Where to stay in Medellin [Best Places to Stay for 2024]

ByAngelica Peralta Published: Updated:

Medellin Colombia was once named the most dangerous city in the world, but those days are long gone. The capital of Colombia’s Antioquia department is booming with tourism as more travelers want to see what Medellin is all about.

Colombia’s second largest city is putting itself on the travel map, thanks to a hip foodie scene, fun nightlife and the best coffee in the world.

Of course, there are still some no go areas in Medellin, so we want to help you find the best place to stay in Medellin, with Medellin hotels to recommend for every budget. Keep reading to decide what is the best neighborhood to stay in Medellin.

Medellin -Castilla is one of the suburbs of Medellin, appreciated by tourists because it is full of life even at sunset

We will cover off all types of Medellin accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Medellin hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Medellin Colombia 2024.

This guide shows off the best Medellin hotels, best places in Medellin to visit, the best places to stay in Medellin, hotels near Medellin attractions, Medellin neighborhood guide and many more.

Below are 6 of the best neighborhoods in Medellin to help you make the right decision when trying to work out best location to stay in Medellin for you. We have tried to make the guide as easy to follow as possible.

We have also included some things to do or places to visit as well as some eatery suggestions of either our favourite places within the areas in Medellin so you can use this as a go to guide.

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El Centro – Where to stay in Medellin for tourists

Sometimes called La Candelaria, El Centro is the city center of Medellin. Many of Medellin’s most popular tourist attractions are found in El Centro, including the Museo de Antioquia and The Cultural Palace of Rafael Uribe.

Medellin’s first church La Candelaria, gives the neighborhood its name.

This is definitely a neighborhood you will visit in Medellin, but it’s a bit rough around the edges at night. Budget travelers will find the cheapest deals here, but extra caution is recommended when visiting this area at night.

Best places to stay in El Centro

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in El Centro:

Budget accommodation in El Centro:

Mid range accommodation in El Centro:

Family Friendly accommodation in El Centro:

Affordable Luxury accommodation in El Centro:

Read more: 10 Places to Visit in Colombia
View on church and main square in colonial city El Jardin, Colombia, South America

Laureles – Where to stay in Medellin on a budget

If you would like a quieter neighborhood of Medellin, with a more local flavor than the glitz of El Poblado, consider the area of Laureles.

This area was named for the laurel trees that grow in abundance, which gives you the idea that it’s a neighborhood with lots of green space.

Laureles is aoncdiered one of the safest neighborhoods in Medellin.

The prices in Laureles are lower than El Poblado, meaning your travel budget will go further in Laureles, while still having a safe neighborhood to call home.

As Laureles is less touristic, you’ll hear less English and will need a bit of Spanish to get by. Foodies will be happy to find tons of good restaurants, many of them clustered around the Nutibara area.

Best places to stay in Laureles

Budget accommodation in Laureles:

Mid range accommodation in Laureles:

Family Friendly accommodation in Laureles:

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Laureles:

Medellin, Antioquia. Colombia - The Botanical Garden of Medellín Joaquín Antonio Uribe is a botanical garden of about 13.2 hectares of extension

Belen – Where to stay in Medellin for backpackers

Belen Medellin is an up and coming area that may appeal to travelers seeking budget friendly accommodations.

Parque Belen is a great place to relax, and Cerro Nutibara has walking and cycling paths, as well as great views of the city from the top of the hill. This was once a working-class neighborhood of Medellin, but has become much safer in recent years.

When deciding where to stay in Medellin, backpacker hostels are abundant here, and with great transportation to other areas of the city, it’s a great option for backpackers.

Nightlife is abundant on Calle 33, and Los Molinos shopping center offers shopping, restaurants and a movie theater.

Best places to stay in Belen

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Belen:

Budget accommodation in Belen:

Mid range accommodation in Belen:

Family Friendly accommodation in Belen:

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Belen:

Medellin, Antioquia - Colombia - Medellin massive transportation system metro, building and Cerro nutibara cultural heritage of the city

El Poblado – Where to stay in Medellin with Family

If this is your first time in Colombia, El Poblado is the best area for tourists and first-timers to Medellin.

This is the safest area of Medellin, and also the most polished, so it’s family friendly, but El Poblado is also the best place to experience Medellin nightlife.

Some of the best restaurants and nightclubs are in walking distance of each other in El Poblado Medellin. With a convenient metro station, day trips to other areas of Medellin or other parts of Colombia are easy.

For a quieter area of El Poblado, consider the Patio Bonito area, which is opposite the nightlife scene and more family friendly.

Wondering where to stay in Medellin digital nomad? El Poblado is a great spot for digital nomads due to where it is located. Digital nomads can work all day and party at night in neighboring Parque Lleres.

Best places to stay in El Poblado

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in El Poblado:

Budget accommodation in El Poblado:

Mid range accommodation in El Poblado:

Family Friendly accommodation in El Poblado:

Affordable Luxury accommodation in El Poblado:

Medellin, Antioquia / Colombia - Neighborhood El Poblado is one of the 16 districts of the city

Parque Lleras – Where to stay in Medellin for nightlife

Within El Poblado Medellin is the small, but popular, area of Parque Lleres. This bustling neighborhood is the best place to stay in Medellin for nightlife. Parque Lleres is not a park at all, but a lively entertainment district.

In the daytime, visitors and locals enjoy sidewalk cafes and coffee shops, as well as street vendors selling souvenirs. Once the sun goes down, Parque Lleras comes alive, with over 100 restaurants, nightclubs, DJ’s and live music.

Best places to stay in Parque Lleras

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Parque Lleras:

Budget accommodation in Parque Lleras:

Mid range accommodation in Parque Lleras:

Family Friendly accommodation in Parque Lleras:

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Parque Lleras:

Read more: Ultimate Guide to Medellin
Medellin, Colombia. A view of a street art gallery in Lleras Park in Medellin Colombia

Envigado – Where to stay in Medellin for families

Just south of El Poblado, you’ll find Envigado. Like Laureles, Envigado is characterized by leafy, green residential streets, which make this a popular place to live.

Envigado has a decidedly suburban feel, which can make it a great place to stay for long-term travelers, or families looking for an apartment rental rather than a commercial hotel.

Envigado itself is a rather large district, with over 200,000 residents. Within Envigado, there are many neighborhoods, or barrios, to consider.

El Dorado, Zona Centro and Northern Envigado. This is where you’ll find the highest concentration of restaurants, boutiques and things to do in Envigado.

Best places to stay in Envigado

Budget accommodation in Envigado:

Mid range accommodation in Envigado:

Family Friendly accommodation in Envigado:

Medellin the second biggest city in Colombia which is the capital of the Department of Antioquia

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Where to stay in Medellin
Where to stay in Medellin

Author

  • Angelica Peralta

    Meet Angelica, who at 22, boldly pivoted from a legal career to pursue her passions in travel and writing. With a focus on sustainable travel, she has explored Asia and Europe, emphasizing local cultural engagement along the way | Specializing in digital nomad travel, crafting comprehensive itineraries, identifying top tour guides, sharing regional insights on Asia, The Americas, and Europe, and advising on eco-friendly travel practices.

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