Arts/Culture
Articles about Arts/Culture from Medellin Living — expat guides, news and first-hand experience in Medellín, Colombia.
Medellín’s Transformation: How the City Became a Global Travel Destination
Short on time? Medellin underwent one of the most remarkable urban transformations in Colombia. Once known internationally for violence and instability, the city reinvented itself through innovative public…
Medellín’s Flower Culture: Inside the Traditions Behind the Famous Flower Festival
TLDR? Feria de las Flores, the world-renowned flower festival in Medellín, has long spoken to the city’s unique culture and vibrant blooms. Every August, locals and tourists gather together to celebrate colorful…
Colombia Flag: The History & Meaning Behind the Bandera
Short on time? The bold colors of yellow, blue, and red you see on Colombia’s flag represent a national symbol in South America. They tell a story of independence, sacrifice, natural wealth, and the country’s journey…
Top Medellín Concerts and Festivals 2026: Must-See Events You Can’t Miss.
Short on time? Medellín’s 2026 event calendar includes major international concerts, electronic festivals, salsa celebrations, urban music, and the city’s iconic Feria de las Flores. Highlights include CORE Medellín, La…
Medellín for Kids: 8 Family-Friendly Activities Around the City.
Short on time? Medellín is a surprisingly family-friendly destination with interactive museums, amusement parks, botanical gardens, cable car rides, animals, outdoor art, and activities for children of different ages.…
Ghosts of Medellín: 8 Spooky Sites Around the City
TLDR? Beyond its mountain views and spring-like weather, Medellín is also home to old ghost stories, haunted landmarks, and urban legends connected to the city’s history. A typical day in Medellín might include visiting…
An Honest Review of Salon Malaga
Medellin’s nightlife is a jungle of musical genres that can be overwhelming for the old-fashioned, who might enjoy other genres such as tango and bolero. Salon Malaga is an old-timey bar perfect for tango and bolero…
The Ultimate Guide to Mercado del Rio
Mercado del Rio is the first food market in Colombia and one of the must-visit spots in Medellin. Whether you want to enjoy gourmet cuisine dishes at one of its 30 restaurants or get some deep work done at a cafe or…
The Lowdown on the Medellín Tattoo Expo
Tattoo culture has gained strength in Medellin in recent years. In fact, you’ll find many professional tattoo studios throughout the city. Whether you want to bring a tattooed souvenir from your trip to Medellin or to…
Everything You Need to Know About the 2022 Flower Festival
Colombia is one of the world’s top flower farming countries. In fact, there are more than 1400 species of flowers grown here, of which the most popular are roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums. To commemorate this…
All About the Pedro Nel Gómez House Museum
Although in Medellin you can find a lot of outdoor activities, booming nightlife, and friendly people, you’ll always find an enriching experience in one of the city’s many museums. One of those museums is the Pedro Nel…
Taking in Culture at the Palacio Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
As you may have noticed, Medellin has some pretty unique architecture, namely that of the Palacio Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe. This heritage site attracts thousands of tourists each year, thanks to the events and…
Spending an Evening at the Medellín Circus
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to have fun on an evening in Medellin, you may want to visit the Medellin Circus. This circus has been around for more than a decade and is an amazing place to go to watch…
The Beer Lover’s Guide to the Best Breweries in Medellín
I’ll admit it. I’m a beer snob. When I go somewhere new I love trying out different breweries, especially craft breweries. There’s something about them that really gives you a feel for the culture and flavors of a city.…
The Ultimate Guide to the Museo de Antioquia
There’s no doubt that Medellin is a city full of culture, art, and good museums. Speaking of museums, if you love strolling through galleries and taking in some culture, then you have to check out the Museo de…
Off-Beat Tours: Medellin’s Exotic Fruits Tour
Medellín is home to tons of interesting exotic fruits. Moreover, you might not find these products in your home country or other destinations as easily as in Colombia, which is the second most bio-diverse country in the…
The Linguist’s Guide to Medellin: Top Language Exchange Meetups
There’s no better way to practice a language than by talking with a native speaker. In Medellin, there are tons of places to practice Spanish, English, and other languages. And, it’s a great way to meet both paisas and…
How Many Days Should You Stay in Medellin?
Medellin is becoming a popular tourist destination, despite its rocky history. Today, it’s a thriving hub where you’ll find booming business and plenty of fun activities. The trouble is, with so much to enjoy, it can be…
Nights on the Town: The Best of Medellin Nightlife (Plus Top Tips!)
Medellín is one of the happiest cities in Colombia and for good reason. Paisas love to live life to the fullest through dancing the night away! Perhaps that’s why visitors and locals flock to bars and clubs in large…
Covid Tests, Rules, and Regulations in Medellin: What You Need to Know
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and it’s hard to know for sure when we’ll win the battle against the coronavirus. In spite of this, countries have started relaxing the rules for traveling, and it’s now much…
Your Guide to Medellín’s Museo de Antioquia
A visit to Medellín’s Museo de Antioquia, located in El Centro, which houses more than 90 works of famed Colombian artist Fernando Botero.
Best Architecture in Medellín
Medellín is known as La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera (the city of eternal spring), being famous for its year-round warm weather, spectacular nature, and location in the basin of the Aburrá Valley. And yet, a quality…
Things to Do in Medellín on Sundays
Sundays are a family day in Colombia – traditionally spent at church, sharing a meal and spending quality time together. As a foreigner however, Sundays in Medellín can be a little quiet. Most businesses close,…
Bardesono: Blending Live Music and Fine Dining in Poblado
The Bardesono restaurant offers diners a unique blend of cuisine and live musical entertainment in the Poblado neighborhood in Medellin.
Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour: Amazing Street Art and Much More
The Comuna 13 graffiti tour is more than just street art. With its street food, accessible local artists, and offbeat shopping, it offers surprising insight into this vibrant, revitalized Medellin neighborhood.
Colombia: Wild Magic … in Dangerous Times – Movie Review
Review of the Colombia: Wild Magic documentary, now playing on Netflix.
Little Known Museums in Medellín Worth a Visit
Sonja takes us to 3 little known museums in Medellín worth a visit: the Water Museum, University of Antioquia Museum and Pedro Nel Gomez House Museum.
Guide to the Little Known Movie Theater Venues in Medellín
Medellín has over a half-dozen little known movie theater venues showing an eclectic range of movies for inexpensive prices.
At Home Abroad: Stories of the Expat Life
Word Metro Press has just published At Home Abroad: Today’s Expats Tell Their Stories, a collection of insightful expat stories from 31 authors who represent people living abroad.
The Museum of Modern Art Expansion
The Modern Art Museum in Ciudad del Río has gone through a multi-million dollar expansion for more than a year. The new and improve version is now open.
About ¡Que Viva La Música!, The New Colombian Film
¡Qué Viva La Música! the new Colombian film by director Carlos Moreno, premiered on October 29th. It is inspired by a novel by Cali author Andrés Caicedo.
Top 5 Churches in Medellín
Jeff shares what he considers the top five churches in Medellín worth seeing, along with a suggested itinerary.
Narcos: A Colombian Perspective on the New Netflix Series
Following the premiere of the new Netflix series “Narcos,” based on the rise of Pablo Escobar, Ximena shares a Colombian perspective in her review.
Interview with Richard McColl, Editor of Was Gabo an Irishman?
Ximena spoke to Richard McColl, one of the editors of “Was Gabo an Irishman?” about the book as a project, the role of foreign writing and future projects.
Was Gabo an Irishman?: A Literary Bridge Between Cultures
“Was Gabo an Irishman?” includes 26 literary essays, all written in English, centered around Colombia.
The History of Cementerio Museo de San Pedro
Cementerio Museo de San Pedro is best known for its “inhabitants,” its luxurious mausoleums and recently for its cultural agenda.
Museo Casa de la Memoria: Dedicated to Victims of Armed Conflict
Museo Casa de la Memoria honors the Victims of Armed Conflict Care Program, started in 2005, and the museum opened its doors to the public in 2012.
Alborada and the Love-Hate Relationship Colombians Have With It
Every year, on the last night of November, Colombians celebrate the start of December with Alborada, a fireworks event.
Vía Primavera and Vía Provenza: Boutique Shopping in La Zona Rosa
In El Poblado’s Zona Rosa, the businesses along Vía Primavera and Vía Provenza are leading the way in innovative fashion, gastronomy and design.
Planetario de Medellín: An Exploration of Space
A quick afternoon visit to the Planetario de Medellin, a modern planetarium located north of El Centro that is dedicated to the exploration and education about space, our solar system, and the galaxy beyond.
Museo Casa Gardeliana: A Museum Dedicated to Tango and Carlos Gardel
A visit to Museo Casa Gardeliana, a small museum dedicated Carlos Gardel and the world of tango music, located in Medellín’s Manrique neighborhood.
Parque Explora: Aquarium and Interactive Museum of Science and Technology
Enjoy a variety of interactive museums and explore Latin America’s largest freshwater Aquarium at Parque Explora.
Museo del Agua: A Museum Dedicated to the Importance of Water
Medellín’s Museo del Agua, the Water Museum, located within the Parque de los Pies Descalzos is dedicated to the importance of water in our lives.
Casa Museo Otraparte: The Life and Works of Fernando González
Casa Museo Otraparte is a small museum and cultural space in Envigado, Colombia dedicated to the life and works of philosopher Fernando González.
Ciudad Delirio (Trailer)
On April 11, 2014, Ciudad Delirio, a Colombian-produced romantic comedy about salsa dancing, opened in theaters. It was filmed in Cali, Colombia.
My Colombian Death (Review)
My Colombian Death is the entertaining, yet disturbing tale of US-born, Australia-based journalist Matthew Thompson’s adventures in Colombia.
Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal (Review)
Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal is a Colombian TV series which aired in 2012, and depicted the rise and fall of the world’s most notorious drug lord.
The United States of Air (Review)
Writer’s note: This is the second story in a series about expats in Colombia. Read the first one here. Colombia and the United States share a connection that no one likes to acknowledge: drugs. Even worse is that this…
La Virgen de los Sicarios (Our Lady of the Assassins) Review
During my Easter visit to Sabaneta, Viviana had mentioned La Iglesia de Santa Ana was known as the church where sicarios (assassins) go to pray. When I laughed at the ridiculousness of murderers asking for protection,…
Books to Read Before Coming to Colombia (Besides Gabriel García Márquez)
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by JM Porup, in which the author of Lonely Planet Colombia (5th ed.) offers his suggestions. Books by Gabriel García Márquez You’ve read A Hundred Years of Solitude. (Oh wait–you…
Love in the Time of Cholera
I first learned of Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombia’s Nobel Prize winning author, while watching the movie Serendipity with John Cusack and the lovely Kate Beckinsale many years ago. The…
Medellín Travel Guide: Insider Advice from an American Expat in Colombia
Today I’m excited to share the release of my Medellín Travel Guide: Insider Advice from an American Expat in Colombia! Fully based on my experiences living in Medellín since 2009, I’m confident this is the best, most…
La Sierra Documentary
Ten years ago this month, Scott Dalton, a freelance photographer, and Margarita Martinez, an AP reporter, set about the difficult and dangerous task of filming daily life in La Sierra, a neighborhood on the outskirts of…
Y Tu Mamá También
Editor’s Note: Spoiler alert, I write about the ending. Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too). The name sounded familiar, but the movie was already more than ten years old by the time a friend recommended it to me. I…
To the Amazon: Documentary on the Truth-Seeking Journey of My Mother
Sea parte de este proyecto / Be part of this project: http://igg.me/p/251606/x/1803092 Description in English Documentary on the truth-seeking journey of my mother: from a traditional English-lifestyle to her encounter…
Museo El Castillo: Colombia’s Castle
Ryan takes us along on his visit to Museo El Castillo, a 20th century, French-inspired castle built in the hills above Medellin, Colombia.
Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso: Reseña de la Película
Supe de Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso por primera vez durante un almuerzo en Envigado. Se relata lo vivido por Catalina, una joven de 17 años de edad de un barrio pobre de la ciudad de Pereira al cual llegan traquetos para…
Medellin The Film
As silly as it seems now, back in 2009 before arriving in Colombia, I knew about as much of Medellin as I heard on the HBO comedy series Entourage. In the early seasons of the show, the main character, an actor named…
Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden
Ever since landing in Colombia, and Medellin, in particular, I’d wanted to read Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw by Mark Bowden. In Cambodia, there was no shortage of opportunities to buy (knock…
The New Modern Art Museum
A look inside the new Medellin Modern Art Museum.
Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso
I first learned of Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso (Without Tits There Is No Paradise) over lunch in Envigado. The story is based on a young girl, Catalina, who lives in Pereira and becomes obsessed with getting breast…
Ruperto Ferreira – Illustrations at Antioquia Museum
I just got back from the Antioquia Museum (Museo de Antioquia), which is located downtown in front of the Casa de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe (which used to previously be the Gobernación de Antioquia, or the…
La Dany – Documentary of a Transvestite Street Performer
Screening October 27th at the Lido Theatre, Medellín La Dany is a new feature documentary from Julie and Jim Giles of Brother & Sister Productions. Shot on the streets in Medellín, Colombia, it documents the life of…
Visiting the Museo de Arte Moderno
Update: This post was written based on a visit to the old location of the museum. You can read about my visit to it’s new location here. Visiting the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellin (MAMM) has been on my “to-do” list…