Medellín is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Colombia, known for its coffee, color, and good weather! Hey, they don’t call it the city of eternal spring for nothing!
In contrast to Colombia’s gritty capital city of Bogotá, Medellín is a breath of fresh air, a hub of reggaeton, sunshine, and friendly paisa people. But it’s also one of the most transformed cities in Colombia, with stories of resilience written on every corner.
If you have the time, I highly recommend spending days, weeks, even months in Medellín! There are truly so many things to do, plus the city is a great jumping-off point for a number of day trips in the region.
However, if you’re short on time, this guide is for you! I’ll break down exactly how to spend 24 hours in Medellín, whether you’re making the most of a layover or stopping by on the way to the Colombian coast.
Whatever your travel style, you can count on me! Why, you ask? Well, I’m currently on a mission to visit all 32 Departments of Colombia with Medellín as my home base, so I know this city pretty well! Let’s get started.
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Colombia Quick Links
✈️ Flights – Use Kiwi.com or WayAway to find the cheapest and fastest flights to Colombia
🛏️ Accommodation – Find the best places to stay throughout Colombia on Booking.com and Hostelworld.com
✅ Get Insured – I personally use Safety Wing Nomad Insurance for my travels all around the world! VisitorsCoverage is another great option.
🚗 Rent a Car – Find the best deals for a Colombia road trip on RentalCars.com
🗺️ Find Things to Do – Check out Get Your Guide, Viator, and Tripadvisor for exciting adventures all around Colombia
☎ Buy a Sim – Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries and regions
Have more time to spend in Colombia? Check out my weeklong guide to Colombia’s sister cities of Medellín and Bogota, or my full 3-week itinerary!
Guided Tours of Medellín
Don’t want to DIY for your 24 hours in Medellín? Check out one of these highly rated city tours!
🎨Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour – Explore the most transformed neighborhood in Medellín with cable car ride
🚴♀️Medellin City Bike Tour – Explore Medellín by bike on this tour with traditional drinks and snacks
🌆Historic Downtown Walking Tour – Learn about Medellín’s history on a walking tour with a local guide
Where to Stay in Medellín
Medellín is home to a large number of neighborhoods, each with their own distinct personality and style. If you’re on a longer trip, I highly recommend checking out my Medellín neighborhood guide to learn more about the unique barrios of this city.
However, if you only have 24 hours in Medellín, I highly recommend staying in the Poblado neighborhood. It’s definitely the tourist-hub of the city, home to a variety of accommodation and dining options, plus it’s well connected on the metro line to easily get around the city.
Here are a few of my top accommodation recommendations in Medellín:
Budget: Los Patios Hostel ($) – This boutique hostel is home to a rooftop pool, a bar, and a terrace featuring panoramic views of the Medellín skyline! It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a night in Medellín.
Mid-Range: The Somos Bold Hotel ($$) – This funky, art-deco style hotel is located right in the heart of Poblado, featuring cozy, eclectic rooms to immerse you in the city. The hotel is also home to a rooftop bar with epic views of Medellín.
Luxury: The Click Clack Hotel ($$$) – You’ll forget you’re in a city at this unique eco-hotel, shrouded in greenery! The hotel is home to a number of unique on-site restaurants as well as comfortable, beautiful rooms to feel right at home.
Poblado not your style? Check out my full hotel guide to Medellín for all budgets!
Tips for Exploring Medellín
Medellín is a very-well connected city, easy to get around even with limited time! Here are a few of my top tips and tricks for exploring Medellín in 24 hours.
Buy a Metro Card – Medellín is home to Colombia’s only metro system, making it one of the easiest cities in the country to explore! However, you’ll need a metro card to make the most of it! You can get a Civica card at any metro station in the city. The card is free, but you’ll need to load it with money to pay for rides. A single ride costs 3,490 COP (~$1 USD) each way.
Keep Your Valuables Safe – Medellín is much safer than it’s been in years, but pickpocketing and petty crime is still common in the center. I highly recommend investing in an anti-theft backpack before your trip so you can explore without worry. I also encourage you to read my full Colombia Safety Guide to learn more about staying safe while traveling.
Carry Cash – Medellín is a modern city, but many establishments in the city still prefer cash (or only accept cash!) I highly recommend carrying cash on you, especially if you plan on sampling the delicious street food or picking up a handmade souvenir!
How to Spend 24 Hours in Medellín
Wondering how to spend one day in Medellín? With 24 hours in the city, you’ll get a taste of the paisa culture (and plenty of delicious coffee as well!) So let’s get started!
8:30 AM – Start with coffee and breakfast at Pergamino
Pergamino Cafe is a Medellín staple, home to numerous locations throughout the city. The cafe is known for its funky, art-deco style decor, large selection of pastries, and delicious cafe de origen.
Pergamino works with numerous partners across Colombia to serve delicious coffee from all corners of the country to guests. You’ll also have the chance to sample coffee made with numerous processing methods, as well as select the processing method of your cup for a truly one-of-a-kind flavor.
Pergamino is also known for their delicious pastries and brunch options, so it’s the perfect place to start a day in Medellín. You’ll also be able to pick up some unique Medellín souvenirs – from hats to mugs to fresh bags of coffee to bring home!
Want to learn more about Colombian coffee? Join a tour to a local coffee farm from Medellín, or check out my full guide to the Colombian Coffee Region.
10:00 AM – Explore the Plaza Botero
A short metro ride from Poblado gets you to the La Candelaria neighborhood, or the city center of Medellín. One of the top sights in La Candelaría is La Plaza Botero, a city plaza home to 23 sculptures by master Colombian artist Fernando Botero.
Known for his notable, unique style characterized by voluminous figures, Botero has made a name for himself in and outside of Colombia. Botero actually grew up in Medellín, so the plaza is one of the best places to see his work in person. You’ll find a number of unique characters – from the robust Roman Soldier to the Mujer Con Espejo (Woman with Mirror)
The Plaza Botero is also located right beside the Palacio de la Cultura, one of the most beautiful buildings in the centro. Characterized by its black and white details, it provides the perfect backdrop to the many pieces of art filling the plaza.
11:00 AM – Get lost in the Museo de Antioquia
Right across from the Plaza Botero is the Museo de Antioquia, the most famous art museum in Medellín. The museum is home to a number of works by Colombian masters, including Botero’s most famous piece, “The Death of Pablo Escobar.”
The building itself is even a work of art, featuring a beautiful central atrium filled with plants and fountains. It’s the perfect place to rest after wandering through the galleries and take in the stories you’ve just witnessed.
Entrance to the museum costs 40,000 COP (~$10 USD) per person, though students and those older than 62 can enter for just 12,000 COP (~$3 USD). Make sure to bring your student ID to make it count!
Don’t want to wait? Check out this skip-the-line ticket to see the best of the Museo de Antioquia!
12:30 PM – Grab an almuerzo ejecutivo in the centro
A Colombian lunch staple is the almuerzo ejecutivo, a set lunch menu available at nearly every restaurant. With the average price ranging around 15,000-25,000 COP (~$3-$5 USD) it’s one of the most affordable lunch options in town.
Most almuerzo ejecutivos, also called menú del día, include a soup, a protein, a salad, a side, and a drink. Typical items include carne de res (steak), pechuga a la plancha (pressed and breaded chicken) or cerdo (pork). You’ll sometimes even find fish options, and vegetarian menus can often be accommodated when requested.
Practically every restaurant in el centro offers a menu del dia, so join the locals and sample some local flavors!
2:00 PM – Join a walking tour of Comuna 13
La Comuna 13 is Medellín’s most transformed neighborhood, and a must-visit on any trip to gain a better understanding of the city’s history. Hey, there’s a reason I think it’s the best thing to do in Medellín!
Comuna 13 was once the most dangerous neighborhood in the city, overrun by violence during the turn of the century. However, in the early 2000s, new infrastructure began to connect the neighborhood with other parts of Medellín, including a metrocable and a large outdoor elevator system. Street artists also began to take over the neighborhood, covering the walls with murals telling the stories of the community.
Over time, the neighborhood completely transformed, from once the center of Medellín’s violence to now a living example of its transformation. You can check out my full guide to visiting Comuna 13 to learn more history and find my recommended tours.
5:00 PM – Enjoy happy hour with city views
The city of Medellín is located within the Aburrá Valley, so there’s no shortage of places to enjoy a happy hour with epic city views! Even if drinking isn’t your thing, it’s worth it to sip on a cup of hot chocolate and watch the sun set over the city skyline.
If you want to stay in La Comuna 13, you’ll find plenty of restaurants with views along the Viaducto, the main walking path along the top of the neighborhood. Sip on a Poker beer or snack on an arepa con queso and enjoy epic views as the sun sets over the city.
Alternatively, the neighborhood of Laureles is a short ride away, and home to some of the best restaurants in Medellín (more on that next!) There are some great rooftop bars to choose from in the neighborhood, from Panorama Rooftop Bar, serving up delicious cocktails with epic views, to Mood Roof, a gastropub with delicious tapa-style bites.
6:30 PM – Grab dinner at El Primer Parque de Laureles
Medellín’s Laureles neighborhood is one of the best places to eat in the city, home to a variety of national and international cuisine. No matter what you’re craving, you’re likely to find it in Laureles!
Many of the restaurants in Laureles are near the two main parks in the neighborhood – the Primer Parque de Laureles (maps) and the Segundo Parque de Laureles (maps). I recommend starting at one of the parks and exploring – this neighborhood is known for it’s safety, walkability, and beautiful greenery!
Some of my favorites are Naan for delicious Indian food, Puerto Inka for Peruvian food, or Parmessano for Italian food. Of course you’ll find plenty of Colombian options as well – I recommend La Tienda de La 70 for delicious Colombian food in a super paisa setting!
10:00 PM – Dance the night away at La 70
La 70 is my favorite place to party in Medellín, a street covered with everything from modern discotecas to old-school salsa bars! Hey, it turns out you don’t need to go all the way to Cali to get a taste of Colombian salsa culture!
La 70 comes alive pretty much every night of the week, with locals and visitors alike exploring the many clubs, cantinas, and restaurants that line the block. You’ll also find plenty of street vendors whipping up some of the most delicious food in Colombia – an arepa con queso just hits different after a night out salsa dancing!
I highly recommend El Tibirí for an authentic salsa experience, Cantina La 70 for house music and dancing, or Oye Bonita for a very costeño night out – you’ll definitely hear some Vallenato music!
The Best Time to Visit Medellín
Medellín is pretty much warm and sunny year-round, so no matter what time you’re visiting you’re likely to find good weather! However, rain is extremely common, so make sure to pack a rain jacket for your 24 hours in Medellín!
There are also a few times of year the city truly comes alive. If you have the chance to visit in August you’ll be just in time for the city’s biggest festival, La Feria de Las Flores! This annual flower festival takes over the city with color, parades, and flower arrangements, and is truly one of the best celebrations in Colombia.
Christmastime is also another unique time to visit Medellín. Christmas is a HUGE deal in Colombia and Medellín is no different, the city coming to life with color, food, and celebrations. The city also has some of the best decorations in the country – this guided Christmas lights tour will take you to the best decorations in town!
How to Get Around Medellín
Medellín is one of the most easily navigable cities in Colombia thanks to its well-equipped metro system. If you’re only spending 24 hours in Medellín this is especially convenient, as it allows you to save on both money and time!
To buy a metro card, simply visit any metro station in the city and purchase a Civica card. The card itself is free, but you’ll need to load it with cash to ride. Each ride on the metro costs 3,490 COP (~$1 USD) so I usually recommend putting around 40,000 COP on for a day. You can also use your Civica card on city buses and metrocables.
Uber is also available in Medellín, and fairly cheap and reliable. I HIGHLY recommend taking an Uber over hailing down a cab – unfortunately, cabs have a bad reputation of faulty meters in Medellín. Your safety is worth the tiny price difference (and hey – you’ll end up paying more if you encounter a faulty meter!)
Why Visit Medellín in 24 Hours?
24 hours in Medellín is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of the city’s vibrance, from its colorful paisa culture to its delicious coffee! There’s truly so much to love and see in this city, you might just end up wanting to stay!
If you have more time to spend in Colombia, Medellín is also a great jumping-off point for the Colombian coffee region, where you can truly dive into the life of a coffee farmer (and taste plenty of coffee in the process!) There are also plenty of nearby towns worth a visit, like Guatapé, the most colorful town in Colombia!
Medellín’s central location also makes it a natural stop on the way to the Caribbean Coast, where you’ll be able to explore everything from the colonial streets of Cartagena to the wild Carnival de Barranquilla!
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience (and certainly off the beaten path!) I highly recommend using Medellín as a base for a visit to the department of Chocó. This department is the hub of Afrocolombian culture and a still-undiscovered region of Colombia. Visit in September to go to the San Pacho festival, the biggest celebration of Afrocolombian culture in the country!
Whatever your reasons for visiting, there are a million reasons to love Medellín. You can read everything I’ve written about the city here to keep exploring, or check out all of my Colombia articles here.
So pack your bags (check out my Colombia packing list if you need some help!) and let’s get exploring Colombia!
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Virginia Taylor (Ginna) is a travel writer and photographer exploring the world until her boots wear through. She’s currently on a mission to explore all 32 departments of Colombia, though she formerly called the Middle East home. Want to know more? Visit the About Page.