Top Rated Tourist Destinations When Visiting Medellin Colombia

Walking Tours

Medellin was once famous for being called the most dangerous city in the world in the early 1990’s with 17 murders daily, but now it is a completely different story. Get your orientation to the city of one million people on your first day by taking the free Medellin Walking Tour. It will give you a great feel to Medellin and help you figure out a game plan for the rest of your stay there. It is 3 ½ hours. www.realcitytours.com

Getting Around The City

Medellin is in a valley surrounded by mountains, and the city is pretty large. Skyscrapers, parks and villages are built right into the mountains. Medellin is easy to get around with a terrific metro system and cable cars. The cable cars link the settlements in its hills to a metro system in the valley below. The metroline and the metrocable (gondolas) in Medellín are a real source of pride for locals. For tourists riding the public transportation up the mountains and into the valley is definitely a highlight of the visit to Medellin. It is a very inexpensive way to get around and see the city.

Ubers In Medellin

For the times when you do not want to take a cable car, and no longer have the energy to walk, you may be wondering about Ubers in Medellin. Traditional taxis in Medellin can be incredibly expensive, leaving you to assume that Ubers would be a valuable option. Unfortunately, Ubers are illegal in Medellin. Fortunately, these restrictions do not stop many Ubers from still driving. Since they are still technically illegal, drivers may ask you to sit in the front seat with them, and act is if you are a friend or family member.

Local Sites, Tours, & Attractions

When walking around the city a good place to start may be the Old Quarter at Botero Plaza. There you will see over 20 sculptures donated by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Next to the plaza is the great Museum of Antioquia and the Rafael Uribe Palace of Culture. The museum is 18000 COP and includes a one hour guided tour starting at 2 PM. www.Museodeantioquia.co Maybe then head up into the hills riding the escalator system through Comuna 13 and see the street art and colorful homes. Here are two tours to consider: The Comuna 13 graffiti tour is four hours at 85000 COP. Contact them by EMail at Comuna13tours@gmail.com. The other tour is the La Sierra Medellin Barrio tour. 80000 COP and is 4-5 hours. Contact them at lasierratour@gmail.com. Another place to go is the area of El Poblado, where there are good restaurants and shops. To maintain you value travel itinerary, there are even a number of completely free tours you can sign up for. Several enthusiast in Medellin offer free walking tours that essentially operate just like the Chicago Greeter Program.

Pablo Escobar History In Medellin

Intrigued by the famous local drug lord Pablo Escobar? At his peak he was earning over 350 million dollars/week. They supplied 80% of the world’s cocaine. He died in 1993 in a gunfight with the Columbian police.. Catch a tour offered by www.paisaroad.com to see a peek into his life as founder and leader of the Medellin drug cartel. There are multiple tour companies to choose from so look for the best deal. Locals all have an opinion on him. Most not very good and they look down on these tours that glorify his life. Most citizens have had their life impacted in some way by his Cocaine business. To see the impact he had on the city and the armed conflict that took over to make it so dangerous to live there, go to the Museo Casa de la Memoria. Check schedule for guided tours. www.museocasadelamemoria.gov.co

Go To A Soccer Game

Before you leave Medellin, you need to go to a soccer game. Soccer is like a religion in this region. These events provide an exhilarating, heart-pounding gameday experience. In Medellin, the two popular local teams are Independiente Medellin and Atlético Nacional. The fans of each time position themselves strategically on opposing sides of the stadium. To visit a great game, you can often find tickets for less than 40,000 COP, or just under $13.

Local Columbia Museums

When you vacation to Medellin, you need to consider visiting several famous museums along your trip. One of the most famous is the Medellin Museum of Modern Art, or MAMM, located in the Ciudad del Rio neighborhood. Additionally consider the Museum House of the Memory which explores Colombia’s past, collective progress, and aspirations for the future. This free to enter complex provides historical collections of drug and paramilitary violence, as well as Medellin’s fight to acheive unity and peace.

Eating In Medellin

For your travels to Medellin, you may be wondering about what foods you should eat. The must try dish and Medellin, and just about all of Columbia is bandeja paisa. This famous dish consists of mainly pork, egg, fried plantains, vegetables, rice, and avocado. At the same time, you need to visit the Minorista Market to sample an abundance of exotic vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Another famous restaurant in Medellin is Cafe Zobra, famous for their delicious pizzas. Due to the language barriers, make sure to properly fill out an allergy card in Spanish. If possible, consider the easy ways to plan a trip around food allergies.

Flying To The City

Before you book your arrangements, you will need to arrange a flight to Colombia. With flights from North to South America being notoriously expensive, this can often be a daunting task. Medellin’s International Airport is José María Córdova (MDE). Other major international airports in Colombia include El Dorado Airport (BOG) in Bogota, and Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez Airport (CTG). If you are considering where to fly out of, the most feasible cities are New York, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. You will commonly find flights offered from major airlines like Spirit, Avianca, and Aeromexico.

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