Medellín, known as the “City of Eternal Spring”, is the second-largest city in Colombia and the capital of the Antioquia department. Nestled in the Aburrá Valley of the Andes Mountains, Medellín enjoys a mild, spring-like climate year-round, making it an attractive destination for both travellers and digital nomads.
Once infamous for its troubled past aka hometown of Pablo Escobar, Medellín has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past two decades, emerging as a vibrant, innovative, and cultural hub in Latin America.
I spent about a week here in 2023 as a grad trip, after I finished my MBA in USA, because it had gained reputation as a digital nomad haven (but in 2025 it probably is getting too expensive) so I decided to make a quick trip here. I had a good time in my last trip to Bogota, Colombia about 1 year before this trip. I considered myself an amateur digital nomad, tried to write some code whenever I could, so I had to give Medellín a try.
Is Medellín Worth Visiting?
Back in 2023, I felt this place was great but a little overhyped by the internet. Medellín felt like Hong Kong, with skyscrapers, similar climate, lots of mountains, and the greenery on some streets reminded me of Singapore. I liked it but I mainly stayed in the digital nomad hotspot areas like El Poblado, which is more secluded from other areas.
It is however, culturally significant and food here is very good. I like how it has a different vibe from Bogota. Overall I’d recommend it but I would imagine how over-tourism may have ruined it in 2025. I felt pretty safe in Medellín but I have heard horror stories of tourists being targeted.
I met a lot of cool digital nomads in the hostel I was staying at so that was cool tho!
Medellín vs Bogota
Since I visited both cities about a year apart, people always ask me which one I preferred. Bogota feels more like a proper capital — bigger, busier, more chaotic, and at a much higher altitude (2,640m vs Medellín’s 1,495m). Medellín is more laid-back, warmer, and easier to navigate. The food in Medellín felt better to me, especially the Paisa dishes, and the digital nomad scene is way more developed here than in Bogota.
That said, Bogota has more history and museums if that is your thing. If you only have time for one, I would pick Medellín for the overall experience. If you can do both, start with Bogota and end with Medellín — it is a nicer city to wind down in.
How Many Days in Medellín
I spent about a week and it felt right. You need at least one full day for Comuna 13, one for paragliding, and a couple of days to explore El Poblado, the food scene, and just enjoy the climate. If you are working remotely, two weeks is a comfortable stay — there are enough cafes, coworking spaces, and things to do on weekends to keep it interesting without feeling rushed.
For a pure tourist visit, four to five days covers the main attractions comfortably.
Is Medellín Safe?
This is the question everyone asks before visiting Colombia. My honest experience — I felt safe in Medellín during the day, especially in El Poblado and the tourist areas around Comuna 13. The metro felt safe too. At night, I stuck to El Poblado and took Ubers instead of walking.
That said, I have heard horror stories from other travellers about being drugged or targeted in nightlife areas. The general advice from locals and hostel staff was: do not accept drinks from strangers, do not flash expensive electronics on the street, and avoid wandering into neighbourhoods you do not know. Centro around Plaza Botero felt a bit rowdy even during the day.
Common sense goes a long way. I would not say Medellín is dangerous, but it is not a place to let your guard down completely either.
What to Eat in Medellín
Bandeja Paisa: A Traditional Feast
Bandeja Paisa is perhaps Colombia’s most iconic dish, hailing from the Paisa region (which includes Antioquia, where Medellín is located). The name translates to ‘Paisa Tray’ in English, and it is served on a large tray. I got to try it from Mondongo restaurante, an amazing restaurant with long history in Medellín and serving food at reasonable prices and also gave me bananas and avocado. That is how you keep customers loyal!
Colombian Chorizo and Pescado Frito
I love Colombian food because there’s a lot of meat, these 2 are must try staples in Colombia!
Colombian chorizo is a flavorful sausage made primarily of pork, seasoned with garlic, and various spices. It’s commonly grilled and served with arepas (corn cakes) and a fresh salad. This savoury sausage is a staple in Colombian cuisine, known for its rich taste and succulent texture.
Pescado Frito, translating to Fried Fish in Spanish, is a beloved dish in Colombian cuisine, particularly along the coasts. Typically, a whole fish, like tilapia or snapper, is seasoned and deep-fried until golden and crispy.
Getting Around Medellín
Overall Medellín’s transportation really surprised me! The Medellín metro is the only metro system in Colombia, and I think it is comparable to a lot of Asian countries. Clean, efficient, and cheap. To get to Comuna 13, you take the Metrocable — a cable car system integrated into the metro network — which is also very well developed. I was amazed by these transportation options.
For getting around El Poblado and going out at night, Uber works well and is affordable. Taxis are fine too but agree on a price before getting in, or make sure they use the meter.
Things to Do in Medellín
Plaza Botero
Plaza Botero is one of Medellín’s most renowned landmarks, located in the city’s Centro district. This vibrant public space is adorned with 23 large sculptures created by famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero, known for his distinctive style of ‘larger-than-life’ figures.
This photo shows Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe, which was designed by Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts, the palace was intended to be the Antioquia Government Headquarters, but it was never fully completed as planned. It is named after Rafael Uribe Uribe, a Colombian general, politician, and leader of the Liberal Party. Today, it houses the Institute of Culture and Heritage of Antioquia, serving as a cultural and historical center for the region.
This place is located in the Centro area and honestly, a little unsafe and rowdy. I would not come here at night. Otherwise it is a good spot to checkout for an hour or 2, very touristy place.
Comuna 13
Comuna 13, formerly known as San Javier, is a neighborhood in Medellín that has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. Once notorious for violence and crime, it has become a symbol of resilience, creativity, and social progress. Today, it is famed for its vibrant street art, bustling local culture, and innovative urban development projects.
Now this is the crown jewel of Medellín, it was a battleground for Pablo Escobar’s cartel and really reminded me of the Favelas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I liked my time here, walking through the streets of history, enjoying some hip art. This is perhaps the most touristy place in Medellín.
There were lots of inclined slopes in Comuna 13 and lots of colorful graffitis, if this is your vibe, you will like this area. I certainly find it comparable to many artistic districts around the globe. I would recommend hiring a local guide — they share personal stories about the neighbourhood’s transformation that you would not get on your own.
Paragliding in Medellín
Oh look I was so happy lol. This is the first time I did paragliding. A long time ago I did a free-fall style parachuting but I gotta try paragliding. It costed $80 USD but I was in the air for a good 5-10 minutes. I liked it but it was not as excited as parachuting.
Paragliding is a popular thing to do in Medellín since there are so many mountains. The hostel I stayed at has tours for paragliding. As you can see above the mountains are so tall and there were many people at the field for paragliding. Overall, I liked it and I will recommend it. Most hostels in El Poblado can book this for you.
El Poblado: Where Digital Nomads Stay in Medellín
Now most digital nomads stay in El Poblado. This is one of Medellín’s most affluent and vibrant neighborhoods, located approximately 10 kilometers southeast of the city centro. Known for its trendy atmosphere, it offers a lively mix of entertainment, dining, shopping, and cultural experiences.
All the digital nomad-y things, nice hostels, airbnbs and restaurants are in this area, way way different vibes from El Centro. The photo on the right is a restaurant located in this area: Alambique. A friend of mine recommended me to checkout the interior and I was quite amazed by it and the food too.
On budget — in 2023, a hostel bed in El Poblado was around $10-15 USD a night, meals at local restaurants were $3-8 USD, and a beer was about $1-2 USD. Compared to most digital nomad destinations in Southeast Asia, Medellín was similarly affordable. I have heard prices have gone up since then though.
Final Thoughts
Medellín is a beautiful, comfortable place. There are shady areas and there are some unrests, for example when I was going to the airport on the last day, the taxis were having a protest on the street and blocking all the traffic, I almost did not make it to my flight. But still, the mountains, climate, food and things to do at the prices in 2023 (not sure about now) makes it an interesting option to spend some time digital nomad-ing in.
It is a good blend of South America and Asia (Hong Kong/ Singapore) vibes, so I felt pretty comfortable here and I would recommend coming again.