Medellín – Things to Do

Museums / Museos: 

Museo de Antioquia

It houses a collection of artwork by Fernando Botero and Pedro Nel Gómez. The museum is located in the center of the city right on the Botero Plaza where you can enjoy many of the famous Botero sculptures. To get here you can take the Metro and get off at the Berrio Park station stop.        

Acá podrás encontrar unas colecciones de arte de los pintores Fernando Botero y Pedro Nel Gómez. El museo esta ubicado en el centro de la ciudad al frente de la Plaza Botero, donde podrás disfrutar algunas de las famosas esculturas de Botero. Para llegar aquí puedes tomar el Metro y bajarte en la estación “Parque Berrio”. 

Museo de Arte Moderno (MAMM) 

The museum was housed in an old steel mill from the 30’s, but in 2015 a modern extension of the museum was inaugurated. The museum is located in Ciudad del Rio.                  

El museo antes estaba en una antigua siderúrgica de los años 30, pero en el 2015 una extension moderna del museo fue inaugurada. El museo esta ubicado en Ciudad del Rio. 

Parque Explora

It’s an interactive science museum located next to the Botanical Garden of Medellin. To get here you can take the metro and get off at the University station stop.

Es un museo de ciencias interactivo ubicado al lado del Jardín Botánico de Medellin. para llegar aquí puedes tomar el metro y bajarte en la estación “Universidad”. 

El Pueblito Paisa

It is located on a hill and it is a small replica of a typical “paisa” town. The views from here are also amazing. There are places to eat here if you wish to stop by during lunch time.

Esta ubicado en un cerro y es una replica de un pueblo típico “paisa”. Las vistas desde acá son espectaculares. Acá encontraran lugares para comer si se dan la pasadita durante la hora del almuerzo. 

Parks / Parques:

Jardín Botánico de Medellín (Botanical Garden)

Do you want to see some iguanas and enjoy a walk among nature right in the middle of city? Then you HAVE to go here. Next to Parque Explora. 

Parque de los Deseos (Park of wishes) 

Next to Parque Explora and Jardín Botánico 

Parque de los Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Park)

You can actually take your shoes off here and refresh in the many fountains. Next to the administrative center of Medellín.

Parque Arví 

This ecological park is a jewel close to Medellín, once you arrive at the entrance of the park you will find tour guides that will provide you with information on the different walks/hikes you can do in the forest. You can also picnic here are camp for the night if you’re up for it!

Other options are: 

(1) to go to the “Hotel y Parque Ecológico Piedras Blancas”, you can take free buses or “chivas” that leave from the Arví Park; here you can visit the butterfly garden, do canoeing, bird watching and eat at their delicious restaurant.

(2) Again, take a free bus from Arví to the “Comfama Park” where you can do different adventure activities such as zip-lining etc., they have restaurants here as well or you can picnic.

The best way to get to Arví Park is: take the Metro and then the Metro Cable – if you are in the “Poblado” area you can take the Metro Line A (blue) to “Acevedo” and then transfer to the metro Cable Line K (green) to “Santo Domingo”, here you will transfer to the Metro Cable Line L that will take to directly to the park. 

Party Time / Rumba:

El Lleras (Located in El Poblado/ ubicado in El Poblado) 

This is like a park and all around it you will find bars, it’s one of the best places to go in Medellin

Provenza (Located in El Poblado/ ubicado in El Poblado) 

You will find in this street many bars and restaurants 

La 33

One of the main streets in Medellin, here you can find many small bars to have a drink /Una de las calles principales de Medellin, acá encontraras bares pequeños para tomarte algo.

Las Palmas

Here you will find some clubs & bars / Acá encontraras algunos bares y discotecas.  

Eating / Comida:

    • Mercados del Río – A gastronomic Market in the city. This building used to be a warehouse and it now houses 37 different restaurants. Very cool and good option to explore different foods!
    • Mercados del Tranvía – A gastronomic Market in the city, this one is smaller than “Mercados del Río” but is it located in a different part of the city (in the center) and you can take the tram of “Ayacucho” to get here
    • Chef Burger – (various locations / varias ubicaciones)
    • La Bicyclette – (hamburgers / hamburguesas)
    • Bogota Beer Company – Try some local beer! (Located in El Poblado/ ubicado in El Poblado)
    • Alambique – Modern Colombian cuisine (Located in El Poblado/ ubicado en El Poblado)
    • Bonhomia Salumeria – Charcuterie and Pizza (Located in El Poblado/ ubicado en El Poblado)
    • Los Contenedores – Envigado (an outside gastronomic space where the restaurants are in “containers”/ un espacio gastronomico al aire libre donde los varios restaurantes se encuentran en “contenedores”)
    • Delirio Rooftop Bar – (Located in Laureles/ ubicado en Laureles)
    • Malanga del Trópico – Cuisine from the Caribbean (Located in Laureles/ ubicado en Laureles)
    • Crepes y Waffles– There are several locations all over the city, this is a very delicious and well-known Colombian chain. The ice cream here is also fabulous! 
    • Hamburguesas el Corral – (local fast food chain) – various locations / varias ubicaciones 
    • J & C delicias – (Try the traditional Colombian “arepa” served in different ways / prueba la tradicional “arepa” colombiana servida de diferentes maneras)
    • El Astor – the most famous tea room in the city, you can come here for breakfast, lunch or just to have  snack. Don’t forget to try the mandarine juice and the moros. 
    • Salón Versalles – an institution of the city, come with an empty stomach to eat Argentinian-style empanadas 
    • Salón Malaga – an institution of the city, here you can listen to tangos and boleros while having a drink
    • El Rancherito – (typical Colombian food / comida tipica colombiana) 
    • Alberto Lechona – Typical Colombian food 
    • Mondongos – (typical Colombian dishes / platos típicos Colombianos)
    • Mi Buñuelo – Have a typical Paisa breakfast here or stop for a snack. They have several locations as well.

Shopping / Compras:

Via Primavera – El Poblado

This is a street in El Poblado where you can find small boutiques owned by local designers, you can also find many cafes y restaurants / esta es una via en El Poblado donde podrás encontrar pequeñas boutiques de diseñadores locales, también puedes encontrar diferentes restaurantes y cafes) 

Parque Comercial El Tesoro (Shopping mall)

One of the biggest shopping malls in the city

Centro Comercial Santa Fe (Shopping mall )

The roof of the shopping mall closes and opens! although it is generally left open due to the wonderful weather in Medellín! 

Premium Plaza (Shopping mall)

Other things to see / Otras cosas para ver:

    • La Catedral Metropolitana / The Cathedral of Medellin (close to Antioquia Museum)
    • Plaza Botero – in front of the Antioquía museum
    • Palacio de la Cultura – you can go in for free to the terrace at the top where you will have beautiful views of the city
    • Iglesia la Candelaria 
    • Paseo Junín – It is a pedestrian street where you will find many shops. All this area is where the city of Medellín began. 
    • El tranvía de Ayacucho 
    • Edifico Carré
    • Plaza Cisneros – Parque de la Luces
    • Ciudad del Rio
    • El Metro Cable
    • El Metro
    • La Comuna 13 – Graffiti or Colour tour
    • Visit the Minorista Market – try some exotic Colombian fruits