Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Borneo orangutan
Malaysia • 12 days, 11 nights
Wild Borneo: Secrets of an Ancient Rainforest
from
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda, Princess of Éboli, was imprisoned for six months in the tower.
Torreón de Pinto (Tower of Pinto)
Rococo staircase to the musicians’s gallery.
Biscari Palace
Statues of Qin Hui and Lady Wang.
Qin Hui Statue at Yue Fei Temple
The Salt Canyon.
Salt Canyon
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
 Fenway Park at night
How Was Your First Trip With Your Significant Other?
about 7 hours ago
Ivan the Terra Bus
The Bus, the Myth, the Legend: Ivan the Terra Bus
1 day ago
Pigeons were included in a series of 1891 illustrations entitled “Household Pets.”
What Makes a Pest a Pest?
2 days ago
Burros Alfa and Beto, seen here with Luis Soriano in 2008, have been helping the teacher deliver books for more than 20 years.
How One Man and His ‘Biblioburro’ Spreads Literacy in Rural Colombia
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Colombia Medellín

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Medellín

11 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Medellín, Colombia

Updated March 11, 2019

Email
Attractions
Trips
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Medellín

Metrocable of Medellín.

Medellín, Colombia

The Gondolas of Medellín

An unusual and beautiful form of mass transit serves the city's steepest neighborhoods.
Parque de las Luces at night.

Medellín, Colombia

Parque de las Luces

Three hundred illuminated pillars form an “artificial forest” in Medellín.
Comuna 13

Medellín, Colombia

Comuna 13

Outdoor escalators and art have helped change what was once a notoriously dangerous part of Medellín.
Casa Museo Pablo Escobar.

Medellín, Colombia

Casa Museo Pablo Escobar

This unofficial museum details the rise and fall of Colombia's most notorious narcotrafficker, Pablo Escobar.
Plaza Botero in Medellín.

Medellín, Colombia

Plaza Botero

Home to 23 voluptuous and instantly lovable sculptures by one of Latin America's most celebrated artists.
Outside the Museo Casa de la Memoria.

Medellín, Colombia

Museo Casa de la Memoria (House of Memory Museum)

A museum of memories in what was once one of the most violent cities in the world.
Bombed Botero bird.

Medellín, Colombia

The Birds of Peace

Two identical statues by Fernando Botero, one blown to pieces in a terrorist bombing, the other donated as a gift for peace.
 Parque de los Pies Descalzos.

Medellín, Colombia

Parque de los Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Park)

This city park wants you to take your shoes off.
See All 11 Things To Do in Medellín
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Colombia Discovery: Coffee, Art & Music

Explore Colombia's depth: art, history, culture & transformation.

Book Now

Explore Medellín, Colombia

A
11
Parks 4
Drugs 3
Art 3
Public Art 2
Sculptures 2
Museums 2
Colombia 2

Medellín Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Tony Dunnell
    6
  2. Madhushree Ghosh
    2
  3. csmml
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Medellín.

Places Edited

  1. Mitch Lang
    7
  2. drchrisstout
    6
  3. ccesare
    4
  4. pml33040
    4
  5. Tony Dunnell
    4
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. jacoam98 1770b02e
    10
  2. shirley3david
    10
  3. R Matt Young
    9
  4. jaagudelo
    9
  5. adamantum
    9
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Medellín.

Recent Medellín Activity

  • missmezcalita

    has been to Plaza Botero

    1 day ago
  • missmezcalita

    has been to The Birds of Peace

    1 day ago
  • missmezcalita

    has been to Parque de las Luces

    1 day ago
  • ianpoynter

    has been to Parque de los Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Park)

    1 day ago
  • missmezcalita

    has been to Comuna 13

    about 23 hours ago

Stories About Medellín

A view of Medellín, Colombia, from a landing on the public escalator that climbs into the Comuna 13 neighborhood.

Medellín's Bright Future Is Tangled Up With Its Dark Past

Decades after the end of the narco era, a Colombian city wonders if it is better to forget.
by Elizabeth Svoboda
October 10, 2018

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.