Explore Medellin Like a Local

The Ultimate Medellin Travel Guide with Insider Tips & Tours

Your all-in-one digital Medellin Travel Guide & Digital Platform – find the best private or shared tours, free local tips, and insider travel guides to explore the city like never before.

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Explore Medellín Like Never Before

Your All-in-One Medellin Travel Companion

Explore all the barrios, viewpoints, food spots and tours worth your time – mapped, explained and updated regularly by real Medellin experts.

Only 24 USD –
All Future Updates Included
400+ Pages of Local Insights

All barrios, activities, hotels, viewpoints, travel & safety tips and more clearly structured in one massive guide for effortless planning.

500+ Recommendations

From hidden viewpoints to our favorite restaurants and more – verified, up-to-date, and based on real experience you can truly trust.

Fully Digital & Interactive

Clickable Google Maps, tour links, booking tips, and real-time updates from us – this Medellin Travel Guide is available anytime, anywhere you go.

What’s Inside the Most Complete Medellin Travel Guide?

  • Where to Stay in Medellin – Boutique hotels, hostels & areas by vibe, safety & budget.
  • The Best Food, Coffee & Rooftops – Over 150 verified spots – from hidden cafés to city views.
  • All Maps, Links & Travel Tools
    Google Maps, custom itineraries, saved routes & offline tips.
  • All About Medellin’s Barrios
    Explore Laureles, Envigado, El Centro & more – what to expect.
  • Best Medellin Tours You Can Book – Comuna 13, Guatapé, Street Art & more – with agencies we trust.
  • Day Trips & Pueblitos
    Discover Guatapé, Jardín, Jericó and scenic spots nearby.
  • Smart Travel Tips
    Metro cards, SIM cards, safety zones, airport hacks & more.
  • Special Chapters: Comuna 13 & El Centro – Deep dives into Medellín’s most unique areas – safe & local.
  • Safety, Money & Transport Advice – Updated tips for taxis, apps, scams and getting around.


Explore Medellin Through Unforgettable Tours

Discover the soul of Medellin with our handpicked tour experiences.
From vibrant street art in Comuna 13 to scenic escapes like Guatape – each tour is designed to connect you with the real Colombia.
All tours are operated in collaboration with trusted local agencies for authentic and safe experiences.

Medellin Comuna 13 Tour showing colorful houses and street art murals.

Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour – Art & Transformation

Discover the transformation of Medellin’s most iconic district. Walk the electric stairs, explore vibrant graffiti and learn from locals.

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Medellin cable car view overlooking the city during the Medellin Transformation Tour.

Medellin City Tour – History, Culture & Transformation

Dive deep into Medellin’s inspiring urban change. Visit key landmarks and hear personal stories of transformation and resilience.

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Scenic view of El Peñol rock and Guatape lake on a day trip from Medellin.

Guatapé Gastronomic Tour – Day Trip from Medellin

Explore the colorful streets of Guatape and climb the iconic El Peñol rock for breathtaking views – the perfect escape from Medellin.

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Explore All Medellin Tours

Explore All Categories

From local tips to hidden gems, discover everything our Medellin Travel Guide has to offer – categorized for your perfect trip.

Illustration of Medellin skyline with metro and Botero statues representing Medellin & Surroundings category.
Illustrated landscape with tropical mountains, palm trees, and toucan for Discover Colombia category.
Illustration of traveler overlooking Medellin city while reading the Medellin Travel Guide.
Illustration of travelers exploring Guatape rock and countryside for Medellin tours and activities.
Illustration of travelers sitting with local consultants planning their trip to Colombia.
Illustration of Goran and Tatiana working on laptops with Medellin skyline in the background.

Medellin & Surroundings

After living in Medellin for over 7 years, we know the city – and everything around it – inside out. In this section, we’ll guide you to the best neighborhoods, unforgettable day trips, and hidden gems just outside the city. Real tips. Local favorites. No tourist traps. Here you can find the Medellin Travel Tips you have been looking for.

Top 10 things to do in Medellin - Panoramic view over Medellin valley from the countryside

Top 10 Things to Do in Medellin – Our Real Favorites for 2025


Discover Medellin’s energy through our top 10 must-do activities – from colorful barrios and viewpoints to cable cars and street life. A guide to the real Medellin in 2025.

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Colorful hillside houses in Comuna 13 Medellin

Comuna 13 Medellin – What You Should Know Before You Visit


The Comuna 13 Medellin is Colombia’s most visited neighborhood – but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. This guide shares what you should really know before you go: from safety and timing to local tours, history, and more.

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View of El Peñol rock and lakes during a Guatape day trip from Medellin

Guatape Day Trip from Medellin – Your Ultimate 2025 Travel Guide


Looking for the perfect Guatape day trip from Medellin? In this complete 2025 travel guide, we share everything we’ve learned – from how to get there to what not to miss.


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Explore all Medellin Blogs

Discover Colombia

Colombia is one of the most diverse countries in the world – from tropical beaches and colonial cities to coffee regions and cloud forests. In this section, we’ll take you beyond Medellin to discover the top destinations, hidden gems, and unforgettable landscapes that make Colombia a dream for travelers.

Tayrona National Park beach – one of the top 10 places to visit in Colombia

Top 10 Places to Visit in Colombia – Our 2025 Travel Favorites

Colombia is one of the most diverse, exciting, and underrated travel destinations in the world. From the Andes to the Amazon, from white-sand Caribbean beaches to colorful mountain towns, this country keeps surprising us.

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Dense forested hillside filled with tall wax palm trees in Cocora Valley

Ultimate Salento & Cocora Valley Travel Guide (2025 Edition)

Few places in Colombia have captured our hearts the way Salento and the Cocora Valley did. The landscapes feel almost surreal – with towering wax palms rising into the mist and green hills rolling into the horizon.

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Aerial view of Cartagena Cathedral and coastline – things to do in Cartagena

15 Best Things to Do in Cartagena, Colombia (2025 Guide)

Cartagena is one of those places that just stays with you. From the first time we walked through its colorful Walled City, we were hooked – by the colonial charm, the Caribbean rhythm, and that golden light at sunset. It’s not just a city; it’s an experience.

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Explore all Colombia Blogs
Couple exploring Colombia – collage of colorful destinations and landscapes

TRAVEL CONSULTATION SERVICE

Plan Your Perfect Trip to Colombia – With Local Experts by Your Side


Colombia is magical and one of the most beautiful countries in the world – but it can be hard to know where to start.

We’ve spent years discovering the beauty of this country, from iconic highlights to hidden corners. With our help, you’ll find not just destinations, but meaningful experiences – tailored to your interests, your pace, and your dream journey.

  • Tailored to Your Interests and Budget
  • 7+ Years of Travel Expertise in Colombia
  • Stress-Free & Safe Planning
  • Save Time, Travel Smart
Start Planning Your Trip

Frequently Asked Questions

We get a lot of questions from curious travelers – about safety, tours, neighborhoods, or how Medellín Insider actually works. Here are some of the most common ones. Still not sure? Just reach out.

Medellin Insider is our personal travel project, created by Goran and Tatiana – a Croatian-Colombian couple who’ve called Medellin home for many years. We believe Medellin is one of the most vibrant and underrated cities in the world – but too often, online content only scratches the surface. It’s not just about Comuna 13, Provenza, or a quick trip to Guatapé.

The Medellin we love includes Sunday Ciclovía rides, local corners like Envigado and Sabaneta, quiet viewpoints, mountain escapes, and all the everyday moments that make this city so special. Through Medellin Insider, we want to share that side of the city – the places, people, and experiences that truly make it shine.

We created Medellin Insider because we felt something was missing in the way people experience Colombia – especially Medellin. Most travel guides focus on the same top sights, but they often miss the everyday magic, the culture, the flavors, and the small details that truly define a place.

Medellin Insider is for all kinds of travelers – solo explorers, families, digital nomads, backpackers, and first-timers – who want more than just a checklist. It’s for anyone who values real, up-to-date advice based on lived experience. We don’t just share places – we introduce you to local fruits, drinks, traditions, street food, and the rhythm of daily life that you’d probably miss without a little help from someone who lives here.

What makes Medellin Insider different is the real-life experience and structure behind everything we share. No generic lists or repackaged advice – our guide is based on years of living in Medellin, constant exploration, and helping travelers find their way.

With 400+ pages and over 500 chosen tips, you get a digital, always-accessible guide filled with insights – from hidden viewpoints to favorite restaurants, cafés, and neighborhoods. Everything is organized to save you time: interactive maps, smart travel advice, clickable links, and itineraries for any trip length.

We update the guide regularly, so you always have the latest version of Medellin – made with love by people who actually live here.

Because our guide isn’t built on outdated blogs or generic search results – it’s built on real experience, updated regularly by people who live here. Tools like Google or ChatGPT often rely on third-party content that’s outdated, shallow, or written by travelers who only spent a few days in Medellin. We’ve seen it ourselves – restaurant listings for places that closed two years ago, neighborhoods described without context, and even cafés recommended as hostels. That’s not just misleading – it’s a waste of your time.

With Medellin Insider, you get a fully digital, web-based guide that’s updated multiple times per year. We visit every place ourselves – many of them more than once – and adjust the guide whenever something changes. Medellin is always evolving, and so is our content. From new rooftop bars to changing tour options or safety info – we make sure you always have the best, most relevant version in your hands. It’s not just about finding a place – it’s about knowing if it’s still worth your time.

You can reach out to us anytime via info@medellin-insider.com or Instagram (and soon through WhatsApp as well!) – and we actually reply. For deeper questions or planning support, we also offer personalized travel consultations. We love connecting with our readers, and we’re happy to help you figure out the best route, neighborhood, activity, or plan. You’re never just a number with us.

Our Medellin Travel Guide is more than just a list of places – it’s a complete digital travel companion with over 400+ structured pages and 500+ real recommendations, all based on first-hand experience. You’ll find interactive Google Maps, day plans, transport tips, safety info, and curated lists of our favorite restaurants, cafés, rooftops, and boutique stays. But it doesn’t stop there.

We go beyond the basics: This guide dives deep into Medellin’s culture, traditions, food scene, and social dynamics. You’ll discover what to order at a local bakery, how to navigate neighborhoods like Laureles or Envigado, and how Sunday ciclovía works. We also included special chapters about Comuna 13, El Centro, coffee culture, the Pablo Escobar backgrounds in todays Medellin and more – helping you understand the context behind the places, not just what they look like.

Everything is web-based, mobile-friendly, and always up to date – with clickable links, tour suggestions, booking tools, and offline access. Whether you’re in the planning phase or already walking around Medellin, this guide helps you make the most of every moment – without needing 15 open tabs.

We update the Medellin Travel Guide several times per year – especially when great spots close down, new places pop up, or safety and quality change. Medellin is a fast-moving city, and we make sure the guide stays current and useful. Every recommendation is based on personal experience, not outdated blog posts.

You can access the guide online anytime – and if you’re traveling without internet (like on a flight), there’s also a downloadable PDF version available. That means you can use the guide both online and offline, whenever you need it.

We’re also planning exciting new additions: upcoming chapters for digital nomads, expats, visa guidance, real estate tips, and smart AI tools like a custom GPT you can message via WhatsApp. And the best part? All updates are free for those who already own the guide – no hidden costs, no new versions to buy.

Our personal travel consultation is a 1:1 video call where we help you plan your Colombia trip – tailored to your needs, preferences, and travel style. Whether you’re backpacking, traveling as a couple, exploring as a family, or relocating long-term, we listen first – then guide you with honest, experience-based advice.

We’ve lived in Colombia for over 7 years and visited 50+ destinations – so we know how overwhelming the planning can get. That’s where we come in: we help you choose the right regions, build a safe and smart route, and avoid the typical mistakes travelers make. You’ll leave with clarity, practical steps, and a clear plan.

Depending on what you need, you can book a single consultation, get a custom itinerary, or have us fully organize your hotels, transport, and activities. It’s personal, flexible, and focused on what really matters: helping you enjoy Colombia to the fullest.

Absolutely – we don’t just focus on Medellin. We’ve traveled across Colombia and can help with full itineraries from the coast to the jungle. Whether it’s three weeks or three months, we’ll help you structure your trip, avoid tourist traps, and discover the real highlights. Our advice goes beyond the must-sees and dives into the good to know.

Booking is easy – just head to our website and choose the travel planning package that fits you best. We offer flexible options: from a single consultation to a full itinerary or even a completely organized trip. After booking, you’ll receive a short pre-call form so we can prepare everything based on your travel goals and questions.

During the video call, we’ll walk you through your route, share our screen if needed, and answer all your questions in detail – from transport and timing to hidden spots and cultural tips. After the session, you’ll get a clear summary of everything we discussed, including links, notes, and practical next steps. No generic checklists – just honest advice from people who’ve actually been there.

We collaborate closely with certified, professional local tour providers who know Medellin and its surroundings better than anyone. These aren’t just random companies we found online – they’re trusted partners we’ve worked with for years, and many we know personally. In fact, Goran used to work with one of these agencies before the pandemic, and we’ve continued this partnership because we know their standards, safety protocols, and commitment to quality.

All tours – especially our private ones – include everything you need for a smooth and unforgettable day: a bilingual certified guide (English, Spanish, or even German/French upon request), a professional licensed driver, private vehicle (SUV, van or minibus), hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance tickets, water, and usually snacks or lunch depending on the tour. Vehicles are regularly inspected, fully insured, and tourism-licensed – with GPS tracking for extra peace of mind.

We’ve personally tested every tour and only recommend the ones we’d confidently book for our own friends and family. Whether it’s a shared city tour or a fully private adventure to Jardín, you’ll travel safely, comfortably, and with real local insight. Our goal is simple: not just to show you Medellin – but to make sure you feel connected, welcomed, and taken care of every step of the way.

Absolutely. Safety and professionalism are top priorities for us. All the tours we feature are run by certified local agencies using licensed, insured vehicles and trained bilingual guides – usually in English and Spanish, and often also in German or French upon request. Whether you’re a solo traveler, couple, family with kids, or an older guest, you’ll be in experienced hands from pickup to drop-off. We’ve personally tested every tour ourselves, so you can feel confident knowing that everything runs smoothly, safely, and with heart.

Shared tours are a great way to explore Medellin and its surroundings on a budget while meeting fellow travelers. You’ll follow a fixed itinerary, usually with a friendly bilingual guide and comfortable group transport from a central meeting point. Entrance fees and meals may not always be included – but you’ll know exactly what to expect when booking.

Private tours, on the other hand, are designed entirely around you. You’ll be picked up directly from your accommodation in a private vehicle with a certified guide and a professional driver. Entrance tickets, snacks or lunch, and water are usually included. These tours offer more comfort, flexibility, and personal attention – perfect for families, couples, groups of friends, or anyone who wants a more tailored experience.

Yes – and that’s exactly what we care about. We believe great travel experiences should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we include recommendations for different needs and preferences: family-friendly tours with safe transport and fun activities, group tours that are perfect for solo travelers looking to connect with others, and slower-paced options for older guests or those with limited mobility. If you have specific concerns or preferences, just let us know – we’re happy to help you find the right fit.

Absolutely! We offer flexible options like Driver or Guide on Request – starting from just 2 hours up to a full day. Whether you already have a plan or want to explore spontaneously, this service lets you move at your own pace with local support. You can book a certified guide, a trusted driver, or both – either for a personalized tour or simply to get around comfortably and safely. It’s ideal for travelers who want more freedom without missing out on local insights. All options and prices can be found in our webshop – or just send us a message if you have something special in mind.

Yes – and we know this from personal experience and the hundreds of travelers we’ve helped. Medellin is a dynamic, welcoming city that can be a great place to explore on your own, as long as you use a bit of street smarts. In our Travel Guide and blog, we cover safety tips in detail – from how to move around confidently to what areas to avoid at night.

We always say: if you don’t go looking for trouble (like drugs, sex tourism, or walking around drunk with your phone out at 2 am), trouble usually won’t find you. Stick to well-known neighborhoods like Laureles, El Poblado, or even Envigado and Sabaneta, especially during the day. And if you’re ever unsure, book a tour, join a group, or ask us directly – that’s what we’re here for.

Absolutely. In fact, you’re exactly who we made this for. Colombia is vibrant, complex, and different from anywhere else – and we know it can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why we break everything down in a clear, friendly, non-intimidating way.

In our Travel Guide, you’ll find real talk about what to expect – from safety and transport to cultural tips and common scams. No question is too basic. We explain how things really work here, not just what a blog from 2018 says. Plus, if you need more guidance, our personal travel consultations are here to help you plan with full confidence. We’ve got your back – so you can relax and enjoy what Colombia is all about.

Yes – 100%. Every recommendation in our Travel Guide or blog is based on personal experience, trusted connections, or real feedback from our own network. We don’t just recycle reviews from the internet or copy what’s trending. We actually go to the places, talk to the people, taste the food, check the details – and then decide if it’s worth sharing.

Our goal is not to list everything – but to help you find the right things. And often, that means supporting small, independent businesses: the rooftop bar built from scratch by two local friends, the family-run café tucked into a quiet side street, or the tour company run by people who really care about showing Medellin the right way.

We’re here to help you travel smarter – and also to make sure your money supports the people who make this city special. That’s what Medellin Insider stands for.

Most of the time, yes. We’ve personally tested every café, restaurant, and most activities. We also work closely with all of our tour partners – even if we haven’t joined every single tour, we know the people behind them and trust their quality. For accommodations, we haven’t stayed in every place ourselves, but friends, family, and fellow travelers have helped us vet them.

We take this seriously – especially in a city like Medellin, where the tourism scene is growing fast. We constantly revisit places and update our guide accordingly. Our focus is on real experiences and passionate local projects – not generic spots or big corporate listings. That way, your visit supports people who genuinely care about what they do – and you get a better, more personal experience.

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ABOUT US

We’re Goran & Tatiana – the couple behind Medellin Inside

We’re a Colombian-Croatian couple who’s been traveling the world – but we chose to call Colombia home. Medellin stole our hearts, and today, we’re on a mission to help travelers experience the country’s most authentic, vibrant and unforgettable sides – just like we do. With this Medellin Travel Guide we want to share our love for this city with you.

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Colombian-Croatian couple walking in Dubrovnik during their wedding – founders of Medellin Insider

Live From Medellin – Our Latest Posts on Instagram