Medellin is the city of eternal spring which means alongside the near perfect warm temperature, palm trees and fresh breezes you also get regular torrential downpours. Rain in Medellin can bring all plans to a sudden stop but it doesn’t have to be this way.
There are lots of fun, interesting, exciting and educational activities you can enjoy on a rainy day in Medellin. I have lived in the city for almost fifteen years and these are some of my top tips when going outside isn’t an option.
Have a Nice Coffee With a Couple of Almojabanas in Cafe Dulcinea
📍 Carrera 38 10a – 27, Poblado, Medellín, Colombia
Sometimes when the rain is pouring outside there is nothing better than a soothing hot drink, a cozy atmosphere and some tasty warm pastry. Colombia is world famous for coffee and while most of the best was once imported, there are a growing number of cafes with fresh, locally sourced high-quality coffee in Medellin.
Cafe Dulcinea in Poblado is a very popular option and they have an excellent range of pastries such as almojábana, a cheese-flavored bread, to accompany your rich coffee.
Immerse Yourself in Art and History
➡️ Museo Casa de la Memoria
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📍 Calle 51 #36 – 66, Parque Bicentenario Medellín, Colombia
The House of Memory Museum in Medellin looks to tell individual stories and experiences of Colombia’s armed conflict. Through photography, stories and video, they want to tell the stories of those who have been victims and those who have survived violence in the country.
The aim is to tell the story of what happened, support the local community and teach lessons to ensure a more peaceful future.
➡️ Museo de Antioquía
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📍 Calle 52 #52-43, La Candelaria, Medellín, Colombia
The Museum of Antioquia is an art museum in the center of the city which has the largest collection of works by the world famous Fernando Botero and Pedro Nel Gómez.
Botero painted and created sculptures with oversized and exaggerated proportions. His work was noted for including humor and political commentary, with pieces in the museum depicting famous events.
The plaza outside has some large examples of his work but the museum is the perfect option on a rainy afternoon.
➡️ Museo del Agua
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📍 Parque de los Pies Descalzos, Cra. 57 #42-139, La Candelaria, Medellín
The Water Museum has nine rooms of interactive and educational exhibits which explore the impact of water on the player as well as how it is managed in the city. It takes about two hours to thoroughly explore the full space.
You can spend a thought provoking and informative afternoon learning about one of our planet’s most vital resources. The museum is open from 10am to 4pm daily.
➡️ Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín (MAMM)
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📍 Cra. 44 #19a-100, El Poblado, Medellín
The Medellin Museum of Modern Art was founded in 1978 and moved to Ciudad del Rio in 2015, with its new home a renovated former steel mill which dated back to 1938.
The museum includes modern and contemporary art from important Colombian and Latin American artists including Débora Arango, Beatriz González, Hernando Tejada, Bernardo Salcedo, Álvaro Barrios and Edgar Negret.
As well as showcasing some of the region’s most important works, it is also a meeting place for cultural and artistic projects. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday at 11am to 7pm and from 11am to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
Discover the Wonders of Science at the Explora Park
📍 Cra. 52 #73-75, Aranjuez, Medellín
Parque Explora, located next to Universidad station and the Botanical Gardens, is an excellent way to spend a rainy afternoon in Medellin.
There are over 300 interactive exhibits and activities including the biggest aquarium in Latin America, a vivarium, a 3D experience in the projection room and a flight simulator.
Most of the park is inside and covered. Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 6.30pm Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. The park is closed on Mondays and the day after national holidays.
Entrance costs 37,000 COP (US$8.90) for Colombians and 42,000 COP (US$10.10) for foreigners.
Visit the Planetarium
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📍 Cra. 52 #71-117, Aranjuez, Medellín
Across the street from Parque Explora is the Planetarium. Dating back to the 1970s the space was used by astronomers and scientific experts, with the world class observatory installed in 1984.
Since 2011 the Observatory has also included a fascinating and awe inspiring planetarium exhibit for visitors to learn about our place in the universe. There are a wide range of educational and interactive exhibits with an incredible digital dome.
The dome has a capacity for 110 visitors who sit on reclined chairs to look up at a 15 meter fisheye projection in 4K. This state-of-the-art visualization tehcnique can show the sky from anywhere on Earth and simulate the movement of astronomical bodies and send the viistor on a journey through the known universe.
There is a schedule of showings in the dome available on the website here.
Foreign visitors pay 26,000 COP to enter the planetarium and opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm on most days.
Indulge in a shopping spree at some of Medellin’s premier shopping malls
Colombia has dozens of malls across the city with extensive shopping, restaurants, cinemas and fun activities. Some of the most popular options are included below:
Viva Envigado
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📍 Cra. 48 #32B Sur-139, Zona 1, Envigado
Viva is a fifteen-minute drive south of Poblado to the municipality of Medellin and a short walk from Envigado metro station. The mall is very large and very modern with over 170 stores offering a huge variety.
As well as excellent shopping options there are 76 restaurants and food stands in the mall. There is a huge Cine Colombia multiplex cinema which has IMAX screens and on Wednesdays, all tickets are available at a 50% discount.
El Tesoro parque comercial
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📍 Carrera 25A # 1A Sur – 45, Poblado, Medellín
El Tesoro is one of the most popular malls in Medellin, up the hill above Poblado with an incredible view over the city. The mall has 358 stores with over 300 brands offering everything from high end fashion to sportswear.
There are also a range of fun activities for kids to enjoy at El Tesoro. Afterland has bumper soccer (US$2.62), karaoke (US$2.14), the only indoor surf machine in Medellin (US$5.99), playground (US$1.90), multi-adventure room with climbing wall (US$2.95), water fight room (US$3.10) zip line (US$2.10), 5D simulator (US$2.38), laser tag (US$3.50), trampolines (US$1.60) and a bouncy castle (US$1.60).
Jumbalá also has an activity fun park for children while Gymboree offers music and play activities for toddlers.
El Tesoro has dozens of restaurants and a Cinemark cinema offering reclinable leather Premier seating and four-story high XD screens
Centro Comercial Santa Fe
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📍 Carrera 43A, Cl. 7 Sur #170, Poblado, Medellín
Santa Fe is situated on Avenida Poblado, a short drive or 20 minute walk from Poblado Park. There are 384 stores and the center of the mall has a huge open space with a retractable roof which closes automatically when it begins to rain.
This space has a constantly changing array of exhibits and activities with the spectacular flower display during Feria de las Flores from July to August a highlight.
There are many restaurants, from fast food to gourmet, with a large Cine Colombia cinema on the top floor.
A hidden gem at this mall is the excellent Xtreme Karting track at the bottom of the car park. Very few Colombians seem to know it is there but it is really good fun and very affordable. Xtreme also offers a trampoline park and climbing zone at the mall plus there is the Bowland bowling alley and Happy City arcade.
Eat at Mercado del Río, a large gastronomy market in Medellín
📍 Cl. 24 #48-28, Poblado, Medellín
Mercado del Rio is a new gastronomic zone inspired by famous market districts such as El Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid or Chelsea Market in New York.
The covered square includes bars, restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors with each area of the market themed to a different area of the world. On the ground floor there is a wide range of options and if you are with friends you can each pick what you feel like. On the second floor there are larger, more formal seated restaurants.
Visit a Cat Café
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📍 Cra. 80C #33-84, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín
For many people, the perfect plan for a rainy afternoon is time inside with a coffee or glass of wine, a delicious cake and the company of adorable, friendly cats.
Colombians love their pets and since 2018 a number of Cat Cafés have become popular. La Gateria is an excellent option in Laureles.
The owners take care to ensure a comfortable environment for their furry residents so numbers are limited, reservations can be necessary and calm, considerate behavior is mandatory. Reservations are for two hours and there is a minimum spend of 20,000 COP (US$4.80) during the week and 25,000 COP (US$6) at the weekend.
Craft Beer Enthusiast? Visit Bipolar Brewing
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📍 Cra. 43F #16a-8, Poblado, Medellín
Medellin has a good range of excellent craft breweries including Metropole Beer Lab in Manila, Cerveceria Maestre in Poblado, 20Mission beer factory in Barrio Colombia and Cerveceria Libre with pubs in Manila and Barrio Colombia.
While those mentioned above offer a traditional pub feel, Bipolar has a more modern, contemporary style. They have a good range of 15 beers on tap with Coco Porter, Body Soul, Heaven Hell and Pleasure Pain some of their most recommended.
Bipolar also offers reduced alcohol light options.
Watch a Football Match
📍 Cra. 74 #48010, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín
Rain or shine, football is always a big part of the lives of people in Medellin. Watching a game in a busy bar or the stadium is always an experience. Read about my experience and recommendations about watching a soccer game in Medellin.
If you go to the stadium on a rainy day then I would recommend the Oriental (East) stand as most of this is covered by the roof or upper tier. There is no roof in the remaining two-thirds of the stadium which means you are going to get wet. My best advice is to buy a plastic white poncho on your way in and jump up and down with the locals to stay warm.
Alternatively, watching games in a bar surrounded by locals will also give you a sense of the passion and excitement football inspires in this part of the world. If Nacional or Independiente Medellin are playing, then anywhere with a TV and beers will attract a fun crowd.
For European games, I would recommend Barrio Sur bar in Envigado. A lot of foreigners and locals watch games in the mornings with an English-fried breakfast followed by a midday beer at the weekend.
Party like local by hopping on a party bus with a DJ
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The chiva party bus is a big tradition with Colombians and one which has also become popular with visitors. Chivas are traditional buses which have been filled with sound systems, lights, alcohol and enthusiastic revelers.
You will see buses around town with everyone dancing, singing, drinking and trying to stand up straight as the chiva heads up and down the hills of Medellin.
Expect to have Aguardiente (Colombian ‘firewater’) thrust into your hand regularly with the insistent demand you knock back “guarro guarro guarro”.
This will either sound incredibly exciting or horrible to you, if it is the former then book a spot and get onboard.
Sign up in a street food cooking class
📍 Tv. 42 #70-14, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín
Medellin has an excellent range of delicious local street food and it is now possible to learn the culinary secrets, so you can show off your skills to friends and family back home.
You can book a Street Food Cooking Class with Viator where you will join a small group to prepare three important local dishes such as “patacones” (fried plantain) and empanadas. Once you have perfected your dishes you can enjoy them with a mojito, fruit and a beer.
Try Tejo, the most explosive sport in Colombia
📍 Carrera 48 # 46 sur 150 Avenida, Envigado
A group of friends drinking plenty of beers and throwing rocks at gunpowder to cause explosions. How does that sound for a bit of fun?
The game of Tejo can be a great way to spend an evening. The traditional Colombian pastime involves throwing a metal puck (the tejo) across an alley at a board of clay which has a target in the center prepared to explode on impact.
You can play in teams and games are usually accompanied by plenty of cervezas, bangs and cheers.
You can book a tejo experience which will include instruction, a private lane and local beers such as this one.
Enjoy Nearby Towns: Santa Fe de Antioquia, San Jerónimo Or Sopetrán
Medellin is surrounded by lush green countryside and one way to escape rain in the city is to head to a warmer, drier nearby town.
The climate in and around Medellin varies hugely and it is normal for locals to head out to a town or country house for the weekend. This can be a cooler town to feel the fresh air or a warmer one if they want some sun.
Heading north out of Medellin you will feel the weather warming up. Around 45 minutes from Medellin you will come to San Jeronimo, shortly after Sopetran and then Santa Fe de Antioquia is just over an hour away.
The average temperature in Santa Fe de Antioquia is 28 degrees while in Medellin it is 22 degrees, so there is a notable difference.