How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Medellin?

a couple surrounded by hearts and they are kissing

With February 14th right around the corner, you’ve probably gotten in the feels. 

And, just because you’re in a foreign country, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate!

Here in the City of Eternal Spring, there are tons of great places to have a romantic evening out with your partner. 

If you’re ready to stop racking your brains and just get your cheese on, this guide is for you. Here’s a complete list of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Medellin!

A Quick Rundown on Valentines Day in Colombia

Before we dive into the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Medellin, I need to clarify something—Colombia doesn’t technically celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day. 

You see, in Colombia, the official Valentine’s Day is September 20th. This day is called El Dia del Amor y la Amistad (The Day of Love and Friendship) and is when friends and couples usually exchange sweets and gifts. 

But that’s no big deal—we can enjoy both dates while in Medellin. 

In fact, thanks to the many expats now calling Colombia home, February 14th is starting to take off as another day to celebrate as well! 

So, without further ado, let’s get into the best places to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Medellin

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Medellin

Although there are far more ideas than just the ones I’ve listed out, let’s start off with a couple of classics. 

Here are 10 of my favorite date ideas to try out this Valentine’s Day. 

1. Have a Romantic Dinner

couple toasting with glasses of wine

There’s nothing that screams ‘I love you’ (or, hey, even just ‘I like you’) like a romantic dinner date

Lucky for you, there are tons of restaurants in Medellin that offer special valentine’s menus and even decorate the table with balloons, rose petals, gifts, and more.

Or, you can DIY it yourself by picking up romantic decorations at a stationary store and ordering Rappi

On the other hand, if you’d prefer to go out for dinner, that’s an option too. In that case, your best bet is to make a reservation in town. 

Although you’ve got lots to choose from, my personal pick would be Abbiocco. This Italian-Colombian fusion restaurant has an extensive menu of signature dishes perfect to accompany your romantic dinner. 

My recommendation is the red wine-braised beef brisket, balsamic & cane sugar glaze, Gorgonzola gratiné, giardiniera, and garlic bread. Don’t forget to try the cocktail menu made with the highest quality Colombian liquors.

Rumor even has it that they may be breaking out a special V-Day menu, so make sure to book ahead to reserve your spot!

IG: @abbioccomedellin

Address: Cra. 38 #9a-13, El Poblado, Medellín

2. Watch the Sunset 

sunset view in medellin with orange tones in its sky

Nothing is more romantic than watching a sunset with your date. Lucky for you, there are plenty of high spots in the city where you can do just that. 

Thanks to Medellin’s pleasant climate, you don’t have to worry too much about it being too hot or too cold, either. In fact, the only thing you really need to bring is perhaps an umbrella in case it starts to rain!

Otherwise, just pack up a picnic and head to one of the many hills around the city. If you need a few ideas to start you off, here are a couple of good sunset spots around the city: 

3. Go Ice Skating

couple ice skating

I know you might think this is on the wrong list, but hear me out!

Even though you can’t go outdoor ice skating in Medellín, you can go to the ice rink. Besides, what better excuse to hold your honey’s hand than to “help” them navigate the ice?

Many shopping malls in Medellin host the occasional pop-up rink where you can skate around with your sweetheart. 

If you need a guaranteed place to skate, however, you can always head over to Frozen City Medellin. This place has the biggest ice rinks in the city as well as skate rentals and ice hockey lessons. 

It’s located in the Premium Plaza mall in the El Poblado neighborhood.

Address: Calle 30, Cra. 43A, Medellín

4. Have a Movie Night

Dinner and a movie is another classic date night activity, and you can easily enjoy this one here in Medellin. 

Better yet, if you head to Cine Colombia, you can actually catch a movie in English! A few other big movie theaters around the city where you can watch a flick include: 

  • Cine Colombia
  • Cinemas Prosinal
  • Cinemark
  • Cinépolis City Plaza

Pro tip: if your Spanish (and your date’s Spanish) is up to it, you can catch a drive-in movie at Mayorca Mall! Just note that most of these movies are dubbed with no subtitles, and that the schedule is often older re-runs as opposed to new releases. 

5. Watch the Stars at the Planetarium

projection of the sky in the planetarium

If you want to get away from the traditional, Medellin’s planetarium is the perfect place for those who want to stand out and impress their date.

This place creates the perfect romantic atmosphere for a date on Valentine’s Day. 

Thursday through Saturday, they present a special strobe laser show accompanied by artists such as Michael Jackson, Gorillaz, and Daft Punk. 

Another special event that ensures a successful date is “Faraones y vino bajo las estrellas,” a tour of the discovery of the tomb of pharaoh Tutankhamun accompanied by a glass of wine. Just make sure to get your tickets in advance so that you can actually get a seat.  

On top of that, after the show, you can stroll around the museum and close the evening with a hot coffee at the Kaldi Kafee, located on the first floor of the planetarium.

I’d say that’s a pretty unique way to spend Valentine’s Day!

Website: https://www.planetariomedellin.org/

Address: Cra. 52 #71-117, Aranjuez, Medellín 

6. Take a Romantic Walk at the Botanical Garden

couples walking in the park

If expensive restaurants or movies aren’t your things, there are plenty of ways to just get outdoors and spend some quality time together. 

My personal recommendation would be to head to the Botanical Gardens, a stunning (and free!) labyrinth of outdoor walking paths to check out. 

If you want a guided tour, you can go on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. But if you prefer a visit as a couple, I recommend a long walk through the butterfly garden, the herbarium, and the prehistoric plant trail.

Now, if this is sounding a bit tame, let me up the ante a bit. The botanical garden offers picnic lunches, where they give you a gourmet meal and a picnic blanket to take with you into the park. 

Here’s what the menu consists of:

  • Colombia mia (Chicharron, chorizo, morcilla, fries, tomatoes, tamal, empanada, yuca, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, dessert, and two drinks)
  • A lo mero macho (Quesadilla, sandwich, nachos, pico de gallo, yuca sour cream, guacamole, empanadas, dessert, and two drinks)
  • Jardin de sabores (Sandwich, chips, guacamole, empanada, tuca, sour cream, dessert, and two drinks)

They also sometimes have special packages for holidays and special events, so be sure to call ahead first! Or, you can have dinner at the in-park restaurant and order a valentine’s day decoration on your table.

Website: https://www.botanicomedellin.org/

Address: Cl. 73 #51d-14,  Aranjuez, Medellín, Antioquia

7. Go on a Medellin Museum Tour

works of the botero museum

For those with finer tastes, a tour of Medellin’s many museums could be more up your alley for this Valentine’s Day. 

Medellín is home to some of the best museums in the country, including: 

Personally, I think one of the most appropriate museums for a fun date is the Selfie Museum. This is a place where you can take aesthetic photos and enjoy the different scenarios, besides being perfect for those who think museums are boring.

You’ll definitely get to know your date better, and you’ll come home with tons of souvenirs!

8. Have Fun at the Amusement Park

mechanical park attractions

Another old-school classic date is to head to the amusement park. 

There are actually quite a few of these in Medellin, so you’ll have plenty of chances to win your date over with the plushie claw machine. Depending on the time of year, you can also plan your date at water parks such as Aeroparque Juan Pablo II. Or, if it’s raining, head to the indoor park at El Tesoro mall

Here are some of the most popular amusement parks in Medellin:

  • Parque Norte Medellin
  • Summit Adventure Park Medellin
  • City Park
  • Flying Squirrel Sport
  • Afterland Temathic Park

9. Go to a Play

This is almost like going to a movie, except that it’s just a smidge classier. 

Going to a play in Medellin is an experience like no other, and one that gives you a great excuse to dress up and look your best Valentine’s Day!

If you’re not sure where to go, here are a couple of the theaters located around Medellin:

  • Teatro Museo Prado
  • Teatro José Gutiérrez Gómez
  • Teatro Pablo Tobón Uribe
  • Teatro Matacandelas
  • Pequeño Teatro de Medellín
  • Teatro La Pascasia
  • Casa Teatro El Poblado
  • Teatro Laureles
  • Ateneo Porfirio Barba
  • Colombia Canta y Encanta

Regardless of which you pick, you can end the night by heading out to dinner afterward (see my first idea about dinner at Abbiocco). 

10. Try Your Hand at Dancing

Last but not least, there’s nothing more romantic than spinning around the dance floor with your partner. 

No, I’m not talking about jiving at one of the many nightclubs in Medellin

I’m talking about getting up close and personal with some classic salsa dancing!

Plenty of local bars and clubs around Medellin offer free dance lessons where you can learn to step and way before swinging your partner out onto the floor. These are some of the most popular places to burn up the dancefloor.

  • Salon Amador
  • La Oculta
  • Perro Negro
  • Son Havana
  • Fonda La Chismosa

Meeting Someone in Medellin

If, at the end of the day, you’re going to be flying it solo in Medellin, don’t panic! There are actually tons of places to meet someone in the city. 

Local bars are often hotspots for connecting with expats and paisas alike, and can be a great way to find that special someone. 

Alternatively, there are plenty of dating apps that you can hop on that are also great ways to connect with people in the city. Just be yourself and be open-minded—you never know who you’ll find on there!

Finally, if you do meet that special someone, you might want to check out these top tips for your first date. They’ll have you ready to make this Valentine’s Day one that you won’t soon forget. 

Celebrate the Love in Medellin

Even though Colombia doesn’t technically celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feburary 14th, that doesn’t mean you can’t!

And in fact, there are tons of awesome places to do so. 

Whether you swing to the rhythm at a salsa club or sip on fine wine with your sweetheart, there are tons of romantic activities to try. Or hey! Perhaps this will be the year you meet that special someone and embark on a whole new type of journey here in the City of Eternal Spring. 

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