If you’re wondering what to do in Medellín in 3 days, the key is to organize them well so you can see as much as possible. We recommend one day for the city and Comuna 13, another full day for Guatapé and a third for the eastern part of Antioquia or for going out at night.
We designed this itinerary for those who are looking for things to do in Medellín in 3 days for the first time. We’ll tell you what to see on each day, in what order, how much time to spend at each place, and how much it costs to get around on your own or on a tour.
| Day | Plan | Approximate duration |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Centro and Plaza Botero, Pueblito Paisa and Comuna 13 | 8 hours |
| Day 2 | Guatapé and the Piedra del Peñol | Full day |
| Day 3 | To choose: villages in the east, a quiet day in the city or the night | Full day or 5 hours at night |
Every day we explain how to do the activities on your own and conclude with an alternative tour option, in case you prefer not to arrange the transfers and dedicate yourself to enjoying the experience.
The first day of your visit is meant to get to know the city: its historic center, its views from above, and the transformation of Comuna 13. It’s important to start early and leave Comuna 13 for the afternoon; that way you’ll find the best atmosphere to enjoy it.
In the morning, we recommend spending about 2 to 3 hours getting to know the Plaza Botero and the city center. To start, we invite you to use the Medellín Metro, since it is one of the main tourist attractions of the city and one of the best ways to explore it. To use it, you need the Cívica eventual or bearer card, which costs 12,100 COP, and to recharge it: each trip costs 4,400 COP.
To visit Plaza Botero, take the metro to Parque Berrío station; the square is just a few steps away. There you will find 23 bronze sculptures that Fernando Botero donated to the city, in front of the Antioquia Museum. You can also walk to Parque Berrío and the Palacio de la Cultura nearby. As in any busy area, be careful with your belongings.
In the afternoon, you can visit Pueblito Paisa for 1 or 2 hours. It is located on the Nutibara hill and has a replica of a traditional Antioquean village with a plaza, church, and shops. The best part is the panoramic view of Medellín. Take a taxi or use apps like Uber and take the opportunity to have lunch nearby.
In the afternoon, you will visit Comuna 13 for 2 to 3 hours while doing the famous graffiti tour. To get there, take Line B of the metro to the San Javier station; if you come by Line A, transfer at the San Antonio station. When you get off the station, you have two options. The first is to go to the stop next to the traffic light, on the right hand side, and take the integrated bus routes 221i or 225i in the direction of the neighborhood 20 de Julio; ask the driver to show you where to get off to get to the escalators near the start of the tour. The second option is to take a taxi from the station, for about 15,000 COP, and indicate that you are going to the Graffiti Tour of Comuna 13 in the neighborhood 20 de Julio.
This neighborhood went from being one of the most affected by violence to becoming a symbol of urban art. Walk through its graffiti, the outdoor escalators, and the lookout points, ideally with a local guide to tell you its history. If you want to learn more before you go, read our guide here. The history of Comuna 13.
If you prefer a tour that offers you all of this experience, our City Plus allows you to Touring Medellín and Comuna 13 in one dayIt combines the two-story bus City Tour, the Pueblito Paisa and Comuna 13 in 8 hours. It leaves every day and costs 145,000 COP per person.
Guatapé deserves a full day, as it takes about two hours to get there by car and another two to get back; this way you can spend the rest of the day between the Piedra del Peñol, the reservoir, and the town.
To get there on your own, buses leave from Medellín’s Norte Terminal and the ticket costs around 25,000 COP per trip with companies like Sotrasanvicente. Only transportation and entrance to the stone costs about 80,000 COP per person on the day, not counting food or other attractions.
In the morning we recommend you climb to the Piedra del Peñol. There are about 700 steps to the viewpoint and the climb takes between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on your pace. When you get there you’ll see the reservoir with its islands. Climb early, before the heat and the peak season. Entrance costs 30,000 COP and Payment is only made in cash, So bring some money with you.
In the afternoon, you will discover the town of Guatapé. Walk through its streets of zócalos (colored reliefs on the lower part of the facades) and along the promenade. Many visitors add a boat ride along the reservoir to their tour. To see everything the town has to offer, check out our guide of Guatapé.
If you prefer a tour that takes care of everything, the One-day tour to Guatapé It leaves every day, includes transportation, guide, boat ride, and lunch, and costs 135,000 COP per person. Entrance to the stone is not included; it is paid separately, in cash.
The third day depends on your energy: you can leave the city again towards the villages in the east, spend a quiet day in the city, or explore the nightlife.
The first option is to explore the Antioquia region by visiting El Carmen de Viboral and San Antonio de Pereira for a full day. El Carmen de Viboral is famous for its hand-painted ceramics, which can be seen in workshops, shops, and facades. Very close by, in Rionegro, is San Antonio de Pereira, known for its desserts sold around its plaza. You can visit them both in one day.
At your own expense, the buses of Flota El Carmen From Terminal Norte, you can take the highway Medellín–Bogotá to El Carmen de Viboral, or from the Exposiciones station, through the Oriente Tunnel. The ticket costs around 14,000 COP and the journey takes between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours. If you prefer a tour, the tour El Carmen de Viboral and San Antonio de Pereira Includes a ceramics workshop, a visit to Tutucán, breakfast and lunch, for 199,000 COP per person.
A second option for your third day in Medellín is to spend a quiet day in the city. If you’ve already done two long days, stay in Medellín at your own pace. You can take the Metrocable up to Parque Arví, explore the Botanical Garden, or walk through El Poblado and Laureles, with its cafes and restaurants.
As a third option, you can also enjoy Medellín at night. The nightlife is mainly in El Poblado, La 70 in Laureles and Sabaneta. Get around by taxi or using transport apps. From Thursday to Saturday there is also the Night Tour in Medellín, It travels through those areas by a two-story bus for 5 hours for 137,000 COP per person.
And what if you travel on a Sunday? We recommend the Dairy Tour, who visits a dairy farm and an interactive farm in San Pedro de los Milagros, north of Medellín, to learn about the life and traditions of the Antioquia countryside, for 217,000 COP per person.
Three days are enough for the essentials: one day in the city, one for Guatapé, and one to complete what remains to be done or to head east to Antioquia; the longer you have, the better: this way you can immerse yourself in the Paisa culture and discover equally special less touristy corners.
Day 1 for the center, the Pueblito Paisa and Comuna 13; day 2 for Guatapé; day 3 for the eastern part of Antioquia or for relaxing and going out at night. However, the organization depends a lot on your interests since in Medellín you will find activities for all tastes.
Yes. The most practical way is a tour like Turibus' City Plus, which combines the City Tour with Comuna 13 and includes the Pueblito Paisa, on an 8-hour tour that leaves every day.
A full day: about two hours of travel in one direction, another two in the other direction, and the rest of the day between the village and the Stone of the Peñol.
You can combine the city and Guatapé. Turibus has a 2-day combo with City Tour and Guatapé This includes transportation, a guide, and lunch in Guatapé; the food on the city tour depends on the plan you choose.
If you’re wondering what to do in Medellín in 3 days, the key is to organize them well so you can see as much as possible. We recommend one day for the city and Comuna 13, another full day for Guatapé and a third for the eastern part of Antioquia or for going out at night.
