Itineraries for Your Trip to Medellín
3 Days in Medellín for First Timers
Never have I felt so welcome in a city that wasn’t my own than in Medellin. Having overcome a turbulent history and transformed from one of the world’s most dangerous cities into one of Latin America’s most dazzling, the City of Eternal Spring and its residents appreciate tourists as a sign of renaissance. This imbues Colombia’s second-biggest city with a sense of joy and friendliness.
If you’re visiting the majestic, mountain-ringed metropolis for the first time, you’re in for an absolute treat—here’s how to capture the best of Medellin’s Latin spirit over three days.
Medellin is cool and sunny all year, but prone to downpours.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Plaza Botero in Medellin’s Old Quarter for its concentration of cultural highlights.
Take metro line A to Parque Berrio, where you’ll find a culture-rich cluster of museums and outdoor sculptures in Medellin’s Old Quarter. Head straight to Plaza Botero to admire bulbous sculptures by Medellin legend Fernando Botero, before spending a few hours inside Antioquia Museum, which displays pre-Columbian and contemporary art.
In the afternoon, opt for an attraction with a difference and head to San Pedro Cemetery Museum, 20 minutes on foot from Plaza Botero. Here, you’ll find grand headstones and mausoleums of notable Colombian figures—for an extra spooky excursion, contact the graveyard directly to arrange a night tour.
Today, trace Medellin’s journey from troubled to transformed. Start with a tour that covers places of significance to Pablo Escobar—typically the roof on which he was assassinated, his headstone, and where he used to live. Even almost 20 years later, opinions on Pablo Escobar vary, and the range of tours reflect this. Some are pro Pablo, some are more neutral, but most expose the darker side of his reign.
This afternoon, rejoice in Medellin’s regeneration during a visit to Comuna 13—formerly one of the most notorious neighborhoods in Latin America. Now, the colorful hillside barrio is awash with vibrant street art and connected to the rest of the city via electric escalators.
No visit to Medellin is complete without a trip to the pueblo of Guatapé, one Colombia's most Instagrammable places. As well as exploring the picture-perfect town filled with bright buildings and murals, you can also climb 742 steps to the summit of El Peño to take in sprawling vistas of green islands and turquoise water.
Chic and sleek, the hipster neighborhood of El Poblano is the epicenter of Medellin’s culture and dining scene. Spend your final evening dancing salsa and sipping cocktails on a rooftop terrace overlooking the city—local favorites include Envy Rooftop and La Deriva.
