The Ultimate Medellin Travel Guide: Useful tips, Seasons, Food, Tours and More

More than just a certified tour guide, I am a passionate and proud local to Medellin. My name is Pablo and I have been a tour guide in my city for the last 12 and I want to write this Ultimate Medellin Travel Guide to make it easy for travelers to explore and maximize their time in my city.

I’ve divided by sections with hyperlinks to make it easy to navigate.

I have also included a section about Real City Tours, the company through which we want to maximize the experience of any travelerl

Medellin Travel Guide: Table Of Contents

1. Weather
2. How to move around
3. Where to stay
4. What to do
5. City Events
6. Survival Tips
7. Food
8. Real City Tours
9. Art and Culture in Medellin
10. Sports in Medellin
11. Nightlife
12. Outdoors
13. Nearby Towns (Pueblos)

Medellin Travel Guide: Weather

Medellin has definitely a pleasant weather all year-round. No matter which month you visit us, the temperature won be below 16°C nor higher than 30°C (60°F-82°F). However, we do have seasons: 

1. Rainy Seasons: From April to June and from October to December (in theory).  Rainy season means that the mornings will be lovely, and at 1pm-2pm we’ll get a huge cloud that passes through the city, and 1 hour later, everything is back to normal. That’s the rainy season.
2. Dry Seasons: From January to March, and from July to September (in theory) this is the time of the year when there are no rainy days in the entire city, creating ideal conditions for nature adventures and sightseeing in the outdoors. The nice weather at this period should make the tours of parks, plazas, and neighborhoods within the city the very best.

Read our blog Medellin Weather 101

Medellin Travel Guide: Moving Around

Short answer: By Metro and/or by Uber. Long answer: The city is blessed with an inexpensive public transportation system. There is the metro, buses, and most importantly the cable cars (Metrocables) giving those who use it, a panoramic view of the city. Uber is also available and legal. My recommendation though, is that when using Uber, choose the option “Taxi”; way more cars available, abd the price remains remains basically the same. If traveling solo, you can also choose “Uber moto”.

Medellin Travel Guide: Where to stay

Typically there are two areas where tourist stay: El Poblado and Laureles.

El Poblado, south of the city centre and on the east slope of the mountain, is where you’ll find most hostels, hotels, restaurants and nightlife. The prices are higher there, as they know their segment. If you prefer an area that feels less touristy,  yet that offers comfort I’d recommend checking-out Laureles. In Real City Tours we offer a Laureles Food Tour where the main focus is the food that we try, but we also explain and show you cools spots in the neighborhood.

Medellin Travel Guide: What to do

Heads up! You might fall in love with the city and end up staying here for months or even living here! A basic visit to Medellin, though, will usually be 3 to 5 days and most people will include most of the following:

• A free walking tour through the city centre to start with. That’s my main tour! We can meet there!
• A visit to Comuna 13 (It can be very touristy, very).
• A day trip to Guatapé
• If the football seaon is on, then do not miss going to a football game in the city. The atmosphere is amazing!
• Enjoying the nightlife and the fine dining in El Poblado.
• Taking a tour of your preference: Coffee Tours, Food Tour, Exotic Fruits, E-bike tour, or even a respectful Pablo Escobar Tour

Medellin Travel Guide: City Events

Medellin has a vibrant convention center with weekly events, and it’s also becoming an exciting place for concerts. However, I just want to focus on this Medellin travel guide on the two main city events that might be relevant for a tourists:

1. The Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival): Held every August, this event becomes the largest and brightest celebration for Medellín: a week’s program of parades, music, concerts, and exhibitions, celebrating the culture and beauty of flowers in the city. So don’t miss out if you are in Medellín in August.
2. Christmas: Medellin becomes somewhat of a tropical fairy tale during the Christmas season. From the end of November to early January, the city becomes alive with millions of Christmas lights, especially in places like Parques Del Río. It is a great time to take part in all kinds of street performances and local enthusiasm. Every year we create a guide for the christmas lights.

Medellin Travel Guide: Survival Tips

Before spoiling yourself in the city´s charms you may want to prepare some survival tips for navigating the city:

1. Tipping: Tipping in Colombia is not obligatory but valued for the good service -usually in a restaurant, it is customary to leave 10% of the bill in case service is not included. Taxi rides round the fare up quite a bit. And, of course, if you’re on a walking tour or using services like a guide, they will accept an extra tip. This is our details guide to Tipping in Colombia
2. Safety Tips: Medellin has improved a lot in safety for travelers over the past decades, but like all the big cities, it is wise to be aware of one’s environment. Walking alone and drunk at night is a bad idea,  order your transportation through an app instead. If you are a man, look after your cell-phone in crowded areas (Insider tip: The front pocket of your pants is not a safe place when in the Metro). If it makes you feel safer, you can buy a cheap travel insurance, check this one out.
3. Airports: Medellín has two airports: José María Córdova International Airport (MDE), located in Rionegro, about 45 minutes from the city center, and Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH) for domestic flights. Most international travelers will be landing at José María Córdova, where there are buses and taxis for transportation to the city. This is our How-To-Guide to Medellin’s Airport
4. Metro System: The metro system in Medellin is among the most modern and efficient in Latin America. There are 2 main lines that connect deferent areas in the city like El Poblado, Comuna 13, and the city centre. In the rush our, look after your phone. This is our guide to use the metro

Medellin Travel Guide: Food

There is a huge variety of traditional Colombian dishes with international flavors found in the Medellín culinary scene. If you are a meat lover or vegan, Medellín has something for you.

1. Colombian Classics: If you are in Colombia, you should not forget to try bandeja paisa, the typical national dish. A classic dish of Colombia is also arepas or cornmeal cake prepared with a variety of toppings. They really bring you to the local culture and flavors of the region. This is our top 5 of Colombian food to try
2. Food on the Streets: Get ready to enjoy empanadas, pandebonos (cheese bread), hot dogs, arepas or chorizos. Street food is super affordable and a great way to experience local vibes within the city.
3. Fine Dining: Medellin is catching up with a growing upscale dining scene for guests who want to pamper themselves with fine dining. Gourmet restaurants like El Cielo and Cabra Andaluz are famous for flaunting their hybrids of international flavors with local ingredients. Check out this list.
4. Exotic Fruits: The land of exotic fruits has over a hundred varieties in all of Colombia. Make sure not to miss out on tasting lulo, guanabana, and maracuyá (passion fruit). Our Exotic Fruits Tour gives you the opportunity to taste these unusual fruits and more.
5. Veggie and Vegan: In Medellin, there is a growing number of such types of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Café Zorba and Veg Station sells plant-based wonders. (Read: Best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Medellin)
6. Kosher & Halal: There are not many options in Medellin for kosher, halal diners, such as Shalom, a kosher restaurant, and Bismillah, which serves halal food.

BONUS: Don’t miss this Guide of Restaurants in Medellin

Real City Tours

Real City Tours presents you with some genuinely unique experiences that will enable you to feel and comprehend Medellín in a completely new way. And, of course, we couldn’t leave this out of our Medellín travel guide!

1. Free Walking Tour: The signature Free Walking Tour gives the information about the whole city, shedding light on its past, culture, and social transformation; this is the best way to start in Medellín. Free Walking Tour.
2. Exotic Fruits Tour: Another adventure is visiting the Local Markets of Medellín, where sprinkling Colombian exotic fruits like lulo, maracuya, and guanabana would be the experienced. Exotic Fruits Tour.
3. Local Food Tour: Local Food Tour is all about tasting Medellín’s rich culinary culture where traditional dishes such as salpicon, arepas, empanadas, and typical food staples can be found. Local Food Tour.
4. Barrio (Neighborhood) Transformation Tour: Transformation of the city has its best examples in the neighborhoods. The Barrio Transformation Tour explains how Moravia and several other neighborhoods have transitioned from violence to hope through art, culture, and social innovation. Barrio Transformation Tour.

Medellin travel guide: Art and Culture in Medellin

Indeed, Medellín boasts a very rich cultural scene where the history of the city and its present artistic expressions are seen. In visual arts, literature, or cinema, Medellín has a good number of cultural offerings available.

1. Museums

Medellín has some of the most wonderful and significant museums from the country’s representative history, culture, and art. This includes:

Museo de Antioquia: Placed in the midst of the city, it has one of the largest collections of Colombian art, especially works by one of Colombia’s major artists, Fernando Botero.

Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín (MAMM): A museum for modern art featuring Colombian and international artists.

Casa de la Memoria: An excellent museum devoted to the victims of violence in Colombia, emphasizing the long troubled past of this country.

Reed more at: The 6 best museums in Medellin

2. Fernando Botero

Larger-than-life sculptures consider by some the hallmark of Colombian art, and the city of Medellín is proud to show several of these famous art works. A good opportunity to view many of the Botero sculptures for free is the Plaza Botero- one of the most famous public places in town. His paintings are also found within the Museo de Antioquia.

3. Pedro Nel Gómez

Pedro Nel Gómez, famous Colombian muralist. His work isn’t hard to find around in many spots of the city, especially in Pueblito Paisa. His murals usually explore the themes of Colombian history and indigenous cultures.

4. Cinema

Medellín is another one of those cities having a lively culture of films, it has lots of festivals as well as several cinemas to showcase local and international filmmakers. Cine Colombia, Cinemark and Procinal are perfect for catching the latest titles. Don’t miss Festival Internacional de Cine de Medellín, where everything is all about local talent and Latin American cinema. Insiders guide to movie theaters in Medellin.

5. Books.

Medellín is indeed a city of books; the most significant event is La Feria del Libro de Medellín, which is celebrated annually (usually in September). It is a time for book enthusiasts to consume the literary worlds of different Colombian authors and participate in conferences and workshops as well. Medellín also has many bookstores, such as Librería Nacional and La Casa del Libro. Reading list 20 books we recommend about Colombia and Medellin.

Medellin travel guide: Sports in Medellin

The city promises to offer something for the very traditional viewer of a sport or someone looking for something more interactive.

1. Football

The soul of the sport in Medellín is football. Medellín has two main football teams:

Atlético Nacional (NAL): One of Colombia’s record-holding teams, pride at its highest for Medellín. Their venue is Estadio Atanasio Girardot-and that’s where you should go on match days.

Independiente Medellín (DIM): ‘El Poderoso de la Montaña’ has a large fan base. The rivalry between that of Atlético Nacional and DIM electrifies the derby matches.

5 tips football game Medellin.

2. Top Sports Venues in Medellin

Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot: Includes several venues: Estadio Atanasio Girardot (football), Coliseo Iván de Bedout (indoor sports), Velódromo de Medellín (cycling), Complejo Acuático (swimming), and Estadio de Atletismo (track and field).

Estadio Polideportivo Sur: Located in Envigado, this multi-purpose stadium is mainly used for football and athletics and is home to Envigado FC.

Coliseo Ivan de Bedout: The largest indoor venue in Medellin built basically for basketball, seating about 5,000 people.

Centro Deportivo de Tenis de Medellín: A tennis center known nationally and internationally and is the venue for many national and international tournaments, including some ATP Challenger events.

Parque El Salado: A public park with soccer, basketball, and volleyball facilities where people carry out recreational sports and community events.

Club Campestre de Medellín : A prestigious club that serves its members with golf, tennis, swimming, and equestrian sports.

Parque Norte: A broad public green area equipped with sports facilities for soccer, basketball, and roller skating, very often used for local tournaments and recreational activities.

Medellin travel guide: Nightlife and Bars in Medellín

Medellín really does have a rich nightlife; from salsa clubs, right up into some of the most well-known cocktail lounges, there is something for everyone. Whether you are enjoying some live music or shaking it out on a dance floor, or just enjoying a drink with a view, Medellín is not going to let you down.

Medellín holds a long tradition of live music: salsa, reggaeton, rock, or electronic, there is always some venue with live performances. Famous live music spots are La Pascasia for intimate occasions and El Eslabón Prendido for salsa lovers. Top 10 live music places in Medellin.

Breweries will be great for individuals who are fond of local craft brewing. You can also visit 3 Cordilleras and 20 Mission , where you can enjoy a cold beer and learn about the brewing process.

Everyone knows that Medellín has a great salsa scene: no one needs to get out of town to find somewhere to dance the night away; simply go to Son Havana or La Casa de la Salsa. Here, you can see both amateurs and professional dancers making a show of their talents. Top 5 best salsa bars

If you enjoy Techno & Electronic music, Medellín offers a various places for techno and house sounds. Such clubs as Salon Amador or Mad Radio in Provenza are popular because of the lively electronic music atmosphere present within them. 10 best techno clubs in Medellin.

Provenza in El Poblado offers trendy bars, restaurants, and clubs. Laureles, however, has that laid-back feel about it with much local restaurants and cafe selection. Simply put, both areas are fabulous for soaking up the atmosphere of Medellin at night. Best bars in Laureles.

Sports Bars: Medellin has multiple sports bars where you can watch your favorite game, such as The Beer Station and La Bodega, where they show international matches while you enjoy a drink or snack. Top 5 sports bars in Medellin.

Medellin Travel Guide: Outdoor activities near Medellin.

Live the adventure and nature of Medellin’s outdoors.

– Riding ATVs: Live the terrain of the rugged mountains on an ATV ride. Experience scenic trails tours through beautiful landscapes and into small rural villages. Book here!

– Paragliding: Have a thrilling adventure and the best view of Medellin’s landscape: go paragliding. Book here!

– Trekking: The mountains surrounding Medellin offer excellent opportunities for trekking at all levels. Famous trekking points include Cerro Nutibara and Cerro El Volador.

– Moto Rentals: Rent a motorcycle to pleasantly get to know Medellin and its surroundings by yourself. Great way to ‘escape’ from daily lives. Rent a Motorbike!

Medellin Travel Guide: Nearby Towns (Pueblos) for Day Trips

Medellín has many nearby charming towns, excellent destinations for day visit. Some of them are listed below as popular destinations:

1. Jardin: Renowned mainly for its bright colonial structures and magnificent landscapes, this is a sweet town little over a few hours from Medellín. Jardin Colombia, ultimate travel guide.
2. San Rafael: This is a town with abundant natural beauty, such as waterfalls, hot springs, and rivers. San Rafael Colombia, Natural haven.
3. Santa Fe de Antioquia: This is a colonial town with cobblestones and old buildings, evoking in you a chilled atmosphere.
4. Guatape: Known for its famous vibrant and colorful town square and the gigantic Peñol rock, which gives wonderful views overlooking the surrounding lakes. How to visit Guatape.
5. Doradal (Hacienda Napoles): a historic theme park built originally by Pablo Escobar and now a wildlife park with animals such as giraffes, zebras, and ostrich.
6. Salento: Salento is located in the Coffee Triangle and offers lush landscapes, coffee farms, and the incredible Cocora Valley, the home of the exceedingly tall wax palms.

Other Cities to Explore in Colombia

1. Bogotá: The capital city of Colombia, known for its museums, historical places, and cool climate. Visit the Gold Museum and historic La Candelaria Neighborhood and beyond.
2. Santa Marta: This beautiful city located at the Caribbean coast of Colombia is a gateway to Tayrona National Park and Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) trek.
3. Cartagena: Known for the best-preserved colonial architecture, Cartagena is a beautiful coastal city with a rich cultural scene.
4. Cali: Known worldwide as the salsa capital, this city has an active nightlife and plenty of cultural activities.
5. La Guajira: A hidden, beautiful place in the northernmost area of Colombia, famous for its deserts, indigenous cultures, and beaches.
6. Amazonas: This dynamic region of Colombia’s Amazon rainforest is the site of numerous adventurous pursuits within nature, all found in one of the most biodiverse regions on earth.

We hope this Medellín Travel Guide helps you plan your trip to our city and country. If you have any questions or would like to ask us something, don’t hesitate to contact us.