Medellin is a beautiful city set within a valley with the houses and apartments rising up all around before the city turns to trees and greenery. With the clear skies and warm weather, there is nothing better than finding a nice high point and soaking everything in.
In this article, I will share details of where you can find some of the best views in Medellin, which can be enjoyed riding a bike, enjoying a cocktail, sipping hot chocolate, working up a sweat, tucking into a tasty burger, or flying high above the clouds.
Pueblito Paisa: Sample some traditional Paisa culture with a View
- Location: Belén, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: An Uber or taxi is easiest but you could also walk 30 minutes uphill from Exposiciones station
Pueblito Paisa is a recreation of a classic small town from the Antioquia region. You will find nice restaurants and stores to buy artisan gifts with all of the buildings in traditional style with white walls and colorful details.
The pueblo is located at the highest point of Cerro Nutibara with an amazing view over the city. There is a central square with a fountain, a small church, and a small museum. It is a great spot for the sunset and can be enjoyed any time of the day into the early evening.
You shouldn’t have any problems ordering an Uber to pick you up when you are ready to leave. A great way to sample rural life in the region with some great views very close to Poblado and Laureles.
Hangar M45 Azotea: Great food in an amazing aviation themed rooftop restaurant
- Location: Manrique, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: I would recommend taking an Uber or taxi to and from the restaurant
The restaurant is themed like an airport with a small plane on the rooftop and a helipad. The staff are dressed as pilots with airplane-style seating in the smart, modern restaurant. The food is generally very good and the staff is attentive.
The neighborhood was once an area of the city to be avoided but is quickly improving with some streets the home to popular bars, restaurants, and clubs. The views are amazing, particularly at sunset and into the evening. I would still recommend a taxi or Uber there and back to avoid walking around the area at night.
You can take some amazing, unique photos from the helipad with one of the best views in Medellin.
OS Mirador: Relaxed burger restaurant with nice cocktails and One Of the Best Views In Medellin
- Location: Poblado, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: The restaurant is after the tunnel on the road between Medellin and the international airport. It is 10-15 minutes up the hill from Poblado.
OS is a relaxed restaurant with beanbags and comfortable seating all facing out towards the incredible view of the city. The menu is limited but the burgers are good and fairly reasonably priced. They have nice cocktails and the sangria is particularly tasty.
It is a good option for a date or pre-drinks before heading elsewhere on Las Palmas or down into Poblado. It gets fairly busy on Friday and Saturday but there is a lot of space. The restaurant shares a car park with La Isla, the city’s most famous strip club, but still retains a very different environment. The view is best at night or on a clear afternoon.
I recently visited OS with my girlfriend and she loved the cozy atmosphere and beautiful views. One of the best views in Medellin a short ride from Poblado.
Cerro Tres Cruces: Recover from a tough climb with a cold beer and amazing view
- Location: Belen, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: The entry point to the trail is a little hard to spot but taxis and Ubers should be able to help. Aguacatala is the closest metro station.
Cerro tres cruces is a hike up to one of the highest points in Medellin which has three crucifixes overlooking the city. It is a very popular activity on Sundays when hundreds of people climb the dirt trail up high above Belen.
You should take care during quiet times with your belongings but it is generally safe. Also, be aware that when there is a lot of rain the mud track can become much more slippery. You can work out at the top with the other fitness fanatics or enjoy a cold beer with one of the best views in Medellin.
You should not do the climb in the evening and I would recommend the morning to try to get the best weather.
Comuna 13: Experience Medellin’s culture and transformation with a spectacular backdrop
- Location: San Javier, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: I would suggest an Uber or taxi but you can also take a very short bus ride from San Javier metro station on Line B.
Once one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in one of the world’s most dangerous cities, Comuna 13 has been transformed by community projects, improved security, and local investment. Today the area is dominated by music, graffiti, art, food, and fresh energy.
You can take a guided tour of the neighborhood to learn about the history of the rejuvenated streets, ride the world’s first urban commuter escalator, taste some of the delicious local snacks, and then take some amazing photos.
The view goes from corrugated metal roofs of the simple houses in the foreground, down the valley to the taller apartments, across to the built-up downtown area, all surrounded by the rich green mountains that border the city.
The neighborhood is less popular and secure after sunset, I would recommend going in the morning. It is busy but there is also a real buzz at the weekends while it is more relaxed during the week. A lively spot full of hope with one of the best views in Medelllin.
Envy Rooftop: Sophisticated bar with an amazing view of Poblado
- Location: Poblado, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: Situated alongside Parque Poblado you can take Uber, metro, or walk up 15 minutes from Poblado metro station.
Envy is a well-established restaurant and bar in the center of Poblado situated on the roof of the Charlee Hotel. The two-story venue has a pool that is covered over at night with booths and seating around 360-degree windows to make the most of one of the best views in Medellin.
It is a great place for a date or for a drink before a night out in nearby Provenza. The cocktails are a little steep but very tasty and they also have a popular brunch option on Sundays. You get amazing views of the tall apartment and office buildings that run up the Poblado hillside to the green valley peaks. The best time to visit is at sunset when everything is orange and purple.
El Tesoro Mall: Lunch, shopping and an amazing view of the city
- Location: Poblado, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: The easiest way is by Uber or taxi but you can also take a bus from Poblado station
El Tesoro is probably the nicest mall in the city and they have constructed a bridge between two sections with an amazing view above Poblado. This is a great place to take in an amazing view of the city without any real effort while enjoying some food or getting some shopping.
El Tesoro is located 5 to 10 minutes up from the heart of Poblado and is easily accessible. The mall also has a cinema and rooftop football pitches which have a great view of the city below.
Santo Domingo: Take a cable car above the barrios of Medellin
- Location: Santo Domingo, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: You can take the metro to Acevedo station and then transfer directly to the cable car. When at the top you can leave the station or go straight back down without paying.
You can get an amazing view as you pass closely above the tightly packed houses on the cable car up to Santo Domingo. Medellin’s cable car network was the first in the world to be built specifically as an urban public transportation solution but it also offers a great tourist experience.
The cable cars can get busy at peak hours but it is a great chance to take some amazing pictures and visit neighborhoods that were once difficult to access. At the top, you can also take pictures and grab a drink or some food. Before the cable car the journey could take hours and require multiple buses but now it is 15 minutes and included with no additional charge on your metro trip.
You should avoid wandering too far from the cable car station at the top and it is best to visit during the day.
You can get from your hotel in Poblado and back while enjoying one of the best views in Medellin for the price of a metro ticket.
Cerro El Volador: Cycle overlooking the city in a central park
- Location: Robledo, Medellin (Google Maps)
- Accessibility: 20 minutes walk from Hospital Metro station but I would always take an Uber or taxi as the walk from the station isn’t the easiest.
El Volador is a park in the center of the city with hiking and cycling routes with great views across the city.
The park is well-maintained and very green. There are a range of trails for visitors with all fairly easy to moderate level of difficulty. When you come to the clearing at the elevated point there are great views over the city and you will find children flying kites.
The best time to visit is in the morning to get the clearest weather. The closest station is Hospital but I would recommend taking an Uber or taxi to the entrance. You can find drinks and hot snacks such as empanadas on sale inside the park.
San Felix: Fly high above the city or enjoy a cozy hot chocolate
- Location: San Felix, Antioquia (Google Maps)
If you want the very best view possible then you will want to fly high above the rooftop bars, the miradores, and the cable cars. At San Felix you can take off on a paraglide flight high above the South of Medellin. As long as the weather is clear, this is the perfect spot for a fun, safe flight.
A 15-minute flight costs around 200,000 COP (US$50) and you can also borrow a GoPro camera to record your experience. You can get amazing video as you fly above with one of the best views in Medellin.
The best weather is usually in the morning. If you don’t feel like flying then San Felix is still a great spot for a relaxing hot chocolate and a nice view over the lush green hills.
El Picacho: The Magical View that is Viral on Social Media
- Location: Cerro El Picacho, 12 de Octubre (Google Maps)
El Picacho is the highest point of a natural park in the 12 de October neighborhood in the Northwest of the city. As you climb the stairs to the popular viewing points, you have a spectacular 360 degree view of the entire city below. Videos of visitors climbing the stairs at night with many thousands of lights below have gone viral on social media.
At the top of the hill, there is a 2.5 meter statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched. which was brought to Medellin from Europe in 1936 by Monsignor Félix Henao Botero, founder of UPB Univeristy. The statue is seen to be protecting the valley and is visited by thousands of tourists and locals.
To get to the viewpoint you can walk down from the San Pedro highway approaching the statue from behind, take a trail through nature and wooded area to the north, or head up from the Picachito neighborhood to the south.
There is no easy way to access the viewpoint and this is not an option I would recommend for most people. The easiest way would be to take a taxi that waits for you and then takes you back. It would be hard to order an Uber or taxi from the highway. During the day it can be more accessible but at night I wouldn’t recommend it without a trusted guide who knows the neighborhood.
Definitely one of the best views in Medellin but not a visit that is recommended without help or a lot of experience in the city.
