The short answer
Yes. Medellín receives millions of visitors a year, has a clean and punctual metro, entire neighborhoods built for walking, and a food and culture scene that surprises anyone arriving with the image of the nineties in their head. The city from the TV series no longer exists; the one that does, you get to know best with someone who lives here.
That said, it is a big city in a country with inequality, and that calls for common-sense rules. Here are the ones we give our own family when they visit.
"No dar papaya": rule number one
In Colombia people say "no dar papaya": don't make it easy for anyone. In practice it means not walking down the street staring at your phone, not pulling out a full wallet, not hanging your bag on the back of a chair and not wearing flashy jewelry. Most incidents involving tourists are opportunistic thefts, and almost all of them are avoided with this one rule.
Where to stay
El Poblado, Laureles and Envigado hold most of the hotels and apartments for travelers. All three are calm for walking by day and have nightlife with a police presence. Laureles is more residential and local; El Poblado, more international. Our Pablo Escobar and Guatapé tours leave from Parque de El Poblado precisely because it is the most convenient spot for almost everyone.
How to get around
The Metro is the safest and cheapest way across the city; people take care of it and it shows. For night trips use a ride-hailing app or a taxi ordered from your hotel, and avoid hailing taxis on the street late at night. The Metrocables are public transport and a lookout at the same time: worth riding even if you have nowhere to be.
What to avoid
Walking alone downtown after dark. Accepting drinks from strangers or leaving your glass unattended in bars: scopolamine cases are rare but real. Buying drugs: besides being illegal, it is the fastest route to serious trouble. And dating-app meetups with people who insist on coming to your apartment on the first date: stay in public places.
And Comuna 13?
Today it is one of the most visited places in the city and by day it is full of families, artists and travelers. It is walked with peace of mind, and with a guide from the neighborhood it is walked better: they know which way to climb, whom to greet and what story sits behind each mural. Our Graffiti Tour leaves three times a day from a coffee shop in the 20 de Julio neighborhood, and the guides wear a green shirt with their name.
Before you head out
Keep these details: the emergency number in Colombia is 123. Carry a copy of your passport and leave the original at the hotel. And if anything worries you during your trip, message us on WhatsApp: we reply every day, even if you did not book with us.
- Areas to stay: El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado, Sabaneta.
- By day: downtown, Comuna 13, Metrocable, Botanical Garden, Parque Arví.
- At night: ride-hailing app, no street taxis, glass always in sight.
- Emergencies: 123.
