Most treatments leave you with some free time: an afternoon between appointments, a quiet day while you heal, sometimes a whole weekend. And Medellín is a great city to spend it in. Forget the old clichés: it’s modern, green and used to welcoming visitors from all over the world.
Here are the places our patients ask about most. Tell us what you enjoy and we’ll help you plan.
One rule first: right after a procedure, take it easy. Check with your dentist before anything strenuous, like long hikes or climbing El Peñol.
Right around your apartment: El Poblado, Provenza and Parque Lleras
You stay in El Poblado, near Parque El Poblado, so you don’t need to go far. A short walk takes you to Provenza and Parque Lleras, leafy streets with parks and small design shops. It’s the easiest plan when you’re tired: a slow walk in the morning or at sunset.
Kosher food and Shabbat
Meals aren’t included in your treatment, but keeping kosher in Medellín is easier than you might think. Your apartment is stocked with snacks and kosher pasta. For a meal out, Coco Loco is a kosher restaurant our patients go to, and the Shabbat House welcomes visitors for Shabbat meals. Ask us and we’ll send you addresses and help with plans.
Comuna 13: street art and a story of change
Once one of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods, Comuna 13 is now known for its colorful murals, hip-hop and the outdoor escalators that climb the hillside. A guided graffiti tour (2 to 3 hours) is the best way to see it and hear its story from locals. It’s about 30 minutes by car.
Downtown and Plaza Botero
Medellín’s center is home to Plaza Botero, with more than twenty sculptures by Fernando Botero, and the Museo de Antioquia right next to it. The easiest way to get there is the metro, from Poblado station: about 20 minutes, no traffic.
Metrocable up to Parque Arví
Medellín’s cable cars are part of the public transport system, and the ride itself is the attraction: you float over the hillside neighborhoods with the whole valley below you. Change at the top for the line to Parque Arví, a nature reserve with trails, fresh air and a small market. Check the schedule before you go, as the Arví line doesn’t run every day.
Pueblito Paisa
On top of Cerro Nutibara, a short drive away, there’s a replica of a traditional Antioquian village with one of the best views of the city. A nice, easy plan for a late afternoon.
An e-bike tour
If you’d like to see a lot in a few hours without getting tired, an electric bike tour is a fun option. Several local companies run them through El Poblado, Laureles and other neighborhoods.
A day trip to Guatapé
About two hours from the city, Guatapé is a lakeside town whose houses are painted in bright colors and decorated with zócalos, the colorful relief panels along the bottom of each wall. Next to it is El Peñol, a huge rock with more than 700 steps to a spectacular view over the lake and its islands. It’s a full day out, so save it for when you’re fully recovered, ideally at the start of your trip or on a later visit.
We’re here to help
Whatever you’d like to do, ask us. We can recommend places, help with transport and make sure your plans fit around your appointments. And if you just want to rest, that’s a perfectly good plan too.
Book your free consultation and start planning your trip.