Colombia Complete Travel Guide
Medellin, the city that is known as dangerous, with gangs, drug lords and the infamous Pablo Escobar. Now in 2024 it’s an actual fun place to visit. Is it completely safe? No, of course you have to be very careful with your belongings. But this isn’t any different than any other big city.
Where to stay in Medellin
El Pobablado is the most popular area where all the tourists stay. It’s the most expensive, but also the safest neighborhood. I booked a wonderful Airbnb in the quiet part of El Poblado. From here the metro station was only a 10 minute walk in a very upscale area.
How to get to El Poblado from the airport
Stepping outside the terminal, there is a shuttle bus going to San Diego Mall and ending at Nutibara Hotel in El Centro. The shuttle bus, operated by Combuses, is clearly signed and is only 15.500 COP. I hopped out at San Diego Mall and ordered an Uber from there. Instead of taking a taxi immediately from the airport, this is such an easy and cost efficient way. The shuttle bus leaves every 20 minutes and takes the exact same route to the city as all the taxis.
What to do in Medellin
El Poblado
In El Poblado there are many restaurants and bars, especially around the area of Parque Lleras. I kind of felt like I personally wasn’t hip and trendy enough for this place though.
Walking through the streets of El Poblado
Comuna 13
Take a graffiti tour through Comuna 13 with Guruwalk. They offer free walking tours, a tip is expected at the end though.
One of the many murals in Comuna 13
Comuna 13 used to be one of the most dangerous areas in Medellin, with multiple gangs running the streets. The guide told me it was never safe to go outside, bullets were always flying around. And with turf wars on the streets, he had to take a 40 minute detour walking to his school. The area has only been safe for a few years. A peace treaty was signed in 2016 between the Colombian government and the FARC.
Nowadays it’s a lively neighborhood. It has gone through a massive transformation in recent years. The escalators make the area more accessible for both locals and tourists. The streets are covered in murals and streets vendors selling their items. And since the tourists first came here, the locals suspected it must be good too.
Panoramic view on top of the escalators in Comuna 13
Bike tour
Green Bike Tours Medellin offer 4 hour bike tours around the city. The great advantage of a bike tour is that you cover a big area of the city. You can take the tour with either a regular or an electric bike. I felt a bit lazy and opted for the e-bike, but the regular one would have been totally fine too. All the equipment is in good shape, the guides are very knowledgeable, and it’s just a fun way of exploring Medellin. At the end of the tour we all went out with the guides for a couple of more drinks too and one of the guides even gave me his company t-shirt 🙂
Riding a bike in Medellin
Pueblito Paisa
On top of a hill in the heart of Medellin is Pueblito Paisa, a life-size replica of a traditional village in Antioquia. Colorful houses, a square that always consist of a church and a fountain. It’s a quaint little spot to make a stop and get a sense of a small Colombian town while staying in the city. The bike tour passes by this place too.
Pueblito Paisa
Plaza Botero
This park in the historic center is filled with 23 distinctive sculptures, donated by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The bronze statues display voluptuousness and exaggerated volume, meaning chunky size men, women, cats and whatnot.
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Ride the cable car
The cable cars are part of the Medellin metro system. Once you enter you pay a flat fee and can use the metro and cable cars unlimited. It’s only when you exit the station and reenter, you’ll have to pay the same fare. The locals use the cable cars as a form of transportation, to reach the uphill parts of the city. But it also allows for a panoramic view of Medellin.
On top of Line K at the cable car station Santa Domingo
Take a daytrip to Guatapé
A visit to Medellin is not complete without doing a day trip to Guatapé. The town is a 2 hour ride from Medellin and absolutely worth the visit. Read all about how to get to Guatapé and to avoid the crowds.
Is Medellin safe?
Like every metropolitan city you have to be careful with your belongings. The Colombians have a saying “no dar papaya”, don’t give papaya, meaning: don’t put yourself in a vulnerable position where you may be taken advantage of.
Don’t wear jewelry or anything flashy. When riding the metro I kept my backpack in front of me. I placed my phone in a case with a cord around my neck, this way I could easily access it, but it couldn’t be easily taken from me. With all my precautions I felt totally fine. I effortlessly walked around all the well traveled areas, took the metro and emerged in the city.
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Je neemt me mee op die prachtige Zuid Amerika reis.Geniet van je verhalen en de mooie foto’s.