Medellín completely surprised us in the best way. Once known for its troubled past, this city has transformed into one of the most vibrant, creative, and exciting places we’ve visited in South America. Surrounded by lush green mountains and full of energy, it’s a city that instantly pulls you in.
Things We Loved in Medellín:
Comuna 13 –This was cool to hear the history, which is not about Pablo Escobar but it was overrun by tackyness tbh so not sure it it was worth it. Wt was nice though walking through the colourful streets, riding the outdoor escalators, and learning about the area’s transformation through street art.
El Poblado & Laureles – We loved staying in El Poblado for its cafés, restaurants, and nightlife, while Laureles felt more local and relaxed — perfect for slow mornings and walks.
Cable Cars (Metrocable) – Riding the cable cars over the city gave us incredible views and showed just how innovative Medellín is when it comes to urban design.
Plaza Botero – Seeing Fernando Botero’s famous sculptures in the heart of the city was such a unique cultural experience.(but be careful it can be very dangerous)
Clubs, amazing night light in Medllien but be careful a night because it can get dangerous its better to just call ubers at night time.
Food & Coffee Scene – From specialty coffee shops to rooftop bars and amazing Colombian food, Medellín’s food scene seriously impressed us.
Best Hotel:
Blink Hostel, this is always a Spanish school which we did for 1 week it was incredibly helpful on our time in south american and would highly recommend, before going we only did duolingo and even in a week our Spanish elevated so much.
https://blinkspanish.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22638895431&gbraid=0AAAAADMcu7ooUmT8ai6xXz0q7kPflh-qi&gclid=CjwKCAiAs4HMBhBJEiwACrfNZSlRRm0eCXsmsVaWx2HQICrsIDfcKwICfjATjbAvxIT3KqLQktacFxoCL6IQAvD_BwE
Tips for Visiting:
Best time: December to March for drier weather, though it’s known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for a reason — the climate is great year-round.
Getting around: Only catch ubers, taxi will rip you off or worse could hold you hostage (we've heard horror stories)
Essentials: Light layers, comfortable walking shoes, and a good camera — the city is incredibly photogenic.
Medellín is the perfect mix of culture, history, innovation, and fun. Between the colourful neighbourhoods, mountain views, and buzzing café scene, it’s a city that completely changes your perspective and stays with you long after you leave.
