You are wondering where to stay in Medellin first time? We can give you excellent advice because we have been living in this fantastic city for a number of years.
In recent years, Medellin has been transformed from a dangerous city into a paradise where it is always spring. Surrounded by mountains and many nice villages, Medellin is the perfect base for trips to Guatape, Jarding, and Santa Fe De Antioquia. The city itself certainly has some nice attractions, but it is not the case that you go from one attraction to the next, as you do in European (capital) cities.
So why would you visit Medellin (for a few days)? The city has a unique atmosphere, with incredibly friendly and proud inhabitants, an amazing nightlife, an impressive (street) food scene, a relatively mild climate, beautiful views and a modern character.
To optimally enjoy this incredibly popular city, we will take you to the most popular and convenient neighborhoods, which are all considered safe.
In brief: The best neighborhoods to stay in Medellin are Poblado, Laureles, Belen, and Envigado.
The vast majority of tourists and expats stay in Poblado. This is the tourist epicenter of the city.
Laureles is also a very popular neighborhood among tourists and expats alike and offers a much quieter experience compared to the more westernized Poblado.
You have two somewhat alternative options besides these two popular neighborhoods.
Belen is a more local version of Laureles.
Envigado is a large area in the southern part of the city with lots of commerce and convenience but is a bit further away from the city’s tourist attractions.
In both Belen and Envigado, you have far fewer hotel and other accommodation options.
If you want to stay in one of these two neighborhoods, we recommend looking for an Airbnb.
You can easily navigate to each neighborhood by tapping the link. Or go straight to the overview of the best neighborhoods to stay in Medellin first time.
Without a doubt, Poblado is the most popular district among both expats and tourists.
And that is not without reason.
You will find a huge range of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs here. Especially in Provenza, the most popular district within Poblado, you can experience the best evenings of your holiday.
It is an inviting area, where you will stumble from one nice bar to the next. Here you will also find the largest range of hotels and other accommodation options.
So when it comes to your question about where to stay in Medellin, Poblado should be on your top list.
It is considered one of the safest districts in Medellin, but we still recommend leaving valuables at home.
Because you find so many foreigners here, you will also find many active pickpockets here.
Your job is to don’t give them any reason to.
They are particularly active in parks, but of course, they also have an eye for the drunken tourist, so always take a taxi straight back home to your hotel.
Poblado also has a very favorable location. You can easily reach the highlights of the city.
Friends and family of mine have visited us several times in Medellin and we always take them to Poblado.
We always receive positive feedback, especially about how inviting and cozy the neighborhood looks, especially in the evening.
If you are someone who likes to explore the nightlife, who wants to visit nice restaurants, both local and international, and who wants to get in touch with other tourists, make sure you stay as close to Provenza as possible.
If you prefer something quieter, more authentic, and less touristy, choose Laureles or one of the two alternative neighborhoods.
That said, the vast majority of travelers will still choose Poblado because it is such a complete neighborhood where you can enjoy Medellin almost carefree.
Laureles is the quieter version of El Poblado.
That doesn’t mean it’s a boring neighborhood.
In and around La 70 (this street is pronounced “La Setenta”) you’ll find all kinds of nightlife and restaurants.
In fact, where expats and tourists go out in Poblado, the locals go out in La 70.
But unlike Poblado, it’s not all about going out here. Many people live in the oldest neighborhood of Medellin for their peace and quiet, while they have a central location to easily reach the rest of the city.
Laureles also has a very good connection to the metro, although you probably won’t use it.
In our opinion, Laureles is also safer than Poblado, because you’ll find fewer tourists here, which attracts more pickpockets.
You have good access to both Comuna 13 and the football stadium, two absolute highlights in terms of activities in Medellin.
You are also not far from Tres Cruses, a steep mountain in the Loma de Los Bernal district that takes you to an amazing viewpoint.
Because we don’t like staying in a neighborhood where the vast majority of expats or tourists are, we have always lived near Laureles.
I know the neighborhood by heart, but if it’s your first time in Medellin, the compact Poblado is easier to explore than Laureles.
Yes, most of the nice places are around La 70, but this is still a huge area that you can’t just explore on foot.
In Poblado you can simply go to Provenza and you will be flooded with attractive restaurants and bars.
If you like a local version and a bit more peace and quiet, while still having all the amenities within reach, stay in Laureles!
How to get around Medellin? Although Medellin is the only city in Colombia with a metro, as a tourist you will not use it much. In most cases you will simply take a taxi. To get around the city as safely as possible, we recommend using Uber and only choosing a driver with both high and many reviews. Always check that both the profile picture of the driver and the license plate match.
When you arrive in Medellin by plane, you have the option to take a collectivo – which is simply a shared taxi – a bus, or a private taxi.
We recommend that you take the collectivo, which costs around 25,000 COP and takes you to the center of Medellin. There, taxis will be waiting to take you to your final destination.
If you want to go to the airport, you can also take a collectivo in San Diego (see article).
For day trips to Guatape, for example, you can also rent a car yourself after organized tours. We always rent a car ourselves from Localiza.
Day trips to Santa Fe De Antioquia can be easily done by bus.
Belén is one of the alternative options you have and also one of the largest neighborhoods in Medellin.
It is a very local neighborhood where you will not find many tourists or expats.
That is exactly why we have always lived here, although it is becoming increasingly popular among expats.
You will find few to no hotels here, by the way.
However, there is a decent selection of AirBnBs.
In recent years, Medellin has become an incredibly popular destination among Digital Nomads and other expats.
As a result, rental prices have increased dramatically, especially in Poblado.
As a result, both locals and expats are looking for alternatives and Belén is one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in the city.
In terms of location, you are right between Poblado and Laureles.
You can reach both areas with a taxi ride of about fifteen minutes.
The disadvantage of Belén is that it is less developed.
For example, if you look at the restaurant selection, you are almost always forced to go to Laureles or Poblado for a nice bite to eat.
There is also no nightlife, except for a few local beer bars.
But if you are looking for something local and affordable, it might be worth staying here.
Just be aware that the facilities you are used to are simply spread out or concentrated in shopping centers such as Molinos and Arkadia.
The last neighborhood we recommend is Envigado.
This is a large area in the southern part of the city.
Due to its location, it is not the most ideal area to visit the highlights of the city, but it is still becoming a popular area.
More and more expats choose to live in this part of Medellin.
It feels authentic and local, but you will also find many shopping centers that can provide you with all the amenities.
The neighborhood is known for its dining options.
While Poblado and Laureles have many trendy restaurants, Envigado’s offering is all about authenticity.
You can still find plenty of modern and international restaurants in this area, but those local eateries that serve typical Paisa dishes are the reason you visit Medellin.
For this, go to “La Buena Mesa”, a street full of restaurants.
In Envigado you can also find the historic center where you can admire colonial architecture around Plaza de Envigado.
You also have a local nightlife area around Calle 39 Sur.
All in all, Envigado is a great neighborhood. The only major drawback is that it is less central and therefore often not the first choice for tourists (but it is for expats).
If you are looking for an alternative, consider staying in Envigado.
And unlike Belén, the other alternative area, you can find plenty of hotels in Envigado.
Poblado: This is the most popular neighborhood in Medellin among tourists and expats. Here you will find all the amenities you need and you can count on a fantastic nightlife and a great selection of restaurants. If you want something more authentic, consider staying in Laureles or one of the two alternative neighborhoods (Belén or Envigado). The vast majority of tourists will choose this neighborhood.
Laureles: A quieter version of Poblado, where you can still find nice restaurants and nightlife options. However, these are spread out throughout the neighborhood. In terms of location, you have good access to some of the city’s highlights.
Belen: An increasingly popular neighborhood south of Laureles with good access to both popular neighborhoods. If you want to stay in a neighborhood where you won’t encounter tourists or expats, this is a good option. Look for an AirBnB because the selection of hotels is not worth mentioning.
Envigado: A local neighborhood in the southern part of the city that is known for its (local) food and good access to shopping centers. Actually a very nice area, but you are simply a lot further away from the attractions. An alternative option for those looking for something authentic.
*If you tap on the link, you will go directly to the relevant part of the article for more detailed information.
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