Short on time? Medellín has a bunch of excellent tours that are perfect for every traveller – from graffiti walk tours to coffee farm visits and street food tours. Prices vary greatly on the experience, with the best months falling between December and March for the best weather and city festivals.
Today, Medellín has become one of Colombia’s most exciting travel destinations. Besides the city’s trending nightlife and amazing restaurants, it’s also popular for the wide range of tours you can try. Join one, and you’ll definitely understand Medellín more deeply.
Whether you are staying for a long weekend or planning an extended Colombia itinerary, joining a few guided tours can help you experience the city beyond the usual. Here is a roundup of some of the best tours to try in Medellín, including rough estimates on how much you should spend and the recommended times to do so.
Downtown Walking Tours
Walking tours around Medellín are perfect when you want to know the city a little bit more, especially the downtown area. Joining one is an excellent way to learn about Medellín’s history, get helpful tips for the best city experience, and discover top restaurants to add to your list.
It’s easy to book walking tours in Medellín, even when it’s your first time. Most accommodations offer specific packages that come with your stay, but you can also book one on popular sites like Get Your Guide, Guru Walks, and Free Tours.com. Agencies like Beyond Colombia and Real City Tours are also reputable companies you can rely on when looking for a walking tour that suits your itinerary.
- Average Price: Around $20 to $40, depending on the number of people and duration of the tour
- Best Time to Go: Early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat
Comuna 13 Graffiti Tours
Visiting Comuna 13 is another iconic tour experience. This neighborhood was once considered one of the most dangerous in Medellín. But today, this hillside spot has transformed into a bustling center of music, dance, and street art.
Tours around Comuna 13 typically involve exploring colorful alleyways filled with murals that tell stories of resilience among locals. You can also ride the famous outside escalators while taking in the beautiful views of the graffiti. What makes tours around Comuna 13 even more special is
the potential to make new friends with the locals you’ll be joining. You can hear about their personal stories about the neighborhood’s transformation, making the experience feel even more special.
Comuna 13 tours can also include live performances from dancers and pit stops for local snacks like ice cream or mango biches.
- Average Price: $15 to $25 for shared walking tours, $40 to $80 for private tours
- Best Time to Go: early in the morning, from 9 am to 12 noon, for fewer crowds and milder temperatures
Pablo Escobar History Tours
If you’re up for some controversies during your trip to Medellín, why not join history tours that revolve around Pablo Escobar? Despite having a complicated past, most tourists are still interested in discovering the harsh truths about what Pablo Escobar did to the Colombians.
Depending on the tours you’ll find online, you’ll find operators that glorify Pablo Escobar and his works. On the other hand, some agencies talk about the consequences of Escobar’s cartel violence during the 1980s to 1990s.
Most Pablo Escobar History tours include stops at memorial sites, cartel-related locations, and common neighborhoods affected by the violence. Most guides are journalists, historians, and locals who have experienced the violence themselves.
- Average Price: $25 to $50 for shared tours, $80 to $150 for private tours
- Best time to go: available year-round, best during morning or late afternoon
Day Tours in Guatapé and El Peñol
A day trip to discover the colorful town of Guatapé and El Peñol is one of the most popular excursions from Medellín. It’s something you’ll certainly enjoy if you love hiking and admiring rock formations and green spaces.
The giant granite monolith rises dramatically above the surrounding lakes and requires climbing more than 700 steps to reach the top. It can get pretty challenging, but the views on top are definitely worth it as you witness maze-like islands and green hills.
After visiting El Peñol, continue exploring Guatapé and admire the beautifully-painted buildings, local craft shops, and colorful homes. You can also join tours that include boat rides and lunch at a lakeside restaurant.
- Average price: $35 to %60 for group tours, $120 to $250 for private tours
- Best time to go: during early mornings on weekdays to avoid heavy traffic and huge crowds
Colombian Food Tours Around El Poblado and Laureles
Joining Colombian food tours is one of the easiest ways to truly understand and appreciate Medellín’s culture. Most culinary experiences can take you around El Poblado or Laureles – two of the most famous neighborhoods in the city. Here, you can try traditional Paisa dishes and Colombian street food.
Some of the local favorites you get to try with food tours include arepas, bandeja paisa, empanadas, bunuelos, exotic tropical fruits, and Colombian coffee and desserts. Some tours include premium dining experiences or craft beer scenes.
If you’re a first-timer in Medellín, joining food tours is totally recommended because they combine sightseeing with the best restaurants in the city.
- Average Price: $30 to $70 for group tours, $90 to $150 for premium private tours
- Best time to go: sunset or in the evening on weekdays for fewer crowds
Coffee Farm Tours
You cannot visit Colombia without experiencing its coffee culture. Fortunately, Medellín is surrounded by mountainous landscapes where coffee farms, or fincas, offer immersive day tours.
These tours often include transportation from the city, guided walks through coffee fields, demonstrations of the harvesting process, and tastings of freshly brewed Colombian coffee. Some farms even let visitors pick coffee cherries themselves during harvest season.
Popular coffee regions near Medellín include Jardín, Santa Elena, and Fredonia. Smaller boutique farms often provide more intimate experiences, while larger coffee estates may offer deeper educational tours.
- Average price: $35 to $60 for half-day tours, $70 to $120 for whole days
- Best time to go: harvest seasons during drier months from December to March and July to August
Experience The Best of Medellín with Day Tours
Medellín offers far more than nightlife and digital nomad cafés. Its tours reveal how the city is packed with culture, innovation, nature, and adventure. Whether you spend your days tasting coffee in the mountains or exploring colorful neighborhoods, Medellín rewards travelers who take time to explore beyond the usual.
The best approach is often to combine a few different tour styles during your stay. A mix of city history, food experiences, and countryside adventures provides a much fuller understanding of why Medellín has become one of Colombia’s most adventurous destinations.
