A Solo Traveller's Guide to Medellín

Medellín is a multifaceted hub of Paisa culture. The city is a place of bustling markets, colorful neighborhoods and lots of green spaces. Factor in public sculptures to admire and a boisterous nightlife, solo travelers to Medellín are well and truly sorted.

Bone up on history at the city’s museums

Understanding Medellín requires a grasp of its history and transition to a modern metropolis. Impressive museums include the Museo de Antioquia, which holds a huge collection of work by Colombia’s most famous artist, Fernando Botero. Medellín’s past is revealed in the Museo Casa de la Memoria, with its poignant interactive exhibits, it’s a powerful history lesson about the decades of armed conflict in Colombia and of the resilience of its people.

For a first-hand account of Medellín’s story, a guided walking tour of Medellín is included in Culture Trip’s Colombian Andes adventure, led by our Local Insider.

Explore the impressive Jardín Botánico de Medellín

The Botanical Garden of Medellín is a great introduction to the city’s love of everything floral, with more than 1,000 species – and let’s hear it for the two large iguanas roaming around. Spend an afternoon exploring different eco-systems and admire the modern architecture of the Orquideorama – the canopy structure. Events year-round include yoga sessions and festivals focused on beer and music.

Take the Metrocable to Parque Arvi

Getting to the park is half the fun – by gondola, for amazing city views. The Metrocables were built as a way to reach the very steep residential neighborhoods. Take the L line Metrocable to escape urban thrum in Parque Arvi. Here, serene nature is laced with trails for hiking, biking and birdwatching. Guided tours are also available.

Once rough, Medellín has completely cleaned up its act. Now it’s firmly on the Colombia solo travel map, beloved of digital nomads. Petty crime does occur here – but you can avoid it with simple steps: avoid wearing anything that makes you stand out and keep your belongings secured to you at all times. Reassuringly today there is a noticeable police presence, especially in the more touristy areas and crowded public plazas and parks.

The city can lay claim to an impressive Metro and MetroCable transportation system that gets you to the most popular sights with ease. There is also a bus rapid transit system called MetroPlus connected to the Metro line to get you to the other parts of the city safely and efficiently. Just avoid it during rush hours in the early morning and after work, when the whole transport system gets cramped and claustrophobic.

Link up with a small group of like-minded travelers and a Local Insider on Culture Trip’s eight-day Bogota to Medellín adventure, which visits the Colombian Andes and has plenty of time for city fun in the cosmopolitan capital as well as magical Medellín.

This is an updated rewrite of an article originally by Chris Bell.