Is Medellín Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Medellin, Colombia is considerably safer than it was several years ago, with improvements in security and a keen interest in tourism. That said, as with any big city, it is important to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings; avoid deserted areas especially at night. Local people are generally friendly and are happy to provide assistance if needed. Particular caution should be taken when using public transportation and in less touristy areas, where the risk of pickpocketing and petty theft can be higher.

Safety rating

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How safe is Medellín?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Unsafe

While Medellín has made substantial improvements over the years in terms of safety, it is still advisable to exercise caution, especially during the nighttime. Walking alone at night is not recommended in certain areas, due to localized crime. As a solo female traveler, utilize reputable taxis or ride-sharing apps when moving around the city after dark. Stay in well-lit areas and avoid isolated places. Always trust your instincts and remain aware of your surroundings.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation consists of the Metro system, MetroCable, buses, trams, and taxis in Medellín. It's relatively safe, especially during the day. However, like in any big city, you should stay vigilant, keep your belongings close to you, and avoid travelling late at night to mitigate potential risks. The Metro and MetroCable are particularly safer and reliable, and they connect various parts of the city. If you opt for taxis, it's better to call for a licensed cab rather than hailing one on the street.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Moderate

While Medellín is generally considered a welcoming and friendly city, street harassment can occasionally occur. Women, particularly solo female travelers may experience catcalling or unwanted attention when walking alone, especially in less touristy areas or after dark. However, most locals are respectful and it's worth noting this does not reflect the attitude of everyone in the city. As a solo female traveler, it's always important to stay alert, aware of your surroundings and dress modestly.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Moderate

Medellin, Colombia, has undergone significant improvements in terms of safety and crime rates in recent years. However, petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and minor scams occur quite regularly, particularly in crowded areas and on public transportation. Therefore, while traveling, it's advisable to take precautions like not displaying valuables openly and being watchful of belongings, especially in busy areas.

Is Medellín worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 23 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.6/5

Safety

4.1/5

Food

4.5/5

Budget-friendly

3.6/5

Family travel

Had a beautiful time in Medellin! Mind you if you’re coming from the states, $1 is about $4000 colombian pesos so money does go far! Stayed in a Marriott hotel in Sabaneta. So many different things to do, enjoyed my special bonding time with my little family. Definitely recommend!

Posted: September 30, 2024Experienced: August, 2024
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Offir

Offir

United States

Solo travel

Medellin was absolutely beautiful! From the people, to the food, to all of the incredible and inexpensive experiences you can have. I stayed for 6 days at an airbnb in Poblado. Beautiful condo near everything and I walked everywhere. Including the Metro station which is safe and super organized. My biggest advice is to leave your jewelry and expensive stuff at home. Be humble, respectful, polite, and tip every service worker who takes care of you 2000-5000 COP is the norm. Place I would recommend would be the Peñón, Poblado, take the metro and just explore! Food? Please try the typical dish “bandeja paisa” absolutely delicious! And every kind of pastry you can try

Posted: June 26, 2024
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Olivia

Olivia

United States

Solo travel

I had a wonderful time in this city! I did the free City Tour which helped introduce me to a couple of people and we all had dinner together that night. I walked around a ton on my own and felt very safe. The food and people were all absolutely wonderful

Posted: June 5, 2024Experienced: February, 2023
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Solo travel

I was a bit nervous traveling to Medellin by myself after reading about the safety issues. I have to say that I stayed for a month and didn’t have any issues but I was very careful and listened to the advice I received. I’m a big walker and I did feel frustrated that I couldn’t really walk around at night even in the safe neighborhoods. That was my biggest pet peeve. The other was the food is not great, especially for vegans. But other than that I think it’s a great city. I would definitely go back but probably not alone.

Posted: May 29, 2024
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Chrissy

Chrissy

United States

Solo travel

I go to Colombia every year and fall in love with the country every time. Colombia is literally my second home away from home where I live. I feel super safe in Colombia, the people are very sweet and welcoming, food is amazing, and definitely cheap. This was my second year and it was nice to explore and come back as a solo traveler. Lots of beautiful things to see and do and great to book through the airbnb app for things to do. You can also Uber around and take a taxi which is also cheap. I can’t wait to go back again!

Posted: January 21, 2024
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Solo travel

I loved Medellín. I stayed within walking distance from the metro station in El Poblado, which was nice. It's not the most interesting neighborhood, but I could take a solitary walk in the evenings. The downtown was fine during the day (lots to see), but I was advised to leave when the office workers started heading home. Guatapé is worth one or two days. The graffiti tour was great, and I loved taking the cable car to Parque Arvi. Language was not a problem, Uber was great for shorter distances (to the bus station etc.) and people were very friendly.

Posted: December 2, 2023
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Group travel

I went to Medellin on a group tour and had the best time there. We took the Comuna 13 Tour, went to Guatepe, visited lots of restaurants and bars in El Poblado, participated in a bicycle food tour (Medellin has great bike paths and this was probably one of the highlights) and visited a restaurant at a viewpoint to see the city at night. I stayed at Click Clack and really enjoyed it there.

Posted: July 18, 2023
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Solo travel

I adored Medellin and spent about a week there during my two-month solo journey through Colombia. Here are my favorite things: 1. The free city walk was incredible. It was very emotional. Medellin has an incredibly complicated recent history and it's amazing what the city and its residents have gone through and what they have done to make it what it is today. 2. The tour of exotic fruits. 3. Spending a day riding the cable car and walking around the neighborhoods. 4. Visiting Comuna 13.

Posted: July 8, 2023
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Solo travel

I think that as a tourist/solo traveler, the best way to explore Medellin is by walking tours. I've done such tours in the city center and Comuna 13 and felt safe and confident, walking with a group and a local guide. I probably wouldn’t go there myself, as it’s easy to turn down a wrong street, and downtown Medellin is a perfect place for pickpockets.

Posted: May 1, 2023
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Solo travel

I stayed in Poblado, a neighborhood with many other travelers. I booked a walking tour of the city center and Comuna 13 through my hostel. I learned a lot about the city and met other travelers. I was outside after dark in Poblado every night and I felt safe.

Posted: May 1, 2023
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Is Medellín safe for women?

Safety index

2.8 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Crime index

2.5 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Medellin is mostly a safe city, just as any other city you should be aware of your surroundings, preferably don’t walk alone after dark, and avoid some parts like downtown, the best way to get around is the metro and public buses, there’s uber and other transportation apps. If you like night life el poblado and la 10 (10 street) are the best and most touristic places to go but you should be specially aware in this area because of people trying to take advantage from crowded areas and foreigners. Other than that I feel pretty safe during the day, there’s a lot of places to visit like museums, theaters, parks and shopping malls :) There are also little towns near Medellin you can visit by bus and are not expensive, some are Guatape, Jardin, San Rafael (beautiful rivers) and Santafe de Antioquia. Feel safe to ask for directions or anything you might need, Colombians are very friendly and always willing to help, some of us speak english too :)

Posted: September 10, 2024
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Medellin is safe in general but like every Latin American city you have to be careful where are you going, some neighborhoods like laureles, el poblado, Simón bolivar etc are safer while other neighborhoods don’t go if you aren’t a local, like Manrique, Castilla etc. Always be careful with your belongings, if you are traveling alone don’t say that to people and it’s better if you know some Spanish to get around. The city is safe in general but there are more tourists in the last few years which can attract people trying to get money from them

Posted: July 11, 2024
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Meet locals in Medellín

Elisa

Elisa

About Me

Hi my name is Elisa, I am Colombian, I love dogs, books and music and meeting new people (I get really nervous at first tho 😅) I speak english, spanish and french (haven’t practiced in a long time but I communicate)

Speaking

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Alejandra

Alejandra

About Me

Architect. Sky, art, life, love lover

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Medellín

Maga

Maga

Medellín

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I'm a Rollerskater mom who also teaches Spanish. Love adventure, nature, music, sharing knowledge. I'm NeuroDivergent just so you know ;)

Speaking

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DAYANA

DAYANA

Medellín

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hi, I’m Dayana Pérez, a 32-year-old Colombian. I chose this platform to travel affordably and immerse myself in local cultures, connecting with people, their food, and enriching my experience. I’m passionate about hiking, sports, and cooking, which I consider my only ‘vice.’ I want to explore as much as I can and learn from every place and person I meet along the way.

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Upcoming visitors to Medellín

Araceli

Araceli

About Me

Hola! I've been traveling on my own ever since 2018 when I decided to gift myself a solo island trip for my bday. Loved it so much I kept doing it 🏝️💕 My dream is to visit 100 islands and I am 14% of the way there 🤗 In July 2024 I decided to start living as a digital nomad primarily in beach towns bc I loooove the water 🐟🐠 Recently got scuba dive certified so if you are looking for a diving buddy I am always down! Planning to travel indefinitely until I find a place I fall in love with and set down some roots. If you have any recommendations please let me know ☺️ Love talking abt astrology, psychology, spirituality, and skincare.

Speaking

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Eve

Eve

About Me

Hi I’m Eve a christian musician and podcast producer. I live near Medellin, and would love to share with fellow believers

Speaking

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Safety in Colombia