Medellin is a beautiful city set within a valley with the houses and apartments rising up all around before the city turns to trees and greenery. With the clear skies and warm weather, there is nothing better than finding a nice high point and soaking everything in.
I have lived in Medellin for 15 years and I never get tired of the views.
In this article I describe 10 places to enjoy the amazing Medellin skyline on a bike, with a cocktail, sipping hot chocolate, trekking, eating or flying.
1. Pueblito Paisa: A 360-Degree View in the Heart of the City
- Location: Belén, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: An Uber or taxi is easiest but you could also walk 30 minutes uphill from Exposiciones station
Pueblito Paisa is a recreation of a classic small town from the Antioquia region. You will find nice restaurants and stores to buy artisan gifts with all of the buildings in traditional style with white walls and colorful details.
The pueblo is located at the highest point of Cerro Nutibara with an amazing view over the city. There is a central square with a fountain, a small church and a small museum. It is a great spot for the sunset and can be enjoyed any time of the day into the early evening.
You shouldn’t have any problems ordering an uber to pick you up when you are ready to leave.
2. Hangar M45 Azotea: Great food in an amazing aviation themed rooftop restaurant
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
- Location: Manrique, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: I would recommend to take an uber or taxi to and from the restaurant
The restaurant is themed as an airport with a small plane on the rooftop and a helipad. The staff are dressed as pilots with airplane style seating in the smart, modern restaurant. The food is generally very good and the staff are attentive.
The neighborhood was once an area of the city to be avoided but is quickly improving with some streets the home to popular bars, restaurants and clubs. The views are amazing, particularly at sunset and into the evening. I would still recommend a taxi or uber there and back to avoid walking around the area at night.
3. OS Mirador: Relaxed burger restaurant with nice cocktails and great views
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
- Location: Poblado, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: The restaurant is after the tunnel on the road between Medellin and the international airport. It is 10-15 minutes up the hill from Poblado.
OS is a relaxed restaurant with beanbags and comfortable seating all facing out towards the incredible view of the city. The menu is limited but the burgers are good and fairly reasonably priced. They have nice cocktails and the sangria is particularly tasty.
It is a good option for a date or pre-drinks before heading elsewhere on Las Palmas or down into Poblado. It gets fairly busy on Friday and Saturday but there is a lot of space. The restaurant shares a car park with La Isla, the city’s most famous strip club, but still retains a very different environment. The view is best at night or on a clear afternoon.
4. Cerro Tres Cruces: Recover from a tough climb with a cold beer and amazing view
- Location: Belen, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: The entry point to the trail is a little hard to spot but taxis and ubers should be able to help. Aguacatala is the closest metro station.
Cerro tres cruces is a hike up to one of the highest points in Medellin which has three crucifixes overlooking the city. It is a very popular activity on Sundays when hundreds of people will climb the dirt trail up high above Belen.
You should take care during quiet times with your belongings but it is generally a safe spot but be aware that when there is a lot of rain the mud track can become much more slippery. You can work out at the top with the other fitness fanatics or enjoy a cold beer and the amazing view.
You should not do the climb in the evening and I would recommend the morning to try to get the best weather.
5. Comuna 13: Experience Medellin’s culture and transformation with a spectacular backdrop
- Location: San Javier, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: I would suggest an Uber or taxi but you can also take a very short bus ride from San Javier metro station on Line B.
Once one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in one of the world’s most dangerous cities, Comuna 13 has been transformed by community projects, improved security and local investment. Today the area is dominated by music, graffiti, art, food and fresh energy.
You can take a guided tour of the neighborhood to learn about the history of the rejuvenated streets, ride the world’s first urban commuter escalator, taste some of the delicious local snacks and then take some amazing photos.
The view goes from corrugated metal roofs of the simple houses in the foreground, down the valley to the taller apartments, across to the built up downtown area all surrounded by the rich green mountains that border the city.
The neighborhood is less popular and secure after sunset, I would recommend going in the morning. It is busy but there is also a real buzz at the weekends while it is more relaxed during the week.
6. Envy Rooftop: Sophisticated bar with an amazing view of Poblado
- Location: Poblado, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: Situated alongside Parque Poblado you can take uber, metro or walk up 15 minutes from Poblado metro station..
Envy is a well-established restaurant and bar in the center of Poblado situated on the roof of the Charlee Hotel. The two-story venue has a pool which is covered over at night with booths and seating around 360-degree windows to make the most of the amazing view.
It is a great place for a date or for a drink before a night out in nearby Provenza. The cocktails are a little steep but very tasty and they also have a popular brunch option on Sundays. You get amazing views of the tall apartment and office buildings that run up the Poblado hillside to the green valley peaks. Best time to visit is at sunset when everything is orange and purple.
7. El Tesoro Mall: Lunch, shopping and an amazing view of the city
- Location: Poblado, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility:The easiest way is by uber or taxi but you can also take a bus from Poblado station
El Tesoro is probably the nicest mall in the city and they have constructed a bridge between two sections with an amazing view above Poblado. This is a great place to take in an amazing view of the city without any real effort while enjoying some food or getting some shopping.
El Tesoro is located 5 to 10 minutes up from Poblado and is easily accessible. The mall also has a cinema and rooftop football pitches which have a great view of the city below.
8. Santo Domingo: Take a cable car above the barrios of Medellin
- Location: Santo Domingo, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: You can take the metro to Acevedo station and then transfer directly to the cable car. When at the top you can leave the station or go straight back down without paying.
You can get an amazing view as you pass closely above the tightly packed houses on the cable car up to Santo Domingo. Medellin’s cable car network was the first in the world to be built specifically as an urban public transportation solution but it also offers a great tourist experience.
The cable cars can get busy at peak hours but it is a great chance to take some amazing pictures and visit neighborhoods which were once difficult to access. At the top you can also take pictures and grab a drink or some food. Before the cable car the journey would take hours and require multiple buses but now it is 15 minutes and included with no additional charge on your metro trip.
You should avoid wandering too far from the cable car station at the top and it is best to visit during the day.
9. Cerro El Volador: Cycle overlooking the city in a central park
- Location: Robledo, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: It is 20 minutes walk from Hospital metro station but I would always take an uber or taxi as the walk from the station isn’t the easiest..
El Volador is a park in the center of the city with hiking and cycling routes with great views across the city.
The park is well maintained and very green. There are a range of trails for visitors with all fairly easy to moderate level of difficulty. When you come to the clearing at the elevated point there are great views over the city and you will find children flying kites.
The best time to visit is in the morning to get the clearest weather. The closest station is Hospital but I would recommend taking an uber or taxi to the entrance. You can find drinks and hot snacks such as empanadas on sale inside the park.
10. San Felix: Fly high above the city or enjoy a cozy hot chocolate
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
- Location: San Felix, Antioquia (Google Maps)
If you want the very best view possible then you will want to fly high above the rooftop bars, the miradores and the cable cars. At San Felix you can take off on a paraglide flight high above the South of Medellin. As long as the weather is clear, this is the perfect spot for a fun, safe flight.
A 15-minute flight costs around 200,000 COP (US$57) and you can also borrow a GoPro camera to record your experience.
The best weather is usually in the morning. If you don’t feel like flying then San Felix is still a great spot for a relaxing hot chocolate and a nice view over the lush green hills.