Cali Colombia vs Medellin (Which To Visit, Pros & Cons Of Each)
Planning Your Trip To Colombia And Trying To Decide Where To Visit, But Needing More Info On Cali vs Medellin?
I lived in the Coffee Region of Colombia but traveled all over the country and visited places like Medellin and Cali, and while I have my own personal preferences on one location vs the other, below are all the details on both cities so you can decide if both, one, the other, or neither are worth adding to your itinerary.
🇨🇴 Cali, Colombia vs Medellin, Colombia
Neither Cali nor Medellin are typically on the top of my list for recommendations on must visit locations in Colombia (there are just too many other beautiful places to see here), but Medellin especially is a top tourist destination that most people want to visit when traveling to Colombia.
If you’re set on visiting one or both of these locations, or if you are still trying to decide the best places to add to your Colombia trip, below are all the details (pros & cons of each) on Cali vs Medellin:
Why Visit Medellin, Colombia
Medellin is probably the most popular destination for visitors in Colombia, and while I had a nice time exploring this city and seeing all the historical sites I wanted to see, this wasn’t my personal favorite place to visit in Colombia.
There are more places in Colombia that I think are worth visiting, but if you prefer city travel, nightlife, foodie-type locations, and an easier travel experience when it comes to English, then Medellin might be the perfect place for you.
✅ Pros of Medellin, Colombia:
- lots of sightseeing locations
- easy to access (by bus or plane)
- more English spoken
- popular nearby location (Guatape)
- tons of restaurants (even some healthier options)
- lots of nightlife (a con for me but a pro for most)
- a very artistic place (museums & famous statue squares)
- higher level sports team (one of Colombia’s biggest soccer teams plays here)
- lots of tours & easy Uber access for simple, stress free travel (especially if you don’t speak Spanish)
- pretty nice spring-like weather
❌ Cons of Medellin, Colombia:
- big city
- large population
- sits in a bowl so allergies & smog suck (I got lots of headaches)
- lots of traffic (especially at rush hour, plus easier pickpocket scenarios)
- more expensive
- not as much natural beauty
- a bit of a tourist trap
- not the best place to really experience Colombian culture (compared to other places)
Why Visit Cali, Colombia
Cali is located pretty close to where I lived in Colombia (only about 3 hours away) so I traveled through this city a few times and visited to explore it a little more, but it also wasn’t my favorite place in Colombia.
It’s not somewhere I’d typically recommend for more than a day or so if you’re already going to be in the area, and not somewhere I’d go out of my way to visit, unless you’re a big fan of Salsa music and dancing (what Cali is most known for) or if you have plenty of time in Colombia and you really want to explore every inch of the country.
✅ Pros of Cali, Colombia:
- Cali is cheaper (compared to Medellin)
- tons of Salsa attractions to see & experience here
- closer to the beautiful Coffee Region
- fairly easy to get to (by bus or plane)
- some interesting nearby natural attractions
- a medium-sized city so not too hectic
- less touristy (compared to Medellin)
- closer to other interesting towns & cities (easy to access by bus)
❌ Cons of Cali, Colombia:
- not always the safest city
- not an endless amount of sights to see
- not a very pretty city (it’s a valley)
- pretty hot and dry weather
- not as much English spoken
- not as many nice hotels & restaurants to choose from (compared to Medellin)
- some tours & Ubers available, just not as many as Medellin
Cali vs Medellin: Which Is Better To Add To Your Colombia Trip?
When deciding between Cali vs Medellin for your trip to Colombia, it really comes down to personal preference and the amount of time you have to spend here in Colombia. Neither was my absolute favorite place to visit, but I’m also still glad that I got to explore each of them during my time here.
To sum up Cali vs Medellin, Colombia:
👉 Cali is best for a Salsa, less touristy, and further exploration of southwest Colombia trip
👉 Medellin is best for a big city, 80s-90s history, more English-speaking, art, and typical tourist destination trip in Colombia
🚌 How To Get From Cali To Medellin
Medellin is not super close to Cali, Colombia when traveling by bus or car (and I don’t recommend driving yourself here), but by plane it is only about one hour, so you don’t necessarily have to choose one vs the other if you really want to visit both.
✈️ The quickest and easiest way to get from Cali to Medellin is by plane which only takes about one hour and typically costs less than $50 (one way)
🚌 The slower, cheaper, and more explorative way to get from Cali to Medellin is by public transportation which could take around 10 hours, but lets you see more of the country (bus trips were my favorite way to see more) and you could stop and stay in other locations along the way (most notably the beautiful Coffee Region)
🔁 Sum Up: Cali, Colombia vs Medellin, Colombia
If you’re set on choosing between Cali vs Medellin for your trip to Colombia, which one is better comes down to personal preference and the amount of time you have here, but Cali is best for Salsa, less tourism, and further exploration of southwest Colombia, while Medellin is best for art, history, more English, and more convenient big city travel. I personally would choose other locations entirely instead of Cali or Medellin, but either one might be the perfect option for you and what you have planned for your trip to Colombia.
