Where to Stay in Medellin in 2023- The Best Neighbourhoods & Hotels
Looking for where to stay in Medellin, Colombia? Keep reading for the best neighbourhoods to keep on your radar and the best hotels and apartments in each.
Colombia’s second-largest city Medellin, is a hotspot for travellers, backpackers and digital nomads today looking for a brilliant food scene, trendy spots and great nightlife. Medellin should definitely be on your Colombia bucket list and for me, it’s probably the best city in Colombia.
The main draw to Medellin and the best area for travellers is the area of El Poblado, a trendy area with parks and leafy streets that make you feel like you’re in a jungle not in a large city. Here so are many boutique stores, chic cafes, amazing restaurants and nightlife too. If you’ve come to Colombia to sample some great food, Medellin is where you need to be.
So where to stay in Medellin while exploring this wonderful cosmopolitan city? Where are the best areas to stay? and the best hotels? Keep reading to find out more.
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Where to Stay in Medellin: The Best Areas
The main areas in Medellin where tourists and digital nomads tend to stay are El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado and the Centro Historico. While there are probably a few other areas to stay in Medellin that might work for travellers, these are the most popular and the safest so in this where to stay in Medellin guide, I’ll just be focusing on those.
In a nutshell:
- El Poblado– the most popular neighbourhood, good for eating and nightlife
- Laureles – A safe and quiet neighbourhood to the north of the city best for local budget accommodation
- Envigado – a nice, family-friendly neighbourhood to stay just south of El Poblado
- Centro Historico– the commercial heart of the city. Many tourist sights to see are here.
I’ve personally visited Medellin twice now and both times I stayed in El Poblado and Manila (right next to El Poblado). I would personally recommend staying in El Poblado as a first-time traveller to Medellin.
El Poblado
As mentioned previously, El Poblado and the surrounding area is really where you want to be in Medellin, especially if you’re in Medellin for a short time and want to experience the best nightlife and eating scene in the city. El Poblado also has the best choice of hotels in Medellin.
El Poblado is still very close to the other sights of the city and the city’s metro system makes it very easy to get around. Staying in El Poblado means that you have all the best breakfast cafes and restaurants right around the corner yet it’s still central enough to make it easy to move around during the day. It’s also safe to move around at night.
It’s worth noting however that El Poblado is a pretty noisy and rowdy area, especially at night- it is a party place after all. During the day it’s fairly quiet. If you don’t want to be in the thick of the party and don’t want to have to sleep with earplugs in, I highly recommend not staying in the centre of El Poblado but instead around its edges where things are much quieter.
Manila for example is a small area right next to El Poblado and it’s much quieter at night. In fact, that’s where we stayed and we found it to be very quiet and chilled but close enough to El Poblado to never be far from the action.
Laureles
Another very popular neighbourhood to stay in Medellin is Laureles. Located to the west and over the river from the historical center, Laureles is a relaxed neighbourhood with a lot to offer.
With more affordable accommodation options than El Poblado, Laureles is a great choice for budget travellers. There are many hipster cafes, restaurants, boutiques and hotels to explore too. Staying in Laureles also means that you’re closer to the historic center, potentially saving you some time when moving around the city and getting to know its major sights.
Envigado
Located just south of El Poblado, Envigado is a large, mostly residential part of Medellin. It actually used to be its own town but later was incorporated into the city of Medellin as it expanded. If you’re thinking about where to stay in Medellin for a longer stay, Envigado is a great option. It’s still close to all the sights and not far from the happenings of El Poblado yet it’s much cheaper and sustainable for longer stays- especially if you’re also looking for somewhere quieter and more local.
There aren’t too many choices when it comes to hotels in Envigado but there are quite a few Airbnbs and VRBO rentals in the area. If you are a digital nomad looking for a monthly stay in Medellin, I’d highly recommend looking for a rental in Envigado.
Historic Center
The historical center or La Candelaria as it’s also known is the historical and commercial heart of Medellin. It’s one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city and it’s brimming with local commerce, hustle and bustle and action.
In this neighbourhood, you’ll find some of Medellin’s most famous sights such as Botero Square and the Antioquia Museum among others. From here, El Poblado and all other areas of the city are within easy reach.
If you’re someone who’s looking for a really local experience or you’re staying in Medellin for less than 24 hours or you’re not particularly bothered by nightlife, staying in El Centro might be a good option for you.
Note: Areas around the Historic Center can get dangerous at night. It’s not a particularly nice area to walk around at night either and it does get pretty noisy. If you’re going somewhere after dark make sure to take an Uber. For this reason, I highly recommend staying in El Poblado, Manila or Laureles over the Historic Center/La Candelaria.
For reference check out this map for all the neighbourhoods of Medellin:
Read more: The BEST Things to do in Medellin for First-Time Travellers
Where to Stay in Medellin: The Best Hotels
El Poblado & Manila
Landmark Hotel
Landmark Hotel is a brand new hotel, apartment complex and cafe located in the Manila neighbourhood right by El Poblado. This beautiful boutique hotel wins major points for its beautiful design-focused lobby and rooms that focus on chic yet functional living.
The rooms are cosy, beautifully designed and feature all the mod cons. They also come with a balcony, modern bathroom and wifi with speeds that exceed 200 Megas making Landmark perfect for digital nomads or anyone for who the internet is a priority.
What is unique about Landmark however is their conscious and sustainable approach. Each room is fitted with a filtered water tap so instead of buying bottled water, you can refill your reusable water bottle as many times as you like during your stay reducing plastic consumption.
On the roof, you’ll find a long, heated pool, a jacuzzi and a terrace with gorgeous views of Medellin. This was definitely our favourite place to hang out and we started the day with a swim and finished it with a soak in the jacuzzi to rest those tired legs.
Landmark has also just opened a cafe downstairs focused on fast yet healthy food options- a great place to grab breakfast before exploring more of the city.
I would highly recommend staying here and without a doubt, this was our favorite stay during our entire Colombia trip!
Check rates and availability here
Hotel Quinta Ladera
With all the wooden, natural feels don’t miss this brand new boutique property in El Poblado.
Full of natural light, earthy tones and textures and all the plants and vegetation this hotel feels simple yet homely. Rooms are comfortable and stylish, staff are friendly and are there to help during your stay in Medellin.
The beds here are super comfortable, it’s amazingly clean and tidy and just the perfect place to stay to make you feel at home.
Check rates and availability here
Marquee Medellín
If you’re looking for where to stay in Medellin and you love pure luxury and gorgeous design, Marquee is El Pobablo’s swankiest hotel.
From the moment you enter the lobby, the hotel’s classic style and great service already hint at what a fantastic stay it will be. With stunning, classic rooms with marble bathrooms and brilliant views of the city, filtered water outlets in the rooms, a bar, cafe, great morning breakfast and a rooftop terrace with an outdoor, heated pool, there is literally nothing stopping us from booking a stay right here for our next time in Medellin.
Check rates and availability here
The Somos Hotel
Another great option for travellers wishing to stay in El Poblado, The Somos is a super hip space that allows travellers to rest, work and relax.
With a real trendy industrial feel, rooms still feel cosy and comfortable and have everything you need for a great stay. There’s also a beautiful rooftop bar and a downstairs cafe giving guests a variety of places to relax outside their rooms.
Check availability and rates here
23 Hotel Medellin
With a modern, geometric, ‘flintstones’ vibe, 23 Hotel Medellin is one of the most unique properties in this post.
Warm, natural tones aid to help you find sanctuary after a long day of exploring the city and the rooftop terrace, bar and pool is another place to relax and watch the city go by.
Rooms are beautifully decorated with interesting nooks that beg to be explored. The staff are lovely, the morning breakfast is tasty and the location on the ed