Over the past years, we have published many popular articles with curated lists of the best things to see and do in Medellín in several categories. These articles have been very popular with more than 400,000 page-views.
We continue to receive many questions about the best of Medellín from readers. So, we published this ultimate guide to the best of Medellín – which includes over 129 of the best things to see and do, colombian food, sweets and drinks you must try and many of the best restaurants in several categories.
Things to do Places to Visit Checklist
1. Things to do in Medellin and nearby
Medellín has become a popular tourist location in Colombia with more tourists visiting the city each year and we look at the top things to do in the city and nearby.
It turns out that many of the best things to do in the city are totally free. So, if you are on a tight budget it is quite possible to see many of the things to do in the city for free.
In addition, we recommend getting a Civica card when visiting the city. This will permit you to use the Medellín Metro to get around the city for only 3,650 colombian pesos ($0.88) per trip and save cash compared to using taxis.
37 Top Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby: Top Tourist Attractions – Update 2024
Medellín has become a popular tourist location in Colombia with more tourists visiting the city each year and we look at 35 top things to do in Medellín.
Read MoreThings to do in Medellín and nearby checklist
2. Kid-friendly things to do in Medellín - family friendly
Medellín has many kid-friendly things to do for families with children. We look at the top kid-friendly things to do in the city and nearby.
Medellín is no longer a place that only attracts single male tourists. Single foreign women also frequently visit the city. And an increasing number of foreigner families with children are visiting and even moving to the city. Also, there are some single foreigners with children.
In addition, a number of foreigners who have married Colombians have children. So, Medellin Guru is receiving more questions about kid-friendly things to do in Medellín.
Family friendly things to do in Medellín checklist
3. Best Museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
We look comprehensively at 26 Medellín museums including museums in other municipalities in the Aburrá Valley to find the 12 best museums in the metro area. Medellín is home to many excellent museums.
Museums in Medelín checklist
4. Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth a Visit Including Hidden Gems
We look at the 8 best pueblos near Medellín worth a visit including Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Jardín and Jericó. We also look at four hidden gem pueblos that you won’t find in most of the English language guidebooks. There are other hidden gem pueblos that aren’t yet visited by many foreigners but are worth a visit.
Some of these best pueblos near Medellín are fairly close to the city. So, they can be easy day trips from the city. And others are further away so are better for a longer visit like on weekends. Here is our list of the eight best pueblos near Medellín that are all worth visiting:
8 Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth a Visit Including Hidden Gems
Discover the beauty of Antioquia by exploring our curated list of the 8 best pueblos near Medellín. From the ever-popular destinations of Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Jardín, Jericó, and...
Read MorePueblos near Medellín checklist
5. Best Malls in Medellín
Paisas love to shop and Medellín and the Aburrá Valley has a huge number of centro comercials (shopping centers or malls). We looked at several of the largest malls in the Aburrá Valley to find out the 14 best malls in the metro area.
Malls in Medellín checklist
6. Best Panoramic Views of Medellín: The Best Scenic Views
Medellín is located in the Aburrá Valley in the Andes mountains, offering fantastic panoramic views. This gives the second most populated city in Colombia, an incomparable charm with many very scenic views in the city. And we look at seven of the best views in the city.
Medellín offers breath-taking scenic viewpoints (miradores) over the entire city which makes it a wonderful opportunity to contemplate the horizon with friends (and a drink)! We discovered the best panoramic views in Medellín:
Pointviews in Medelín checklist
7. Best Neighborhoods in Medellín: A Guide to Choosing a Neighborhood
We looked at the 5 best neighborhoods in Medellín for foreigners including comparing the neighborhoods in terms of cost of living, safety and walkability and several other categories.
The five best neighborhoods in the Medellín metro are the most popular with foreigners living in Medellín or visiting the city. By neighborhoods we mean comunas of Medellín and separate municipalities in the Aburrá Valley.
In Medellín, there are 16 comunas and in the Aburrá Valley there are 10 municipalities. Note that barrios (neighborhoods in Spanish) are way too small to compare.
5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellín: A Guide to Choosing a Neighborhood
Discover the 5 best neighborhoods in Medellín for foreigners and make an informed decision about where to live. The blog talks about cost of living, safety, and walkability analysis to...
Read MoreBest neighborhoods in Medellín checklist
8. Churches in Medellín: The Beautiful Churches in Medellín
Medellín and the Aburrá Valley area has many beautiful Catholic churches and we look at the top 14 churches in the metro area.
These top 14 churches in Medellín use several architectural styles including Byzantine, Colonial, Eclectic, Gothic, Greek-Roman, Neo-Byzantine, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Romanesque, Renaissance and Romanesque.
Churches in Medelín and nearby checklist
Download the Emergency Directory Guide
Stay safe on your trip to Medellin by downloading the Medellin Guru Emergency Directory, where you can find the emergency numbers in Colombia, and the main hospitals and police stations of the most important cities in the country.
Colombian Food Desserts Drinks Checklist
1. Traditional Colombian Food Dishes You Must Try
Some foreigners in Colombia or visiting will tell you that traditional Colombian dishes are generally bland, overly fried, too salty and meat-heavy. However, some of the dishes in Colombia are actually packed full of flavor and not everything is meat-heavy. Colombian cuisine varies regionally and is influenced by Spanish, African, Arab and some Asian cuisines. These are the most popular Colombian dishes you must taste in Medellín.
Colombian food checklist
- Ajiaco Soup
- Arepas
- Bandeja Paisa
- Empanadas
- Frijoles Antioqueños
- Fritanga
- Mondongo Soup
- Patacones
- Sancocho Soup
2. Popular Colombian Desserts You Must
If you are visiting Colombia don’t forget to try Colombian desserts. While you may have tried desserts from places like France and different parts of the U.S., you are probably less aquatinted with Latin American desserts, particularly Colombian desserts. These are the best Colombian desserts you must try.
Colombian desserts checklist
- Arequipe
- Arroz Con Leche
- Brevas con Arequipe
- Buñuelos
- Churros
- Cocadas
- Cuajada con Melao
- Merengón
- Milhoja
- Natilla
- Obleas
- Polvorosas
- Postre de Natas
- Roscones
- Salpicón de Frutas
- Torta de Tres Leches
- Torta Negra
- Gelatina de pata
3. Popular Colombian Drinks to Try
Colombian cuisine is diverse, and there is a wide variety of hot and cold drinks in the country for any occasion. Each Colombian drink has its time of the day. Some accompany breakfast or snacks, while others are typically drunk alone or at night only. These are the best Colombian drinks you must try in Medellín.
Top 13 Popular Colombian Drinks to Try When You Visit Colombia
If you are visiting Colombia don't forget to try traditional Colombian drinks. We look at 13 popular Colombian drinks you should try while in Colombia.
Read MoreColombian drinks checklist
- Aguapanela
- Aguardiente
- Avena Colombiana
- Chocolate Con Queso
- Colombian Coffee
- Colombian Sodas
- Fruit Juices
- Limonada de Coco
- Lulada
- Masato de Arroz
- Refajo
Stay protected with a health insurance policy
When trying different foods and beverages in Colombia, do not forget to have a medical insurance that covers health emergencies throughout the country. Click on the green button below to quote and purchase your travel insurance with Medellin Guru.
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Restaurants Cafeterias Checklist
1. Best Restaurants in Laureles in Medellín
We look at the best restaurants in Laureles. Laureles is a popular neighborhood for foreigners in Medellín and has many good restaurants.
Laureles is the name of a barrio and also a comuna. The Laureles barrio is located in the Laureles-Estadio comuna. In our list of best restaurants in Laureles we considered restaurants located in the entire Laureles-Estadio comuna.
20 Best Restaurants in Laureles in Medellín – Update 2023
We look at 20 of the best restaurants in Laureles in Medellín. Laureles is a popular neighborhood for foreigners in Medellín and has many good restaurants.
Read MoreLaureles restaurants checklist
2. Best Burger Places in the Aburrá Valley
Burgers are popular in the city and we look at the best burger places in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley with very good hamburgers.
Also, everyone’s tastes are different so a ranking is very subjective. In addition, I don’t trust the rankings on TripAdvisor. So, the burger places in this article are ordered by the number of locations each has and then alphabetically.
Burger places checklist
3. Best Restaurants in Sabaneta
We look at the best restaurants in Sabaneta, Colombia. Sabaneta is the smallest municipality in Colombia and is located south of Medellín and south of Envigado in the Aburrá Valley.
I have lived in Sabaneta for over many years and during this time have eaten at well over 100 restaurants in Sabaneta. The following is my list of the best, created with the help of my Colombian wife.
Sabaneta has been growing rapidly and is adding restaurants at a fast pace. For example, when Mayorca mall in Sabaneta was expanded in late 2015, it added many new restaurants.
Sabaneta restaurants checklist
4. Best Restaurants in Envigado
We look at the best restaurants in Envigado near Medellín. Envigado is a popular area for foreigners living in the Aburrá Valley and it has many good restaurants.
Envigado is a separate municipality located directly south of El Poblado. Over the past eight years I have eaten at well over 60 restaurants in Envigado.
Envigado has been growing rapidly and is adding restaurants at a fast pace. For example, when the huge Viva Envigado mall that opened in late 2018, it added many new restaurants.
TripAdvisor for Envigado is missing several of the best restaurants in Envigado and appears to be missing all the restaurants in the new Viva Envigado mall. So, be careful with TripAdvisor restaurant ratings for Envigado.
Envigado restaurants checklist
5. Top Laureles coffee shops: Where to find good coffee
We look at the best restaurants in Laureles. Laureles is a popular neighborhood for foreigners in Medellín and has many good restaurants.
Laureles is the name of a barrio and also a comuna. The Laureles barrio is located in the Laureles-Estadio comuna. In our list of best restaurants in Laureles we considered restaurants located in the entire Laureles-Estadio comuna.
11 Top Laureles coffee shops: Where to find good coffee
Visiting Colombia and not trying a good cup of coffee is as if you had not visited the country; you can drink the best in the world. In this list,...
Read MoreLaureles Coffee shops checklist
15. 15 Best Pizza Places in Medellín: The Best Pizzerias in the City
Pizza is very popular and we look at 14 of the best pizza places in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley with very good pizzas.
- Ammazza – a popular chain of three pizzerias in Medellín with excellent thin-crust pizzas.
- Café Zorba – a very popular pizzeria in El Poblado with very good vegetarian thin-crust pizzas.
- Pizzeria Centro – a pizzeria in El Centro with very good thin-crust pizzas.
- Due Amici Pizzeria – a pizzeria in Suramericana with very good thin-crust pizzas.
- Pizzería Olivia – a popular chain of nine pizzerias in Medellín.
- Bigotes – a chain of three German pizzerias in Medellín – owner is German.
- Antonella’s – a popular pizzeria located in Sabaneta with good pizza located a few blocks from Parque Sabaneta
- Ná Pizza – a popular pizzeria in Envigado with very good thin-crust pizzas.
- Pizza en Leña – a chain of two pizzerias in Sabaneta – owner is Dutch.
- Lorenzza Pizzeria – a popular pizzeria with good thin-crust pizza located in the Manila barrio of El Poblado in Medellín
- Ragazzi Pizzas Y Pastas – a chain with three pizzerias in the Medellín area.
- Opera – a pizzeria in Laureles with good thin-crust pizzas.
- Pane y Pomodoro – a chain of two pizzerias in Medellín with good thin-crust pizzas
- Sicilia in Bocca – a small pizzeria in El Poblado.
- Cavieli Ristorante Caffe – a popular pizzeria in Belén near Clínica las Américas.
Burgers from some of the top burger places
Very good steaks can be found in the city
17. 12 Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
Steaks are popular and we look at 12 of the best steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley with very good steaks. And all these steakhouses are good places to go on special occasions.
In the United States, we’d call these places steakhouses, but here in Colombia and South America they are known as a parillas, restaurants where grilled meats are served. All these restaurants specialize in steaks but they all have some other things on the menu.
- Lucio Carbon y Vino – a popular steakhouse in Envigado with very good steaks.
- Barbaro Cocina Primitiva – a popular steakhouse with two restaurants in Medellín with good steaks.
- El Correo Carne y Vino y Amada – a steakhouse chain with three restaurants in Medellín.
- San Carbon – reportedly the largest steakhouse in Medellín.
- Cambalanche – a popular Argentinian steakhouse in the Patio Bonito barrio of El Poblado.
- La Pampa – a chain with six Argentinian steakhouses in Medellín.
- Malevo – a popular Argentinian steakhouse in the Manila barrio of El Poblado.
- Voraz Restaurante – a popular steakhouse in Laureles.
- Toro Restaurante – another popular steakhouse in Laureles.
- La tRES uno – a small steakhouse in Envigado with good steaks.
- Black Pepper Steakhouse – a popular steakhouse in Envigado.
- Mama Santa Parrillada – arguably the best steakhouse in Sabaneta.
Stuffed Zucchini at one of the best Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants in El Poblado, photo by @thisisaliceko
18. 12 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in El Poblado
Colombia may be famous for its arepas, cheese and meat, but there is a good range of options for herbivores as well. In El Poblado in Medellín, many of the restaurants have vegan options readily available, and much to my surprise and delight, there are a fair number of really good vegan and vegetarian-only restaurants.
Here are our top 12 picks for vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurants in El Poblado:
- Marietta
- Veg Station
- Dharma
- Mundo Verde
- Lenteja Express
- Shanti Cocina Vital
- Café Zorba
- Justo Restaurante
- Kebab House
- Pezetarian
- Verdeo
- Helecho Restaurante
Food from some of the top Colombian restaurants
19. 8 Best Colombian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
Colombian food is obviously very popular in Medellín. From Bandeja Paisa to ajiaco, Colombian food is hearty and authentic and we look at eight of the best Colombian restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley that are popular with good food.
- El Rancherito
- Hacienda
- Hato Viejo
- Mondongo’s
- El Viejo John
- Ajiacos y Mondongos
- La Hija de Stella
- El Peregrino
Food from some of the top Italian restaurants
20. 9 Best Italian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
Italian food is popular and we look at nine of the best Italian restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley that are very popular with good food.
- Romero Cocina Artesanal – a popular chain of four Italian restaurants in Medellín with good Italian food.
- Parmessano – a popular chain of 12 Italian restaurants in Medellín with some good Italian food.
- Pizzería Olivia – a chain of eight pizzerias in Medellín with great brick-oven cooked pizzas as well as very good Italian food.
- Della Nonna Tratoria – a popular chain of Italian restaurants with two locations in Medellín and one in Llanogrande.
- Il Castello – a popular Italian restaurant in El Poblado with good Italian food and they make their own pasta in a factory.
- Caduff Pasta Fresca – a popular Swiss-owned Italian restaurant in Laureles with good food.
- Palazzetto D’Italía – a hidden gem Italian restaurant in El Centro with good food.
- Dante – a popular Italian restaurant in El Poblado in the La Strada building with good food.
- Il Forno – a chain of 21 Italian restaurants in Medellín that has good Italian food.
Brunch at Al Alma
21. 8 Best Places for Brunch in El Poblado, Medellín
Brunch. That one word conjures up a myriad of emotions and images. Lazy Sundays. Endless cups of coffee. Long chats with friends. Scrambled eggs. Crispy bacon. Freshly baked bread.
After seeking out all of the establishments that I could find that offer brunch in El Poblado – and after extensive tasting – we offer our selection of the nine best places in which to while away the weekend:
- Best for Something Different – Botanika
- Best for Food – Ganso & Castor
- Best for Extensive Variety – D’Andre Gourmet
- Best Alfresco Dining – Park 37
- Best Chain Restaurant – Crepes and Waffles
- Best 5 Star Brunch – The Charlee
- Best for Coffee – Pergamino and Velvet
Mexican food from some of the best Mexican restaurants
22. 14 Best Mexican Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
Mexican food is popular in the city and we look at 14 of the best Mexican restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley that are popular with good food.
- Delirio Exquisito – a popular Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant in Medellín with some very good and creative food.
- El Sombrero – a Mexican-owned restaurant located in Sabaneta that has good and authentic Mexican food.
- Guadalupe – a hidden gem Mexican restaurant chain with two locations in Bello and one in Medellín with good Mexican food.
- Agua Fresca – a new Mexican restaurant in El Poblado, with a Mexican chef.
- Wajaca – a popular chain of eight Mexican restaurants in Medellín with good Mexican food
- Zacatecas – a popular chain of Mexican restaurants in Medellín with hood food
- El Guero – a chain of three Mexican restaurants in Medellín with good food.
- Poblanos – a Mexican restaurant with some good Tex-Mex style food.
- Mi Pico E Gallo – a Mexican restaurant in Medellín that has been open for about 25 years with good food.
- Chilaquiles – a small, hidden gem restaurant in Laureles-Estadio with good Mexican food.
- Emiliano la Taqueria – a Mexican restaurant chain with two locations in Medellín, which has very good tacos but hasn’t been discovered by many expats
- La Bronca – a popular restaurant/bar in El Poblado with good Mexican food.
- Milagros – a popular chain of six Mexican restaurants in Medellín with good food.
- Orale! – a Mexican-owned restaurant in Medellín with authentic Mexican food.
Food from some of the best restaurants in El Centro in Medellín
23. 8 Best Restaurants in El Centro in Medellín
We look at eight of the best restaurants in El Centro in Medellín. There are hundreds of restaurants in El Centro and we look at six of the best.
- Hacienda – a popular chain of Colombian restaurants with six locations in Medellín.
- Hato Viejo – a popular chain of restaurants with four locations in Medellín with good comida tipica.
- Pizzeria Centro – a pizzeria located in El Centro in Medellín, which is a hidden gem and hasn’t been discovered by many foreigners.
- Lupita – a Peruvian restaurant located in El Centro in Medellín with good ceviche and other seafood that hasn’t been discovered by many expats.
- Versalles – n Argentinian restaurant in Medellín located in El Centro that is popular with good empanadas plus a bakery and other good Argentinian food.
- Repostería Astor – a chain of Swiss cafés in Medellín that are famous for pastries, cakes and chocolates with a history tracing back to 1930, with its largest location in El Centro.
- Palazzetto D’Italía – a hidden gem Italian restaurant located in El Centro in Medellín with some good Italian food.
- Emiliano la Taqueria – a Mexican restaurant chain with two locations in Medellín including one in El Centro, which has very good tacos but hasn’t been discovered by many expats.
Coffee at Pergamino Cafe
24. 5 Best Independent Coffee Shops in El Poblado
After some extensive research, we provide our top picks of the best independent to small coffee roasters in the El Poblado area of Medellín.
These are in no particular order. We much prefer all of these coffee roasters to the Starbucks coffee shops that have been popping up in El Poblado.
Rituales Compañía de Café in Laureles
26. Craft Beer: The 5 Best Nano/Micro Breweries in Medellín
Until recently, Colombia wasn’t particularly well-known for having a craft beer scene. Certainly nothing on the scale of the exploding plethora of breweries now common place in the United States.
But Medellin now boasts over 30 different craft breweries. So, you can find several nano/micro breweries in Medellín and we look at five of the best.
The Bottom Line: The Ultimate Guide to the Best of Medellín
We have comprehensively covered the best of Medellín in 16 different articles on the Medellin Guru website and also the above article. Furthermore, if you click on any item, you will see an specific article with more details.
But we aren’t done. There is still much more to cover. So, expect to see more articles on the Medellin Guru covering the best things to do and see website. For example, we haven’t yet covered the best of several types of restaurants such as the best seafood and the best Asian restaurants in Medellín.
Also, if there any “best of Medellín” topics you would like to see covered that we haven’t yet covered, please leave a comment below.
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