Where to Stay in Medellin in 2024 ✔️ 5 Best Areas + Hotels!

Not sure where to stay in Medellin, Colombia? I’ve got you covered! I’m happy to call myself a local in this thriving city, and I’m excited to share with you the best areas and hotels to stay in for all budgets!

El Poblado is the very best place to stay in Medellin for the first time. It’s a popular district with all the conveniences of a big city and it offers the best possibilities for local immersion.

However, your travel interests and preferences may differ. That’s why I’ve included 4 more areas, including hotels and apartments in each! 

I’ve made planning easy – you have a list of my hand-picked hotels with amazing reviews for each area AND they are sorted by price. Read this post because you will be able to book your ideal accommodation in just a couple of clicks!

Medellin is a quickly developing city with more and more tourists every year, so it’s super important to book your stay in advance!

If you’re in a hurry

Here are the top hotels in El Poblado, the best area to stay for the first time!

• Best luxury hotel: Marquee Medellin
• Best mid-range hotel: EcoHub Hotel
• Best budget hotel: 574 Hotel

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Watch my video, it will give you a visual explanation of all the areas:

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Which area should you choose?

Here is a map of all the areas I’ll be talking about in this post so you can get a better idea of where they are located:

So where to stay in Medellin? There are a couple of notable areas, or ‘barrios,’ that have been rebuilt and developed tremendously over the past few decades. They make for a great base to explore this wonderful city. 

Here is my list of personalized recommendations based on budget and interests:

• Best area to stay in Medellin for the first time – El Poblado
• Where to stay for local nightlife – Laureles
• Best neighborhood for families – Envigado
• Where to stay on a budget – Belen
• Best area for a business trip – El Centro (La Candelaria)

As El Poblado and Laureles are the two most popular places to stay among tourists, I have provided this little analysis to help you choose. Whichever one you pick, reserve your accom

	El Poblado	Laureles
Price of accommodation	More expensive accommodation	Cheaper accommodation
Cost of living	More expensive	Cheaper
Public transportation and walkability	More hilly. Public transport depends on the area where you stay (max 10 min walk)	Much flatter, so more walkable. Public transport depends on the area where you stay (max 10 min walk)
Safety	High safety standards	High safety standards

1. El Poblado – where to stay in Medellin for nightlife

El Poblado is THE most popular neighborhood for tourists, being very safe and offering the most vibrant nightlife in Medellin.

I am staying here, and honestly, with all its accommodation options and mixes of culture, it has become quite a tourist bubble. Still, it’s nice to stay in and use the area as a base to visit the other parts of the city by metro or taxi, both being super cheap!

El Poblado actually translates to “The Village”.

El Poblado also has some of the best views of the surrounding mountains! Go on the rooftop of Los Patios or Masaya (the latter being one of the best party hotels in Medellin) to enjoy them!

Calle 10 is THE best spot for nightlife, where all the best Medellin clubs with live music are located! Don’t miss out on The Blue Bar for the best experience! 

If you’re a fan of Narcos, you’ll love the Pablo Escobar Museum in this neighborhood! You can learn all about his life and even see some of his most coveted possessions.  

El Poblado is also where the safest hotels in Medellin are located!

Luxury (US$120 and up)

• Marquee Medellín – your 5-star vacation closest to an all-inclusive place to stay in Medellin. They have an outdoor swimming pool, continental breakfast, and a shared hot tub. The hotel is surrounded by restaurants and entertainment facilities. Family rooms and baby cots are available, too.
• The Click Clack Hotel – a gorgeous hotel that guarantees celebrity treatment! The rooftop pool boasts incredible views, and it’s a lovely romantic option for couples.

Mid-range (US$70 – US$120)

• Vita Hotel Boutique – just a short walk from El Poblado Park, Vita is one of the best boutique hotels in town. All rooms have a private bathroom, an outdoor seating area, and flat-screen TVs. This boutique hotel is also closest to Downtown Medellin.
• EcoHub Hotel Medellin – if you can’t get enough of nature, the countless plants scattered around the EcoHub Hotel will have you feeling at home. Enjoy room service, free parking and all the facilities of a 5-star hotel with great prices.

Budget (up to US$70)

• CoLinkHouse Hotel – with a terrace perfect for chilling, and surrounded by lots of restaurants and bars, this place is awesome! The staff will even organize tours for you!
• 574 Hotel – for such a great price, you’d be surprised how lovely this place is! It’s super popular for couples and just a 10 min walk away from Poblado metro station.

2. Laureles – where to stay in Medellin for local nightlife

Laureles is one of the most popular barrios for Medellin visitors. The locals call it “Estadio” since the 2 Medellin football teams play their matches at Atanasio Girardot stadium located in the area.

This district is perfect for first-timers because it has a local vibe, with tons of bars and restaurants, giving you a much better experience of local Medellin life away from the tourist hotspots.

Laureles offers many accommodation options, hipster cafes, traditional restaurants, green parks, and countless clubs and bars in the lively “la Setenta Street.”

Oh, and if you’re into football, you cannot miss a match at the stadium!

Now here are the best hotels in Laureles for all budgets and tastes:

Luxury (US$80 and up)

• Terra Biohotel – the king suite at Terra Biohotel is a sight to behold in Laureles! Furnished in a stylish, modern motif, the room is incredibly spacious and has its own personal balcony with stunning views across the city. Plus, there is a motorized spa bath inside the room!
• Beminimal – a super sustainable aparthotel offering units with a kitchen as well! It’s in a super quiet area and has lovely breakfast choices!

Mid-range (US$40 – US$80)

• Hotel Casa Laureles – the perfect way to pass a Medellin evening in Laureles is to sip a few drinks on a streetside patio and watch the world go by. Well, you can do that here! The hotel also has a business center, on-site restaurant, and 24-hour reception.
• Hotel Merlott 70 – the rooms here are very clean and have cable channels. The hotel offers free on-site parking, bike hire, and a daily buffet breakfast. The residential street is quiet, so no need to worry about late-night revelers. Still, you’ll be close to restaurants and attractions!

Budget (up to US$40)

Here are the top budget hotels in Laureles with fantastic reviews:

• Hostal Boutique Casa Mosaiko – this lovely guesthouse has a convenient location, private bathrooms in rooms, and housekeeping services. There’s a garden where you can relax as well as optional breakfast.
• Hostal Rich – affordable stay in the heart of Medellin, including a terrace, restaurant, and shared lounge. A wide variety of rooms are suitable for couples and large families. This also is one of the highest-rated properties for couples!

3. Envigado – best area for families

Envigado, North of Sabaneta and South of El Poblado, was a separate city in the past, but it is now part of Medellin.

For this reason, it is much cheaper than the other areas but also has fewer restaurants, cafes, and has overall less action. So, if you fancy a secluded, laid-back, and safe area to stay with your partner or kids, this one’s for you!

If you’re into Colombian literature, here you can visit the home of Fernando Gonzalez, Envigado-born writer and philosopher. The author used to live and work here, and now you can visit his home for free and admire his work from up-close, as the property is officially turned into a museum!

Coffee lovers, hear me out! Pergamino Cafe will become your new all-time favorite coffee place, so check it out when you get there! They also serve a perfect carrot cake to match your freshly brewed coffee!

Unfortunately, there are very few accommodation options in Envigado, but I have handpicked some of the best ones below.

Luxury (US$80 and up)

• Oculto Refugio de Bosque – a unique stay in the forest where you can soak in all the fresh air and enjoy the untouched nature! The chalets all have private bathrooms, hot tubs, and the most incredible lighting at night! The furniture is very simplistic, but the overall ambiance (and price) indeed make this a luxury stay!
• Beautiful Apartment – this place is the perfect private stay, with enough space for 7 people, so the whole family can be comfortable! There are 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and bunk beds for the kids.

Mid-range (US$40 – US$80)

• Arame Hotel – this 4-star hotel is aimed towards business travelers but welcomes tourists too. With an on-site restaurant and room service capabilities, it is an excellent choice if you want to stay in Envigado, close to El Dorado!
• Hotel Casa Madero – this is an excellent property if you want a bit of countryside, and there is an onsite restaurant and a lounge area to relax outside of your room. Due to its secluded location, I wouldn’t recommend staying at Hotel Casa Madero without a car.

Budget (up to US$40)

• Beautiful Apartestudio – very modern, stylish, and authentic stay for up to 3 guests in the district’s center. You’ll be within walking distance from the shops and restaurants. There’s a full kitchen, so you can shop at local markets and make your food, making this place suitable for extended stays.
• Coliving el Jardin de Envigado – here’s yet another fantastic place to stay in the city if you don’t have a huge budget for accommodation! This charming house has free Wi-Fi, a kitchen, a fridge, and more! Plus, all the rooms here are super clean and nicely decorated!

4. Belén – where to stay in Medellin on a budget

Belén is located just North of Poblado (15 min by car or 40 min by public transport) and is a much more relaxed residential area than the latter.

Here, you’ll find more locals than tourists, so if you are looking for a quieter, relaxed stay within arms reach of the major tourist attractions, then Belén is a great choice. 

By the way, the prices here are excellent! The affordability makes Belen the best neighborhood for expats, and this is a statement shared by many foreigners who now call Medellin home!

About 1.5 million people visited Medellin in 2022, so it’s fast becoming a super popular tourist destination!

In Belen, you can visit Pueblito Paisa, an iconic place on a hill with an open-air theater, sculpture garden, and the cutest traditional Colombian homes!

Belen is also where numerous parks are located, so this makes it a suitable location if you’re coming with kids!

And when you get hungry, Guadalupe Belen is the most popular restaurant in the area, serving Mexican food and cocktails!

Luxury (US$70 and up)

• Los Patios Cool Living – with epic views from the rooftop pool and a lovely terrace, this place is a lovely stay with all the amenities you’ll need! People rave about the breakfast!
• Modern 2-BDR Apartment – located next to a shopping mall, this apartment is the perfect combination of luxury and convenience looking as if it came out of an architecture magazine. Suitable for extended stays. A full kitchen and dedicated workspace are available.

Mid-range (US$30 – US$70)

• Casa Rosales – find spacious family rooms, comfy beds, an awesome location, and super friendly staff at the cheapest prices in this 3-star cozy hotel! Some rooms even come with a kitchen. Otherwise, you can enjoy an à la carte breakfast!
• Ayenda Loft 32 – just a short distance from Laureles Park, this place offers apartments with a minibar, all the essentials you’ll need, and a coffee shop downstairs for those caffeine cravings!

Budget (up to US$30)

• International House – this co-living hostel is among the best places to stay on a budget in one of the top neighborhoods of the city! This affordable accommodation boasts a rooftop terrace and barbecue facilities!
• Casa Egos Pop Laureles – great for sustainability-loving travelers, this place has a cute courtyard and even a kitchen! If you’re traveling with kids, there’s a designated play area, too!

5. El Centro (La Candelaria) – for local vibes

La Candelaria, also known as El Centro, is nothing less than Downtown Medellin: the perfect area to stay away from the tourist crowds and deep dive into Medellin’s local life!

Downtown Medellin is one of the busiest areas by daytime, where all the economic activity of the city takes place and where you’ll see the largest concentration of locals.

For this reason, in Downtown Medellin, you’ll find a surprising variety of restaurants, bars, nightlife, and easy access to all forms of transport! Some of the restaurants here are EPIC!

Restaurante Hatoviejo Centro (map) is the most popular and fanciest restaurant in the Downtown Medellin area! Make sure to try their bandeja paisa!

Stay or stroll around El Centro if you want to feel the local culture, however it’s also the busiest area of the Medellin.

Note that Downtown Medellin is not so popular at night due to lack of safety. Staying here during the day is completely fine, but walking alone after dark brings a higher risk of pickpocketing compared to other areas! If you don’t mind this, El Centro or La Candelaria is where you’ll find many super cheap hotels! 

NOTE: No luxury options are available in Downtown Medellin. If you’re into luxury, check out the hotel offers in El Poblado!

Mid-range (from US$30 – US$60)

• 61Prado Guesthouse – if you’re looking for a fantastic budget stay right in the heart of El Centro, within walking distance of exciting tourist attractions, I recommend you check out this one! It’s a great place to stay, with pretty rooms and unbeatable rates.
• Edificio Helena – a convenient 1-bedroom apartment with family rooms, a terrace, and a sauna/steam room! They serve American breakfast and offer free parking. The apartment is situated in the center of the action, with plenty of things to see and do around.

Budget (up to US$30)

• Casa Grande – authentic stay in an accommodation that seems like it came out of a telenovela! All rooms have a seating or dining area and a private bathroom. It’s a quiet guesthouse with a relaxing vibe.
• Centro Hostel Medellin – choose between dormitory and private rooms in one of the most popular hostels in the area. They serve a good breakfast and have the cutest interior suitable for remote work. Restaurants and top attractions are within walking distance.

👑 Luxury price:	US$100
💵 Mid Range:	US$50
🛏️ Budget:	US$30
📍 Best Area:	El Poblado
🛎️ Best luxury hotel:	Marquee Medellin
💵 Mid-range hotel:	Ecohub Hotel
👛 Best budget hotel:	574 Hotel

BONUS 1: Best apartments in Medellin, Colombia

If you’re planning an extended stay in Medellin, I highly recommend booking an apartment. You’ll have greater flexibility and be able to cook your own meals!

Apartments are often located in residential areas, giving a more authentic representation of how locals live! And if it counts, it’s where I would’ve stayed as well!

Luxury (US$90 and up)

You won’t have to forget about 5-star service and luxury if you want independence during your stay. Check out one of these properties to get both!

• Energy 1103: Balcony Apt in Luxury Building – this apartment is perfect for a luxurious stay in Medellin. It has a fantastic location in the heart of the city. The terrace is to die for, the interior is super stylish, and they also have a rooftop pool for a perfect, luxurious stay!
• Apartamentos Loma Verde – situated on the outskirts of El Poblado, Loma Verde is tucked away from all the action but still within a 5-minute walk from everything. Each apartment has a private balcony, fully-equipped kitchen, a dishwasher, and modern electronics. There is a shared terrace/BBQ area and a spectacular rooftop pool!

Mid-range (US$50 – US$90)

• Casa Del Reloj – located in the Parque Lleras area of El Poblado, this apartment is already off to a good start. In addition, the 2 bedrooms are decorated in an antique Colombian mountain style and are simply STUNNING! There is even an indoor swimming pool! The superb rating speaks for itself!
• Amazing Big Master Bedroom. Best Poblado Spot – here’s another good option with a brand-new interior! This private room is bright and clean and has a fantastic location, close to everything you might want – right in the heart of El Poblado!

Budget (up to US$50)

• 1-Bedroom Belen Apartment – perfect for those seeking privacy (private kitchen and bathroom) but also wanting to meet fellow travelers in the lovely shared spaces like the terrace or cinema room.
• Sabaneta Apartment – stay in a cute and lively neighborhood on a budget in this cozy apartment that can fit up to 4 guests! Shopping, parks, and eateries are all within walking distance!

BONUS 2: Best hotels near Medellin Airport

José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) is the only international airport in Medellin, located 20 km (~12 miles) southeast of the city. If you plan to stay close to the airport, this section is for you.

• Luxury: Movich Hotel Las Lomas – more of an estate than a hotel, the Movich has it all. You’ll find a tennis court, heated pool, gym, hot tub, terrace, and 3 restaurants! The hotel is 5 stars, so expect that level of service from the staff for a super pleasant stay! Best of all, there’s a free airport shuttle!
• Mid-range: Hotel Santiago de Arma – a neat hotel just 10 minutes walking from the airport. They have family rooms, a delicious breakfast, and a free airport shuttle!
• Budget: Hostal El Hangar – pleasant ambiance, comfortable rooms, and a conveniently attached restaurant that’s open late and early in case you want to grab a bite before leaving. The staff here is accommodating and can pick you up from the airport anytime!

NOTE: Medellin also has the Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH) for domestic flights. This airport is a 10-minute ride from El Poblado, so you won’t need to stay in a different area for this one! You can just check my hotel recommendations for El Poblado.

FAQs about where to stay in Medellin

Conclusion

This was my complete guide to where to stay in Medellin for all travelers and budgets! I told you everything you need to know about the 5 best neighborhoods to stay in the city, followed by the best hotels and apartments! 

I know I have given you a lot of options, so in case you’re still undecided, here are my 2 top choices:

• Marquee Medellin – don’t miss out on this incredible option, the pool is amazing!
• Hostal Boutique Casa Mosaiko – this place is so gorgeous, you’ll have the most relaxed budget stay ever!

For more inspiration, check out my things to do in Medellin article. And here are all my posts and content about Colombia!

In terms of tourism, Medellin is always attracting lots of visitors, so book your Medellin accommodation in advance!

And if you have any questions, make sure to leave them in the comments below! I’m happy to answer them, and if you have any other tips from your travels, let me know!

Enjoy Medellin,

Arantxa

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