Medellín
Discover Medellín
Medellín is the second largest city in Colombia. It has 2.62 million residents (2024) and is the capital of the department of Antioquia. It's set in a valley running south to north and just a one-hour flight from Bogotá. For international travelers, Medellín is perhaps most famous for the Antioquia Museum, with its extensive collection of Botero paintings inside and Botero sculptures outside on its main plaza. The city is also known for its perfect climate with its nickname "city of the eternal spring". Let's just get it out of the way up front: throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Medellín was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world for its size, and had a highly disproportional homicide and kidnapping rate. It was the home of the drug lord Pablo Escobar and the so-called Medellín Cartel, who virtually took over the city during that time. Since his demise in the mid-1990s, the cartel was disbanded and the city rebounded tremendously. In 1991 there were 6,500 murders in the city, by 2009 the murder rate decreased to 2,900. In 2016, there were a total of 534 homicides reported in Medellín. As of 2022, there were 392 homicides, or 15 per 100,000 people. This rate is similar to the homicide rates in Denver or Dallas. So it is safe to say that the city is better off today than 20 years ago. Paisas, the residents of this region, are proud of their city's progress, and are ready to move forward with vigor.
What to Experience in Medellín
Taste of Medellín...
Colombian cuisine is varied and regional. The more typical dishes are referred to as comida criolla. Some examples are: sancocho de gallina (chicken soup), carne molida (ground beef), arepas de choclo (fresh corn tortillas), empanadas (meat-filled fried turnovers), ají (hot sauce), ajiaco (Bogota's chicken and potato soup), bandeja paisa, natilla, buñuelos (fried cheese puffs), hojuelas (fried puff squares), rice with coconut, Antioquian beans, sobrebarriga (flank steak) mantecada (bun made with lard), papas chorreadas, pandeyuca (yucca bread) and carne desmechada (shredded meat). A typical breakfast in Medellín consists of baked corn arepas (Flat unsweetened corn pancake) topped with butter and fresh white cheese, coffee or hot chocolate. One treat that will leave anyone stuffed is the "Tipico Antioqueño"; arepa con queso (small flatbreads with cheese on top), beans, chicken, rice, fried eggs, chicharron (salted and fried unsmoked bacon) and patacon (deep-fried plantain pancakes). Topping that off with a Colombian beer and a cup of "chocolatte" (pronounced the Spanish way - it's milky, sweet hot chocolate) makes for an excellent meal. An excellent place to eat typical food is Hatoviejo. There is a large variety of restaurants all throughout Medellín, especially concentrated around the ‘Zona Rosa’ which is in Poblado between Parque Poblado and Parque Lleras.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Medellín into what it is today.
Let's just get it out of the way up front: throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Medellín was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world for its size, and had a highly disproportional homicide and kidnapping rate. It was the home of the drug lord Pablo Escobar and the so-called Medellín Cartel, who virtually took over the city during that time. Since his demise in the mid-1990s, the cartel was disbanded and the city rebounded tremendously. In 1991 there were 6,500 murders in the city, by 2009 the murder rate decreased to 2,900. In 2016, there were a total of 534 homicides reported in Medellín. As of 2022, there were 392 homicides, or 15 per 100,000 people. This rate is similar to the homicide rates in Denver or Dallas. So it is safe to say that the city is better off today than 20 years ago. Paisas, the residents of this region, are proud of their city's progress, and are ready to move forward with vigor. Medellín is a vast city built north to south in the Aburrá valley and surrounded on either side by majestic mountain ranges. The wealthier classes live in the well-protected hillside neighborhood of El Poblado, and the more traditional suburban neighborhoods, Laureles and Envigado. This is far removed from the action and commotion which are found in the city's center. There are the busy markets and a thriving street life that make up much of the city's charm....
Climate
The weather in Medellín is quite mild it well deserves its common motto of 'City of eternal spring'. Average daily temperatures are 22°C (71°F), range from 15 to 30 °C (60º-85°F). Humidity is comfortable in the 50%-70% range. Due to its proximity with the equator there is little variation with the seasons. Due to the high altitude and moderate overcast skies Medellín stays cool, with an occasional couple hours of strong sun light. As Medellín is located in a tropical country, the absence of air conditioners in Medellín often takes foreign visitors by surprise. Air conditioning is used in downtown areas. Fresh air comes from the mountains surrounding Medellín on all sides, and provides Medellín with the perfect climate. At night time the temperature is usually in the 10-15°C (50-60°F) range, and depends mostly on if its raining or not. The majority of restaurants are in open air environment, without walls, because of the perfect climate. Spanish is the official language in Colombia.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsFor international flights, the fare can be way lower when arriving in Bogota or Cali and then taking a separate flight to Medellin. Combuses runs buses that cost COP$20,000 (2026). They depart in front of the airport building on the same floor of arrivals. Buses take around an hour to downtown Medellín, and depart roughly every 15 mins at any time of day or night. The final stop is near the metro station "Exposiciones". Depending on where you are going in the city, it can be up to 2 hours to your destination. At the Medellin MDE airport there are taxis that can take you down to the city for a set price of COP$118,000 (2026), taking around 45 minutes. Medellín has two bus terminals (North and South) managed by the same company and share a single website. Both terminals have mid-size shopping malls in the premises. For a complete list of the cities check the webpage. There are four roads leading to Medellín from all cardinal points....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Uber and Cabify serve the city. Rideshare apps are officially illegal in the country but appear to be widely used. However, some drivers may be reluctant to travel to places where they may be harassed by police (e.g. bus stations, major tourist areas, the airport terminal). Moovit and Google Maps find you a way through the city. Moovit has more local bus lines included. Traveling through the city is easy and quick, with the two line Metro system, The Metroplús (Bus extension to the Metro), Tranvía (Tram system) and the six-line Metrocable, a sky train or cable car that has revolutionized transport in the city. Transfers between the Metro trains and cables are free, but you need to pay additional fare to transfer to MetroPlus bus and Tranvía tram. Tarjeta Cívica is a reloadable payment card. It is worth getting one as not all metro stations have service points for paying in cash and as around half of city buses require the card.
Where to Stay
Most of the inexpensive hotels in Medellín are in El Centro. Although the area is vibrant at day, going out at night is dangerous and should be avoided. These are middle-class, safe and quiet neighborhoods just west of the river (west of downtown) with many bars, restaurants, shops and clubs along Carrera 70. This is probably the most desirable neighborhood to stay in. However, it is also the most expensive. The higher-end bars, restaurants, and clubs are all located in this area. High-end supermarkets (Pomona, Carulla and Exito) are nearby, as well as shopping malls, open Wi-Fi networks, and a few Juan Valdez coffee shops. Clothing is usually casual but shorts or Bermuda pants are unusual on weekdays. Only young locals will wear them on weekends. Sweaters and jackets are usually not necessary at daytime, occasionally needed at night. Refrain from joking about drugs, kidnapping or bombings.
Money & Budget
The local currency is the Colombian peso (COP$). It is strongly recommended to use the exact change on taxis, because the drivers rarely have the exact amount. US dollars and euros are rarely used, except for tourist oriented stores. Using credit and debit cards is frequent in Colombia but not prevalent as in developed countries. ATM limits: ATMs strictly limit withdrawals on foreign and domestic cards. You may only be able to get out COP$1.8 million per day, so plan to visit the ATM often or hunt around for a more relaxed limit. There are 5 major international banks with local offices, if by chance you hold a card of any of these banks your rates are usually lower (Citibank, HSBC, RBS, Santander and BBVA). The largest Colombian bank is Bancolombia with ATMs everywhere.
Language & Talk
Spanish is the official language in Colombia. Few locals are bilingual, and when so it is usually English as the second language. You will find many signs written both in Spanish and in English, especially in the more tourist areas. Disadvantaged youths in the city have assembled a wealth of new expressions that have fascinated scholars and artists. Many local movies like La Vendedora de Rosas depict this urban language called Parlache in its own idiom. Dialectologists have assembled a dictionary (Diccionario de Parlache ISBN 9589766498 by Luz Stella Castañeda Naranjo and José Ignacio Henao Salazar, Mar 2006). For international flights, the fare can be way lower when arriving in Bogota or Cali and then taking a separate flight to Medellin. Combuses runs buses that cost COP$20,000 (2026).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Medellín is generally a safe city for tourism, depending on the part of town you visit and the hours and is much safer than in previous years. In 2022, the homicide rate in Medellín was its lowest since the 1970s, at 15 per 100,000, which is a little lower than Dallas, Texas. According to the US State Department, murders have involved tourists and U.S citizens, and there remains a risk of "terrorist" actions in the urban area. Much of the violence is concentrated within the city's hillside slums and among known drug traffickers, although richer parts of town have also been afflicted by the latest surge in crime. The poorer neighborhoods in the north-east and north-west of the city should be avoided at both day and night to avoid trouble. Most of the inner city is best avoided at night, maybe excluding El Poblado.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Medellín
It’s hard to find pictures of Medellin Colombia that aren’t breathtaking. This was taken from the rooftop of a luxury penthouse in the Poblado neighbourhood in Medellin.
Designed by Plan B Architects in Medellin, the Orquideorama structure resembles a bouquet of giant wooden flowers that stretch more than fifty feet into the air forming a large canopy for patrons to enjoy. The idea behind the design was to blend architecture with the natural world so that the space would fit perfectly within its attachment to the existing Medellin Botanical Gardens. What has been achieved is truly imaginative and fitting for a place dubbed as the city of eternal spring.
Main avenue in Medellín, Colombia - Aerial view of the city
a view of a city with mountains in the background
city scraper at night time
🚨REQUIRED: Crediting the URL below for the use of photos is required! "Photo By Mike Swigunski of GlobalCareerBook.com" MUST be HyperLinked.
a statue of a man holding a ball in front of a building
A carnival float with a man dressed as a lion
On top of the big rock El Peñón de Guatapé.
Views over Medellín. Picture taken by Andreia from JFC ✈️
It’s hard to find pictures of Medellin Colombia that aren’t breathtaking. This was taken from the rooftop of a luxury penthouse in the Poblado neighbourhood in Medellin.
Designed by Plan B Architects in Medellin, the Orquideorama structure resembles a bouquet of giant wooden flowers that stretch more than fifty feet into the air forming a large canopy for patrons to enjoy. The idea behind the design was to blend architecture with the natural world so that the space would fit perfectly within its attachment to the existing Medellin Botanical Gardens. What has been achieved is truly imaginative and fitting for a place dubbed as the city of eternal spring.
Main avenue in Medellín, Colombia - Aerial view of the city