Best Hotels in Medellin, Colombia
Are you looking for the best hotels in Medellin, Colombia? Keep reading for my top recommendations!
Medellin is a beautiful, hilly, green city in Colombia, the second-largest after the capital Bogota. It’s nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring due to its pleasant climate (I apparently visited during a heat wave, so I can’t confirm the accuracy of this nickname) and is a great city to explore for a few days.
Many people still associate Medellin with its decades of violence in the second half of the 20th century, including the notorious Pablo Escobar and his drug cartel, as well as the continuous conflict between guerrillas and paramilitaries. However, that image could not be further from the truth.
Today’s Medellin exists a world away from the violence of the past. Yes, you should still exercise caution and situational awareness when traveling here (as with anywhere!), but it’s much safer now.
Where should tourists stay in Medellin? The two best neighborhoods in Medellin for tourists to stay in are Poblado and Laureles. Poblado is the most upscale neighborhood of Medellin, known for its dining and nightlife. Laureles is a more affordable, more local alternative that is also very safe. Both neighborhoods have great curb appeal, with green, tree-lined streets and walkable areas with lots of restaurants and bars.
Medellin is a vibrant city where you can learn about local history and culture on walking tours and food tours, take the cable cars, the city’s unique form of public transportation, and explore lively Comuna 13, once the most dangerous neighborhood in the world and now a popular tourist hotspot.
You can also take great day trips from Medellin, such as visiting the lake and town of Guatape.
Where I Stayed in Medellin
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend the Medellin Marriott, where I stayed. This is considered one of the nicest hotels in Medellin, and my experience there started off well. The room was nice and offered great views, the pool (pictured above) was also nice, and the door staff and housekeeping staff were friendly.
However, I experienced a couple of concerning issues towards the end of my stay, chief among them the fact that I had been overcharged for my stay, by a little over $50. No big deal, I thought. I’ll just run down to the front desk so they can fix this. After all, I had the correct rate in my booking confirmation and on the Marriott Bonvoy app. It would be quick and easy to get this obvious error fixed, right?
Very wrong. Instead, three different front desk employees, including the manager, doubled down on the mistake and argued with me. The manager finally called my room letting me know they’d refund the difference back to my card, but offered no apology or explanation for the discrepancy. After doing some research online, I realized that this scam has happened to other guests staying at the Medellin Marriott.
Because of this, I ultimately wouldn’t recommend staying at this hotel. If you do stay here, pre-pay your rate in advance and make sure the Medellin Marriott never gets hold of your credit card.
Where to Stay in Medellin, Colombia
I’ve researched all the best hotels in Medellin for you below. Most of the hotels on this list are in the Poblado neighborhood, while the last three on the list are in Laureles if you’d rather be in that area.
Here are my top picks for where to stay in Medellin, Colombia:
- Best overall: Landmark Hotel
- Best hostel: Masaya Medellin
- Best in Laureles: Factory Lofts Hotel
And here’s a full breakdown of the best hotels in Medellin.
Tip: I use and recommend Booking.com for getting the best deal on hotels. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Landmark Hotel
Landmark Hotel is one of the best hotels in Medellin. Located in the heart of Poblado, this high-end hotel offers stylish, comfortable rooms and amenities like a rooftop swimming pool, a spa, and a fitness center.
This hotel makes a great base for exploring Medellin, and there are tons of shops, restaurants, and bars within walking distance of the hotel. The hotel also has its own rooftop bar with great views.
Celestino Boutique Hotel & Spa
Another one of the best hotels in Medellin is Celestino Boutique Hotel & Spa. Located in the Provenza district of the Poblado neighborhood, this hotel is in the midst of all the action and close to nightlife.
The hotel offers a peaceful respite in Medellin, though, with a tranquil atmosphere, stylish decor, and views over the treetops. There are amenities like a spa and a rooftop swimming pool for guests to enjoy.
14 Urban Hotel
Another one of the best places to stay in Medellin is 14 Urban Hotel. This is another hotel with a great location in Poblado that offers chic and comfortable accommodations at an affordable price point.
Although this hotel doesn’t have any amenities like a pool or a spa, it does offer a rooftop terrace with great views. Some of the rooms also have private balconies, and the VIP suite has a private outdoor hot tub.
Hotel Dann Carlton Medellín
Another nice hotel in Poblado is the Hotel Dann Carlton Medellín. Although it’s described as a five-star hotel, I’d say that it’s really more of a four-star in terms of quality and amenities. That being said, this is a great place to stay if you are looking for a classic high-end hotel that is in a great location.
The hotel is just minutes away from many restaurants and bars, while also being tucked away next to a park. There’s a swimming pool, a fitness center, a spa, and breakfast is also included.
Loma Verde Aparthotel
If you are looking for more space than a standard hotel room, then Loma Verde Aparthotel is an excellent choice. Located in Poblado, the hotel offers spacious one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. It’s in a quieter, residential area, but it’s still just a 15-minute walk to the heart of Poblado.
Guests will enjoy the roomy accommodations with full kitchens and separate living rooms, along with private balconies and amenities like laundry facilities. There’s also a rooftop swimming pool.
Masaya Medellin
When it comes to hostels in Medellin, this ranks among the best. Masaya Medellin is way more than your typical hostel — it feels more like a trendy boutique hotel with a very social atmosphere. This is a great place to stay if you’re on a budget but want to meet people and be in the heart of Poblado.
There are private rooms that feel more like hotel rooms, as well as your standard hostel dorm rooms. The common areas here are great and include a rooftop swimming pool and a coworking space. Breakfast is included, and the hostel hosts many events like Spanish language classes and salsa dance classes.
Factory Lofts Hotel
Moving on to the Laureles neighborhood of Medellin, Factory Lofts Hotel is a great place to stay if you want to be in the center of Laureles in a stylish, modern hotel that offers good value for your money.
The loft-style rooms offer great views of the neighborhood, and there are amenities like a small rooftop swimming pool, a coworking space, and laundry facilities. This is the perfect base for exploring Medellin.
Terra Biohotel
Another good hotel in Laureles is Terra Biohotel. Guests staying here will enjoy the bright and airy rooms, some of which feature private balconies with city views or private in-room Jacuzzi baths.
The hotel is well-positioned close to Laureles, with lots of shopping, restaurants, and bars just minutes away. Another perk for guests staying here is the free breakfast that is offered each morning.
Urbit Social Lofts
Finally, one more great place to stay in Medellin is Urbit Social Lofts. It’s a four-star hotel in Laureles that offers comfortable, loft-like rooms with industrial-chic design and amazing views of the city.
This hotel is in the heart of Laureles, so you’re very close to all the action. This hotel is the perfect base for exploring Medellin, offering a comfortable respite to return to at the end of the day.
Best Hotels in Medellin, Colombia
This guide showed you where to stay in Medellin, Colombia.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best overall: Landmark Hotel
- Best hostel: Masaya Medellin
- Best in Laureles: Factory Lofts Hotel
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in Medellin!
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