Medellín brings together a range of themes: botanical collections, urban history, music, art and food. When looking for a hotel in Medellín, you can first consider which of these facets of the city you want to shape your trip. The specific places and features offer some guidance without prescribing a set sightseeing itinerary.
Finding your way between the city centre and other districts
Plaza Botero is in the centre of Medellín, on Avenida Carabobo in Plazuela Nutibara. From Parque Berrío station on Line A of the Medellín Metro, it is just a few metres to the plaza. The nearby Parque Berrío station on Line A can serve as a landmark. The plaza itself offers a clear point of reference for a trip that includes central city locations.
Other location details distinguish the sites across the city: Parque de los Pies Descalzos is in the heart of the city centre. The Museo del Agua EPM is located there, opposite the Edificio Inteligente EPM. Parque Explora, by contrast, is in the Zona Norte. Cerro El Volador is in Comuna 7, also known as Robledo, in the central-western part of Medellín.
Botanical diversity and green spaces
The Jardín Botánico de Medellín covers 13.2 hectares. More than 2,000 individual plants grow there, and its collections represent species from different regions of Colombia. The garden includes the Orquideorama, Bosque Andino, Casa de las Mariposas and Sendero de Plantas Prehistóricas. This means the garden can be understood not only by its size, but also through its different named areas. Those interested in plants and botanical collections will find several specific points of interest within one location.
Urban development, architecture and exhibitions
On Cerro Nutibara, the Museo de Ciudad explores Medellín’s development and other urban themes. It permanently displays the Instrumento de Pensamiento Urbano: a scale model of the city that provides a comprehensive overview of its size and layout. Temporary exhibitions focus on art, photography, architecture and other subjects. They reflect different stages and developments in the city’s history. The same museum thus focuses both on a comprehensive view of the cityscape and on changing interpretations of specific urban themes.
Museo El Castillo offers a different perspective on architectural history. The building was constructed in 1930, modelled on the châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. It is surrounded by large cypress gardens; the cypress trees came from Villa Adriana in Italy. While the Museo de Ciudad explores urban development and themes, the year it was built, its architectural inspiration and its gardens give Museo El Castillo its own historical focus.
Music, recreation and food
Casa de la Música offers local and international artists free opportunities for training, making music together and rehearsing. Its focus is on musical practice rather than exhibitions. Parque de los Deseos offers another way to experience the urban space: it is a place for relaxation and passive leisure in the heart of the city.
The food on offer at Pueblito Paisa includes Bandeja Paisa, Guarapo and Mazamorra. The latter is a corn preparation usually served with milk. These three examples give a concrete impression of what is available to eat at this location; they refer to Pueblito Paisa and not to the city’s food offerings as a whole.
Discover more destinations: Hispania, Bizcocho, Peque, La Cecilia, Otrabanda, Abriaquí, La Palmita, Montebello.
For the broader travel overview: Antioquia.
