Comuna 13, Medellín: escalators, murals and how to visit
Things to do in Medellín
Comuna 13, also called San Javier, is a hillside district in western Medellín that went from one of the city's most violent areas in the early 2000s…
Medellín guides
Our guides to Medellín: neighborhoods, getting around, food, safety, festivals and the best day trips.
The best day trips from Medellín
Day trips from Medellín
The classic day trip from Medellín is Guatapé, where you can climb La Piedra del Peñol and take a boat on the reservoir. For a change of scene…
El Poblado, Medellín: a neighborhood guide
Medellín neighborhoods
El Poblado is the hilly, green, upscale district in southeast Medellín where most first-time visitors stay, thanks to its hotels, restaurants, cafés…
Medellín's Christmas lights: a guide to the Alumbrados
Things to do in Medellín
Every Christmas season, Medellín's public utility EPM switches on the Alumbrados, millions of lights and giant illuminated figures along the river…
Getting around Medellín: metro, Metrocable, tram, buses and taxis
Plan your Medellín trip
Medellín has excellent public transport: a clean, safe metro with 2 lines, 6 Metrocable cable car lines, a tram and rapid buses, all on one…
Guatapé and El Peñol: a day trip from Medellín
Day trips from Medellín
Guatapé is a small, colorful lakeside town about 2 hours east of Medellín, next to the giant rock of La Piedra del Peñol. In one day you can climb…
Street art in Medellín: where to see the city's murals and graffiti
Things to do in Medellín
Medellín's street art grew out of its hip-hop scene and its hillside neighborhoods, and it's now one of the best reasons to explore the city on foot.…
Is Medellín safe? An honest guide for visitors
Plan your Medellín trip
Most visits to Medellín go smoothly, and the city is far safer than its reputation from the 1980s and 1990s. But crime is still a real risk: phone…
Laureles, Medellín: a neighborhood guide
Medellín neighborhoods
Laureles is a flat, tree-lined residential district on the west side of the Medellín River, known for its curving streets, neighborhood parks, local…
Medellín weather and the best time to visit
Plan your Medellín trip
Medellín is mild all year: daytime highs are usually around 27 to 28 °C and nights around 17 to 18 °C in every month. What changes is the rain.…
Medellín travel guide: what to know before your first visit
Plan your Medellín trip
Medellín is Colombia's second city, spread along a green mountain valley at about 1,500 meters, with mild weather all year. Most visitors stay in El…
Riding Medellín's Metrocable: the lines, the views and the way to Parque Arví
Things to do in Medellín
Medellín's Metrocable is a network of 6 cable car lines that carry residents up the steep hillsides as part of the city's public transport, and…
The best things to do in Medellín
Things to do in Medellín
On a first trip to Medellín, ride the Metrocable up to Parque Arví, take a community-led tour of Comuna 13, see Botero's sculptures on Plaza Botero…
What to eat in Medellín: a guide to paisa food
Food and drink in Medellín
Start with a bandeja paisa, the big Antioquian platter of beans, rice, meats, egg, plantain, arepa and avocado, then work through arepas, a bowl of…
Where to stay in Medellín: the best neighborhoods and hotels
Where to stay in Medellín
Most first-time visitors should stay in El Poblado, ideally near Provenza or Parque Lleras, for the widest choice of restaurants, bars and hotels. If…