free walking tour medellin reviews

FREE WALKING TOUR

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More than a city tour!

This engaging, honest and fun walking tour is the best way to learn about the history & culture of Medellin.

Do your Free Walking Tour around Medellin’s downtown (El Centro) with a local. Explore the historic districts and let this fascinating city come to life through stories, explanations and urban legends. During the tour you will discover some of Medellin’s most traditional parks, squares and streets, while learning about the city’s history, culture and people.

INFORMATION

Duration: Approx 3½ hours

Language : English Price: Based on tips

Monday to Sunday
Several groups a day
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Top-rated tour for 10 years
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Over 250,000 participants so far

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The Best Free Walking Tour in Medellin (Real City Tours Review)

Updated on December 9th, 2023

A woman holding up a map on her cell phone.

The Real City Walking Tour in Medellin is top-rated and the best way to see the city with an expert guide! Learn what to know about taking this tour in downtown Medellin during your trip.

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Posted in Colombia

Table of contents

What is the Medellin Free Walking Tour?
How to sign up for a Medellin walking tour
Who are the Free Walking Tour guides?
How to stay safe during the walking tour
What to expect during the Free Walking Tour (where does it go?)
Tipping the Free Walking Tour guide (“propina”)
Tips for taking the Medellin Free Walking Tour
More tour ideas for Medellin

One of the BEST things we did on our second trip to Medellin was to take the Free Walking Tour from Real City Tours.

There is no better way to learn about a big city than directly from a local, and this was true for our insightful and wortwhile experience walking on this tour with our group and guide.

Is the Medellin Free Walking Tour something you should book for your trip or getaway in Medellin, Colombia? Read on, and hopefully you’ll be inspired to put it on your list!

A group of birds flying in front of a clock tower.

What is the Medellin Free Walking Tour?

The Medellin Free Walking Tour is the best way to see and experience Medellin, especially at the start of your trip. I think I just keep wishing we did it on our first trip to Medellin, rather than our second!

This walking tour is much like others, if you’ve done walking tours around the world. You probably know that if you take a free tour, it is expected to tip the guide at the end. At the bottom of this review, I comment on how to tip your guide (in cash).

The Medellin Free Walking Tour will hit all the most famous sights in Medellin’s downtown Centro area, and your local guide will tell stories, give you historical facts and answer questions. Truthfully, I never could’ve figured out Medellin’s Centro and how to see everything, and I speak advanced Spanish! The walking tour was awesome for packing in all those landmarks and more.

It’s no wonder that this walking tour has thousands of 5-star reviews on TripAdivsor !

How to sign up for a Medellin walking tour

Sign-ups start approximately 36 hours in advance before tour times. We were serious about this, and knew that we wanted to do an early Saturday tour. You can do your sign-up at the Real City Tours booking page .

Sign-ups start at 6:15pm for the tours that happen two calendar days later, so on Thursday night, we could sign up for any Saturday tour. Spots are first-come first-serve, and that’s to keep the groups intimate. It’s also safer for everyone to be in a small group, going through crowded areas of downtown Medellin Centro.

During high travel season, spots can fill up rather quickly. If you’re interested in taking the walking tour, sign up early! If you cannot attend, make sure to cancel your reservation to help out someone else if the tour is all booked.

Who are the Free Walking Tour guides?

Free Walking Tour guides are talented Colombian locals who are fluent in English, and of course, native in Spanish. They are helpful, passionate, well-spoken and all-around awesome. They want to help you understand the city of Medellin as well as the country of Colombia and they are typically able to answer any question you have.

Our guide Maribell was a phenomenal guide. Her theatrical background helped her explain the history of Medellin in a captivating way. She called the main players ‘actors’ and used clear hand motions to describe the timelines of the conflict, the war and the developments afterward. She answered all our questions about the Colombian identity, Medellin and its people, Medellin today and where to go for the best food or soccer matches.

A woman wearing a hat is talking on a cell phone.

How to stay safe during the walking tour

If you are staying in El Poblado or Laureles and haven’t been to Medellin’s “Centro” yet, the difference in these areas will be quite obvious. Even though you will be with a guide, keep in mind that as a foreigner, you might stand out, as a tourist with a nice camera or phone.

In order to avoid theft or scams, read our Medellin safety guide before your day out. (Don’t be alarmed, though! The threat of crime is quite low, especially when touring the sights with a guide.)

What to expect during the Free Walking Tour (where does it go?)

The Medellin Free Walking Tour took us through Medellin Centro. Here are a few of the memorable stops and what we learned.

Visit the Old Railway Station & Parque de las Luces

Our first stop was the Old railway station, and we learned that trains used to play a part in the Colombian economy. From there, we passed the Alpujarra administrative center, where we sat down for a history discussion, and then we crossed a major road to see the Park of Lights (Parque de las Luces).

This is a fascinating area that used to be a large city market. After a fire, the square fell into disarray and had some bad times. The city revamped it and created the tall installations that light up at night, giving the park its new name.

A stop in Botero Square

Botero Square is another memorable place, and it was here that we had a snack break and got to enjoy the wacky Botero sculptures! They’re popular with locals, too.

Fernando Botero is perhaps the most famous ‘paisa’ (name given to those who come from the Medellin region) artist, and his art is rather prevalent all over Colombia. His signature style reflects “unnatural proportions,” so his sculptures are humans and animals, and are worth seeing in this public collection of his works.

A group of people walking through a plaza with statues of horses.

Berrio Park

In Berrio Park, we saw local Medellin life and Maribell brought us to a circle of men who were playing guitar and singing. They played some tunes for us and we felt very welcomed.

See local Medellin street vendors

As we walked past the shopping arcades, we marveled at street vendors selling our favorite fruits: pitahayas (yellow dragon fruit), pineapples, papayas, bananas, small oranges and mangoes.

Colombian street vendor selling avocados in Medellin

Parque San Antonio

The tour ended at San Antonio Park, where we listened to the striking story of the 1995 bomb that was placed under a Botero sculpture of a bird during a concert. The terrorist bombing resulted in the deaths of 20 innocent people.

Instead of removing the bird sculpture that was half blown apart by the explosion, the city kept the original and placed a new sculpture next to it. Together, they are a reminder of the past and hope for a peaceful future. This was an emotional story to hear from Maribell, and she told it very well.

Tipping the Free Walking Tour guide (“propina”)

At the end of the Real City Walking Tour, it is customary to tip the guide. All the guides are truly excellent, so it was a pleasure for us to tip our guide for her hard work. Recommended tips are between 20,000 and 40,000 pesos (between $5-10 USD).

While it may sound daunting to set aside 3-4 hours of your sightseeing time in Medellin, the Real City Walking Tour is both an efficient and meaningful way to spend your trip. We learned so much about Colombia and the city of Medellin through our guide and through seeing parts of Medellin we would not have visited on our own.

Tips for taking the Medellin Free Walking Tour

You’ll be walking for a long time, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. See what I recommend in my travel shoes guide .
Look at the weather forecast before you leave. Although Medellin’s weather can be very unpredictable at times, you might want to bring a travel-sized umbrella or a rain coat.
Drink lots of water, especially if you take the tour during the summer, because it can be hot and humid. Don’t worry, though: you’ll have plenty of opportunities for bathroom breaks if needed.
There are opportunities for snacks, but if you’re not feeling adventurous to eat street food, bring snacks of your own.

More tour ideas for Medellin

visit the free walking tour website from Real City tours to book this particular tour. For more ideas, there’s the Barrio Transformation Tour , and more tour ideas in our Medellin travel guide as well as our list of the best day trips from Medellin , some of which are half-day tour ideas.

Best things to do and see in Medellín

Medellin is one of those places you just have to visit if you go to Colombia. It is the c apital of the Antioquian Province and it is known as the city of “eternal Spring” due to the climate it enjoys. This South American city also has a large exposition of local artist Fernando Botero, both in the city, Botero Square, as in it’s museums, like the Museum of Antioquia. In addition to this artistic character, the gondolas (Metrocables) connect the outlying neighborhoods as a fast and efficient form of transport for this mountainous city connecting with viewpoints that offer some of the best views of the Valley of Aburra. In this amazing place, there is definitely a long list of mandatory stops for you to visit on your vacation.

You’ll find a great deal on all the free tours in Medellin where you can get to see all the best parts of the city in about 3 hours, and some tours will even focus on specific neighborhoods or districts if you want to check out an area a little more with your guru. Take a walk over to Arví Park, or Explora Park (which is a science museum with a large aquarium), through the Parque de los Pies Descalzos (barefoot park) or through the Berrio Park with the Church of La Candelaria, travel in the Medellín Metro (the only one in Colombia) , go to Pueblito Paisa, or choose to visit Comuna 13 (neighborhood where Pablo Escobar lived, since some of our tour guides offer specific tours of the Narcos series), let yourself be impressed at the Mirador de las Palmas (Palm tree Viewpoint) or visit the Terrace of the Palace of Culture.

Get to know more about what it’s like to do a free walking tour by reading the opinions and reviews of other walkers who have already done these tours.

Free walking tour near Medellín

Others cities to visit after medellín, find other guruwalks in medellín, where are you traveling to.

Free Walking Tour Medellin - Real City Tours

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FREE WALKING TOUR MEDELLIN - REAL CITY TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Comprehensive Guide to Medellín’s Free Walking Tour

As I’ve mentioned in prior posts, like the Top 20 Things To Do in Santiago, Chile , I highly recommend going on a free walking tour during your first day or two in a new city. A free walking tour of Medellín is a great way to get oriented, learn about the sights and history from a local expert’s perspective, and to get insider tips on things to do and places to eat while you’re in the city!

There are a few companies offering free walking tours in Medellín, but the most popular is run by Real City Tours . They offer a 4-hour English language tour of downtown Medellín (El Centro) every day except Sundays and holidays. You can choose between a morning, midday, or afternoon tour (Monday through Friday only). The tour company tries to keep the groups to a manageable size therefore you will need to sign up online ahead of time to reserve your spot for your desired date/time.

Related: Eating My Way Across Medellín on a Local Food Tour

Although these walking tours are advertised as being free, you should know that they actually operate on a “tours for tips” model where you are expected to tip the tour guide at the end of the tour. The actual amount you tip is at your discretion but between $5-10 USD is reasonable. So make sure to stop at an ATM beforehand!

Upon reserving your spot online, you will be sent an email asking you to confirm your reservation. The email will also contain instructions on where to meet your guide for the start of the tour. The meeting point will typically be at either the Poblado Metro Station or the north entrance of the Alpujarra Metro Station, depending on the timing of your chosen tour and where you are located. Either way, keep an eye out for a red Real City Tours umbrella and a guide in a red t-shirt at the meeting point.

Once everyone had gathered and checked in, our tour guide, Hernán, first took us to a quiet spot nearby to give an overview of the tour and some background information on the city. We were given a brief history of Medellín, from the time of the Aburrá indigenous people to the arrival of the Spaniards, and, of course, he touched on the tumultuous events that occurred during the “narcos” era in the ’80s and ’90s.

Hernán was very emphatic about the fact that the free walking tour is NOT a Pablo Escobar tour, and he actually did not refer to the notorious drug lord by name lest he upset any locals walking by. However, he did note that the issue of whether or not Pablo Escobar was good or bad for the city was not split down the middle with rich people hating him and poor people loving him, as the media leads us to believe. And therefore it is still a hot topic up for debate amongst the people of Medellín and best to leave the topic alone.

Although the city of Medellín has vastly transformed over the past few decades and the rates of violence have drastically decreased, Hernán cautioned that it is still necessary to take routine safety precautions, especially while in the downtown area. He told us to make sure to keep a close eye on our belongings to avoid being pickpocketed, and to use our phones/cameras discreetly and minimally, or to make sure to use a neck strap or wrist strap. The downtown is mostly a commercial rather than a residential area (only 100,000 of the 2.5 million residents of Medellín live in El Centro) so he also recommended avoiding going to the area on Sundays and holidays when most of the stores are closed.

With those disclaimers out of the way, we got started on the walking tour…

Table of Contents

Stop 1: Old Railway Station

The Old Railway Station is a symbol of the economic growth that occurred in Colombia during the early- to mid-20 th century. The railway was in operation for about 40 years starting in 1914 but was eventually abandoned when the road network became more expansive. There is a restored steam train cable car in the courtyard out back, next to a quaint cafe, as well as a small museum inside the train station building.

Stop 2: Alpujarra Administrative Center

Directly next to the Old Railway Station is the Alpujarra Administrative Center. The center is comprised of an open square surrounded by three government buildings: City Hall, Palace of Justice, and the Antioquia Governor’s Office. An imposing sculpture stands in the center of the square, named Homage to Our Heritage, and represents the various stages of development in the Antioquia region. It was designed by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur and his ashes are actually buried inside the sculpture.

Stop 3: Plaza Cisneros/Parque de las Luces

Across from Alpujarra Administrative Center is Plaza Cisneros, known more commonly as the Parque de las Luces, or “Square of Lights.” This square used to be notoriously dangerous and frequented by the homeless and drug addicts; but it was renovated in 2005 as part of a social urbanization effort by the city to rejuvenate the downtown area and make it more inviting to tourists. The plaza is sort of like a modern art exhibit, with 300 light poles up to 24 meters tall jutting up towards the sky. I was there during the day but I can only imagine who impressive this square of lights is at night.

Stop 4: Vásquez and Carré Buildings

These two national monument buildings are located at one end of the Square of Lights. They were built in the late 19th century for commercial use but have also been used residentially and as a hotel over the years. The Carré building has been restored and is now the headquarters of the Ministry of Education of Medellín. The Vásquez building actually burned down in 1920 but was rebuilt. It was restored by the Antioquia Family Compensation Fund (COMFAMA) and serves as its headquarters.

Stop 5: Carabobo Street/El Hueco

Just past the Square of Lights are Carabobo street and the El Hueco shopping area. Carabobo Street is pedestrian-only and is lined with kitschy shops, mostly selling Christmas decorations (I was there in November – I wonder what they sell at other times of the year?). Carabobo Street intersects with the El Hueco shopping area. This literally means “the hole” or “the hollow” and was named as such because of the labyrinth-like jumble of street vendors that have overtaken the streets (it wasn’t initially meant to be a pedestrian street!). El Hueco is famous for cheap prices on just about anything you can imagine. Make sure to bargain for your price and look out for counterfeit items!

Stop 6: Palacio Nacional

The Palacio Nacional is an impressive building located on Carabobo Street. It was built in the 1920s and originally served as the Palace of Justice. It is one of the few buildings in Medellín that has not been torn down to make way for mega shopping centers and high-rise buildings. Instead, the original building was turned INTO a shopping mall in order to keep it from being demolished, with modern touches such as a multi-level escalator added.

Stop 7: Veracruz Church

The white exterior of this Roman Catholic church is aesthetically pleasing. However, the main attraction is that this place of worship has become notorious as a place for prostitution. Discreetly take a look around and you’ll see many scantily clad women lurking in the area, even during the day…

Stop 8: Botero Square

The next stop on the tour is Botero Square, which is named as such because of the 23 sculptures by the world-famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero that are scattered throughout. These sculpted figures are characterized by their voluptuous shapes and disproportionate measurements and were donated by the artist himself.

In the backdrop of Botero Square stands the black and white checkered Cultural Palace of Rafael Uribe. The building was originally supposed to be much larger but the architect quit the project part-way through due to complaints from the public about the aesthetic of the building. The building was eventually finished by the Colombian government, but without the same distinctive checkered design and ornate windows.

It is worth coming back to visit Botero Square at another time so that you have a chance to really take it all in, as you are only given a few minutes here on the walking tour. While there, you should also visit the viewing gallery at the top of the Palace of Culture for a fantastic view of the square below. You could also check out the Museo de Antioquia at the same time, which is located right in Botero Square and houses more works of art by Botero, as well as artwork by other artists.

Stop 9: Coltejer Building

Although the Coltejer Building is advertised as a stop on the walking tour, in reality, the tour guide just pointed out the building from afar and gave a brief explanation about its unique shape. The 175-meter tall building was designed by the Coltejer textile manufacturing company and therefore the building is meant to resemble the shape of an industrial sewing needle.

Stop 10: Pedro Nel Gomez Murals

On the way from Botero Square to Berrio Park, we passed through a pedestrian arcade lined with murals painted by Colombian artist Pedro Nel Gomez. Like the sculpture in Alpujarra Administrative Center, these murals depict the development and history of Antioquia.

Stop 11: Berrio Park

The name Berrio Park is a bit misleading as it is really no more than a concrete plaza. It was originally the town center of Medellín and is still a popular gathering place today. It is not uncommon to see street musicians performing and locals dancing the night away after a few drinks at a local bar. The park contains one of the first sculptures donated by Botero, as well as a sculpture by Betancur, the artist responsible for the sculpture in the Alpujarra Administrative Center. Adjacent to the plaza is the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (La Candelaria for short), which is the oldest church in Medellín having been built in 1649.

Stop 12: Junin Street

After taking a shortcut through a shopping arcade, we arrived at Junin Street, another pedestrian-only shopping street. This used to be a place where only the elite paisas would come to shop, and the higher-end stores catered to this clientele. Paisas actually created the verb “juniar” after this street, which means to window shop. Hacienda Junin, one of the best restaurants to find local Colombian cuisine, is located on this street.

Stop 13: San Antonio Park

The last stop on the walking tour is San Antonio Park. This plaza was named after the San Antonio Church at one end and was originally intended to be a venue for concerts and other events. However, in 1995, a bomb exploded during a concert, killing 29 people. The bomb also destroyed the signature Botero statue of a plump bird that was donated by the artist.

Rather than removing the desecrated statue, Botero asked that it not be removed so that it could serve as a reminder of what had happened (and the atrocities that had been happening for the past few decades). Instead, Botero donated another bird statue to sit beside the original, to represent a symbol of hope and the city’s transformation.

After the last stop at San Antonio Park, Hernán walked us to the San Antonio Metro Station where the group parted ways. Thank you to our tour guide, Hernán, and Real City Tours for providing such in-depth background information on all of the sites on the walking tour, and about the dark past and positive transformation of Medellín and Colombia as a whole.

Which sight are you most excited about seeing? Comment below!

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About Laura

Laura is an avid traveler who aspires to live a life filled with adventure and a dash of luxury and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She seems to consistently be drawn to lesser-traveled hidden "pearls" and loves to give these under-the-radar places the credit they are due. Laura can often be found on the ski slopes in the winter and is obsessed with all activities involving water...and mac and cheese...and Golden Retrievers.

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Lisa Maslyk

Wow! This makes me want to travel here for sure!

Medellin is amazing! I will definitely be back at some point.

Roselyn Franke

Enjoyed your walking tour guide of Medellín and your bright, beautiful pictures.

Thank you, Roselyn!

Melissa| It's a Joyous Journey

Wow, what a beautiful city! I appreciate you sharing the safety tips as well.

You should put it on your list of places to visit if you haven’t already!

Rudy @ Backpack & Snorkel

We were in Colombia 2 years ago and visited Cartagena, San Andres, Providencia, Bogota and Villa de Leyva, but unfortunately did not have time for Medellin. After reading your wonderful post, it dawns on me that maybe we need to go back and see Medellin and some other places that I have read good things about.

I was living in Medellin for a month and decided to really get to know the city rather than explore more of the country because I knew I would be back! Providencia is so high on my bucket list – I will definitely be planning a visit back and tick off San Andres and Cartegena at the same time! And I encourage you to make time for Medellin on your next visit!

Sarah Carpenter

Medellin would be such an interesting place to visit and it looks like a walking tour is the perfect way to explore and learn more about the history. I would love to hear a locals point of view about Escobar, but like you say it it is still a very delicate subject among the locals with a big difference of opinions so best not to bring it up unless the local does first! It looks like a very unique city with so many different statues and buildings 🙂

Medellin is an amazing city that you must visit if you get a chance!

It looks like a lovely city to visit. The walking tour quite covers a lot. Plaza Cisneros looks quite fancy. The sculpture in San Antonio Park and Botero Square are quite cute. The building in the city looks quite impressive.

Plaza Cisneros is really cool in person!

Gorgeous post Laura!

I always love a good walking tour, but this one is gorgeous with all those sculptures and murals. Medellin seems like a great city to explore by foot.

p.s The omage to Our Heritage sculpture is pretty epic isn’t it!? I guess you had to spend a while staring at that one!

Thanks Josy! This walking tour was great because the real draw is learning the history of the city along the way, rather than seeing many remarkable sights themselves.

I don’t usually take the free walking tours because there is only one time offered and it always seems to be inconvenient. I love the flexibility Real City Tours provides with these three options. I love the symbolism of the Parque de las Luces and would like to see it at night

Parque de las Luces was really cool! Unfortunately, the downtown area of Medellin is still not the safest place in the city at night so Real City Tours advises against foreigners going there after sundown. =(

I love Colombia! I haven’t made it to Medellin yet, but I do plan on going back to Latin America within the next few years. This warning tour look very informative.

Isn’t Colombia great! I am already daydreaming about my return visit!

What a great walking tour! And free even! Walking tours are a great way to get to know the city and get tips from the locals. They should be available everywhere 😊

I think the Botero statues were my favorite. I love how voluptuous and disproportionate they were. I kept trying to look for them in your pictures.

The Botero statues are really cool! There are 23 of them in Botero Square, plus a few others scattered around the city.

Courtney in the Middle Seat

Laura – I also love starting off a visit to a new city with a free walking tour! Thanks for sharing your experience. I would love to see all the art and historic architecture in Medellin! Also, great tip to remind visitors to bring cash for a tip. In my experience in other cities the guides have always been fantastic!

It was the same experience here – this guide was super knowledgable! He actually had advanced degrees and had an academic job prior to this but realized his job wasn’t making him happy, but giving tours of his beloved hometown did make him happy.

I always believe that the best way to know a town is by taking a walking tour. These tours give so much perspective to the place. Medellin is such a lovely place to explore. It was good to know about the local view about Escobar. And thanks for pointing it out that it is a sensitive topic for the locals. The Pedro Nel Gomez looks extremely beautiful. This walking trip seems to be a great way to explore Medellin.

The architecture of downtown Medellin isn’t really much to write home about but the history is really intriguing so that is definitely the draw for this walking tour!

Sandy N Vyjay

Walking tours are indeed a great way to get an immersive orientation of the city or town that you are in. Yes, I think it is good of you also to highlight that these ‘free’ walking tours are not really free. This would help first-time visitors to plan accordingly. But the free walking tour of Medellin definitely is worth a hundred times more than the tip that one gives at the end. I love the way that the walk gives you a feel of the old world charm and architecture of the place.

I agree – the information I learned on the tour was absolutely worth the tip!

I love a good walking tour, and you learn so much from your tour guide of the local stories, as well as some dos and donts, as you kindly shared. Very important for us to understand the local cultures and respect them. The architectures and sculptures here are so amazing ! My favourites are those at Botero Square, they are so bold ! Also love how Parque de las Luces has changed from being a notorious site to now a community space ! Will definitely check out this walking tour if I ever visit Medellin ! =)

Botero Square and Parque de las Luces are definitely the highlights!

This is such a detailed guide for the walking tour. I love walking tours as I feel that’s the best way to explore a city. Medellin looks absolutely stunning, I definitely need to add it to my list.

Medellin is am amazing city – I can’t wait to go back!

Why the Medellin Free Walking Tour is the First Thing You Should Do

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Medellin, Colombia is skyrocketing in popularity among tourists, expats, and digital nomads… And for good reasons! There are a ton of awesome things to do in Medellin , the city is super affordable, and the weather is pretty great. One of the very first things that I recommend all new visitors to the city do, is to immediately get reservations for the excellent Medellin free walking tour by Real City Tours.

We’ll be getting into the nitty-gritty of what the tour covers and what you should know going into it, but the short answer is without hesitation, yes, the tour is absolutely worth your time and it should be one of your first stops here — it is my #1 pick for the best Medellin tours , and it’s free!

Medellin free walking tour with Real City Tours

I’ve been living in Medellin on and off for a number of years now, and actually, it took me a few months to take the Medellin free walking tour, which is a shame because I learned more about the city in the four hours on the tour than I did in the first few months… That’s maybe only a slight exaggeration, but I definitely learned much more about the tumultuous history and past during that time than I’d previously known.

The tour was so good that I actually repeated it recently, partly to refresh my memory and partly so I could bring you updated content here on Desk to Dirtbag about this top-rated activity.

About the Medellin Free Walking Tour

I’ve been on a number of different walking tours around the world (they are one of my favorite ways to see a new city), and the Medellin free walking tour by Real City Tours stands out in my mind as one of the best, truly.

While the tour is indeed free, you should plan on giving a modest tip, which I’ll talk about later in terms of how much.

The guides are local Paisas themselves and have an intimate and personal knowledge of the many sad ups and downs that Medellin has faced over the years, from the tumultuous civil war years between the right and the left, through to the drug trade and the incredible violence it unleashed all across the city, and then up through to today, where Medellin is a model around the world for transformation and renewal (even if things aren’t perfect here).

The tour lasts about 4.5 hours and is all in English with groups of about 20 people. Afterward, you’ll have a greater understanding of the economic, political, and social history of this city (and the country as a whole) within a few hours than you would have in weeks of trying to piece things together on your own.

While the tour is over four hours long, it isn’t four hours of solid walking or being on your feet, FYI. That’s a common question. Indeed, at the beginning of the tour, the guide will hit a few different areas where you can sit down as they discuss some of the complex elements of Medellin and Colombia’s past, albeit in a simplified fashion.

The Medellin free walking tour begins at the Alpujarra metro station (but there is a morning rendezvous at the Poblado station so you can travel together — more on that later) where groups will break out.

The first stop(s) on the tour will be within the Alpujarra administrative center which sits just south of El Centro (aka Medellin’s downtown) . Here’s where Colombian history will be covered up through the drug trade, including delicate handling of the whole Pablo Escobar thing.

This is NOT a Pablo Escobar tour (indeed, you should not partake in those types of tours), but the history of the city is impossible to talk about without mentioning Pablo, who the guides will humorously refer to only as Voldemort.

This avoids potential problems with locals who probably don’t speak the language and just hear “blah blah blah Pablo Escobar blah blah blah.” The vast majority of locals hate Voldemort and certainly don’t want tourists to get the wrong impression of their beloved city.

Read More: Don’t Take a Pablo Escobar Tour

Also, it is important to note that this is NOT the graffiti tour, aka the tour of Comuna 13, which is in a whole different part of town. Rather, this walking tour of Medellin focuses exclusively on downtown. Here you will see a fair bit of art like the statues in Botero Park or the murals by Pedro Nel Gomez, but not much in the way of street art.

From Alpujurra, the tour will then start more of the walking portion where you head into the chaotic downtown heart of Medellin, stopping by all the most important locations, like the Parque de las Luces, Plaza Botero, Junnin Street, the Cathedral, Parque Berrio, and San Antonio Square.

Each location will feature more learning and history about the city, from how projects like Parque de las Luces were pivotal in the transformation, to the works of artist Fernando Botero, to violent moments like the grenade dropped from the Metro platform in Parque Berrio or the tragic bombing during a concert at San Antonio that killed scores of people.

I won’t rehash all the details of everything you’ll learn on the tour because that would obviously take some of the wind out of tour’s sails. Suffice it to say, you will learn a lot and it is definitely worth doing.

Why Take the Medellin Free Walking Tour?

Explore Downtown Medellin: El Centro has a reputation for being a busy, chaotic, and maybe even slightly dangerous place. I personally think that El Centro has its charms, but yes, it is best experienced for the first with a tour. It will help you get your bearings here in a fun and friendly way, empowering you to come back and explore on your own.

Deeper Understanding of Medellin: As I said, this will give you the political, economic, and social history of this city and country in just a few hours. But don’t mistake that for being boring… The guides I’ve experienced are all gifted storytellers who make the history come alive and also relatable on a personal level.

It’s Free: Yes, this is not only one of the best activities that new visitors can do, but it is also one of the cheapest activities. All it requires is a modest tip… Totally worth it!

Hear Local Stories: Especially if you don’t speak Spanish, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Medellin from a local. Medellin is not a typical “sightseeing” city like Europe where you walk around marveling at the architecture. Medellin, above all, is a story of transformation, resilience, progress, and even happiness in the face of adversity. If you don’t understand this, then you probably won’t “get” Medellin and what makes it special.

Free Medellin Walking Tour Details

When: Tours operate three times per day from Monday to Friday (morning, midday, and afternoon). Saturday there are two-morning time slots, and they do not operate any tours on Sundays. Each time slot will have various groups, depending on demand.

How: You need to have reservations to join the tour which can be made on their website 1.5 days in advance. Just visit the Real City Tours website to make your reservation .

Where: You will need to meet at the Alpujarra station by the NORTH ticket booth, or if you opt for the first morning session, you can meet at the Poblado metro station, which is where many foreigners decide to stay in Medellin .

Free Medellin Walking Tour Tips

How much should you tip? The recommended amount is 20-30,000 pesos which is the equivalent of $7-10 USD for a 4+ hour tour. Quite a good deal! At the end of the tour, your guide will pass around a super short survey which you’ll fold up with a few bills tucked inside and stuff it into their pack.

When should you go? I recommend the morning tour so you can get oriented with downtown, grab lunch when midday is hottest (see my guide to El Centro for restaurant recommendations), and then take advantage of the afternoon by visiting the Museo de Antioquia . If not, you’d have to come back to downtown another day and do the museum, which is also a must-do. As I already mentioned, I’d also recommend doing this tour on your very first full morning in Medellin! Be sure to check out my guide to the best museums in Medellin , too. Plus, if it is going to rain here, it is usually in the afternoon.

What should you bring? Obviously, bring comfortable shoes, but also be sure to bring sunscreen and/or protective clothing and hat… The sun here is fierce, especially at midday so you will burn without it. Be sure to bring your own water in a reusable bottle, rather than buying a disposable downtown. You don’t need to bring food because there will be time to buy a local snack like empanadas or bunuelos — see my guide to Colombian food . You should also bring an umbrella in a small, unobtrusive daypack since you never know when it might rain in Medellin.
Want More? Real City Tours also offers a number of other (non-free) tours in Medellin, including the amazing off-the-beaten-path barrio tour (the barrio transformation tour) in Moravia Medellin and the delicious exotic Colombian fruits tour . Both of which I’d recommend, as well, if you have the time.

I hope this guide to the Medellin free walking tour proved helpful to you if you were on the fence or wondering what to expect when you go. I was not paid or sponsored by Real City Walking Tours in any way, just happy to help new tourists to the city I now call home.

Planning Your Trip to Medellin

Traveling to Medellin soon? Book your lodging now via Booking.com to save, and be sure to check my travel guide about where to stay in Medellin , including the best Medellin hostels , or my ultimate guide of things to do in Medellin to plan an unforgettable trip. If you’re traveling throughout Colombia, don’t miss my detailed guide on traveling to Colombia .

Read Next: What You Should Know When Visiting Medellin

Travel Insurance for Medellin

Finally, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance for Colombia to protect yourself against theft, sickness, and injury while in Medellín. I use and recommend World Nomads for the best combination of affordability and coverage. You may be interested in my answer to the big question of “ Is Colombia Safe? ”

I hope you enjoyed this article about the awesome Medellin free walking tour. Please take a second to share it on Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter. Thanks!

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Free Historic Downtown Medellin

Overview of the tour in Medellin

Welcome to one of the best experiences in downtown Medellín, in this tour you will share 3 hours with professional local guides, that will take you through the best spots in the city. you will learn about architecture, food, art, transformation, and innovation. you may ask, and on this tour, they will talk about Medellín´s Voldemort? and that is of course! on this tour we will share with you the city without masks, we are local guides that we dare to share the reality about how all happened, so yes, you can come and ask freely about our history. on this tour we will visit: Botero´s square. San Antonio´s park. The park of lights. The barefoot park, La alpujarra administrative center and many other spaces! will you miss it? we are waiting for you?

This activity includes:

San Antonio De Prado Parque
Park Of The Lights
Plaza Botero - Medellín, Antioquia
Ferrocarril de Antioquia
La casa barrientos
Parque Berrío
Pajaro de la paz

Felipe — Guide of Free Historic Downtown Medellin, Colombia

Meeting point

San Antonio metro station

We will meet at San Antonio Metro station, next to the exit of the tramway, this exit is on Bolivar St, if you came by the metro we recommend you to exit by the escalators , from there you can find us on a easy way, we will have a blue umbrella and an excellent actitud.

Things to note

It is important to have a great attitude, and an open mind, bring water, comfortable clothes and a rain jacket (Medellín weather is unpredictable)

Free Cancellation

You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

Free Tour Nuevos Aires of Medellin (Tramway and Cablecar)

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