Medellín in one day

Morning: Comuna 13

Start early, between eight and nine. It is the experience that tells you most about Medellín in the least time: street art, escalators and a story of transformation you cannot get from reading about it. Two hours of walking with breaks, and the morning light is the best you will get for the murals.

Midday: the historic centre

Botero Plaza with its twenty-three sculptures, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Palace of Culture are all within a few blocks. It is a dense, short walk: an hour and a half covers the essentials. Have lunch there, with a bandeja paisa if you are brave about the size.

Afternoon: Pueblito Paisa at sunset

Going up Cerro Nutibara late in the afternoon closes the day the way it should close: the whole Aburrá Valley, the city switching its lights on, and a sense of where you have been all day. It is the photo you take home.

What to leave out

Guatapé, without argument: ten hours would eat the entire day, driving included. Paragliding and Hacienda Nápoles, the same. And if your day is a layover with an evening flight, count a good hour backwards for the airport.

Frequently asked questions