🌆Medellín – The City of Eternal Spring (and Endless Surprises)

Medellín is not the city you think it is. Once infamous, now innovative, it’s one of the most exciting, livable, and surprisingly chill cities in Latin America. With green hills, cable cars in the clouds, and a nightlife that hums until sunrise, Medellín is Colombia at its most vibrant.

Whether you want museums, mountaintop parks, street art tours, or just a great bandeja paisa—Medellín’s got you covered.

🏨 Where to Stay

Medellín’s neighborhoods are safe, stylish, and full of energy. Here’s where to base yourself:

• El Poblado: Best for first-timers. Trendy, walkable, packed with cafes, restaurants, and nightlife.

• Provenza: A quieter, greener slice of El Poblado. Still close to everything, but more relaxed.

• Avoid staying right on Parque Lleras—great for partying, not so much for sleeping.

📌 Recommended stays:

• Hotel Dann Carlton Belfort Medellín – Comfortable, with a pool and great service

• Rango Hostel – Digital nomad-friendly, central, social but not wild

• Viajero Hostel – Clean, reliable, and good for solo travelers

  
  

🚕 How to Get Around

• Taxi or Uber: Cheap, fast, and safe—just don’t give the address, give the place name. It will be easier to move around.

• Metro & Cable Cars: Clean, efficient, and offer epic views. Use it to reach Comuna 13, Parque Arví, or the downtown area.

• Walking: El Poblado is lush and leafy—perfect for a morning stroll or café hop.

  
  

🍛 What to Eat in Medellín

Medellín is home to Colombia’s most famous dish, so come hungry.

🍽 Bandeja Paisa

Colombia’s ultimate plate: red beans, rice, plantain, avocado, chicharrón, egg, arepa, ground beef, and chorizo.📍 Try it at: La Hacienda

🥣 Sancocho

A rich, filling soup—chicken, beef, or fish with yucca, potato, and corn.📍 Try it at: El Mezon de la 55 (there are 3 branches!)

🍦 Mango Biche Ice Cream

Found in Comuna 13: green mango, lemon, salt, and chili. Strange combo. Weirdly delicious.

🫓 Arepa Paisa

Thinner, plainer, and usually eaten with butter and cheese.

📌 Local favorites:

• OCI.Med: Seasonal local dishes

• Colosal: Good food + panoramic views

  
  

🎨 What to Do in Medellín

🧱 Explore Comuna 13

Once one of the most dangerous neighborhoods, it is now a global street art icon. Do a walking tour for the backstory—music, murals, and massive outdoor escalators.

📍 Tip: Go with a guide for context and safety. It’s still a working-class neighborhood.

🏙️ Take the Free Walking Tour Downtown

Medellín’s downtown can feel chaotic—but this tour makes it accessible, safe, and insightful.📍 Book with Real City Tours

🌳 Visit Parque Arví

Ride the cable car up to this eco park in the clouds. Hiking trails, local snacks, and a real break from the city bustle.📍 Parque Arví Info

🦜 Explore Parque Explora

Rainy day? This interactive science museum with an aquarium and planetarium is a great plan.

🛍 Wander El Poblado & Provenza

Cafes, shops, bars, and beautiful architecture—no plan needed. Just go out and explore.

🍸 Where to Drink & Party

Medellín parties like it means it—but you don’t have to go all in (unless you want to).

• Dulce Jesús Mío: A wild, colorful Colombian party bar. Expect performers, dancing on tables, and themed decor that’s more fiesta than disco.📍 Dulce Jesús Mío

• 37 Park: Chic rooftop bar in Provenza

• Envy: Rooftop pool bar with views

• El Social: Popular dive bar in the heart of El Poblado

  
  

🧗‍♀️ Day Trips from Medellín

⛰️ Guatapé + Piedra del Peñol

A colorful lakeside town with the famous giant rock you can climb for stunning views. It’s touristy—but 100% worth it.

From the top of the Peñol Stone

📍 Map

🌿 Jardín

A little Andean town surrounded by waterfalls and coffee farms. Take a few days here if you can. Hike to Cueva del Esplendor, where a waterfall crashes through a hole in a cave ceiling.

🌉 Santa Fe de Antioquia

Colonial town with a famous suspension bridge and warm weather. Nice day escape.

🎒 Final Word

Medellín is the kind of place where one day turns into five—because you’ll fall in love with the people, the climate, the food, and the vibe. It’s modern, welcoming, and full of stories waiting to be told.

Whether you're climbing giant rocks, sipping aguardiente, or just enjoying the mountain air, Medellín will surprise you. Again and again.

Next up: Post 5 – Cartagena: Where Colonial Charm Meets Caribbean Life