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- Ultimate Medellín Travel Guide (2025) – Best Places to Visit, Safety, and Where to Stay
Ultimate Medellín Travel Guide (2025) – Best Places to Visit, Safety, and Where to Stay
CT Dool
March 04, 2025 • Read Time: 14 minutes
Medellín, the "City of Eternal Spring," is no longer a secret.
Transforming from a turbulent past into one of South America’s most dynamic travel destinations, it’s a heavily-traveled city.
And for good reason.
Perfect weather, lush mountains in every direction, incredibly friendly Paisas—welcome to Colombia.
Having lived in Medellín, I’m here to give you the real on the city.
I’ve lived here a while, and still, nearly daily—I’m astonished at the modernity, vibrance, and beauty of this South American city.
Whether you’re a digital nomad, adventure traveler, or cultural explorer, this guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Medellín:
Safety
Best things to do
Where to stay
And the best food spots.
This guide is part of our Colombia series—check out Bogotá, the Coffee Region, the Coast, or the Ultimate Colombia Travel Guide if you plan on visiting more than Medellín.
Table of Contents
1. Best Time to Go to Medellín
Medellín’s climate is pleasant year-round due to its location in the Andes.
It sits at the perfect mix of latitude and elevation to produce a tropical climate—palm trees and lush vegetation one would expect in a jungle—without the harsh heat.
Through many months, the sun shines daily. But—the rainy season can bring very frequent rains. So plan wisely.
Note—toss out the weather app here, it’s useless. It may show rain everyday—but the sun is still going to come out between showers.
Forecast suggests…
Meanwhile… daily…
Dry season (December–March, July–August): The best time to go to Medellín. Best for outdoor activities.
Rainy season (April–June, September–November): Expect afternoon showers, but still a good time to visit. Some of the only days I woke up with cloudy skies here were in November.
If you want to an event: Feria de las Flores (August) – Medellín's famous flower festival.
2. Is Medellín, Colombia Safe in 2025? Real Talk on Security
A common question I get is, “is Medellín safe for American tourists?”
Yes. With caution.
If you travel the right way, you’ll be good.
Keys to staying safe:
keeping a low profile
avoiding sketchy areas
not showing signs of wealth (i.e., dando papaya).
Be sure to read our Guide to Staying Safe in LatAm—seriously, it applies to Colombia probably more so than anywhere else.
Follow those rules, you will be fine.
Safest neighborhoods: El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado.
Areas to be cautious in: Downtown (Centro) Medellín, Comuna 13 after dark, outskirts of the metro.
Pro Tips: Use Uber, avoid showing valuables in public, and stay in well-lit areas at night.
That’s not to say things can’t happen anywhere—but traveling smart helps you avoid the avoidable.
I never had problems in my months living in Medellín (I did see some sketchy stuff in Bogotá though).
Drugging: Medellín is the hub of women-related drugging, robberies, and even deaths. Be sure to use extra precaution here, especially if you’re a single male.
Being approached in the street: In Medellín, it’s very common for people to approach you selling stuff or asking for money. 99.9% of the time it’s entirely non-threatening. Simply say “gracias” (a polite way to say no) and keep it moving.
If someone does want to rob you: Comply. Give them what you have—that simple. Robberies are brief transactions that are normally harmless—unless you resist. Sadly, in Colombia, weapons aren’t just for show…
3. Where to Stay in Medellín (Best Neighborhoods & Hotels)
Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Medellín for Travelers:
El Poblado – Best for luxury, nightlife, and first-time visitors.
Laureles – More local feel. Lots of foreigners in certain sections (Primer and Segundo Parques de Laureles) but very local in others (La Castellana), great for digital nomads and expats.
Envigado – Quiet, safe, and residential, further south but a quick metro ride to get anywhere quickly.
Belen – Budget-friendly with local charm. This is where I normally stay.
Best Hotels in Medellín:
Luxury: The Charlee Hotel, Hotel InterContinental Medellín.
Mid-range: Celestino Boutique Hotel, The Click Clack Hotel.
Budget: Rango Hostel Boutique, Los Patios Hostel.
4. What to Do in Medellín (Must-Visit Attractions)
The city has something for everyone.
I’ve met party-crazed travelers who stick to Parque Lleras, and easy-going cats who like the parks and cafes of Laureles.
Simply walking down the street is something to do here—great weather, lush trees, mountain views, and ever-present characters in the street.
My daily morning walk down the rio—Belen.
For nature and views: Guatapé Day Trip
For street art and history: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour
For adventure: ATV tour from Medellín
For city views: Parque Arví and the metrocable (serious views and heights)
For a great cup of coffee: Pergamino or Delmuri Cafe
For standard crazy Colombian nightlife: El Poblado, Rooftop Bars
For art: Museo de Antioquia & Plaza Botero
And for my fitness junkies looking to never skip a leg day… join the locals in a free, outdoor gym.
They’re everywhere, but the best ones are Belen Unidad Deportivo and Estadio.
Or, for a fancier gym and sauna, hit your local Bodytech.
Outside…
5. Medellín for Digital Nomads (Best Cafes & Work Spots)
Top coworking spaces: Selina, WeWork, Semilla.
Best coffee shops for working:
Pergamino (multiple locations)
Café Zeppelin (Laureles)
Rituales (Laureles)
Hija Mia (El Poblado)
Bonus hidden gem I found: Casa Nunaria (Estadio/Laureles)
Internet Speed: Generally fast. Definitely grab a local SIM (cheap—find any Claro store) too.
Cost of Living: $1,200-$1,800/month for a comfortable lifestyle.
6. Transportation & Getting Around Medellín
Metro System: Clean, affordable, and safe. Requires a Civica card—you can purchase at any station for a one-time fee.
Rideshare/Taxi: Uber and DiDi are your best bet.
Airport: The airport is far, and in an entirely different town of Rionegro. Uber and DiDi work great here as well. There is a bus for my budget-minded backpackers.
7. Best Restaurants in Medellín, Colombia
I’m going to be real with you—Colombia has a lot of things going for it… the food scene is not one.
As a foreigner, the Colombian cuisine will come off as a bit… bland. Especially if you’re coming from a diverse European or US city, or worse, from Mexico or Peru where the food is excellent.
*Colombians gearing up to fight me…*
Plus, the international food is not good in most places. Lots of disappointment here.
It’s simply the reality. Accept it, and embrace what Colombia does well…
Alright, I admit—this bandeja paisa was good (Hacienda Junín in La Candelaria).
If you’re a foodie expecting to go crazy here—I’m sorry to disappoint, it simply ain’t happening.
However…
A traditional Colombian lunch from a local mom and pop restaurant is very good, and very affordable.
Top Food Experiences:
In general, El Poblado will have the most upscale and international restaurants.
Laureles is a close contender for good food.
Colombian Cuisine:
El Cielo (Fine dining with molecular gastronomy)
Mondongo's (Traditional bandeja paisa). The bandeja paisa can be found on any street, for cheap. This one is simply nicer and huge. It’s good.
Mulata Criolla. Have a stroll through Parques Del Rio, then crush an excellent bandeja paisa (again) with some patacones to start.
Hacienda Junín in La Candelaria
And of course…
Any random lunch spot: you can’t visit Colombia without having a traditional almuerzo. They’re on every corner.
They’ll hit you with the day’s options when you walk in—typically a soup, then your entree’s protein, and fresh juice. Will run you between $3-4.International:
El Zorry y La Gitana: best pizza in Medellín? El Poblado
OCI.mde: Modern Latin cuisine, El Poblado
Carmen: Fusion dining, one of the best-rated, El Poblado
Best Cafés:
Pergamino Coffee, El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado, Ciudad Del Rio locations
Délmuri, Laureles
Hija Mia Coffee Roasters, El Poblado
Rituales Cafe, Laureles
8. Colombia Travel Itinerary: Medellín for 3, 5, and 7 Days
If you’re stopping in Medallo as part of a broader Colombia trip, or coming down to specifically explore for a week, here are some great options:
3 Days in Medellín
Day 1
Start in Laureles at one of the cafes mentioned. Sip excessive amounts of tinto (coffee) to get amped.
Walk around El Primer Parque de Laureles. Take in the beauty of Medellín’s streetside plant life.
Hit El Centro and Plaza Botero. Marvel at the sheer amount of items for sale.
Eat lots of bandeja paisa. You WILL be full—walk it off.
Day 2
Parques Del Rio during the day. Eat far too much at Mulata Criolla.
El Poblado food and drinks tour then nightlife (if that’s your thing).
Day 3
Comuna 13 mid-morning
Parque Arví (note: Arví closes at 5pm and it takes a while to get there, so plan accordingly). You can time it be on the metrocable for sunset as you descend into the city. Epic.
5 Days in Medellín
The above, plus…
Add a Guatapé day trip (an hour from Medellín) and check out Envigado.
7 Days in Medellín
All of the above, PLUS…
Add a visit to the coffee region (5 hours south of Medellín) for a coffee tour (maybe some horseriding), Salento, and hiking in Cocora.
Trust me, it’s worth checking out. Full Coffee Region guide here.
Interested in seeing more of Colombia? Our Colombia Travel Guide outlines the various regions with safety and itineraries.
Where to Next?!
Medellín is a must-visit city in South America.
Check out the other Colombia Travel Guides:
If you’re coming down—DM me on Instagram for specific questions and insights.
From its vibrant culture and food scene to its incredible safety improvements and year-round good weather, it’s an amazing destination for all types of travelers.
To your growth and travels,
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