The tourist attractions in Medellin are not plentiful.  The city was once a drug capital of Colombia where the the infamous Pablo Escobar reigned supreme.  Luckily for you the Colombian government has re-taken the city and Medellin has now become a paradise for foreigners.  The streets are safe (most of the time) and you enjoy spring like weather throughout the year.  Although there aren’t that many things to do for tourists, you can still find things to keep you busy.  Here are the top 5 things to do in Medellin:

PARAGLIDING IN MEDELLIN

Picture of a Paraglider

Imagine soaring through the air and seeing the valley and mountains of Medellin.  At the low price price of roughly 80,000 pesos you get to fly through the air for about 20 to 30 minutes.  Try to go first thing in the morning and fly first.  The weather in Medellin can change quickly due to the fact that its high in the mountains.

BOTERO PLAZA & MUSEUM

A sculpture in Plaza Botero

The most popular tourist attractions in Medellin can claim the common adage its not over until the fat lady sings!  Some of the famous fat (where are my manners?), pleasantly plump figures that have made Fernando Botero famous can be found in both Plaza Botero and the Museum of Antioquia.  The museum also houses works from Colombian artist Pedro Nel Gómez.

BOTANICAL GARDENS

Picture of the Botanical Gardens in Medellin

The Botanical gardens boast almost 40 acres of green space dedicated to all kinds of orchids and plants.  The garden is situated in a green part of the city where many locals gather to ride bikes, go canoeing, and even rowing.  The expansion that began during 2005 is what gives the Botanical Gardens the signature look they have today.

MEDELLIN NIGHTLIFE

Local Club in Medellin

This is what many people come to do in Medellin, party!  Paisas (people from local area of Medellin) love to dance and have a good time.  You can hear Salsa and Reggaeton blasting from many clubs as you walk by the popular party districts of Parque Lleras and Barrio Colombia.  If you are looking for a more bar atmosphere then head to La 70 or La 33 in the area of Laureles.  A more upscale zone is the Las Palmas area.  Most tourists go to Parque Lleras so if your interesting in a more local experience head to the other areas of town.

Picture of cable car in Medellin

CABLE CAR

While the main purpose of the cable car was to provide complementary service to the city’s metro system, the new line J is an exclusive tourist line.  The new line was built to promote tourism at Arvi Park.  You can also ride the line L that will take you over part of the slums of the city to Biblioteca Espana.  Not only will the architecture of the library surprise you, but you will also get great views of the cosmopolitan city in Colombia.