Healthy Bites

September 19, 2024

Why Medellín is the perfect city for expats seeking culture and gastronomy

Medellín is a dynamic city blending culture, innovation, and an unmatched quality of life. From its rich history to its modern reinvention as a creative and tech hub, it’s a place where urban life meets with booming food scene.

Culture and gastronomy are the best ways to describe Medellín. This Colombian city has been growing by leaps and bounds, establishing itself as one of the most important tourist hotspots in the region. And the world has taken notice — Fast Company named Medellín the seventh-smartest city in Latin America.

What’s Medellín Like?

Fun fact: Medellín shares its name with a town in Extremadura, Spain. The city was originally called “Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín” back in 1675 as an alternative to “Santa Fe de Antioquia,” a name locals opposed.

Medellín is the capital of the Antioquia department, with a population of 2,653,729 people, making it the second-largest city in Colombia, according to the Mayor’s Office of Medellín. As the department’s capital, Medellín is the economic, political, and cultural hub of Colombia’s western region.

Located in the heart of the Aburrá Valley in the Andes Mountains, Medellín stretches along both sides of the Medellín River, which flows from north to south through the city. The city spans 382 square kilometers, with 110 square kilometers of urban area and 272 of rural land, which is divided into five districts: San Sebastián de Palmitas, San Cristóbal, Santa Elena, San Antonio de Prado, and Altavista.

The Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area

Medellín is part of the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area, a territorial unit that links the city to nine surrounding municipalities. Together, this area is home to 4,055,296 people, making it Colombia’s second-largest metropolitan region. Founded in 1980, it was the first urban conglomeration in the country. The municipalities that make up this area, alongside Medellín, include:

To the north:

• Bello

• Copacabana

• Girardota

• Barbosa

To the south :

• Itagüí

• Sabaneta

• Envigado

• La Estrella

• Caldas

The Aburrá Valley stretches over 1,152 square kilometers, following the Aburrá-Medellín River. As you move away from the center of the valley, the municipalities to the north and south are less urbanized and more spread out.

What’s Life Like in Medellín?

Medellín has undergone an impressive transformation. From one of the most violent cities in the world, it’s now a smart city focused on innovation and investment. According to the 2022 Social Pulse Survey by DANE, Medellín is ranked as Colombia’s second safest city, trailing only Barranquilla.

Today, the city’s residents enjoy better health and a higher quality of life. People in Medellín live longer (with an average life expectancy of 81.4 years), have higher levels of education, and have fewer children than in past generations, resulting in higher productivity according to Medellín Cómo Vamos.

Climate

At an altitude of 1,548 meters above sea level, Medellín enjoys mild, spring-like weather year-round, with an average temperature of 21.6°C (71°F). This is why it’s often called the “City of Eternal Spring.” However, because the city is divided by the Medellín River, temperatures can vary between neighborhoods. The warmest areas are in the city center and along the river’s northern banks, while the higher neighborhoods on the surrounding mountains tend to be cooler.

Gastronomy

Medellín’s food scene is a fusion of rich, traditional flavors and fresh, modern innovations. From classic Paisa dishes to contemporary culinary creations, this city has something for every palate. But if you’re all about clean eating and staying on track with your wellness goals, Comida Fit is your go-to spot. Known for its personalized meal preps and healthy food options, Comida Fit lets you indulge without the guilt. Whether you’re into plant-based meals, custom diet plans, or just looking for nutritious options that don’t skimp on taste, Comida Fit delivers health-packed meals straight to your door — fresh, delicious, and crafted to fuel your lifestyle.

Education

Medellín is a science and education hub for Colombia’s western region, with a range of public and private universities. The most notable include the University of Antioquia (ranked 14th in Latin America by the QS Rankings 2022), University of Medellín, EAFIT, and the Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB). As for basic education, Medellín has one of the highest satisfaction levels, with 86% according to the Citizen Perception Survey by Medellín Cómo Vamos.

Transportation

Medellín’s transportation system is exemplary, integrating various models into a single, unified system. The city’s main transportation mode is the Medellín Metro, inaugurated on November 30, 1995, making it Colombia’s first mass transit system. The railway line spans 34.5 kilometers and connects 21 stations, serving areas beyond Medellín’s urban core, including La Estrella, Envigado, Sabaneta, Itagüí, and Bello. A single metro car can travel from the city’s north to south in just 40 minutes. This system is complemented by two alternative transportation options. The first is the Metrocable, a network of six cable car routes with 15 stations that cover peripheral urban areas, connecting to the main metro line. The second is the Metrobus, the city’s mass public bus system with 6.1 kilometers of routes and 25 stations. Lastly, there’s the Ayacucho Tram, with a 4.3-kilometer line running from the San Antonio Metro Station to the Alejandro Echavarría neighborhood, featuring nine stations.

Medellín has two airports. The Olaya Herrera Airport is located within the city and operates a few domestic flights. About 35 kilometers away in the municipality of Rionegro is the José María Córdova International Airport of Medellín. This is Antioquia’s largest airport and the second-largest in Colombia, with nearly 8 million passengers per year according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Economy

Medellín is Colombia’s second most important economic center, contributing 7% to the national GDP. Together with the Aburrá Valley, they contribute around 11% of the country’s GDP, making it one of the most productive regions. The leading sector is textiles, representing 20% of the city’s economy, earning Medellín the title of Latin America’s fashion capital. Other prominent industries include chemicals (14.5%), food (11%), and beverages (10%). The city’s dynamism encourages entrepreneurship, with the Chamber of Commerce of Medellín reporting 26,756 businesses created in 2022, a 184% increase compared to 2021.

Tourism

Over recent decades, The City of Eternal Spring has transformed its image, becoming the third most popular destination for foreign visitors. The Aburrá Valley perfectly combines urban life with a connection to the region’s natural surroundings. One of the main attractions is the Comuna 13 Tour, a neighborhood that was once plagued by violence in the 1990s and early 2000s but has since become a canvas for urban art and home to dozens of local artists. Like any major city, Medellín has modern shopping malls, some even spanning two municipalities, such as Mayorca, located between Sabaneta and Envigado. Santa Fe and El Tesoro malls are known for housing the world’s most exclusive brands. Medellín’s Zona Rosa is located in El Poblado, a neighborhood in Comuna 14. Here you’ll find the famous Provenza Street, home to the city’s most exclusive bars. This area is a must-visit for nightlife lovers, with Cotelco reporting a 72.2% occupancy rate for short-term rentals.

The city’s tourism offerings extend beyond its urban areas. The surrounding municipalities boast unique natural attractions, ideal for extreme sports and connecting with nature. Itagüí, Sabaneta, and Caldas offer ecotourism through various parks and territories rich in biodiversity. For those seeking adventure, Barbosa, Copacabana, and Bello provide ideal settings for mountain sports. The town squares in these municipalities serve as centers for nightlife, echoing the traditions of pueblitos paisas. Further from the city lies the Eastern Antioquia region and the San Nicolás Valley. As one of Antioquia’s nine subregions, it boasts stunning landscapes and is the second most populated subregion after the Aburrá Valley. Here you’ll find municipalities like Rionegro, Marinilla, El Retiro, and El Carmén de Viboral, which offer excellent real estate investment opportunities. The past few years have been crucial for the city in terms of tourism; in 2022, Medellín became the first Colombian city to be certified as a Smart Tourist Destination and the second in Latin America.

This certification was awarded by Segittur, a Spanish state entity that leads the world in Smart Destination Management. The goal is to improve competitiveness and promote sustainable tourism globally through governance and tourism co-responsibility. In 2023, Medellín was named one of the 50 best places to visit by Time Magazine, one of the most prominent publications in the U.S. The ranking highlighted Medellín as Colombia’s creative capital, emphasizing the city’s creative tourism experiences and social and cultural transformation.

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