5 Days in Medellín
Day 1
Morning
If you're staying in Poblado like I did, there are many stellar restaurants and cafes for breakfast, but I enjoyed a small place that isn't on google maps. It's two doors down from Los Patios Suite Hostel on Calle 11A. See image below
An easy mid-day activity to get accustomed to the city is climbing Cerro Nutibara (Nutibara Hill). It is an easy walk with great views of the city. There's a recreation of a typical Antioquian town called Pueblito Paisa and you can pay a few extra pesos to enter the Museo de Ciudad, a small but interesting collections of photos and maps of Medellín.
Afternoon
From Cerro Nutibara, head to Plaza Botero to get a taste of the downtown. Here you'll find a busy part of town with street vendors, small restaurants, shopping malls and public art installations. Get a quick bite at a street vendor, restaurant or in a shopping mall.
Evening
Even if you're not staying in Poblado, I'd recommend at least one night eating, exploring and going out here.
Day 2
Day 2 is a day trip to Parque Arví
The best way to get there is via the cable car which is connected to a metro station. Just hop on the metro and get off at the Acevedo metro station. Go up the stairs and transfer to Line K (also a cable car) towards Santo Domingo station. Once there, you'll board another cable car which has a final destination of Parque Arví.
At the park, there are hiking and walking paths and other market stalls and restaurants. Inquire about a map to find a hiking path that works best for you. The famous part of Parque Arví that I would hike to is Piedras Blancas Ecological Park, time permitting.
Day 3
Morning
Start day 3 with a trip to the Modern Art Museum.
Afternoon
Take the afternoon to visit the famous Comuna 13. The neighborhood was once an epicenter for drug violence but has revitalized and is now famous for its street art and graffiti.
Take the Metro to the San Javier station, which is the last stop (you may need to transfer from the North-South line). I would also recommend stopping in Laureles on the way for Lunch by getting off at the Estadio station.
Once at San Javier, there are buses you can use to get straight to the starting point for exploring Comuna 13
Be prepared for potential crowds and walking uphill, as the neighborhood is on the side of valley. However, escalators were installed to assist with mobility within the area.
Evening
If you're into soccer, definitely use the evening to catch a Atlético Nacional game, just be sure to check the schedule ahead of time and if it's a home game. It should be at the stadium in Laureles.
Be warned that it may be hard to get tickets as a foreigner. We had to purchase tickets from an individual outside the stadium, but definitely worth the experience.
Day 4
Day Trip to Guatapé
Guatapé is a famous town along a large lake near a famous large rock formation which you can climb for a fantastic view.
To get there, hope back on the Metro and get off at the Caribe station on the north-south line. This station connects directly to the Terminal del Norte bus station. Once on the ground floor of the terminal, ticket booth #14 should offer tickets to Guatapé, although this could shift. Look for 'Guatapé' on the booth window or ask if you encounter difficulty.
The first stop for the bus will be at La Piedra. Get off there and follow the crowds to get to the entrance. Once done, you can take a local bus or taxi towards the small town of Guatapé. There are lots of restaurants, shops and ice cream stalls. You can also rent a boat to take on the lake like my friend and I did. Some people spend a night in Guatapé, but if you're going back to Medellín, you can catch the bus back from this town.
Evening
Once back in Medellín, I recommend trying this garden-themed restaurant near Parque el Poblado.
You can check out this bar afterwards as well for a drink.
Day 5
Day 5 will depend on your itinerary and what you have time left to do. I'll list some of my other favorite things to do in Medellín and leave the rest up to you.
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