Medellín wins here. Medellín is a much bigger city with a metro population of over 3.7 million so it obviously has many more restaurant and nightlife options. In comparison, Cartagena has a metro population of over 1.2 million. Medellín has many more restaurant options, many of which have been covered on this website.

Is Medellin worth visiting?

Naturally, it's not as cheap as traveling rural areas but compared to other popular cities like Bogota and Cartagena, Medellin is great value for money. It also helps that many of the most popular tourist attractions – Parque Botero, the Botanical Gardens, the Metrocable – are either free or very cheap.

What is the nicest place in Colombia?

1. Cartagena. Cartagena. ...
2. Medellin. Medellin. ...
3. Eje Cafetero. Eje Cafetero. ...
4. Leticia. Squirrel monkeys, Leticia. ...
5. Tayrona National Natural Park. Tayrona National Natural Park. ...
6. Bogotá La Candelaria, Bogotá ...
7. The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) The Lost City. ...
8. Providencia Island.

What is the most beautiful part of Colombia?

1. Popayan.
2. Villa de Leyva. ...
3. La Zona Cafeteria. ...
4. Caribbean beaches. Just north of Santa Marta and you'll hit the cute-as-can-be fishing village of Taganga. ...
5. Cartagena. Known as the 'Jewel of the Caribbean', Cartagena is almost too beautiful for words. ...

What is the safest place in Colombia?

• Salento. Salento, in the Colombian coffee region, is a popular tourist destination | © Jonny James / Unsplash.com. ...
• Guatape. ...
• Palomino. ...
• Tayrona National Park. ...
• Minca. ...
• Villa de Leyva. ...
• Jardín. ...
• Barichara.

Medellin vs. Cartagena | Which Is The Better Expat Destination? (Incl. Local opinion)

Is Medellin safe to live?

Is Medellín a Safe Place to Live? Like any large city around the world, there is crime. However, in the expat-centric areas, it tends to be crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing in crowds and theft of unattended items (cellphones, backpacks, handbags).

Is Medellin Colombia safe to live?

Living in Colombia is safer than in many other countries around the world. As a matter of fact, Bogotá and Medellín, the two largest cities in the country, rank safer than quite a few U.S. cities according to the 2018 Numbeo Crime Index. Like any country around the world, there is crime.

What is the coolest city in Colombia?

• #1: Medellin: A hub for Colombia's students and art-lovers. Street art in Medellin. ...
• #2: Bogota: Where history meets hipster. A woman standing outside a colorful cafe in Bogota. ...
• #3. Cartagena: Idyllic beaches and incredible history. ...
• #4. Cali: An up-and-coming city known for salsa dancing. ...
• #5.

What is the best city to live in Colombia?

• Medellin. Once notorious for being an unsafe city, Medellin has eventually become a dream place for expats and retirees from all parts of the globe. ...
• Santa Marta. ...
• Barranquilla. ...
• Bogota.

What part of Colombia has the best beaches?

• Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona. Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona. ...
• Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca. ...
• Playas de Palomino. Playas de Palomino. ...
• Beaches of Isla de Providencia (Providencia Island) ...
• La Boquilla. ...
• Playa Rodadero. ...
• The Beaches of Capurgana & the Walk to La Miel in Panama. ...
• Manzanillo del Mar.

Which is better Bogota vs Medellin?

Medellin is the undisputed winner in this area. The city is renowned for its 'perfect weather'. Medellin boasts spring-like weather all year round and provides a pleasant experience to the visitors. Bogota, on the other hand, is colder than its Colombian counterpart, as it is located in a high altitude region.

Why is Cartagena famous?

Cartagena has a fascinating and often unbelievable history: once the largest slave port in the Americas, the city was regularly invaded and besieged by pirates and is home to some of the finest historical architecture in the country.

Is Cartagena expensive?

Cartagena is undoubtedly the current crown jewel of Colombian tourism, and as such is one of the most expensive locations in this amazing country.

Do they speak English in Medellín?

The other major cities, particularly Bogotá and Medellín, aren´t too slack when it comes to speaking English. Luckily enough, the glitzier, partayier areas of Colombia´s two largest cities also happen to speak the most English.

Can you wear shorts in Medellín?

You might see locals in sweaters, jackets and scarves, however it's more likely a fashion statement than due to cold weather. Due to the unpredictable rain, remember to bring an umbrella. Shorts, tank tops and flip flops are generally a no-go.

Why is Medellín famous?

Capital of Antioquia province, a fertile region famous for its coffee plantations and its flower farms, for its orchids and butterflies, it is known as the City of Eternal Spring for its idyllic climate. Everywhere you turn there seem to be new things happening.

Where do the rich live in Colombia?

El Poblado is the safest and richest upscale neighborhood located in the south-east of Medellin. This neighborhood is considered the cleanest, most comfortable and most expensive in the city. It is the favorite neighborhood for many foreign tourists and expats as it provides all the comforts of the western lifestyle.

Is Cartagena Colombia safe?

Cartagena today is actually pretty safe – in fact, it's one of the safer places in Colombia. There's plenty of police officers on the street and the city is seeing improvements to the crime rate and general security. Most tourists who visit Cartagena have a trouble-free time.

What are some bad things about Colombia?

Also, the English-speaking expat community in cities in Colombia is relatively small. In Bogotá and Cartagena, you are likely to find more English speakers than you can in other cities in Colombia. But even in Bogotá and Cartagena most Colombian don't speak much English.

Why is Bogota better than Medellín?

Medellin is the undisputed winner in this area. The city is renowned for its 'perfect weather'. Medellin boasts spring-like weather all year round and provides a pleasant experience to the visitors. Bogota, on the other hand, is colder than its Colombian counterpart, as it is located in a high altitude region.

Should I go to Bogota or Cartagena?

No question here - Cartagena hands down. Beautiful colonial city with all the services a tourist need. Bogota is a capital and thus huge, chaotic and polluted. There's obviously some great things to do there, but Bogota often disappoints travellers.

How far is Bogota from Medellín by plane?

The distance between two of Colombia's largest cities, Bogotá and Medellín, is 260 miles (419 km). The easiest way to make the trip is to fly, which takes about an hour.

Is Medellin safe at night?

While the area is generally safe by day, at night much of it is a haven of street crime, and wandering around El Centro at night is not a good idea if you want to stay safe in Medellin.

Is Medellin a nice place to live?

Objectively speaking, we have to say that Medellín is one of the greatest cities you could live in Latin America because of the weather, relative safety, and the low cost of living. It's just a great city with great people in general.

Does the Medellin cartel still exist?

The Medellin Cartel resurrected and now has the US government by the balls. The so-called “Oficina de Envigado” controls much of Colombia's drug trade through a network of local partners that sell the cocaine to their Mexican clients, keeping La Oficina out of reach of the DEA.