Medellín
Colombia · Country profile
Medellin is the second city of Colombia and one of the most remarkable urban turnarounds in the modern world, a city of the narrow valley of the Aburra that transformed its famously difficult past into a celebrated model of the public transit, the culture and the social innovation. The metro and the cable cars of the city climb the steep hillsides to the poorest neighbourhoods, the library parks and the public escalators carry the design of the city into the community life, and the museums, from the Botero to the contemporary art of the modern, anchor a vibrant cultural life. The city of the eternal spring, as it calls itself, holds the orchids, the flower festival and the famously warm people of the paisa culture. Green, innovative and genuinely transformed, Medellin is one of the great success stories of Latin America.
About Medellín
Medellín is a city in Colombia. The city's documented population is around 2,730,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +57. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: José María Córdova International Airport.
The Cable Cars, the Escalators and the Valley of the Paisas
Medellin is a city that has used design and transit to remake its story, and the cable cars that soar over the valley are both the transport and the symbol of that transformation. The centre holds the monuments of the Botero, the great murals and the historic plazas, while the district of the Provença and the new developments hold the restaurants, the bars and the modern life. The city is warm and green, set in a beautiful valley of the mountains, and its people, the paisas, are famously proud, inventive and welcoming. The climate of the eternal spring, warm all year, makes it a genuinely pleasant city to walk and to enjoy.
The Eternal Spring, the Metro and the Rain of the Afternoons
The climate is mild and constant, warm by day and cool by night, so the light layers are all that is needed, and the rain comes in the afternoon showers, so the quick-drying shoes help. The metro and the cable cars and the bus systems of the city are the great way to see it, and the Metro has become a genuine tourist attraction in itself. The centre with the Botero square and the museums, and the district of the Provença with its restaurants, are the essential loops. The Spanish is the language, the peso is the currency and the card works widely. The city is safe in its main areas and the taxi apps are the reliable way around.
The Botero Square, the Comuna 13 and the Flower Festival
The cable cars of the city, the Metrocable that climbs the hillsides from the metro, give the great aerial views and connect the visitor directly to the everyday communities of the slopes, and the public escalators of the Comuna 13 district carry the visitor up its famous stairways. The Botero square with its plump bronze sculptures, the museum of the Antioquia and the modern art museum of the city anchor the culture, and the flower festival, the great August celebration of the flower growers, fills the whole city with colour. The Provença district holds the restaurants and the evening life, and the green parks and the orchid collections of the city hold the botanical pride. The city of the eternal spring is warm, inventive and deeply welcoming.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Colombia
- Population
- 2,730,000
- Coordinates
- 6.1645, -75.4231
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Region
- South America
- Currency
- Colombian Peso (COP)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +57
- Country code
- CO
Entry requirements for Colombia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Colombia for tourism.
Getting to Medellín
Airports we list for Medellín:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Colombia
Other cities we cover in Colombia:
Frequently asked questions
Is Medellín the capital of Colombia?
No — the capital of Colombia is Bogotá.
What currency do I need in Medellín?
The local currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). Languages spoken in Colombia include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Colombia?
The international dialling code for Colombia is +57.
Which airport should I fly into for Medellín?
José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) is the airport we list for Medellín.
How far is Medellín from the nearest airport?
Medellín is about 215 km from El Dorado International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Colombia?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Colombia visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Medellín? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.