City in Antioquia, Colombia
Getting around Medellín
How to get around Medellín
Metro, Metrocable and Tranvía are clean and cheap; the metro skips El Poblado's hills, so combine it with Uber or DiDi. Streets are steep and busy.
Ways to get around Medellín
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Metro and Metrocable | About 3,000–4,000 COP | Cívica card needed; Line K cable car climbs to Santo Domingo |
| Uber / DiDi | 12,000–25,000 COP for 5 km | Cheapest way to cross Poblado and reach nightlife |
| Metroplús and buses | About 3,000 COP | Cover areas beyond the metro; routes are hard to read |
Ride-hailing apps in Medellín
A 5 km ride costs about $12,000–25,000 ($3.6–7.5).
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Uber | Cheapest and most reliable; sit in front if asked to look like a friend |
| DiDi | Often cheaper than Uber; cash payment available |
| inDrive | Offer your own fare; useful at peak times |
| Cabify | Pricier but licensed taxis; useful when Uber is flagged |
- Uber and DiDi work in a legal grey area, so drivers may ask you to sit in front. Use the Taxis Libres app or hotel taxis if needed.
Arriving in Medellín
José María Córdova (Rionegro) (MDE)
Fixed-fare taxi about 100,000–140,000 COP, 45–60 min; shared airport bus to the city about 15,000–20,000 COP, 1 h.
Olaya Herrera (city) (EOH)
Short domestic flights; taxi or ride app to Poblado 15,000–25,000 COP, 10–15 min.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Rentals exist but traffic is aggressive and steep; a home licence is legally required. Most visitors skip them.
- Driving: on the right. Tourists can drive with a valid home licence during their permitted stay; an IDP helps at police checks.
- Onward travel in Colombia: Domestic flights (Avianca, LATAM, Wingo, JetSMART) are cheap and save long, winding bus rides; buses connect every city but are slow through the mountains.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Medellín?
Yes. Apps that work here: Uber, DiDi, inDrive, Cabify.
What's the best way to get around Medellín?
Metro, Metrocable and Tranvía are clean and cheap; the metro skips El Poblado's hills, so combine it with Uber or DiDi. Streets are steep and busy.
How do I get from the airport to Medellín?
Fixed-fare taxi about 100,000–140,000 COP, 45–60 min; shared airport bus to the city about 15,000–20,000 COP, 1 h.
Is Medellín walkable?
Walkable center.
More about Medellín
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Sources
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.