Things to do in Medellín

Medellín doesn’t have a big historic centre: its appeal lies in its neighbourhoods, the cable cars climbing the hillsides and the story of its transformation. In two days you’ll see downtown with Plaza Botero, Comuna 13, the view from the Metrocable and a couple of museums; a third day lets you add Parque Arví or El Castillo Museum. Here’s what’s worth it, with opening hours, prices and visit times. For getting there, where to stay and trip costs, start with our Medellín travel guide.

Downtown: Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia

Downtown Medellín is chaotic and noisy, but it’s where you’ll find the work of Fernando Botero, the artist born in the city. Allow half a day.

• Plaza Botero: 23 large bronze sculptures by the artist, outdoors and free. Half an hour is enough. Opposite stands the Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe, the black-and-white chequered building.
• Museo de Antioquia: on the square, with the largest collection of Botero’s work and a good section of Colombian art. Allow 1.5-2 hours.

Museo de Antioquia
Opening hours	roughly Monday to Saturday 10 am-5:30 pm, Sundays and public holidays 10 am-4:30 pm
Foreign visitors	between 40,000 and 46,000 pesos depending on the source

Visit downtown by day: in the evening it’s best not to hang around Plaza Botero and Parque Berrío. Keep your phone in your pocket even in daylight.

Comuna 13

Medellín’s most famous visit: a hillside neighbourhood in San Javier that was for years one of the city’s most violent and is now the symbol of its transformation, with outdoor escalators, murals, hip hop and street performers. Allow 2-3 hours.

• Getting there: metro to San Javier (Line B), then a short bus or taxi ride, or an uphill walk.
• Price: the neighbourhood and the escalators are free. Tours with local guides are tip-based or fixed-price.
• When: early morning, around 9 am. From early afternoon and at weekends it’s packed.

I’d recommend going with a local guide: they tell the neighbourhood’s story, which you won’t see on your own, and the money stays in the community. In 2026 the escalators underwent maintenance with partial closures: the regular stairs alongside always stay open.

The Metrocable and Parque Arví

The metro cable cars (Metrocable) connect the hillside neighbourhoods to the rest of the city and are also the cheapest way to see Medellín from above.

• Line K (Acevedo to Santo Domingo): the most scenic. It’s included in a metro fare, about 4,400 pesos without a personalised Cívica card. The round trip takes about an hour.
• Line L (Santo Domingo to Parque Arví): the tourist cable car that rises over the forest to a large nature park with trails and a market of local produce. It’s paid separately: about 26,700 pesos for foreign visitors (some sources say 24,500). Allow half a day.

To ride comfortably, avoid rush hours (6-8:30 am and 5-7:30 pm), when the cabins are full of commuters.

El Castillo Museum

A Gothic-style castle built in the 1930s on the El Poblado hillside, now a museum with European furnishings and a large, well-kept garden, perfect for a quiet break. It isn’t the city’s most important sight, but it’s worth 1.5-2 hours if you like historic houses or want somewhere green and peaceful. Go by taxi: it isn’t near the metro.

El Castillo Museum
Opening hours	Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10 am-5 pm; gardens until 6 pm
Castle guided tour and gardens, foreign visitors	35,000 pesos
Gardens only, foreign visitors	28,000 pesos
Tours in English	daily at 11 am and 3 pm

Free museums and sights

Place	What to expect	Approximate hours	Time
Casa de la Memoria Museum	Colombia’s armed conflict told through its victims	Tuesday-Friday 9 am-6 pm, weekends and holidays 10 am-4 pm; closed Mondays	1-1.5 hours
Botanical Garden	botanical garden with the Orquideorama, near Universidad metro station	Tuesday-Sunday about 9 am-4 pm	1-2 hours
Pueblito Paisa	replica of a traditional Antioquia village on Cerro Nutibara, with city views	daily about 9 am-9 pm	1 hour

The Casa de la Memoria Museum is, in my view, essential for understanding today’s Colombia: pair it with Comuna 13. Next to the Botanical Garden is Parque Explora, a science museum with a large aquarium, which charges admission: check prices and hours on its website before you go. Take a taxi up to Pueblito Paisa and go at sunset for the view of the valley lights.

2-day Medellín itinerary

1. Day 1 – Downtown and the Metrocable. Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia in the morning; at lunchtime take the metro to Acevedo and Line K to Santo Domingo; if you have time, continue on Line L to Parque Arví. Dinner in El Poblado.
2. Day 2 – Comuna 13 and memory. Comuna 13 at 9 am with a local guide; the Casa de la Memoria Museum or the Botanical Garden in the afternoon; sunset at Pueblito Paisa and dinner in Laureles.

With a third day, add El Castillo Museum in the morning or a day trip: Guatapé and the Peñol Rock is the most popular. If you’re there in early August, don’t miss the Flower Festival.

Mistakes to avoid

• Visiting Comuna 13 on a weekend afternoon: in the crowds you see little and the neighbourhood loses its character.
• Staying downtown after dark: it’s lively by day, but in the evening take a taxi to El Poblado or Laureles.
• Using the metro at rush hour with a backpack: trains are jam-packed.
• Holding your phone in the street or at outdoor tables: it’s the most common theft. Tips are in our guide to safety in Colombia.

FAQ

What are the must-sees in Medellín?

Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia, Comuna 13 with a local guide, the view from Metrocable Line K and the Casa de la Memoria Museum. With more time, Parque Arví and El Castillo Museum.

Can you visit Comuna 13 on your own?

Yes, the neighbourhood and the escalators are free and visited by many tourists every day. A local guide, though, tells you the neighbourhood’s story and the money stays in the community; go in the morning, when it’s quieter.

How much is El Castillo Museum in Medellín?

For foreign visitors, the guided castle tour with the gardens costs 35,000 pesos; the gardens alone cost 28,000 pesos. There are tours in English every day at 11 am and 3 pm.

How much does the Medellín Metrocable cost?

The city cable cars, such as Line K, are included in a metro fare, about 4,400 pesos without a personalised Cívica card. Line L to Parque Arví is a tourist line paid separately, about 26,700 pesos for foreign visitors.

How many days do you need in Medellín?

Two days are enough for the city’s main sights. Add one or two for Parque Arví, El Castillo Museum or a day trip to Guatapé.