Is Medellin, Colombia safe ?

I’ve spent a month living in Medellín, and I’ve tried the two most popular neighborhoods: Laureles and El Poblado. I won’t be sugarcoating my experience. On top of my own time living in Medellín, I’ve interviewed a bunch of locals and tourists to get their perspective, so I think this article will truly give you a fair answer to the question: Is Medellín, Colombia safe?

Chilling on a rooftop in Medellin, Colombia

Before Leaving for Medellín

When I told my mom I was going to Colombia, she sighed in despair, her only daughter giving her even more gray hair. If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you’d know that I’m known for stressing my mom out. But if you don’t know me, well, let’s just say My mom always wished I was a little more like my brother, settled in and less adventurous. But I can’t help it, I am who I am.

However, to be completely honest, I can’t say I didn’t have my own fears kick in, because they did! I was acting tough for my mom (because I had to), but deep down, I was scared and Googling articles and YouTube videos to get a sense of what I was getting myself into.

Here’s the thing: I didn’t plan Colombia. Colombia came to me! I was invited as a creator to make content and showcase some coliving spaces, as Colombia is rapidly becoming a digital nomad hub. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass, but truthfully, Colombia had never been on my radar.

And to top it all off, my partner Jamie had just been made redundant. So, we were truly having a WTF moment.

But we refused to live in fear and had our hearts set on going to see it for ourselves.

The night before our flight, we spiraled into a deep, dark hole, imagining gangsters on every corner, people sniffing cocaine in broad daylight, and the possibility of being robbed if we took a wrong turn. So yeah, we didn’t sleep. And that’s how we left.

Day 1 – First Impressions

We arrived late at night, and because we’d spiraled and were feeling anxious, we had arranged private transportation with the first coliving space we were staying at. To be 100% honest, unless I’m traveling to a first-world country, I always do this. It just makes me feel more at ease, and it was worth the extra money.

Our driver was amazing—he gave us great recommendations, talked to us about the culture, and shared what to expect during our stay.

Exploring Medellin on the first day

Insider Knowledge of safety in Medellin

We quickly learned that Ubers are the best way to get around in Medellín, and taxis are not really recommended. The weird thing is that Ubers are technically not legal there, but everyone—especially tourists—uses them. To avoid any issues, someone needs to sit in the front so it looks like you’re just friends taking a ride together.

Yes, we did get pulled over while in an Uber because the driver decided to run a yellow-turning-red light. The police searched us, and my partner and I were mortified. We thought we were being set up, that we’d end up in a Colombian prison, and that one day there would be a Netflix documentary about us. Spiraling again, haha! But we were released after two minutes (that felt like four hours) and were free to go.

Moral of the story: Take Ubers and be careful.

Back to First Impressions

Medellín feels like a jungle city. It’s extremely green and lush. There are trees and huge plants everywhere. The weather is known as “eternal spring”—super comfortable, not too hot, not too cool.

We started our journey in El Poblado, and it felt like a very walkable area. We spent the first day wandering around, discovering cute little shops and cafés. The streets were buzzing, and the city felt lively.

Medellín During the Day

Is Medellín safe? The answer is twofold.

Guatape streets

During the day, we felt safe enough to walk everywhere together. Would I have done it solo as a woman? It’s hard to give a clear yes or no. In some parts, yes. In others, I might have felt uncomfortable. Not unsafe, but definitely uneasy.

I’d compare Medellín to any major city where some neighborhoods feel a bit rough, there are homeless people, shady characters, and a weird vibe in certain spots. Nothing outright dangerous, but enough to make you feel uneasy walking by.

The nice neighborhoods are really nice, though, vibrant and full of life!

Medellín at Night

At night, it’s a different story. Straight up: you shouldn’t be walking alone. I did not feel safe, and it’s highly recommended to take Ubers.

If you’re club- or bar-hopping in El Poblado at night, it’s fine, but again, one wrong street and you could easily find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Once you’re inside the club, restaurant, bar, or venue, we felt totally safe. We partied, went out for drinks and food, met friends at night, and had a blast. We never felt in danger, but we always stayed aware of our surroundings.

There’s a saying in Medellín: “Don’t go chasing papaya,” which basically means don’t go looking for trouble. If you’re totally wasted and getting into a taxi alone at night… yeah, you might end up in the wrong taxi and get robbed.

I did street interviews with locals and tourists, and a couple of people mentioned getting robbed.

Interviewing locals, tourists and expats in the streets of Medellin to know if they feel safe

Pickpocketing is the number one danger. After that, it’s getting involved with the wrong crowds.

Did we get offered drugs a lot in Medellín at night? YES. We never took it,because we could smell the trouble... and also because we don't do drugs. But let’s just say the people offering didn’t exactly look trustworthy.

Prostitution is legal in Medellín, and a lot of (mostly male) tourists get robbed by these women. They’re not shy,some even tried calling out to my partner while we were walking by, holding hands.

Don’t be stupid, stay aware of your surroundings, and you’ll be okay.Is it the safest place I’ve ever traveled to? No. Is it the worst? Also no.

Medellín as a Tourist

If you stick to the touristy stuff, you’ll be totally fine. The coffee tours, language exchanges, Guatapé, Comuna 13 with a guide—those are all safe!

The sketchiest thing we did was try a local bike tour that was a bit off the beaten path. Honestly, it was so sketchy. The guide took us through areas where bikes definitely didn’t belong, past drug hangouts and homeless tent neighborhoods. It gave me a lot of anxiety.

So here’s the simple answer: stick to touristy places and activities, and you won’t have any issues.

Made some new friends in Medellin

Medellín as a Solo Female

Personally, I wouldn’t go back to Medellín, and I wouldn’t do it solo—but that’s just me. I’m not a city person to begin with, and after staying a month, I feel like we saw everything we needed to.

I prefer solo surf or spiritual trips—that’s just my vibe. However, I did meet tons of solo female travelers in Medellín, and the community was absolutely blooming! As a nomad hub, Medellín is BY FAR the easiest place I’ve ever been to make friends.

I was part of WhatsApp and Facebook groups, and it was incredible to see how one post could lead to making a ton of new friends.

Medellín as a Black Woman

I was honestly surprised to see how black beauty is celebrated in Medellín. Most graffiti and art featured black women, and their features are seen as beautiful. It was so refreshing.

There’s also a super strong community for black people in Medellín, and I felt extremely welcome. For a person of color, Medellín gets a perfect 10/10 from me.

Grafitti art from visiting Communa 13 in Medellin

Final Thoughts

So, is Medellín safe or not? The answer is yes, if you stick to the touristy neighborhoods and activities. And no, if you mix with the wrong crowds and venture into the wrong areas.

I’d personally rate Medellín’s safety as a 6/10. It passes, but not with flying colors.

It’s a cool destination to visit, but there was always a little voice in the back of our minds, reminding us to be cautious.

That said, it’s definitely worth a visit.