Medellin grew out of its violent history into a safe and happening tourist destination. Without the violence, Medellin’s local culture has had a lot of space to express itself.

The city’s got beautiful sights, delicious cuisines and women (2-in-1 if you’re going down), and more for all tourists. However, with all that on offer, it may be challenging to organize your itinerary. Continue reading to find out what should occupy the top of your itinerary.

Take in the Sights

Medellin is overflowing with places to visit, so much so that you might not want to visit all of them. You can narrow down the list to some kinds of places. For example, if you want to visit parks, Parque Lleras and Arvi are where you should go. The former’s a fun place full of people, food, and musicians. The latter is a huge park rife with history. Jardín Botánico and Museo de Antioquia should also make your list if history and nature interest you.

As for historical sites, Communa 8 and 13 were once the poorest and most violent parts of Medellin. As part of Medellin’s revamping, these areas have significantly developed. If you want to get an idea of how much Medellin has grown, visit these places.

Learn the Salsa

Salsa is an essential part of Colombian culture. The people love to dance and are willing to teach any curious foreigner. You can go to a local bar and easily find someone looking for a salsa partner to teach you. If you play your card’s right and a woman’s teaching you, you might get more than a free salsa lesson out of the experience. This is a great way to make friends, learn to dance, and get to know people (in the biblical sense, if you’re smart about it).

Food

There are many Colombian dishes you need to try, but it can be a bit difficult to figure out what to order first. One way around this is ordering Menu Del Lia or menu of the day at different restaurants, which is basically Colombian happy hour. Most restaurants tend to serve national dishes, like Sancocho, on their menus of the day at lower prices. If you want to experience Medellin’s different dishes, this is the way to do it.

Nightlife

Last but not least is Medellin’s nightlife. The best way to experience all Medellin has to offer in one place is to go partying. The Hostel Rango Boutique is probably the biggest party hostel in the city. It’s right next to Parque Lleras, which is known for its nightlife, among other things. You’ll find exotics foods, delicious drinks, raving music, and gorgeous women in droves here. No trip to Medellin would be complete without it.

If you want to edit your bucket list further, check out Julian Jones Travel. I can help you figure out the best things to do in Medellin Colombia and how to plan a trip around them. You can also check out my blog for a host of anecdotes and lists about Medellin, among other places. Get in touch for all the first-hand information you need about Medellin.