4 Days in Medellin Colombia: Everything You Should Know [Medellin Bucket List]
There are so many Medellin things to do for visiting tourists, but what exactly are they and how can you make the most of 4 days in Medellin Colombia?
Medellin, Colombia, also known as ‘The City of Eternal Spring’, wasn’t always on everyone’s list of places to go, but things have changed drastically and the city has recently become a popular travel destination. Situated in a valley between the Andes mountains, you will be surrounded by outstanding natural beauty no matter where you look. As indicated by its nickname, Medellin has a lovely climate and the weather is warm and pleasant year-round.
From amazing nightlife and incredible food to fantastic museums and sports, you will have no issues finding ways to spend your time here. If you want some help planning things out then we’ve got a great Medellin itinerary all set up for you below!
Top Medellin Travel Tip: Out and about and ready to take an adventure? To make your vacation easier and stress-free, stow shopping purchases, heavy bags and backpacks in a suitcase locker in Medellin anytime that you go on excursions. Live life light and hands-free to make the most of your day.
Are you planning on visiting Medellin Colombia and doing some sightseeing? Read this complete Medellin Colombia guide to 4 days in Medellin for a suggested itinerary of the best attractions and activities to make the most of your experience.
DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links and Exit45 Travels are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.
Did You Know?
- Medellin was the first city in the world to use cable cars for mass transit.
- An outdoor escalator in the Comuna 13 neighbourhood saves locals walking up 327 steps which is the equivalent of 28 stories.
- Medellin is famous for its street art.
“It’s ludicrous this place exists and everybody doesn’t want to live here.”
– Anthony Bourdain about Colombia –
4 Days in Medellin: Everything You Should Know
Medellin Itinerary: Day 1
Morning
Start your day off with a walking tour around the El Centro part of the city. Real City Tours offers one of the best guided tours in the area, and it is completely free! You will be taken around the main streets and parks of the neighbourhood all while being given useful information on the customs and traditions of the city.
Afterward, you will know a bit more about the history and the layout of the city to help you navigate the rest of your vacation. Tours begin at 9:30am from the Alpujarra metro station. There are no tours on Sundays.
If you prefer a more personalised tour of the city centro, consider a Private City Tour which will show you the highlights of Medellin from a local perspective. This tour allows you to tailor your tour according to your taste, and choose from top sights, metro rides, Botero statues, and cable cars while learning about Medellín’s evolution into a global city.
Afternoon
Our next stop is the Museum of Antioquia, which is a spot that you should have seen on your walking tour. Here, you can see some incredible paintings and other artworks produced by some very talented artists, like Fernando Botero. The museum is open to the public between 10:00am and 5:00pm every day except for Sunday, and there is an entrance fee of about 18,000 COP. You can also book skip-the-line tickets here.
Evening
Take your time exploring the permanent exhibits of the museum, and when you are ready to move on, we suggest taking a quick trip down El Hueco Street. This bustling street is filled with vendors and will give you a quick insight into what local life is like.
Once you’ve seen enough you can take a metro ride to Pueblito Paisa. This lovely small-town square is the perfect place to catch the sunset and unwind after a day of sightseeing! You are allowed to stay in the square up until 9:00pm.
Medellin Itinerary: Day 2
Morning
We hope that you are well rested since day 2 brings a whole new level of adventure!
Thrill seekers will enjoy paragliding over the Colombian Andes and it will definitely be one of the most unforgettable activities on your trip.
Keep an eye out for local landscapes like Aburra Valley, the Garcia Barrage, El Quitasol Hill, the Medellin River and Picacho Hill as you soar above them!
The cost of the paragliding activity starts at approximately 420,000 COP and usually happens early in the mornings to take advantage of the good weather.
Afternoon
Next up is the beautiful Botanic Gardens which are the perfect place to get away from the city and relax after your exciting morning. This lovely space is often used as a venue for concerts and events, but it is also just a nice place to walk around.
You will have 14 hectares of land to explore and there are about 4,500 flowers in the gardens. The park is also home to lots of birds and over 139 different species call it home! Entry to the gardens is free.
Late Afternoon
Located just across the street from the Botanic Gardens is Parque Explora which is the perfect final activity before calling it a day. It is an exciting museum featuring interactive exhibits that are educational while being interesting at the same time. The cost of a ticket to the science museum is 37,000 COP and it stays open until 5:00pm most days.
Evening
The nearby Planetario is also worth visiting, although you might not have time to stop by both in one day. After visiting the exhibits, go out to grab dinner and then head back to your room to rest up; we have another exciting day planned for tomorrow!
Medellin Itinerary: Day 3
Morning
Feel like shopping? La Minorista is a bustling local market selling food, furniture, souvenirs and everything else in between. Not only is it a fun place to explore to see what is available, but it is also home to the Exotic Colombian Fruits Tour! Costing less than 97,000 COP, the tour is fun, educational and a great way to try some of the local foods. There is guaranteed to be a fruit that you’ve never heard of before!
Afternoon
Grab a lunch at the market before you head out, and then make your way straight to the Modern Art Museum of Medellin. The MAMM has a fantastic collection of contemporary art that will make you stop and stare since some of them can be quite wacky and weird, but still impressive.
Their permanent exhibit features works done by artists like Deborah Arango and the entrance fee is just 10,000 COP for adults. Children can get in for 7,000 COP and entry is free for everyone on the last Friday of each month between 6:00pm and 10:00pm.
Late Afternoon
The close proximity between the MAMM and El Castillo makes it the perfect final stop on your third day of travelling in Medellin. After just a short taxi ride you will find yourself outside of this fantastic fortress that overlooks the city. Inside, you will find a cool museum and if you take a tour of the castle you will get to learn about the family that owned it.
You can get in for only 13,000 COP for adults and 9,000 COP for children, and the grounds of the palace are a beautiful spot to take a walk afterward. The castle and museum close at 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm depending on the day.
Evening
Why not end the day with one of Medellin’s most popular night tours, with a Rooftop Pub Crawl? Discover Medellin’s famous nightlife as you visit exclusive rooftop bars and the most popular clubs. Avoid common tourist spots and experience a night with the locals getting to know local drinks and the way they party.
Medellin Itinerary: Day 4
Morning
Start off the final day of your Medellin trip with a lovely walk around Parque Arvi. There are some nice walking trails to explore (some of which are 1,500 years old!), although getting to the park is the really exciting part. From the Acevedo metro station, you can take the metro cable cars all the way up to the park and while you make the journey you will get to enjoy fantastic views of the city below.
Afternoon
After heading back down on the cable cars, make your way to the San Pedro Cemetery Museum. This graveyard, which dates back to 1842, has been the final resting place for some very important Colombians, and it also includes a museum.
While you walk around the grounds admiring statues and marble mausoleums you will get to learn a little bit about the lives of some of its residents. The cemetery remains open to the public between 7:30am and 5:30pm and entry is free.
Evening
For the evening on your last day of vacation in Medellin, head to Parque Lleras. It is a quaint little area with fairy lights and although it doesn’t sound like much, it is a very nice place to spend the remainder of your day. It is also a great place to be during happy hour as there are plenty of places to grab a cocktail or beer nearby.
FAQs About Medellin Colombia
In Summary – 4 Days in Medellin Colombia [Medellin Bucket List]
Medellin has so many secret gems and places to explore that you can never really create the perfect itinerary. You can stay in the city for weeks and still have more places to discover, which is why it is such a great place to take a vacation! Try visiting some of the places listed above in this 4 days in Medellin itinerary and you are sure to have an unforgettable trip.
Are you planning an upcoming trip to Medellin? Have you been to any of the places on this Medellin 4 day itinerary, or have we missed any things to do in Medellin that you would recommend? Post your tips and questions below.
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DISCLAIMER: This article contains affiliate links and Exit45 Travels are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.
Essential Travel Planning Resources for Colombia
These are our favourite companies to use when we travel to Colombia. They consistently turn up the best deals and offer great customer service, and overall, are better than their competitors. These companies are always our starting point when we need to book a flight, hotel, tour, transportation etc.
Book Your Flight:
The best and easiest way to find cheap flights is to use Skyscanner or Kiwi. They compare all of the available prices across every airline to help you compare flights in one place.
Book Accommodation:
Whether you are looking to book a hostel, guest house, hotel or resort, you’ll always find the best deals on either Booking.com or Agoda. We always search using the map feature to find accommodation in the best location. If we are staying for a month or longer in a destination, we also search for monthly deals on Airbnb. For hostel bookings, we compare reviews on Hostelworld, then check other booking sites to compare prices.
Book a Tour:
We mostly travel independently, however, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. We use both GetYourGuide and Viator to find great deals on tours.
Book Transportation:
Rome2Rio allows us to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. When planning a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for finding the best deal on a car rental in advance.
Book Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations. We never travel without it as we have had to use it several times in the past. We have been using 1Cover for the past 4 years, however, we also recommend World Nomads as many of our fulltime travel friends swear by them.
Always Carry With You:
When travelling in Colombia, we always carry a daypack for excursions, and the Lonely Planet Guide.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out our Travel Resources page for the companies we use and recommend to plan and book our travels. Through lots of trial and error over the years, these are the best!
