5 Things To Do In Medellin On A Budget

Quick answer: The best things to do in Medellín on a budget are Pueblito Paisa, the Botanical Garden, Parque Arví, Comuna 13 and a free walking tour. All five have free entry, and you can reach each of them by metro for COP 2,300, with only small extra costs for a cable car or bus.

Medellín is easy to explore cheaply thanks to its metro and cable car network. Here are five things to do in Medellín on a budget, with how to get there and what each one costs.

Medellín on a Budget: Costs at a Glance

Attraction	Nearest stop	Transport cost	Entrance
Pueblito Paisa	Industriales metro	COP 2,300	Free
Botanical Garden	Universidad metro	COP 2,300	Free
Parque Arví	Acevedo metro, then cable cars	COP 2,300 + COP 5,200	Free
Comuna 13	San Javier metro, then bus	COP 2,300 + COP 1,000	Free
Free walking tour	Book online	Tip at the end	Free

1. Pueblito Paisa

Pueblito Paisa is a prominent attraction in Medellín: a replica of a traditional Antioquia town on top of Cerro Nutibara (Nutibara Hill). It brings century-old Antioquia to life, with a traditional stone fountain in the middle of the town square.

The square is surrounded by a barber shop, a one-room school, a church and rectory, and the mayor’s office. Pueblito Paisa also offers a bird’s-eye view of the city and the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Getting there: The closest metro station is Industriales. Exit the station and walk along Diagonal 30A until you see a flight of steps leading up to Pueblito Paisa.

Cost: Metro COP 2,300 | Entrance free

2. Medellín Botanical Garden

Medellín’s Botanical Garden is home to tropical gardens, a maze, a butterfly farm, a lagoon, a science building and a fantastically quirky, massive outdoor event area designed in the shape of a bouquet of flowers.

It sits across the street from Parque Explora and the city’s freshwater aquarium, so it’s easy to combine them in one trip.

Getting there: Take the metro to Universidad; the gardens are just outside the station.

Cost: Metro COP 2,300 | Entrance free

3. Parque Arví

Parque Arví is an ecological nature preserve and pre-Hispanic archaeological site with numerous trails. You can go hiking, take nature tours, cycle or try outdoor adventure sports, and there’s an outdoor food market next to the gondola station.

Getting there: From Acevedo metro station, take the cable car to Santo Domingo (the fare is included in your metro ticket), then take the separate cable car line to Parque Arví.

Cost: Metro COP 2,300 | Cable car to Parque Arví COP 5,200 | Entrance free

4. Comuna 13

Medellín has long been a bellwether for violence and crime in Colombia, and Comuna 13 was at the heart of the storm. Today it is one of the many symbols of the change happening in the city, with walls adorned with art, brightly coloured houses and electric escalators connecting residents to the city centre.

Comuna 13 is not yet the safest place to wander, but basic precautions should keep you out of trouble. Graffiti tours are one of its most famous attractions.

Getting there: Take Metro Line B to San Javier (the last stop). Exit the station and cross the road to the bus stop. Buses to Comuna 13 come frequently with the sign escaleras eléctricas and cost COP 1,000.

Cost: Metro COP 2,300 | Bus COP 1,000 | Entrance free

5. Free Walking Tour

The free walking tour by Real City Tours is recommended as the #1 activity in Medellín on TripAdvisor. Personally, it was the best way to see the city from a different point of view.

Make sure to book your tour through their website a day or two in advance. Although it is promoted as a “Free Walking Tour”, as with any walking tour you are expected to tip at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free things to do in Medellín?

Pueblito Paisa, the Botanical Garden, Parque Arví and Comuna 13 all have free entry, and the Real City Tours walking tour is tip-based.

How much does the Medellín metro cost?

A metro ticket costs COP 2,300, and the cable car from Acevedo is included in the fare.

Is Comuna 13 safe to visit?

It is not yet the safest area to wander, but basic precautions should keep you out of trouble; a graffiti tour is a popular way to visit.

Do I need to book the free walking tour in Medellín?

Yes, book through the Real City Tours website a day or two before, and plan to tip at the end.

Conclusion

Medellín proves you don’t need a big budget to see a city properly. With a metro ticket and a few thousand pesos, you can explore a traditional Paisa village, gardens, a nature park and one of Colombia’s most inspiring neighbourhoods.