Medellín, being Colombia’s second city, is pretty big. As you come into the city by plane or bus through the mountains you can see the whole metropolis sprawling spectacularly in front of you and, frankly, it can seem a little intimidating. Fortunately the city you’ll experience isn’t quite so big and, even better, getting around in Medellín is very easy. Here’s the three main ways you’ll do it:
Taxi
Taxis in Medellín are, for the most part, very trustworthy and safe. It’s still always sensible to call for you taxi in advance, as it is anywhere, but I’ve never had a trouble. The taxi meters are also much easier to understand than in, say, Bogotá, so there’s less chance of you getting ripped off. Basically, the number it says on the meter is exactly how much it costs. Simple.
Taxis in Medellín have a minimum of $4,400COL (last time we checked). A taxi from the bus station to the popular neighbourhood of El Poblado will cost around $15,000COL, although taxis in and around the center should be significantly less.
Bus
Buses are the same as in any big city in Colombia: you have the option of waiting by a bus stop or just hailing one down midway down the street. As is the norm in Colombia, you’ll spend half the time figuring out where the bus goes from its tiny sign and, by the time it reaches you, you’ll have just managed to figure out whether you want it or not. Not to worry, these drivers are capable of rapid stops. Buses cost $1,500 or $1,550 at night.
Metro
Medellín’s pride and joy, the Metro is one of the fastest and cleanest in the world and helps connect far away areas of the city, creating a sense of unity. Citizens in Medellín feel a certain sense of ownership when it comes to the Metro, so it feels very safe at all times.
A big project took place with the Metro in recent years where the MetroCable was added. This connects the poorer comunas with the rest of the city and, in conjuction with ambitious building projects, has helped to make these areas safer for locals and tourists.
The Metro costs $1,750 and is very easy to use. You simply buy a ticket and look on the maps to see where you’re going, and go there. The major points of the city are connected so, in our opinion, this is the way to get about in Medellín.
