3 days in Medellin itinerary (for first time visitors)

Set in the Aburrá Valley, Medellín is a city known for its warm, pleasant climate and its inviting, friendly vibe that welcomes people from all over the globe.

Over recent years, Medellin has become one of the most popular cities in Colombia to visit and with it being the second most important city in Colombia, here you can get a taste of some of the best that Colombia has to offer.

The Antioquia region, where Medellin is situated, is known predominantly for its Paisa culture and has been one of Colombia’s key coffee-producing regions.

3 days in Medellin itinerary

In this guide, we’ll explore the city of Medellin, and with my epic 3 day itinerary, you’ll get a deeper understanding of what the city has in store for its visitors.

Touted as the city of eternal spring, Medellin has a pleasant climate when compared to the blistering heat found on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Visitors arriving here can find exuberant nightlife venues in El Poblado, a sizzling selection of food options as well as many cultural activities.

Medellin is a place where you can discover nude artwork and sculptures of Fernando Botero. Also, you can learn all about the man himself, Pablo Escobar.

There are day trips from Medellin too, including visits to towns such as Guatape and Santa Fe de Antioquia, which can both be reached within an hour.

Getting around Medellin

Medellin has one of the best transport networks in the country, and I had not fully realised this until arriving in other parts of the country where moving around was somewhat sporadic and much slower.

The metro overground system is simply world-class, and you can get from the north to the south of the city with ease. If you are travelling to or from other parts of the country by land, you can head to both bus terminals using this method.

Taxis in Medellín are like the city’s blood cells; they circulate all day long and are plentiful. Taxis in Medellín are what make the city more accessible because the idea is to use them to get to places where the Metro does not reach.

For us, and for many others who are arriving in Medellin as part of their backpacking Colombia travel route see the city as one of the main highlights.

Medellin travel tips: other things to know

For this Medellin itinerary, you’ll need a budget of $20-30 per day. I think this is a sufficient amount to be able to cover the costs of a dorm bed, local food, some Metro rides along with some drinks and other bits and bobs too.

If you’re staying at YOLO hostel you’ll have a kitchen to prepare meals. Costs for international flights, travel insurance, or long-distance buses and flights are not included in this budget, so you can start to plan accordingly with this in mind.

Also, remember to factor in gringo pricing which does happen here.

Medellin is definitely not one of the safest cities in Colombia, but if you position yourself in El Poblado, you can simply evade much of the crime that goes on.

There will always be the chance of robbery if you are not taking precautions, but I recommend that you follow the safety advice given on this blog.

No matter when you plan to arrive, you’ll want to pack some warm clothes for the evening, as the temperature can drop, especially when it rains. Also a poncho or the equivalent for when you’re out and about. You’ll see locals flip them out in a flash because the rain is constant here and will fall at any time of the day.

Medellin itinerary (3 days)

Now let’s dig deep and explore the details of my 3 days in Medellin itinerary, where I’ll cover some of the city’s very best sights and experiences.

Day 1 in Medellin

Let’s start in El Poblado, it is here you’ll likely spend your mornings and evenings, so where better to start your day? Spend the morning walking around Parque Lleras and start getting acquainted with the groovy network of urban streets.

For a place to stay, many backpackers choose Viajero hostel because it is one of the most reputable hostels that can be found around the country.

You’ll pass by the coffee shops, boutique clothing, and gift stores that are dotted around more or less every street in this area, also known as La Zona Rosa.

From there, head over to the Botanical Gardens which are located next to the Estacion Universidad metro station. After a walk around the gardens, head back to the metro and get off at San Javier, which is the final station on line B.

It is at San Javier where you can transfer to line J and catch the cable cars that will take you over to Parque Arvi. The reason why I do not recommend taking a taxi to Parque Arvi is that the ride on the cable cars and the views you get along the way are not only stunning but also a part of the attraction itself.

You then head to the Cable-car station (Santo Domingo) from where you’ll pay a separate fee to be taken over to Parque Arvi which takes about 15 minutes.

After spending a few hours at Parque Arvi head over to Laureles to catch the early evening vibes on Calle 70 which is famous for its restaurants and bars.

One safety law in Medellin for tourists is not to flaunt money or wealth in public. I suggest you carry a waist pack (or equivalent) to conceal your valuables.

Day 2 in Medellin

After breakfast, spend some time snapping pictures of street art around the neighbourhood. Then head down to the Metro station to take the next train to El Centro. Get off at Parque Berrio and start walking to towards Plaza Botero.

It is here where you will find Museo De Antioquia and other artefacts such as Botero’s nude statues. After that, head towards Restaurant Hacienda for lunch, where you can have a traditional Antioqueñan meal with top-notch service.

Once lunch is done, head for Salon Malaga and spend some time there having a coffee and learning something about Medellin’s connection with tango music.

Alternatively, you could go on a Comuna 13 tour instead and learn all about the struggles of one of Colombia’s most notorious neighbourhoods. This will no doubt add a lot of perspective to your trip, but it is not for everybody.

In the evening head time, head out to one of the other streets near Parque Lleras and move over to Provenza which neighbours Parque Lleras, for nightlife.

Day 3 in Medellin

Once you have had your morning coffee, be sure to check Pergamino coffee shop or even Juan Valdez if you have not already and get yourself fired up.

If you managed to organise your tour to Guatape (I recommend you get your spot as early as you can) the guide should have already arranged to either pick you up from your accommodation or, arranged to meet you at Poblado Park for collection. The pick-up for Guatapé is early in the morning, so be prepared!

Guatape is a small Antioqueñan town that features a giant rock called El Peñol.

Check out this special tour gives you access to both the town and the rock as well as a guided boat cruise. The only thing left to pay would be the entrance to the rock, which is 20,000COP but worth it for the photo op and views alone.

The trip to get to Guatape takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on traffic; it can be quicker, but with the tour lasting around 10 hours, you can expect it to take up the duration of your day anyway.

After arriving back in El Poblado, you can hang around El Poblado Park before going out again later on in the evening around Parque Lleras.

The vibe around El Poblado Park is buzzing in the early evening, and it’s normal to grab a drink from the local tienda to sit with and relax around the giant steps that the park is known for. You’ll meet many other travellers and locals here too!

For your last night in Medellin, I suggest you check out some of the venues that you may have missed during your first and second nights.

Medellin travel tips

Below you can find a list of my top recommendations for Medellin:

3 days in Medellin itinerary

Medellin is a city known for its exuberant nightlife and diversity when it comes to offering its visitors a place to explore. Aside from the weather, its unique culture and food offerings are some of the major draws for travelling here.

Despite the issue of congestion and contamination, with 3 days in Medellin, you can enjoy the best bits of the city without worrying about the pitfalls.

Respect the limitations of this city, and it will pay you back in dividends. Many new visitors find themselves staying here for extended periods of time.