Everything You Need to Know About Medellin Before You Go
I have to admit, Medellin is my favorite city in the world. I ended up spending a month in this city alone because I fell in love with it so much. When you think of Medellin, you may think of Pablo Escobar, cocaine, and danger. You might even be afraid to go there. I’m here to show you that Medellin has so much more to offer and the people are so kind and proud to show you all there is to do in this wonderful city.
Facts & Figures
POPULATION: 3.7 million
LANGUAGE: Spanish
Medellin is the only city in South America with a metro system and an integrated transportation system which includes cable cars, electric buses and trolley cars.
In 2016 the Lee Kuan Yew , World Prize was awarded to Medellín for being a model of urban innovation The city is fully committed to create a more fair, humane, free and happy city for its citizens.
Medellin is the 2nd industrial city of Colombia. Textile production is an emblematic activity that generates 53% of the employment in the region.
Weather & Altitude
TEMPERATURE : 17ªC / 63ª F - 27ªC/ 80ªF
ALTITUDE: 1,479m / 4,852ft
With its beautiful year-long weather, Medellín is called the“City of Eternal Spring” While it is generally sunny and warm, rain is not uncommon and weather conditions change suddenly. Be prepared!
Medellín is located in the Aburra valley, the river runs from north to south and it's surrounded by mountains.
Money
CURRENCY: Colombian Peso
SYMBOL: $; COP
EXCHANGE: 3,000 pesos = 1 USD
= 0.81 GBP
= 0.96 Euros
ATMs Located throughout the city, Most of them Bancolombia, biggest bank in the country.
Debit and Credit Cards Widely accepted, except on some local markets and street vendors. Remember to ask for the POS (“datáfono”)
Tipping Usually included on the bill. They shall always ask you first if you want to include it (10% of the total cost)
Getting Around
STREETS
There are Carreras (ra or Cra) which run parallel to the river from North to South and Calles (Cl or Calle) which run from East to West and are perpendicular to Carreras.
Cra 28 # 45 - 12
Means:
-Cra 28: Carrera 28.
# 45: Calle 45 (intersection)
12: The house or building number.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Taxi app
Uber
Easy Taxi
Tappsi
Cabify
Metro de Medellin
$2.400 COP ($0.80USD) One way. More info HERE
You can buy the CIVICA card, and re- charge it with cash, More info HERE (avoid long lines)
Bike Rentals
Week $180.000 COP = 60.00 USD
Day From $45.000 COP = 15.00 USD
Where: The bikes are dropped and picked up at your door. (Must be in Medellin)
Staying a While?
SUPERMARKETS
Éxito
Hours of Operation: 8 - 21h
$$
Large supermarkets where you can find almost anything at affordable prices.
Carulla
Hours of Operation: varies by location
$$$$
Large supermarkets where you can find almost anything! . General grocery store. You will be able to find some organic and GF products. You will find imported products. Is more expensive than the others but you can find premium products.
Exito Express
Hours of Operation: 8AM to 8PM
$
Small convenient store
FITNESS & CLASSES
Bodytech
Hours of Operation: 5:00 - 23:00
Great Gym with fitness classes and Equipment with the best machines to exercise. This Gym has an inside coffee shop with great healthy food and also an SPA. This is the best option in Colombia and Peru.
Evolution Yoga
Hours of Operation: 6:00 - 21:00
$$
It offers all yoga options but is focused on Bikram
Yoga 108 Medellin
Latest Hot Yoga Technology Ashtanga yoga, mysore style They offer classes in the styles of Vinyasa Flow Yoga & without heat Iyengar
4 Classes: 132.000 COP/45 USD
6 Classes: 171.000 COP/59 USD
12 Classes: 282.000 COP/45 USD
unlimited: 275.000 COP/86 USD
Crossfit foundations
Mornings:
Mo - Fr: 5:00 / 6:00 / 7:00 Y 8:30 Sat: 9:00 / 10:00 am
Afternoons: Mo-Th: 5:30 / 6:30 / 7:30 Y 8:15 Fri: 5:30 /6:30
Spinning, Tae box, Zumba, Fit Combat
Mo - Fr: 5:00 am - 10 pm Sat: 7:00am / 4:00 pm Sun: 8:00am / 4:00 pm
Month fee 200.000COP
Dance (bachata, dancehall, hiphop)
Strength: Crosstraining, HIIT, Cardio, Core, TRX
Mind: yoga, meditation, massage
Monday — Thursday 8am — 11pm
Friday — Sunday 11am — 11pm
1 Class - 9.000 COP
1 Week - 50.000 COP
1 Month - 180.000 COP
HOSPITAL
Clinica Las Vegas
24/7
$$$
Full service hospital with ER and the best doctors of the city.
Clinica Del Rosario
24/7
$$$
Full service hospital with emergency room and specialists.
POST OFFICE
472 Correo postal de Colombia
Calle 90 # 14 - 43
Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm
Sat 900 am-1:00pm
Main post office in Colombia, although there are many post offices that you can find around the city
PLACES TO WORK
COWORKING SPACES
Work & Go
Offers a modern working habitat, private rooftop terrace , and different levels of privacy
Work and go is located close to nightlife, cafes and restaurants; just a couple blocks from parque lleras and provenza
200/200 High Speed WiFi
24 hour access (registration required):
The holidays or weekends will have access to the local service including surveillance, internet, bathrooms, access to funzone and garden but no management service is provided, copy center, or complimentary services
Free coffee, tea and water available in kitchen
Printing included
Atom House
Offers a great working habitat and a community of local start ups, outdoor terrace and patio, and different levels of privacy
Located close to the best nightlife area, malls and restaurants.
Mixed Seating Styles: flex cowork area, open spots
150/150 High Speed WiFi
24/7 Access through app and face recognition software
Free coffee, tea and water available in kitchen
Printing included
LAPTOP-FRIENDLY CAFE`S
Monday - Saturday 7:30 - 20:00
Monday - Friday 7:00 - 20:00
Saturday: 9:00 - 21:00
Sunday 12:00-15:00
Monday - Friday 8:00 - 21:00
Saturday: 9:00 - 21:00
PLACES TO EAT
Cool place with good atmosphere, chill, talk, drink, eat, gather with friends. The menu changes every 5 months, only keeping the main dishes as well as the daily meals elaborated with seasonal products
Tuesday to Thursday: 12:00- 2:30pm and 6:30 – 10:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 12:00- 2:30pm and 6:30 – 11:00pm
$$$$
Takes reservation but call a few days in advance. If not, expect to wait.
For a more wholesome lunch option, El Herbario is a trendy eatery that puts an emphasis on well executed, vegetable based dishes. These include nourishing grilled legumes with goat’s cheese, generous green salads and flavorful soups each scattered with a good fistful of fresh herbs.
Monday to Saturday 12m -3pm & 7pm -11pm
$$$
Very good food, nice place and location although not big. Parrilla is their speciality. Waiters are always there to help you. A video of old Medellin pictures runs on two screens which is enjoyable. Customers must book in advance if they are more than 2 people. Closed Sundays
Mon-Sat: 12:00m - 10:00 p.m
$$
Traditional Colombian cuisine with local identity. Feel like eating at grandma´s house in Medellin at the typical casa antioqueña with alternative Caribbean food
Monday and Saturday 12:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday 12:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m
$$
Drinks and Food, nice atmosphere, good after a day of working, good music. Some days offer for buying a bottle or more than 4 drinks you can get appetizers or food for free! Ask the waiter for more info
Open Daily 12pm- 12am Thursday to Saturday Bar until 2am.
Brunch 9:30-12:30 p.m. (only weekends and Holidays)
$$$$
Offering generous portions of authentic Colombian cuisine and attracting a lively crowd of local diners. Meat eaters should sample the house specialty of Sopa de Mondongo, a hearty tripe soup served with avocado, fried plantain, lemon and arepas, a Colombian corn cake. For the best experience, come for Sunday lunch when the restaurant is full of high-spirited Colombians
Opens daily
Sun 11-20h
Mon-Wed 11:30-21:30
Thur-Sat 11:30-22:00
$$
NIGHTLIFE
A bar salon with a bohemian atmosphere where citizens celebrate eccentric, tremendous music until dawn. Mostly electronic.
Thu-Fri-Sat 9:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
The sound and aroma of the tropic coming from a small beautiful corner in the valley. Drinks and traditional Caribbean food from the coast of Colombia
Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun 7:30p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Thu only until 2.00am
It is a very comfy place, nice, delicious drinks. My favorite is the uchuva and carambolo soda. Excellent service, welcoming with the audience. Unquestionably, the live music salsa sessions are the best
Thu-Fri-Sat 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
No doubt is one of Medellín´s most diverse and fun bar without pretentions, everyone is welcome, dance and drink to good DJs, some days have salsa sessions and don’t miss the lectures of "Lo doy por que quiero”
Thu-Fri-Sat 9:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Vintrash is an upcycling bar with different atmospheres focused on latin music, indie, pop and electronic. Ideal for groups has outdoor (terrace) seating tables, serves dinner and drinks
Wed to Sat 6:00 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
Located on the rooftop of the Charlee hotel, the view over Medellin and its cool pool make it a special place to dance and party.
Thu-Fri-Sat 6:00 p.m.. - 2:00 a.m.
Salsa , Latin, cumbia, Tropical rhythms with an excellent ambience and service, Seating is available inside and there is an awesome back patio to enjoy the spring yearlong weather. very popular with in locals
Fri-Sat 9:00 p.m. - 3:30 a.m.
A bar salon with a bohemian atmosphere where you dance to music until dawn.
Mostly electronic
Thu-Fri-Sat
9:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Attic
The sound and aroma of the tropic coming from a small beautiful corner in the valley.
Drinks and traditional Caribbean food from the coast of Colombia.
Thu-Fri-Sat
9:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
It's a rumba based on a lifestyle called "GLAM DANCE". The 8-meter high poured concrete vault, the LED screens, the state of the art lighting system, the impeccable NEXO sound and friendly staff service, describe the experience as "a different level.
Thu-Fri-Sat 9:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
No doubt is one of Medellín´s most diverse and fun bar, everyone is welcome. Dance and drink to good DJs, some days have salsa sessions and don’t miss the lectures of "Lo doy por que quiero".
Inspired by the ghettos where new musical proposals are born with Latin roots, delighting people who enjoy dancing and music.
Thu-Fri-Sat 9:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Located on the rooftop of the Charlee hotel, the view over Medellin and its cool pool make it a special place to dance and party.
APPRENDER ESPANOL
Spanish classes were available through the Coworking spaces I listed.
DAY TRIPS
Free Walking Tour: This is the best free walking tour I’ve ever done. Visit the main tourist attractions in Medellin and emblematic places in the city all along the most traditional parks and streets. Excellent balance between city history, art, and food.
I also took the Communa 13 tour, which was incredible. They show you the most stunning street art & you learn a lot about the transformation of Medellin’s youth.
I also took a Fruit Tour, which sounds lame but it was honestly so much fun. We went to a market and tried at least 25 different kinds of fruit. I had no idea there were so many varieties of passion fruit, dragon fruit, and other weird looking tropical fruits.
Laguna del Penol (25 USD): Guatapé is located 79 km. away from Medellín, a tourist destination due to its attractive Peñól de Guatapé, huge rock 220 mts./ 725 ft. high. Located on the reservoir where 2.262 hectares were flooded to create the biggest hydroelectric project in the country. Guatape town has engraved in the facades of the houses colorful traditional representations.
If you want a fun, unique experience to do this day trip, I can’t recommend Van Por Colombia enough. It’s a full-day tour with a small group and a dude with his van. I don’t want to spoil the itinerary because the surprises along the way are what make this truly unique. I can however say that this is some of the best food I’ve ever had. Contact them through Facebook.
Oriente Antioqueño (30 USD): Visit Antioquia’s green route or west side tour visiting the towns : El Retiro, La Ceja, Rionegro, San Antonio de Pereira, el Carmen de Viboral, visit ceramic workshops, see and buy handcrafts. Enjoy the natural landscape. Visit Represa la fè, flower plantations, wood workshops and el salto del tequendamita.
Cocorna tierra de agua (85 USD): In 30 hectares of recovered rain forest, there are 9 cottages made in Bamboo (Guadua) and 3 country houses, a natural swimming pool, steam bath, cold and hot water jacuzzis in the middle of nature, massage area and SPA. This ecological paradise with water springs and crystal-clear waterfalls share scenario with a 1200 years old ancestral indigenous trail and with the traditional sugar cane mills from Antioquia.
Reserva natural Rio Claro (80 USD): Beautiful breathtaking scenery. Ecological reservoir in a canyon 3 hours from Medellin. Enjoy rafting, canopy, hiking, trekking, or just walk and swim in the river surrounded by tropical forest. Great place to see Colombia’s unique fauna and flora
Day tour to Santa Fe de Antioquia (30 USD): Colonial architecture with 8 churches and several houses of the XVI, XVII and XVIII. Within its streets you can see important historical heritage, and beauty, it is declared as a national Monument in 1960 by the government. Seven parks with huge ceibas, palmas and mamoncillo trees offer in its surroundings crafts and delicious typical fruits
Paragliding: For those who are adrenaline junkies, I highly recommend paragliding. I went twice while I was there and it’s the most amazing experience. You run full speed off a cliff tandem with an instructor and you just float through the mountains. I’ll be honest - it was pretty carefree. You never knew where you were going to land and one time, we had to do an emergency landing because the winds were a little crazy. That said, I never felt unsafe and I would definitely do it again. I also highly recommend you speak Spanish because no one spoke English when I went.
OVERNIGHT TRIPS
NUQUI-CHOCO: Welcome to the Colombian Pacific Universe! In Piedra Piedra you will live the total experience. A life lesson of balance between unspoiled nature and responsible eco-tourism. Enjoy local food originally elaborated with unique Pacific coast flavor,
PARQUE TAYRONA: Costeño Beach hostel is located on a former coconut farm nestled on a beautiful beach on the Caribbean coast of Colombia – between the ocean and the jungle.
Only a one hour drive from the colonial city of Santa Marta and 5km from Tayrona National Park. Fall in love with the location, the people and the culture of this area.
CAÑO CRISTALES: Eco tourism adventure in the Orinoquia region center of Colombia. Immerse yourself in a breathtaking scenery beyond your imagination. Delight your sight in infinite scenarios, with waterfalls, wells, trails and many natural attractions that only exist in Caño Cristales. home to the seven color river.
TIERRA ADENTRO: This beautiful mountainous region is a regional group and indigenous heritage located in the department of Cauca, towards the south of the country, Tierradentro comprises an extensive area populated with hypogeous and statues. The most important archaeological sites of this park are Alto del Aguacate, Alto de San Andrés and Alto del Duende.
SAN ANDRÉS Y PROVIDENCIA: In these two fabulous destinations, the islanders offer with their smiles and kindness an undeniable hospitality that is perceived throughout Colombia. Islands of indescribable beauty, fascinating beaches where the golden sand contrasts with the turquoise blue of the waters of the seven color sea.
CAPURGANA: The northern corner of Choco beaches on the Atlantic side invite you to enjoy pleasant temperatures, fine golden sand surrounded by transparent waters. The refreshing afternoon breeze protects you from mosquitoes and ensures a restful night's sleep.
SAFETY & TIPS
WALKING AROUND
The safest area for tourists is El Poblado. However, avoid walking around after 11:00 p.m. in dark streets. Downtown isn't that safe, so don't use your phone in public or flash around expensive stuff. Be alert.
CRIME
Watch out for pickpocketing. My friend was pickpocketed by a drag queen and another friend was robbed by a cab driver. Be much more alert in Downtown and the northern part of the city.
STREET CROSSING
Always look both ways before crossing the street Unfortunately zebra lines are not respected.
TAXI
Uber is the best option, very inexpensive in Medellin, safe and easy to pay without cash. If you want to use taxi instead use the apps, it's safer than taking a taxi in the street. Make sure your taxi is always official and watch the taximeter; it should start at 3000 pesos.
OPENING HOURS
Supermarkets will generally be open from 8am to 9 or 10pm, and some stores are open 24 hours. but only during weekends.
RESTAURANTS & CAFÉ
Most coffee shops are open at 8:00 am for breakfast and restaurants at 11:00 am. Food service until 9:00pm
DRINKING WATER
Tap water is ok to drink.
ALCOHOL LAWS
It is allowed to drink alcohol in the street but please with measure, avoid misbehaving.
GREETINGS
Typically a cheek kiss, sometimes a handshake in formal settings.
PUNCTUALITY
Colombians are not known for their punctuality.
EMERGENCY
Dial 123 in case of a medical, crime, or theft emergency.