Season guide · Medellín · Colombia
Medellín in the dry season
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User: (WT-shared) CONOCER at wts wikivoyage, Public domain
Quick answer
Sunny mornings, festive Christmas lights in December and busy holiday weeks; the best time for day trips. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F), with about 31 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 17°C (63°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C (82°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 9 | 11.8 h | 4/5 |
| February | 28°C (82°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 12 | 11.8 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 28°C (82°F), and 31 of the year's roughly 187 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Christmas lights (alumbrados) continue into early January
- December: Alumbrados navideños — Christmas light displays along the river and in parks (December)
- December: Noche de las Velitas — candle night (7 December)
Good choices for the dry season
Museum · Centro
Museo de Antioquia
Housed in a 1930s art deco building that was once the city hall, the museum holds a large collection of Botero's paintings and sculptures alongside his private collection, pre-Columbian pieces and Colombian art from colonial times to the present.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Aranjuez
Parque Explora
Allow at least half a day and visit on a weekday to avoid school-holiday crowds.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Centro
Museo Casa de la Memoria
This museum near Parque Bicentenario tells the story of the armed conflict in Medellín and Colombia through testimonies, photographs and multimedia exhibits, with a focus on victims and reconciliation.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Gallery · Ciudad del Río
Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín
The Ciudad del Río park outside has a food truck scene on some weekends.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · El Poblado
Museo El Castillo
A 1930s castle-style mansion in the hills of El Poblado, filled with European furniture and decorative art and surrounded by formal gardens with fountains.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
Day trips in the dry season
- Guatapé and El Peñol (About 2 hours by bus) — El Peñol is a huge granite monolith with a 700-step staircase to the top, looking over the islands and inlets of the Guatapé reservoir.
- Santa Fe de Antioquia (About 1.5 hours by bus) — The former capital of Antioquia, founded in 1541, has whitewashed colonial streets, churches and a warm climate much hotter than Medellín.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Medellín?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Sunny mornings, festive Christmas lights in December and busy holiday weeks; the best time for day trips.
+What is the weather like in Medellín in the dry season?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.