Things to do in  Medellín

On the shores of the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, the 19th-century town of Guatapé is one of Colombia’s most photographed sites. And it’s easy to see why: The town’s brightly painted buildings and serene natural setting make for some stunning shots. However, the crowning glory of this quaint Colombian pueblo is Piedra del Peñol, a monolithic rock that towers 721 feet (220 meters) above sea level.

A short train ride from the skyscrapers and international art galleries of modern Medellín’s El Centro is Pueblito Paisa, a monument to Colombia’s colonial past. The little village (pueblito) is a re-creation featuring traditional white-washed houses, a picture-perfect central plaza, and spectacular views of Medellín’s surrounding mountains.

Plaza Botero is one of Medellín’s most important outdoor spaces, home to 23 bronze sculptures of chubby cats, voluptuous women, and fat fingers designed and donated by Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Beneath swaying palms and native ceiba trees, snack on street food and snap photos alongside the larger-than-life sculptures.

An escape from the urban jungle of Medellín is only a gondola ride away. Arvi Park (Parque Arvi) and Piedras Blancas Park (Parque Piedras Blancas), neighboring parks in the mountainous countryside east of the city, are crisscrossed by hiking trails and dotted with lakes, scenic lookout points, and wildlife museums.

Medellín Botanical Garden represents the city’s radical recovery from war-torn terror, as well as its innovative use of space. Brimming with more than 5,000 plant species and wildlife from Latin America, the garden—which spans an impressive 40 acres (0.4 hectares)—provides a welcome break from the bustle of central Medellín.

The laidback antidote to bustling Medellín, Santa Fe de Antioquia is one of the country’s best-preserved colonial towns and the former capital of Antioquia. Sample locally produced coffee, admire whitewashed single-story buildings, and cross the oldest suspension bridge in the country—the Bridge of the West, now a National Monument.

Lleras Park (Parque Lleras) forms the social center of the upscale neighborhood of El Poblado, a haven for gourmet restaurants, trendy cocktail bars, and youth hostels. The area is undoubtedly one of the safest Medellín neighborhoods to explore by night, when strings of lights illuminate the park and bars spring to life with DJs and young, fashionable Colombian crowds.

Families won’t want to miss the Medellín Planetarium, where science and space come to life through immersive film screenings and interactive exhibits. Explore the scale of the solar system, learn about the Mayas, and much more.

Set in Plaza Botero, a square that showcases the disproportionate sculptures of Medellín-born Fernando Botero, the Antioquia Museum (Museo de Antioquia) houses a fascinating collection of classic and contemporary art. The third floor is dedicated entirely to Botero and exhibits such controversial works asThe Death of Pablo Escobar.

Medellin’s Metrocable is far more than just a public transport system. Built to transform the war-torn city in the wake of Pablo Escobar’s reign, the urban cable car helps those living in the poorer hilltop barrios to access the city. Use Metrocable to explore formerly unreachable parts of the city.

Barefoot Park (Parque Pies Descalzos) is a fun, interactive space where travelers and locals can quite literally kick off their shoes and play. This sensory experience for your tootsies consists of three separate zones—Sand, Forest, and Water—each with different surfaces and textures to provide a natural foot massage.

Located just a few hours south of Medellin, the town of Jardin is referred to as the Garden of Colombia. Colonial buildings here are surrounded by lush green landscapes that encompass mountains and plantations responsible for producing some of the country’s best coffee beans.

Behind heavy, iron gates in the affluent neighborhood of Poblado, you’ll find El Castillo Museum (Museo El Castillo, a 17th-century castle built in the style of those in France’s Loire Valley. French and Spanish art lines the walls of the museum, which harbors a poignant family history.

With its modernist facade, bright red roof, and funky urban design, it’s clear from the outset that Explora Park (Parque Explora) is no textbook museum. Fun, interactive, and engaging for all ages, it’s one of Colombia’s most popular science museums and boasts a whopping 120,000 square feet (37,000 square meters) of indoor and outdoor exhibitions.

Filled with open-air sculpture exhibits, elaborate marble mausoleums, and monuments, Medellín’s San Pedro Cemetery Museum (Museo Cementerio San Pedro) is an unusual attraction you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. Look out for the resting places of Colombian businesspeople, politicians, and artists, as well as art which pays homage to the dead.