The Best Medellín Neighborhood for Your Travel Style

Finding the right neighborhood to stay can make or break your experience in a city.  As a solo, female traveler, safety is always at the top of my mind.  Luckily in Medellín, I had a friend of a friend who gave me suggestions for where to stay.  The three neighborhoods that were at the top of the list were Envigado, El Poblado, and Laureles-Estadio.

BRIEF RUNDOWN

Medellín is divided into 16 districts, and as a tourist, the one you are most likely to stay in is El Poblado.  It’s home to many hotels, hostels, bars, restaurants, and shops.  The other district that is a bit less touristy is Laureles-Estadio.  It’s home to La 70 (a street lined with bars and clubs perfect for a night out dancing) and a cluster of restaurants, but it has a more local feel.  Personally, I rented an Airbnb in Laureles, and it was the perfect decision for my trip, but where you stay is entirely dependent on the experience you’re looking for.  

ENVIGADO

Envigado is technically a separate city that is south of Medellín and accessible via the metro.  Though it’s a separate city, it is close enough that it doesn’t feel like an imposition to get there.  It’s conveniently on the same metro line as El Poblado and Downtown. 

I only spent one day in Envigado, so I can’t really speak much to it.  But my general impression was that it was safe and had a few good vegan options.  I don’t think I would go out of my way to stay in Envigado, but it was definitely a great area to spend a little bit of time.

LAURELES-ESTADIO

Because I stayed in Medellín for a month, I specifically looked for an apartment on Airbnb where I would be able to settle into the city without spending a fortune.  When choosing a long-term apartment, the things I look for are:  a kitchen, laundry, safety, accessibility to public transportation, and accessibility to a supermarket.  My apartment in Laureles checked all of these boxes.  

In case you’re curious, this was the Airbnb.

Laureles is quite spread out, so accessibility to different areas depends on where you chose to stay.  You can stay close to La 70.  Or near the main restaurant area.  Or close to the stadium. Or close to either the Floresta or Estadio metro station. 

It’s hard to go wrong, but you just need to have a clear understanding of what your needs are when booking your place.  

What I particularly loved about staying in Laureles was that it was significantly less saturated with other travelers/tourists, so I felt like I got a more authentic experience by staying in a neighborhood with locals.  However, many apartment owners are beginning to convert their apartments in Laureles to Airbnbs, so I’m not sure what the feel of the neighborhood will be like in the near future.  

I did find that many people in the neighborhood spoke little to no English, so if you’re hoping to practice your Spanish, this is a good option.  There are also several language exchange events in the area, which can be a fun way to meet other people while practicing your Spanish skills.

I don’t think Laureles is necessarily perfect, so a few fair warnings:  because it’s in the area of the soccer stadium, if there is a game, the entire area gets a bit hectic. With games come a lot of passionate fans, and it can be loud late into the evening. There is a large police presence on game nights, but it’s still good to be aware and to use caution.  

Also, especially close to the metro stations, there is a bit of a homeless population.  I never had any issues and never feel threatened, but it’s something to be aware of.  

EL POBLADO  

I loved staying in Laureles, but if I had stayed in Medellín for less time, I most certainly would have chosen El Poblado.  It is the area where most tourists choose to stay and has a wide selection of hotels and hostels.  

El Poblado is on a hill, and the metro station that serves it is at the base of that hill.  So if you’re a walker like me, be prepared for a bit of an incline.  El Poblado is quite central on the ‘A’ line, with downtown to the North and Envigado to the South.  

This area of town has such a different feel from the other areas of Medellín.  It’s home to the nicest shops and restaurants, and it almost feels like it’s designed for tourists.  The bulk of vegan restaurants in Medellín is in this area, so if you’re looking for convenience, this is the area for you.  

There are also a lot of clubs and events in El Poblado, so if you like to be close to the party, this is a great place.  Clubs stay open late and the area is very walkable. If you need a taxi or Uber home, they are easily hailed into the early hours of the morning.

3 out of my 4 favorite restaurants were in El Poblado, so if I were to stay in for a shorter amount of time in Medellín, I would chose El Poblado.  

The crux of it is that it’s an expensive area for Airbnbs, so staying here depends on your budget and how much you want to make it stretch.  I got a larger apartment for a decent price in Laureles, but if you’re up for a hostel, you can stay budget conscious in El Pobaldo.

Going hand in hand with it being a touristy area, you do get the tougher sides of being clustered with a lot of other tourists. I was a lot more likely to be approached and asked for money in this area. I felt like I had to be a bit more on guard because I was often warned of pick-pocketing (though I never had any issues). The prices of food and goods in this area is pretty significantly more expensive that other areas of the city. And in general, for good or bad, there was always a lot going on at any time of day.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I loved my time in Medellín.  It’s a city full of heart and grit and pride.  It has a very tough past, but every day, they are working to build a bright future.  It was incredible to experience, and I would gladly go back.