5 Cool Things to Do in Medellin
Twenty years ago, Medellin, Colombia was considered one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Today, it is a bustling city that has emerged as THE digital nomad hotspot of South America. The city represents a Cinderella story of urban transformation (you can read more about how they did it here.) and for anyone interested in recent history or urban renewal, it is is a destination that you must visit.
For full transparency, I am not one of the people that LOVES Medellin. I have visited twice and both times, I was a bit underwhelmed by the city itself. I am actually one of the few people that prefers Bogota. However, even I can’t deny that there are some really cool things to do in Medellin.
#1 Ride the cable cars
By far, one of the things I found the coolest about Medellin were the cable cars. Rather than primarily being a tourist attraction like they are in most parts of the world, the cable cars are actually part of the public transport network. They connect Medellin’s metro stations to the numerous suburbs that cling to the surrounding mountains. Riding the cable cars gives you a bird’s eye view of what life is like in Medellin and also gives you a whole new perspective on a morning commute!
#2 Explore Communa 13
The area known as Communa 13 used to be one of Medellin’s roughest neighborhoods thanks to its location on the route from Medellin to the ocean. Drug cartels operated in the area and an unofficial civil war raged on the hillside neighborhood’s narrow streets. However, the area has transformed itself into a cultural hub with beautiful street art, trendy restaurants, bars and cafes. An outdoor escalator connects the highest areas of Communa 13 to the rest of the city and on weekends, the area is crawling with people.
#3 Visit Parque Arvi
This expansive hill perched on the top of a mountain is a beautiful place to spend a sunny day. With various hiking trails and a gorgeous little riverside pathway, Parque Arvi gives you a chance to escape the craziness of Medellin. One of the best parts about going there is the commute! To get to Parque Arvi, you must take a cable car to Santo Domingo and then you take another even longer cable car up over the top of the mountain. Along the way, you can watch the signs of urban sprawl fade away.
#4 Follow in the footsteps of Pablo Escobar
Like it or not, Pablo Escobar’s name has become synonymous with Medellin. He grew up in what is now a Medellin suburb called Envigado, a quiet, orderly neighborhood. He died on the rooftop of a building in central Medellin and there is still speculation of whether he killed himself or was killed by the police.
If you want to learn more about Pablo Escobar Museum where for a hefty price, you can check out some of his personal items. I actually choose to skip the museum because it felt a bit weird when I didn’t know that much about him.
#5 Explore downtown Medellin
While Centro Medellin is not the classiest place in the world (there are a lot of hookers and street vendors), there are some pretty cool things to see there including Botero Square and the Museum of Antioquia. I also did a free walking tour there and learned a lot about the violence that ripped through this city in the 1990s and 2000s.
A beautiful city. I need to make a trip back there.