clubs slowly begins to pick up the pace on Thursday nights, thanks to a few popular ladies' nights.
Friday is big, and by Saturday, everything is hopping.
The local firewater is called aguardiente, or guaro for short.
It's clear, anise-flavored liquor is traditionally consumed as a shot, but don't be surprised if you see locals drinking straight from the bottle too. It's often chased with water or soda.
Another locally produced liquor is Ron Medellín Añejo. This rum is widely available and taken straight, on the rocks, or with ginger ale or Sprite.
Colombians prefer their aguardiente and rum straight, saying it doesn't produce as big a hangover the next day if you skip the soda.
There are tons of places to go out at night. Still, the epicenter of nightlife in Medellín is Parque Lleras, a dense collection of restaurants, bars, and dance clubs situated around a little tree-filled park in the upscale Poblado neighborhood.
Within a few minutes walk from most of the city's hostels and many hotels and apartment rentals, it couldn't be easier to find a restaurant or bar to your liking.
Beyond Parque Lleras, there are plenty of other places to kick up your heels.
Here are just a few of my favorites to get you started:
El Eslabon Prendido
Located downtown, El Eslabon is a salsa bar known for its live music on Tuesday nights.
The cover charge is only a few thousand pesos (one or two dollars).
Dulce Jesús Mio
Dulce Jesus Mio is a typical fonda club, which is to say it's a caricature of the regular bars found in rural pueblos.
During the weekends, the cover charge is around 15,000 pesos ($5). If you're a guy, they may not let you in unless a woman accompanies you.
Patio del Tango
Patio del Tango (patiodeltango.com) is one of the city's few remaining milongas (tango bars) and a great place to grab dinner and a show on the weekends.
There's no cover charge, but they have a minimum for food and drinks per person (around $15).
Sixttina
Located on the seventh floor of the Rio Sur mall, Sixttina plays crossover music and often hosts live shows with top reggaeton singers.
The cover is 20,000 pesos ($6), but for just 5,000 pesos more, your ticket is also good for the adjacent Kukaramakara club, which features live music.
Son Havana
Son Havana is one of the best salsa bars in the city. Go on Thursdays and Saturdays for live music. Entry is between 5,000 and 10,000 pesos ($1.50-3).
Discover Nearby Pueblos
Traveling to Medellín isn't complete without a visit to at least one or two pueblos.
These small towns offer middle- to upper-income Colombians the chance to escape the city's noise and craziness every weekend.
Many locals own or rent fincas (country homes) in pueblos and the surrounding countryside.
Guatape is a colorful pueblo located about two hours by bus from Medellín.
It can easily be visited as a long day trip, either independently (it's safe) or as part of an organized tour. A one-way bus ticket costs about 12,000 pesos ($4).
Guatape is on the edge of a lake, and it's possible to take tours of the surrounding area by speedboat or party boat.
You'll see more with the former, including the remains of one of Pablo Escobar's old homes.
A 15-minute rickshaw ride from Guatape is El Peñol, a granite monolith with over 700 concrete stairs etched in its side.
For a few thousand pesos (a few dollars), visitors can climb to the top for breathtaking 360-degree views of the region. Rock climbing is also an option if you prefer a challenge.
Santa Fe de Antioquia became the first capital of the department of Antioquia back in 1584.
Santa Fe can be reached within an hour by bus, and due to its lower elevation, it's noticeably warmer.
And as if this list isn't long enough to keep you busy, there are a dozen or so festivals in Medellín each year, celebrating everything from Christmas lights and flowers to salsa, tango, jazz, and poetry.
Backpackers and budget travelers who take advantage of the local transport, eat like a local, and don't go overboard with their partying can experience the city for as little as $40 a day.
Add a few nicer restaurants, salsa lessons, or a tour or two, and budgets should be increased to $55-60 a day.
***
Medellín lacks prominent landmarks as you'll find in Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, but spend a little time here, and you may find the spring weather, mountain views, friendly locals, and relaxed pace of life hard to leave.
Combined with the low cost of travel and living, it's no wonder that more and more foreigners are deciding not only to travel to Medellín but also to live and retire here.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
