By air
José María Córdova (MDE), ~35 km
South America · Colombia
Medellín, Colombia
The city of eternal spring
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to March and July to August — the drier spells
Don't miss
Comuna 13
Botero Plaza
Parque Arví
Pueblito Paisa
Things to do
Comuna 13's graffiti tours
The Metrocable to Parque Arví
Botero Plaza
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Luis90f · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers, a rain jacket
A quieter corner
El Peñol, the giant rock above Guatapé, a day trip
Questions travellers ask
When's a good time to go to Medellín?
December to March or July to August, the drier spells. Bring layers and a rain jacket.
Where do I fly into for Medellín?
José María Córdova (MDE), about 35 km from the city.
What is there to do in Medellín?
Take a graffiti tour of Comuna 13, ride the Metrocable to Parque Arví, and stop by Botero Plaza and Pueblito Paisa. Fuel up on bandeja paisa and arepas.
What's a good day trip from Medellín?
El Peñol, the giant rock above Guatapé.
About Medellín
- Mountains
Where it is
Medellín is the capital of Antioquia department in north-western Colombia, set at about 1,500 m in the narrow Aburrá Valley of the Andes' Central Cordillera, along the Medellín River, with neighbourhoods climbing the slopes on either side.
History
A settlement was founded in the Aburrá Valley in 1616 and became the town of Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria in 1675. Coffee exports and textile mills made it Colombia's industrial centre in the 20th century, and since the 2000s it has become known for urban projects such as the Metrocable cable cars, outdoor escalators and library parks linking hillside neighbourhoods to the centre.
People
Medellín's people, called paisas like others from the region, speak Spanish with a distinctive accent and use vos. Bandeja paisa, a platter of beans, rice, pork crackling, egg and plantain, is the classic dish, and at the Feria de las Flores each August the silleteros, flower growers from Santa Elena, parade huge arrangements carried on their backs.
Known for
- The Metrocable cable cars
- Comuna 13's murals and escalators
- Botero Plaza's 23 bronze sculptures
- The Feria de las Flores
- Day trips to El Peñol and Guatapé
Did you know?
In 2013 the Urban Land Institute named Medellín the most innovative city in the world, recognising projects that link its hillside neighbourhoods to the centre.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.