Medellin
The city of eternal spring - a once-notorious city dramatically transformed into a hub of innovation, culture and warmth, set in a green valley, with hillside barrios reached by cable car.
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Medellin, set in a lush green valley in the Andes, is one of the great urban transformation stories of recent times, a city that has reinvented itself from a byword for violence into a vibrant, innovative and welcoming hub of culture, business and paisa warmth. Blessed with a spring-like climate year-round, it is famous for its integrated metro and hillside cable cars, its Botero sculptures, its flower festival, and the remarkable regeneration of once-troubled barrios like Comuna 13.
What you actually see
- The metro and cable cars - the transport system linking hillside barrios.
- Comuna 13 - the transformed barrio of street art and escalators.
- Plaza Botero - the square of the artist's plump bronze sculptures.
- The spring climate and flowers - the year-round greenery and flower festival.
When to go
Year-round, thanks to its famous spring-like climate; the vibrant Feria de las Flores flower festival in August is a highlight. The pleasant temperatures make any time a good time to visit.
Honest expectations
Its transformation is real and remarkable, but it remains a big city with its problems, so take normal urban precautions, avoid flashing valuables and be wary of drink-spiking and scams in nightlife areas. The Comuna 13 tours are best done respectfully with a local guide, remembering it is a real community with a painful past, not a spectacle.
Nearby
The colourful town of Guatape and its great rock, and the coffee region, are within reach.
What to pack for Medellin
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
