There are lots of things to do and see in Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, and despite having limited time in the city (and the temptation to hang back in our swanky El Poblado rental), we managed to visit a few truly noteworthy spots.
La Candelaria District – The Center of Medellin
Like in many Colombian cities, the La Candelaria neighborhood is the tourist center of Medellin. Almost immediately upon leaving the Parque Berrio metro station, Plaza Botero greets visitors with its rotund sculptures. Fernando Botero’s easily recognizable artwork, done on canvas and other mediums as well as the bronze seen in the plaza, is among the most well-known in Colombian history. The bronze statues in this area make a great photo-op, and while we were in the area, we noticed a Medellin television station taking advantage of the interesting backdrop as well.
In the La Candelaria district of Medellin you can buy souvenirs from myriad street-side vendors selling food, clothing, crafts, and just about anything else you can imagine. Palacio Nacional is a converted government building that now houses 200 footwear and clothing stores packed tightly into former office spaces and the nearby El Hueco area contains some of the best bargains in the city.
Walk a few blocks to the west of the Palacio Nacional and you’ll find Plaza Cisneros, an open square with giant spires that are a stand of concrete trees in daytime, but provide a magically luminated scene at night. In the interest of making a full circle of the area, you could then head north a few blocks to pick up Calle 51, which is partially closed to vehicle traffic and features more shopping options on your way back to Parque Berrio Metro.
El Jardin Botanico – A Garden Paradise in Medellin
The Medellin Botanical Gardens were a real highlight of our time in Medellin. Though the city is surrounded by lush, green hillsides, it was nice to find a 40 acre patch of nature right in the heart of the city. The gardens boast over 1000 species of plant and tree and are a great place to get out of the hustle-and-bustle of the city and relax around locals looking to do the same. Also, be sure to bring a large-capacity memory card for your camera – there are many photo opportunities throughout.
Parque Lleras for Trendy Dining and Nightlife
We had been warned by a friend living in Medellin that Parque Lleras (in the El Poblado neighborhood) would not be authentic Colombia, but we went anyway because it was easy walking distance from our vacation rental. While it’s true that the establishments in Parque Lleras looked a bit more flashy than most we encountered in other parts of Colombia, we very much enjoyed the people-watching and had a few tasty dinners.
In particular, we had a meal (which happened also to be at a promotional price) at Al Rojo while being entertained by an excellent jazz band in the open-air patio dining area. The wine was also well-priced and my wife and I took advantage, which I blame for our lack of photos from that night but have a look at the video below to get a sense of the place.
Without doubt though, the best restaurant we visited while in Medellin was located to the edge of the Parque Lleras area, right in the middle of a pleasant stream-side greenbelt called Parque Lineal. Cafe Zorba was very popular, featuring relaxed dining inside or on the back patios and delicious wood-fired pizzas.
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If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
ITP Travel Report on Colombia, pt 6: Medellin Logistics and Lodging
ITP Travel Report on Colombia, pt. 5: Tayrona National Park
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ITP Travel Report on Colombia, pt. 3: Bogota Religious Experiences
ITP Travel Report on Colombia, pt. 2: Bogota
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