Is Medellin worth visiting?
Is Medellin worth visiting?
As one of the most popular cities you can visit in Colombia, Medellin has pretty much everything going for it.
From its lively plazas and upscale districts to day trips to both incredible (and bizarre) attractions, many travelers find themselves coming back to Medellin more than once!
In this article we’ll list the seven best reasons to visit Medellin, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Medellin worth visiting?
Quick answer: Medellin in our opinion (and especially Dan’s) is a must-visit when visiting Colombia. Although it can feel quite touristy in certain parts nowadays, given the recent ramp-up in popularity, Medellin still has its flair of authentic culture.
Just go and read all about Dan’s experience when backpacking Medellin to learn more.
You can visit several museums such as the Museo Casa de la Memoria to learn about the city’s war-torn past, as well as enjoying the vibrant atmosphere in El Poblado.
Medellin also has several great areas to get out of the city bustle and into nature. Parque Arví can easily be accessed using the gondola, where you can enjoy lots of wildlife as well as some great views over the city.
The Jardín Botánico is also a really underrated gem too for slowing things down and if you are staying in El Poblado you can easily access these peaceful gardens via metro.
The Antioquia region (which Medellin is located within) is also home to a variety of memorable day trips. Travelers can head to Piedra de Peñol to climb a giant monolithic rock, or walk around the town of Guatapé which is one of the most charming in this country.
We believe that bolting Medellin onto any trip to Colombia is a must, and for that reason we’ve added it to our 10 day backpacking itinerary through Colombia without hesitation.
Where is Medellin?
As already mentioned, Medellin is located within the region of Antioquia, which is in central Colombia.
Situated on the foothills of the Andes, here we can find many beautiful mountainous landscapes as well as a unique microclimate too.
The closest major destination to Medellin is Manizales, which is a popular town for coffee-lovers located some 200km south. The bus takes roughly 5 hours to arrive, whilst you can also fly between them in just 40 minutes.
How far is Medellin from Bogotá?
The majority of travelers will first head to Bogotá by flight when arriving into Colombia. Once you’ve finished seeing the capital, now comes the time of making your way to Medellin.
Located 415 km north of Bogotá, the most popular (and cost-efficient) way for travelers to reach Medellin is by bus. It takes roughly 9/10 hours, and costs just $25 for a one-way ticket.
If you’re strapped for time or prefer a more luxurious way of traveling, then you can also fly to Medellin from Bogotá. There are dozens of daily flights (usually Avianca), which takes just an hour to arrive. A one-way flight ticket usually costs around $35-45 (without baggage).
Got Travel Insurance for Medellin?
7 Reasons to Visit Medellin
Are you still wondering if Medellin is really worth the visit? Here’s 7 awesome reasons why you should head to this popular Colombian city.
1. Enjoy the Cooler Climate
Traveling around Colombia has many positives, usually with the hot weather being a major draw to coming here.
However after a while of walking around (especially in Cali or Santa Marta) you may be ready for a more comfortable base temperature.
Medellin is perfect for this with its “eternal spring” weather, where you won’t be overheating every 15 minutes. Daily averages range from 69-70°, and the semi-frequent rains also keep things from getting too dry.
This means that you can easily walk around the city whilst staying physically comfortable, regardless of when in the year you’ll be visiting.
Even better is exploring Medellin on this bike tour, where you’ll learn about the city’s highlights whilst also having local food and drink tastings included.
2. Learn about Medellin’s Real Past
“Narco tourism” is definitely on the rise nowadays thanks to a few different series, however these tend to paint a very untrue and unrealistic picture of Colombia.
This is very much the case in Medellin, where tourists tend to flock in masses on tours around the city which only give the popular Narcos drug speech (which was the case for those who headed on Popeye’s infamous tour before he passed away).
If are concerned about safety in Medellin but you really want to learn about what happened here, then it’s much better to head to the Casa de la Memoria.
Located along the Parque Bicentenario, here we can learn the true stories from victims and the families of those who were affected.
We highly recommend visiting this museum on your first day in Medellin if possible, as it will give you a much better perspective of the city before visiting other gems.
3. Head to Guatapé
A visit to Medellin is much more than just seeing the city, and the surrounding Antioquia region is full of incredible gems that you can visit.
One of the timeless-best has to be Guatapé, which is a small town nestled within the mountains (the distance is around 81 km which takes roughly 2 hours to get to).
Known for its charming atmosphere, here you walk up and down the cobblestone streets whilst seeing some breathtaking architecture and memorable designs.
Many of the houses here are laden with all kinds of murals, and you can honestly spend hours taking photos of all the different designs.
Heading to Guatapé by yourself is great as you can use public buses, however an even better idea is heading on this highly-rated day tour where your professional guide will show you the very best spots, which also includes all transport as well as breakfast and lunch. You’ll also visit the Piedra del Peñol on the way too.
4. Take the Gondola up to Parque Arví
As we mentioned before, Medellin has a really nice climate and atmosphere.
And if you love heading outdoors then you can do one even better which is heading up to Parque Arví.
Nestled on top of a mountain within Medellin, this massive green space is perfect for getting away from the noise and bustle of the city.
As well as enjoying the views from above, there’s also numerous hiking paths for those who want to really get out into nature.
There’s also various cafes at the top in case you want lunch or to grab a few extra drinks. To get to Parque Arví you’ll first need to take the metro until you reach the Acevedo station on Line A.
From here you’ll transfer on Line K until you reach the Santo Domingo station, before taking the gondola up the hill.
If you only have let’s say 3 days to spend in Medellin for example, we highly recommend that you prioritize a trip to Parque Arví as soon as you arrive here.
5. Explore the Museo de Antioquia
Over 100 years old, this museum is arguably one of the very best for learning about Medellin’s rich history (as well as that of the region of Antioquia).
Here we can first learn about the pre-Columbian phase of this region, through various collections of arts and artifacts.
However it’s most known for its abundance of colonial art, which features numerous pieces from famous artists such as Pedro Nel Gómez and Fernando Botero.
Overall we can find over 5000 pieces here, which makes it a great way of exploring a different side of Medellin that most tourists don’t get to see.
The Museo de Antioquia is located right next to the Plaza Botero within San Benito, and you can easily take the main Metro line to get here.
6. Climb the Piedra del Peñol
By far one of the most-visited of all gems in Medellin, it would be a sin to not visit the Piedra del Peñol during your visit to the city.
Located a couple hours outside, this site is essentially a massive monolith rock that really has no place being there. Surrounded by lakes and flat topography, it’s still a mystery as to why it’s even here.
You can even head up to the top of this rock, where you’ll need to climb 650 stairs to the summit (it can be somewhat tiring so be sure to take frequent breaks and drink lots of water).
At the top you’ll have some really memorable views of the surrounding lakes, as well as a restaurant on top for having lunch or dinner.
We highly recommend joining this day tour where you can climb to the top, as well as have a boat ride around the surrounding lakes. You’ll also get to walk around the charming village of Guatapé too.
7. Visit Comuna 13
Arguably the most famous barrio in Medellin (after El Poblado, of course) is Comuna 13. Its real name is actually San Javier, however it’s better-known by this name following the events that unfolded here.
Between the 1980s and early 2000’s, this small district was a key area used by Pablo Escobar’s drug cartel, and there were often mass shootings and other related activities taking place here.
Whilst much safer nowadays, you’ll still need to head with an organized tour when exploring here. As well as learning about the history, you’ll also get to see many cool murals when taking the gondola up, as well as when walking around the mazing streets.
Again, we recommend doing this first (along with the Casa de la Memoria) if possible, given you’ll have a better perspective of Medellin before exploring around.
Is Medellin worth visiting?
Thanks for reading our guide that looks at why Medellin is your visiting.
A staple on any trip through Colombia, Medellin has lots going for it. Here you can enjoy both a safe and thriving city, where you can also learn more about its turbulent past.
There’s also some really memorable day trips to take here too, so it’s worth spending a little longer in Medellin to really make the most of the surrounding Antioquia region.
While you’re still here, be sure to take a quick look at our Backpacking Colombia Itinerary for more great ideas on where to go in this diverse South American nation.
📌 Click/tap to pin this guide…
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
“Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
