Unfortunately, many people still associate Medellin, Colombia, with the dark ages of drugs, but the city has since significantly evolved and emerged as a modern metropolis. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to enjoy your visit to Medellin!

Bring A Jacket

The first tip is to always take a (rain) jacket with you. Medellin has a warm tropical climate all year round but is always on the edge of a monsoon climate. This means that you can get unexpected heavy rains. One minute you’re in bright sunshine, and the next, you’re ankle-deep in water.

Go to the Festival of Lights at Parque Norte in Medellin

If you are going in December, “alumbrados” is the place to be. This is an actual festival of lights. It is held at Parque Norte and has a different theme every year. Also, the whole city is filled with Christmas lights of different colors and shapes.

Try Bandeja Paisa and Bunuelos

If you like to eat and drink, you can enjoy yourself to the fullest in Medellin. There are many good restaurants and bars, but you must try Bandeja Paisa. It is a large dish filled with rice, beans, avocado, bacon, corn, eggs, and arepa (a type of corn cake) and is the most typical dish of the region. Also, be sure to try the buñuelos (a delicious fried dough fritter). Did you know that El peregrino in the Sabaneta district set a world record for the largest buñuelo in 2016? It weighed a whopping 16 kilograms!

Get Your Vitamins at the Market in Medellin

For those who prefer healthy food, the fruit and vegetable market at Plaza Minorista José María Vílla is the place to go. It is a covered market with stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Go early in the morning, and you will have the best selection. The most famous exotic fruits are zapote and granadilla. Zapote has a pumpkin-like texture and tastes like melon, while granadilla looks like orange passion fruit but tastes sweeter.

Colombians are also very good at making delicious fresh fruit juices. They sell it everywhere, but the popular one is the stall in the plaza in front of the Atanasio Giraldo stadium. Here, you are given a jug with a liter of your favorite juice. It sounds like a lot, but you will definitely drink all of it!

Sundays Without Traffic Jams

Every Sunday, some of the main roads through the city are closed to traffic to make room for walkers, runners, and cyclists to burn all those culinary calories. It’s a great and fun sports meeting!

Enjoy the Breathtaking Views

One of the things many love about this city is the breathtaking views. Medellin is located in a valley and is more than three times the size of Paris. If you climb the mountains around the valley, you get a phenomenal view of the sprawling city. Especially at night, when it gets dark, and the city becomes a sea of lights, one wonders why Paris is called the city of lights and Medellin is not!

There Is Always Something To Do in Different Areas

Medellin is not a city with big tourist attractions, but there is always something to do. Salsa music can be heard everywhere, and as in other parts of the country with a warmer climate, life here is mainly outdoors.

Medellin is also made up of several districts, each with its own unique character. For example, El Poblado is the expensive district, while Castilla is the pleasant district. In the city’s plazas and parks, people gather in the evenings to chat and drink, and there are also stalls selling delicious food.

Have you ever been to Medellin? Share your experience with us in the comments below!