Is Medellin Dangerous For Tourists To Visit?
Have You Heard About Colombia’s Dangerous Past, But Wondering If It Is Safe Now For Tourists To Travel To Medellin?
As I was preparing to move to Colombia to teach English, everyone I told seemed very concerned about safety because of the somewhat recent dangerous past of this country, but it is definitely not the same place it used to be, and I had an amazing time living here and traveling all over on my own, so even for a big city like Medellin, I think it is a relatively safe place for tourists to visit, although there are a few things you can do to be extra safe here.
⭐️ Is Medellin, Colombia Dangerous For Tourists To Visit?
⭐️ Overall – Is Medellin, Colombia Dangerous For Tourists:
- Colombia is an awesome place to visit (not the same dangerous country it used to be), and Medellin is the most popular place for tourists to visit here, but it is still a large metropolitan area, so to be as safe as possible, you should always remain aware and cautious, avoid late nights out when possible, choose the safest transportation options (like private transport and guided tours), always keep an eye on your things, and choose a safe hotel in a safe area (over home rentals)
Continue reading for more details on how to be safe and avoid dangerous situations as tourists in Medellin, Colombia.
⛑️ Is Medellin A Safe City?
Crime and security report websites list Colombia in general, and some large cities like Medellin in the moderate-ish crime level, mostly for easy opportunity petty crimes like pickpocketing, phone stealing, etc.
US and other foreign travelers can have bigger targets on their backs because criminals assume there’ll be easy and worthwhile opportunities.
In my experience specifically traveling in Medellin with one other female, it felt decently safe as a larger metropolitan city, but I did have someone try to steal stuff out of my backpack here (I caught them and they didn’t get anything), so you should still remain cautious, aware, and a little inconspicuous.
Definitely be smart, but don’t be afraid of this popular city.
ℹ️ Is Medellin Safe At Night? every city in Colombia becomes less safe at night, so I recommend avoiding late nights out whenever possible, or at least choosing guided tours to not be alone in Medellin
ℹ️ How To Avoid Dangerous Situations & Be Extra Safe In Medellin, Colombia As Tourists
It is entirely possible to visit the large popular city of Medellin, Colombia and be safe, but there are a few extra things you can do here to avoid dangerous situations and be as safe as possible as tourists:
- 💍 don’t openly and obviously wear or use expensive jewelry or technology
- it’s best to leave all those flashy objects at home
- you can definitely still take photos with your phone, but don’t be too distracted
- 🚕 choose the safest transportation options here
- be cautious and aware in an Uber
- don’t hail taxis off of the street
- don’t walk around alone at night
- choose private transfers for the airport
- try some guided tours to easily and safely go sightseeing
- 👀 always be aware of your surroundings during the day and especially at night
- when in doubt stick to the safer tourist areas (like El Poblado and Laureles)
- 🌃 avoid late nights out when possible
- don’t walk around late at night anywhere if you can avoid it
- pay for upgraded Uber rides or private transport to be extra safe
- when you do want to go out late, go on guided night tours to be as safe as possible
- ⛑️ stay away from the more dangerous neighborhoods in Medellin, Colombia, not that tourists would typically have any reason to visit them anyways
- especially when deciding where to stay in Medellin, pick the safer tourist areas like El Poblado or Laureles
- 🎒 always keep an eye on your bags, backpacks, and pockets
- if you’re traveling with others, it’s a good idea to have someone in your group walk behind the person with the backpack so they can keep an eye on things
- 🥭 overall, No Dar Papaya as the Colombians say
- which means not to give criminals any easy opportunities to take advantage of you
- like leaving your phone on a table, wearing expensive jewelry around, setting your bag down while you take photos, etc.
🇨🇴 Is Medellin Even Worth Visiting?
I traveled to more than 20 destinations around Colombia when I was living here, so I definitely have some favorite locations, and although Medellin wasn’t personally my absolute favorite spot, I did still really enjoy this city, especially all of the historical sites and the interesting nearby town of Guatape.
It is one of the most popular places to visit in Colombia so I do think Medellin is worth visiting on at least a short trip, but I would definitely recommend checking out some other, more rural destinations while you visit.
➡️ Still Trying To Decide Where To Visit? here is a comparison between Bogota and Medellin, between Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, and even between Medellin and Mexico City to help you out
🔁 Sum Up: Is Medellin, Colombia Dangerous For Tourists?
Although it is a large metropolitan city with a very dangerous past, Medellin, Colombia is not what it used to be and tourists can actually travel here quite safely, but it does definitely help to stay cautious and aware of your surroundings, choose a safe hotel in a safe area, use the safest transportation options (like private transport and guided tours), avoid late nights out when possible, and always keep an eye on your things.
