Getting around · Medellín · Colombia
Getting around Medellín
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User: (WT-shared) CONOCER at wts wikivoyage, Public domain
Quick answer
Medellín has Colombia's only metro, with two main lines (A north–south along the river and B to the west), cable car lines to the hillsides, a tram line and BRT buses, all integrated with the Cívica card. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are inexpensive for trips the Metro does not cover. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- MDE, EOH
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Tarjeta Cívica
Ways to get around
Metro
Line A runs north–south along the valley from Niquía to La Estrella, through Poblado and downtown; Line B heads west from San Antonio to San Javier, the station for Comuna 13. Trains are clean, frequent and busy at rush hour.
Avoid travelling with luggage at rush hour (around 6–8am and 5–7pm), when trains are packed.
Cable car
Metrocable lines climb to hillside neighbourhoods, including Line K to Santo Domingo and Line L to Parque Arví. Most are included in the Metro fare, but Line L to Arví charges a separate fare.
Keep your Cívica card topped up so you can change from the Metro to the cable cars without queuing.
Tram
The Ayacucho tram (Line T-A) runs from San Antonio station east towards Buenos Aires and connects to Metrocable lines M and H.
Taxi
Yellow metered taxis are cheap and plentiful; the app-based option is popular for visitors.
Order taxis through an app or ask a restaurant to call one at night rather than hailing on the street.
Walking
El Poblado, Provenza and Laureles are pleasant to walk, though Poblado is steep. Downtown is best explored by day on foot.
Tickets and passes
Tarjeta Cívica
A rechargeable smartcard for the Metro, Metrocable, tram and Metroplús buses; available at stations and cheaper per ride than single tickets.
From the airport
Most international flights use José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, about 35 km east of the city across the mountains; taxis take about 45–60 minutes to El Poblado, and airport buses run to downtown. Olaya Herrera Airport, in the city near El Poblado, handles some domestic and regional flights.
Do you need a car?
No. The Metro, cable cars, taxis and apps cover the city well, and buses or tours serve Guatapé and other day trips. A car is only useful for exploring rural Antioquia at your own pace.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Guatapé and El Peñol | About 2 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Norte, or an organised tour |
| Santa Fe de Antioquia | About 1.5 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Norte via the Túnel de Occidente |
| Jardín | About 3–3.5 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Sur |
| Santa Elena flower farms | About 45 minutes by road | Taxi, bus or Metrocable to Arví, or an organised tour |
| Jericó | About 3 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Sur |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Medellín?
No. The Metro, cable cars, taxis and apps cover the city well, and buses or tours serve Guatapé and other day trips. A car is only useful for exploring rural Antioquia at your own pace.
+How do you get from the airport to Medellín?
Most international flights use José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, about 35 km east of the city across the mountains; taxis take about 45–60 minutes to El Poblado, and airport buses run to downtown. Olaya Herrera Airport, in the city near El Poblado, handles some domestic and regional flights.
+What is the best way to get around Medellín?
Metro: Line A runs north–south along the valley from Niquía to La Estrella, through Poblado and downtown; Line B heads west from San Antonio to San Javier, the station for Comuna 13. Trains are clean, frequent and busy at rush hour.