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. Start with the murals and graffiti tours of Comuna 13, then look for the giant works of the LATIDOS route downtown and the Constelaciones macromural in Manrique for a fuller picture.
How Medellín's street art grew
When we first wrote about Medellín's graffiti in 2012, what struck us was how much good work there was, and how rarely it was tagged over. That's still true. Street art here didn't start as decoration for visitors. It came out of the city's hip-hop culture and out of hillside neighborhoods where young people used rap, breakdancing and spray paint to talk about violence, loss and pride in where they lived.
Today the city embraces it. Murals now cover walls in Comuna 13, downtown, Manrique, Belén and many other districts, and the city tourism office promotes street art routes. The mix of community-made murals, commissioned large-scale works and everyday graffiti makes Medellín a rewarding city to explore with your eyes up.
Comuna 13: the place to start
The best-known street art in Medellín is in Comuna 13, on the city's western hills. In the neighborhood of Las Independencias, the walls around the outdoor escalators and the lanes off Carrera 109 are covered in murals about memory, resistance and hope, alongside cheerful pieces of flowers, birds and children.
The art is best understood with someone from the community. Local hip-hop collectives, including Casa Kolacho, run graffiti tours that explain how the district went from the violence of the early 2000s to what you see today, and many of the guides grew up there. Our Comuna 13 guide covers how to get there, tours and tips for a respectful visit.
Downtown: the LATIDOS route
In El Centro, the city's first Bienal de Grafiti y Arte Urbano, called LATIDOS, left 7 large-format works on buildings around Junín and Parque Berrío in La Candelaria, the El Hueco shopping district around Guayaquil and the Bomboná area. Some of these pieces cover more than 1,000 square meters of wall.
The artists include Kozte, Agüd, Eskibel, Pastwo, Worm, Leo2 and Mela. The subjects are very Medellín: a shoeshiner, children playing a street game, a man in a river, and a tribute to the singer of Fértil Miseria, one of the city's long-running punk bands. The city tourism office publishes a route guide with each work's exact location, so you can walk it yourself.
Downtown is busy and chaotic, so go by day, keep your phone and bag secure and combine the route with sights like Plaza Botero, the Museo de Antioquia and the Palacio de la Cultura.
Manrique: Constelaciones
Manrique, in the northeast of the city, is one of Medellín's most musical neighborhoods, known for tango, salsa and old-style cafés along Carrera 45. It's also home to Constelaciones, a macromural that spreads color across more than 500 house facades, one of the largest artworks in the city. Close by, Casa Gardeliana keeps the neighborhood's tango tradition alive. A visit here feels far from the tourist trail, so going with a local guide or a cultural tour is a good idea.
Other places to look
- Near San Antonio. The city tourism office points to an urban art gallery by San Antonio station, where the Ayacucho tram starts.
- Belén and other neighborhoods. Murals appear across the city, often painted by and for the people who live there.
- Around Ciudad del Río. Back in 2012 we wrote about a long graffiti wall near the Museo de Arte Moderno. Walls in Medellín change constantly, so treat any specific mural as temporary.
Tips for seeing street art
- Go with a guide in the hillside neighborhoods. It's safer, you'll learn far more and the money stays local.
- Walk slowly and look up. Big works are often high on facades, under bridges or around corners.
- Ask before photographing people, and remember that many murals are on people's homes.
- Buy from the artists. In Comuna 13 especially, many artists sell prints and small works.
- Go by day. Light is better, streets are busier and it's easier to find your way.
Getting around
Comuna 13 is reached from San Javier station on metro Line B, downtown sits around Parque Berrío and San Antonio stations on Line A and the Ayacucho tram starts at San Antonio. Our getting around Medellín guide explains tickets and the Cívica card.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best street art in Medellín?
Comuna 13 is the most famous and the best place to start. Downtown's LATIDOS route and Manrique's Constelaciones mural are excellent next steps.
Do I need a tour to see Medellín's street art?
Not downtown, where you can follow the city's route guide by day. In Comuna 13 and Manrique, a local guide is strongly recommended.
What is LATIDOS?
It's the name of Medellín's first Bienal de Grafiti y Arte Urbano, which left 7 large murals on buildings in the city center.
Is graffiti legal in Medellín?
Many of the murals you'll see were painted with permission or commissioned. Don't paint anything yourself without permission.
