Medellin city is fairly large - stretched out from the lower North (Niquia) to South (Itaguii), gently rising toward the South.
Prevailing winds arrive up the Aburra valley from the North and therefore, the pollution builds up as you head South toward El Poblado, which is doubtlessly the most popular area for visitors. It is also, without comparison, the wealthiest part of town.
Medellin is however, far more than just the Poblado area and as you take the time to seek out other gems in the city, you meet a different kind of people and can really enjoy everything Medellin has to offer.
That said, El Poblado is the cleanest, safest and most modern part of the city and truth be told, I wouldn't consider living in any other part of the city.
Let's begin with
things to do in Medellin
for ideas on what to do during your visit.
The main and most interesting areas of Medellin are:
- El Poblado
- Parque Lleras (in El Poblado)
- Centro (downtown)
- Laureles
- Envigado
- Prado
There are of course a number of other areas to the city such as:
- Bello (Strictly speaking not part of the city. Large and noisy)
- Belen (Calmish middle class area in the central Medellin)
- Carlos E. Restrepo (charming part of town)
- Itaguii (to the far South)
El Poblado
steals a lot of attention in Medellin. Perhaps for good reason?
Parque Lleras
is a favorite among visitors to Medellin because of its high concentration of bars and restaurants.
Centro Medellin
has some of the oldest elements of the city. Itīs a huge contrast to the more up-market parts of town such as El Poblado but most definitely worth a visit.
Return from Medellin City to Medellin Travel Guide
