Medellín isn’t just a city you visit—it’s a city that pulls you in, wraps you in its warmth, and refuses to let you go. With its spring-like weather, bright colors, lush mountains, and an energy that feels both vibrant and relaxed, there are at least 10 amazing things to do in Medellín, making it no wonder travelers from all over the world have fallen in love with this Colombian gem.
I spent a full week living, breathing, tasting, hiking, dancing, and exploring Medellín. I wandered the steep hills, sipped tinto with locals, explored the nightlife, and watched the city glow with golden light from mountaintop viewpoints. Medellín surprised me again and again—its history, its culture, its food, and its people all leaving an imprint that stays long after you leave.
If you’re planning a trip, this Medellín travel guide will give you 10 unmissable experiences—a curated list from my own adventures, written for travelers who want more than just checkboxes. These are the moments that make Medellín unforgettable.
1. Hike to Parque Arví and Take the Metrocable Down (The Backdoor Route)
Parque Arví is one of Medellín’s beloved treasures—a massive nature reserve perched high in the mountains. Most tourists simply ride the Metrocable (Medellín’s famous gondola) to reach it. But that’s the easy way.
The more magical way?
Hike the backdoor trail up to Arví and take the Metrocable down.
This route takes you through lush greenery, quiet forest paths, rural homes, and—at the halfway point—a breathtaking viewpoint at Cerro Pan de Azúcar. From there, the entire Aburrá Valley spreads out before you like a painting.
Why hike?
Because this trail gives you something the gondola never can:
the sensation of earning the mountain.
Fresh air, soft mud under your feet, birdsong, sunlight filtering through trees… you feel the heartbeat of Medellín’s natural world. And once you reach the top, the Metrocable ride down becomes a reward: floating over rooftops, hills, and the sprawling city that seems to go on forever.
If you’re an adventure lover or nature seeker, this is one of the best things to do in Medellín.
2. Join a Walking Tour (Forget the Narcos Stereotypes)
A lot of people arrive in Medellín with ideas shaped by Netflix. But the real Medellín is so much more—deeper, richer, and full of stories that deserve to be heard from the right sources.
This is where Real City Tours comes in.
Their four-hour walking tour is the perfect introduction to the city. You’ll walk through:
- Plaza Botero with its oversized sculptures
- Plaza Cisneros (Parque de las Luces)
- Paseo Carabobo, a busy pedestrian street
- El Hueco, the chaotic shoppers’ paradise
- Parque San Antonio, filled with history
Your guide will share insights into Medellín’s dark years, its resilience, and how the city transformed from one of the world’s most dangerous places into one of the most innovative.
Do yourself a favor:
Take this tour on your first or second day.
It sets the stage for everything else you experience.
3. Live Off “Menu del Día” Lunches (A Colombian Travel Secret)
If you want to eat like a local, eat the menu del día.
From 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Saturday, most restaurants in Medellín offer a full lunch meal for the price of a latte back home. The menu usually includes:
- Soup
- Main plate (meat, rice, salad, plantains)
- Juice
- Dessert (sometimes)
And the price?
9,000–15,000 COP ($3–$6 USD).
It’s fresh, filling, and insanely good value.
Whether you’re craving vegan, Colombian, Indian, or French—there’s a menu del día for every taste. Try at least a few… or try two in one afternoon. No judgment.
4. Go Hiking in the Aburrá Valley (Nature Lovers, Rejoice)
Medellín is surrounded by mountains draped in green, and many of the trails are easily reachable by public transportation. These aren’t tame, polished paths—they’re wild, jungly, full of butterflies, birds, waterfalls, and panoramic views.
The only challenge?
The trails are poorly marked.
That’s why finding a guide—whether online, through hiking groups, or through local communities—is helpful.
If you prefer safety in numbers, join the Facebook group Kinkajou Adventures, a favorite among expats and long-term travelers.
Some of the best hiking routes include:
- La Catedral hike
- Three Waterfalls Trail
- Cerro Pan de Azúcar
- The Pyramids Hike
For nature lovers, hiking is one of the best things to do in Medellín—hands down.
5. Eat a Giant Chicharrón (Taste the Legend)
If Colombia has a culinary showstopper, it’s the chicharrón.
And not the small crispy pieces you might imagine.
No—Medellín’s chicharrón is a monster.
• Crispy golden skin
• A thick, juicy layer of fat
• Tender pork underneath
It’s bacon on steroids. Bacon for giants. Chicharrón the size of a forearm.
And if you want the best?
Go to La Gloria de Gloria or El Trifasico.
These places serve legendary pieces that food travelers dream about. Bring an appetite. And maybe a friend.
6. Discover Medellín’s Secret Attraction (But You Must Find It Yourself)
There is a place in Medellín—romantic, surreal, and built by hand over 25 years—that still remains a quiet secret among locals. No Instagram mobs. No tour buses. No influencers.
We won’t name it. Because once it’s crowded, the magic will vanish.
But if you truly want to find it, you can.
Search Spanish YouTube videos. Ask locals. Follow clues in Medellín travel blogs.
What we can tell you is this:
- It’s whimsical
- It’s artistic
- It feels like stepping into a dream
- You need Spanish to appreciate it fully
- And it is absolutely unforgettable
When you think you’ve found the place, send a picture to the travel blog that inspired this secret. They’ll confirm.
Some experiences are worth discovering on your own.
7. Visit Jericó or Jardín (Escape to Colombia’s Mountain Pueblos)
If you’re staying in Medellín for more than five days, take a break from city life and travel to the colorful towns of Jericó or Jardín.
Both are three hours away by bus. Both feel like stepping back in time.
Expect:
- Men in cowboy hats
- Horses clip-clopping through the streets
- Buildings painted like candy
- A charming main plaza full of life
- Strong tinto coffee
- Cold beer
- Guaro flowing freely
These pueblos represent the heart of Antioquia—slower, warmer, more traditional.
If you love authenticity, this is one of the best day trips from Medellín.
8. Go Paragliding (Feel Like a Superhero Over Medellín)
If you’ve never paraglided before, Medellín is the place to try it.
Why?
Because it’s affordable, professional, safe, and absolutely breathtaking.
For about 130,000 COP ($45 USD)—one-third the price of Europe or the U.S.—you can soar like a bird above the Aburrá Valley.
It’s quiet up there. Peaceful. You don’t hear engines or noise. Just the wind. Just the view. Just the sensation of floating.
For adrenaline lovers, this is easily one of the best activities in Medellín.
Some tours even include a small hike to a waterfall near the takeoff point.
9. Spend an Afternoon in Laureles (If You Know Where to Go)
Laureles is loved by long-term travelers and digital nomads. But if you just wander around without a plan, you might think, “What’s the hype?”
Here’s where Laureles shines:
Start with lunch at Café Cliché.
After sampling countless menu del días, this spot stands out for flavor and freshness.
Other choices:
- Naturalia (vegan)
- Uno Más Uno
- Ocre
Get coffee at Rituales.
This café sources beans from the mountains surrounding Medellín. In blind taste tests, it beats many famous shops.
Treat yourself at Nuovo Fiore.
They make cannabis-infused gelato (yes, legally). The cops even stop by for samples.
After a few hours of slow wandering, coffee sipping, and dessert tasting, you’ll understand why Laureles has its own charm.
10. Explore the Best of El Poblado (Beyond the Party Scene)
El Poblado has a reputation: nightlife, tourists, and high prices.
But if you think that’s all it is, you’re missing out.
Here’s how to enjoy El Poblado like a seasoned traveler:
Coffee
- Pergamino—the most famous café (with good reason)
- Hija Mía—a quieter, equally excellent option
Lunch
- Franchyes—affordable Colombian food
- Toscano—Italian dishes for big appetites
- Masala — for those who crave spice
Drinks
- El Social—an old-school Colombian bar
- Erre—two-for-one happy hours
Dinner
End your night at Alambique, one of Medellín’s top restaurants. Creative cuisine, rich flavors, unforgettable ambiance.
Walk through Manila afterward, a neighborhood full of cozy cafés, stylish restaurants, and leafy streets.
Final Thoughts
Medellín is a city that thrives on contrast—mountains and skyscrapers, art and history, calm cafes and wild nightlife, innovation and tradition. It’s a place where you can hike through jungle in the morning, sip world-class coffee in the afternoon, and dance salsa until 3 a.m.
But more than the views, food, or activities… it’s the people who make Medellín extraordinary.
Colombians welcome you with warmth. With openness. With pride in the city they rebuilt with their own hands.
Whether you come for adventure, culture, romance, or simply to breathe new air, Medellín will change you—quietly and beautifully. And when you leave, a part of you will stay tucked in the hills, in the plazas, in the glow of the city at night.
