Medellin Gay Travel Guide: where to stay, eat, party & things to do

Medellin used to be considered the crime capital of Colombia, this is the city where drug lord Pablo Escobar reigned during the 70s and 80s. However, over the past 15 years, it has undergone a huge transition to become one of the safest and most advanced places in the entire country.

Medellin's nickname nowadays is the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its temperate weather. This also makes it ideal for the stunning annual Flower Festival which takes place every August.

Medellin is a very gay-friendly city. The paisas (people of Medellin) are very welcoming and love to meet foreigners. Whilst its gay scene is not as big as Bogota's, there are still loads of gay hangouts, largely based in Poblado. What impressed us the most was a public sign we spotted in our hotel, which sets out the various police fines you can get: one of them was for homophobic abuse, which carries a fine of 657,000 Colombian pesos ($224). The fact that this is so prominently displayed in a public area speaks volumes about safety here for LGBTQ travellers!

We spent 4 months in Medellin, using it as a home base during our big trip in Latin America, and we loved it. This is our gay guide to Medellin featuring all our favourite gay bars, clubs, gay-friendly hotels to stay at and things to do.

Explore Colombia on a gay tour

Out Adventures' brand new Colombia tour is hotter than Maluma! Beginning in Bogotá, the carefree escape will have you shaking your arepa at the largest LGBTQ club in the Americas, hiking humid jungles in Tayrona National Park, and soaking up the country's sand, sun, and sea in coastal Cartagena. The optional gay salsa class, food tour, and snorkeling excursion make this adventure muy caliente!

Find out more

Is Medellin safe for gay travellers?

Medellin is Colombia's second-largest city. It is very modern and extremely progressive. While Colombia is a majority Catholic country, and quite conservative in some ways, big cities like Medellin are becoming very accepting towards its LGBTQ community. Nowhere is this more evident than during Medellin's gay Pride festival where the entire community takes part to celebrate and support gay rights in a truly Latin fiesta style!

We never felt unwelcome or experienced any hostility from the locals during our time in Medellin, although be aware that some areas of the city should be avoided, particularly at night time, whether you are gay or straight.

Gay neighbourhood in Medellin

Whilst there isn't an official recognised gay neighbourhood in Medellin, most of the main gay scene is located in El Poblado. This is where the touristic heart of Medellin is, with the best bars, clubs, restaurants and shopping malls like Santa Fe. Our favourite gay bars (Bar Chiquita and Donde Aquellos) are here, as well as Zero and Industry gay clubs. This is also the most expensive part of Medellin, so expect to pay top dollar for a hotel or apartment rental in this part of town.

Outside of Poblado, there are a handful of gay hangouts dotted around the city, particularly in the downtown area (called Candelaria) and Laureles. Downtown is a bit dodgy, especially at night, but accommodation options are cheap here. Laureles is more residential and safe. This is where the large club Viva is found, but it's a good 20 minute Uber ride away from Poblado.

Discover Gay Medellin with an LGBTQ local…

Our friends at Out in Colombia, an excellent gay local tour company, offer a gay nightlife tour of Medellin. We found this to be a fantastic way to discover the gay scene. You'll be greeted by a gay local guide, who'll take you to the best gay bars in Medellin for an unforgettable night out! We've partnered up with them to offer our readers an exclusive 5% discount off their gay tour by quoting NOMADICBOYS05.

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Fill out this form to check availability for the Medellin gay tour and get a 5% discount.

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You can also contact Out in Colombia directly, make sure to mention our name to enjoy the 5% discount.

Gay hotels in Medellin

In the popular tourist (and gay) area of Poblado, you won't have any problems booking a double bed especially if you stay at one of the international hotel chains. We also set out below our favourite gay-owned / gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses to stay in Medellin:

01

Hotel Roma

This hotel is known for its discretion and privacy, even offering an escort service! We love the romantic details they include when you check-in, such as rose petals around the bath and swans made of towels on the beds. There are also beautiful classical paintings throughout the property.

While it's not in the main gay neighbourhood, Hotel Roma is very close to a metro station, which is very handy. In any case, Uber is inexpensive in Medellin. Be aware that you can only book accommodation at Hotel Roma by calling them directly or emailing the hotel.

02

Patio del Mundo

You can also enjoy a massage or yoga class in the garden, or just relax in the Jacuzzi surrounded by tropical foliage. There's a bar where you can have drinks and snacks, but you're also close to many of Medellin's best restaurants as well.

We loved Patio del Mundo because of its proximity to the gay hangouts around Lleras Park, but once you're inside, it's like you've entered another world. You can hardly hear any noise from the busy life outside. If you book a balcony room you'll even have your own private hammock to relax in!

Visit Guatape on a day trip from Medellin

One of our favourite day trips from Medellin was to the colourful town of Guatape. For stunning views make sure you climb the giant granite rock Piedra del Peñol.

Find out more

03

Los Patios Hostal Boutique

You can choose from private rooms or hostel dorms that are all brightly coloured and very clean. It's also a great spot to meet other travellers from all around the world.

We love how each floor of the building is themed around a different region of Colombia, such as the mountains or the jungle.

Along with the bar, the rooftop terrace has a communal organic herb garden which guests are free to use when cooking in the shared kitchen facilities. Some of the other wonderful extras include free coffee, a gym, a co-working space and bike rental for exploring the city.

Gay bars in Medellin

Poblado is the main touristy heart of the city, with all the best restaurants, bars and hotels. In the evening, around Parque Lleras, it's an extremely fun place to be, full of life, with a busy atmosphere and some fantastic gay bars to start the evening. We've listed some of our favorites below, but be sure to check out our guide to the gay bars of Medellin.

Note that the iconic Ink Bar closed its doors for good in 2023.

Bar Chiquita

This was our favorite gay bar in Medellin. It has yellow twin flamingo statues outside to welcome you and the interior features sexy leopard-print walls! The staff are gorgeous and extremely friendly. They also make delicious cocktails, which are great to enjoy while people-watching on the large outdoor terrace. It's one of our favorite places to start a gay night out in Medellin. Bar Chiquita is only open on Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 6 pm to 2 am, and is located at Carrera 37 # 10-37 Local 205.

Donde Aquellos

This was our other favorite gay bar in Medellin. It's slightly more cruisy than Bar Chiquita with a large outdoor terrace to check the talent crossing the streets while sipping a yummy drink. They play music videos with a nice mix of salsa and more modern hits. Donde Aquellos is open every day from 5 pm to 4 am and is located at Carrera 38 N° 9A-26 near Parque Lleras.

La Cantina de Javi

An iconic gay dive bar in the downtown Centro neighborhood of Medellin, which is in the style of a traditional Mexican cantina. It's a very local crowd with not many foreigners: the perfect way to meet that handsome Paisa guy of your dreams! La Cantina de Javi is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 8 pm to 4 am and is located at Calle 58 #47-18.

Gay clubs in Medellin

Medellin has 3 main gay clubs, which get especially busy on the weekends. Whenever we went to any gay club in Medellin with friends, we'd usually share a bottle of rum or the local aniseed-tasting brew called aguardiente. A word of warning if you're hitting the aguardiente: factor in a massive hangover the following day as this stuff is lethal!

Viva Auditorium

Viva is a huge club north of the Laureles neighborhood that becomes a massive gay party on Saturday evenings. It's got a large main dance area with Reggaeton and electronic music, as well as a second separate dance area, which is more intimate. Here they are usually playing salsa and other classic Latin styles. We loved it just for this – gay couples dancing salsa together in one room while twerking to a Maluma reggaeton beat in the other! Viva is only open on Saturdays from 9 pm to 4 am and is located at Calle 51 #73-100, near the Stadium.

Purple Club

Purple Club (sometimes called by its former name, “Zero”) is right in the heart of everything in Lleras Park, Poblado. It used to be called Zero, then to Zero by Purple Club, and then “Purple Club“…so there may be confusing references to that when searching for it online or on Google Maps. We love it because although it's quite small it always gets packed out with pretty paisa boys. We also love the cool mix of Latino pop classics – top tip: have your Shazam app to hand! Purple Club is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 pm to 4 pm and is located at Calle 10a #36-2.

Industry Club

This is the other popular gay club in Poblado, which is more focused on electronic and crossover music spread out over 2 dance halls. We found it had more attitude and drug-taking going on compared to the other gay clubs in Medellin, but we still had a fun night here. If electro music's your thing, you'll love a night out at Industry. We personally love Latino pop more, so preferred Zero and Viva. Industry Club is open only on Friday and Saturday from 10 pm to 4 am and is located at Calle 26A #43F 72.

Gay events in Medellin

The party never really stops in Medellin, so whenever you choose to visit you'll have no shortage of fun things to see and do. These are the best gay and gay-friendly not-to-miss festivals we think you should totally check out:

Medellin Gay Pride (June)

Every June, Medellin holds the month-long Festival Antioquia Vive Diversa (Festival of Diversity), which culminates in the Pride parade through the city. There are numerous parties and events taking place throughout the month, many at the gay clubs we've mentioned above. Medellin's Pride parade is also quite unique in that almost the entire city takes part, making one giant colourful party – and these guys sure KNOW how to party!

La Feria de las Flores (August)

If you're in Medellin in late July/early August, you have to check out the Flower Festival. It takes over the entire city for 2 weeks and is full of large concerts, contests, parties and culminates with a large colorful parade on the final day, which like Pride, everyone gets involved in. There's also a Gay Feria de Las Flores which is taking place at the same time. To find out more, read about our highlights of the Flower Festival in Medellin.

Festival Internacional de Tango (June)

Whilst Colombia is infamous for having the hottest salsa dancers on the planet, they're just as passionate about their tango! Every June there is a five-day Tango festival in Medellin, with many artistic, cultural and academic activities taking place throughout the city. One of the best things about this festival is that it is very diverse and inclusive, as well as being free! Many of Medellin's parks, squares and plazas will have tango performers from all around the world.

Flamenco Festival (October)

As well as tango, Medellin is a big lover of flamenco dancing, which can be enjoyed during the Flamenco Festival in October. There are professional flamenco shows along with classes if you want to learn this passionate dance for yourself. This is also the only flamenco festival that takes place in the whole of Colombia, so it's definitely worth a trip to Medellin to experience it.

Flower Festival Gay Tour

This is one of the most unique gay tours we've come across! Instead of focusing on just nightlife, this 7-day trip includes a cooking class, a visit to a flower farm, local markets and a coffee farm. It also includes VIP seating during the Flower Festival Parade and of course, a gay night out in town!

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We've partnered up with Out in Colombia to offer an exclusive 5% discount for our readers for this tour. Fill out this form to check availability for the Medellin Flower Festival gay tour and get your discount.

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You can also contact Out in Colombia directly, make sure to mention the promo code NOMADICBOYS05 to enjoy the 5% discount.

Gay saunas in Medellin

There are plenty of gay saunas and bathhouses in Medellin, whether you just want to relax in the steam or get steamy with some sexy local paisas! These are some of the most popular gay saunas in Medellin:

Sauna Club 55

Club 55 aims to generate harmony between body and mind with its variety of relaxing areas. As well as the sauna, there's a lovely garden and a bar for socializing. You can book yourself a massage or just hang out in the video rooms or Jacuzzis. Sauna Club 55 is open every day from 2-9.30 pm and is located at Calle 55 #45-44.

Olympo Club

Olympo is a three-story facility with Turkish baths, a sauna, Jacuzzi, a bar, video rooms, and private rooms. There are both relaxation and erotic massage services you can book, or just head to one of their regular themed events like 2-for-1 entry prices. You can find Olympo Club at Race 78 #45-17 and it's open Tuesday to Saturday from 2-10 pm and Sundays from 1-9 pm.

Club Hammam Sauna

Club Hammamm is a bit quieter than the other gay saunas. “Pollos” (meaning chickens – which they define as 18-23-year-olds!) get 50% off entry and are allowed in free on the last Saturday of each month. It is located at Carrera 45 #46-27 and is open daily from 10 am until 8 pm and until midnight on weekends.

Our favourite things to do in Medellin

What once used to be a city rife with crime, Medellin has managed to transform itself into one of the hippest and most happening places to visit in Colombia. As well as the gay scene we have mentioned, Medellin is filled with beautiful art, a thriving foodie scene and lots of beautiful spots worth exploring. These are our favourite things to see and do in Medellin.

Quirky art at the outdoor Plaza Botero museum

Fernando Botero is a Colombian artist who is famous for his abstract, exaggerated bronze statues. They're absolutely hilarious and totally worth getting a selfie with: imagine a full-on gigantic muscly roman soldier with the tiniest penis you've ever seen, or a larger-than-life Lady sat posing on a small struggling horse. You can see all 23 of these quirky statues at Plaza Botero in downtown Medellin. To embellish your visit, we recommend a City Tour of Medellin, which takes you to Parque Berrio, Pueblito Paisa, the Antioquia Museum as well as to the infamous Plaza Botero.

Cable car to Arvi Park

The Medellin metro is the pride of Colombia. So proud are the Paisas of their Metro system that they even have a private tour of the Medellin Metro! For us, the most scenic part is the cable car from Acevedo metro station all the way to Arvi Park, which goes from 1,900 to 2700m (6,230-8,860ft) high. It's worth it just for the views alone! Upon reaching Arvi Park, we recommend getting out to explore this 16,000 hectares of forest area. It has several hiking trails and it's also perfect for a picnic – weather permitting of course!

Top tip: bring a jumper as there's a slight drop in temperature the higher up you go in the cable car.

Graffiti tour in Comuna 13

Comuna 13 used to be Medellin's most dangerous neighborhood but has since reinvented itself through art. The street art here is testament to that. We did a graffiti tour with a local which helped put it all into perspective. It's fascinating and quite touching to see how the youth in this neighborhood used art and music to better their lives, which has contributed to improving one of the city's poorest areas over the past decade. The local authorities have actually declared Medellin's urban art a cultural landmark. And, of course, the photos will be perfect for your Instagram…

Picnic at Castillo Castle Museum

El Castillo Museo y Jardines in Poblado is a stunning French-inspired castle. It is surrounded by some very beautiful gardens. It's not a traditional old castle as it was actually built in 1930, but it still features as many fairytale-like turrets and four-poster beds as your princess' heart could desire! The museum offers tours of the grandiose interior, or you could explore it as part of a combined museums tour. On a clear sunny day, the gardens at Castillo Castle are perfect for a picnic with friends…or in our case, your own romantic Frenchman serenading you on a guitar…!

Day trip to Guatape

If you have time, we strongly recommend taking a day trip to one of the small towns outside of Medellin in the Antioquia region. Our favourite is Guatape, a small town around 2 hours bus ride away from the city. It's famous for its pretty, cutesy buildings, which are decorated with colourful bas-reliefs. This is a great spot for lunch if you're going on a day trip, with street stalls selling delicious empanadas and churros. We also recommend climbing up the Piedra del Peñol – a giant granite rock which has exactly 740 steps to the top. It's worth the effort because when you reach the top, you're rewarded with some of the best views you'll find in the whole of Colombia.

Make your own chocolate

Colombia is renowned for its coffee, but did you know that cacao is an even more traditional agricultural product of the region? Indigenous tribes used cocoa seeds as currency because chocolate was considered to be oh so very divine. We think it still is of course… We recommend joining a community cultural project organised by local women to learn all about chocolate production and the chance to make (and eat!) your own. Visiting a cacao plantation in the jungle around Medellin is a fun day trip and a great way to support local sustainable agriculture.

Learn about Medellin's Tango culture!

Carlos Gardel was a famous French-Argentine singer/songwriter who is regarded in Latin America as one of the most important figures in Tango. He actually died in a plane crash in Medellin, so the city is filled with tributes to his local legacy. If you are at all interested in the passionate dance of Tango, then you should definitely take some time to learn about Gardel and experience a live Tango show at one of the city's popular tango venues. There's even a museum dedicated to Gardel called the Casa Museo Gardeliana.

Explore a coffee plantation

The area around Medellin is so famous for its coffee production that it's even officially called “Zona Cafetera”. Coffee lovers (like our Stefan) need to have this at the top of their Colombia Bucket List. Not only is this region notorious for its coffee, but the surrounding scenery is in our opinion, the most impressive of the entire country. You can either visit as a day trip (like to Guatape) or a small overnighter to somewhere further like Jardin. Whichever way you visit the Coffee Region fellow coffee-lovers, make sure you visit a local coffee plantation, where you'll learn about the process of growing and preparing your morning brew. This is also the place you'll want to stock up on coffee souvenirs to bring back home with you.

Visit Rio Claro

If you want to experience some of the natural beauty of Colombia from Medellin, then a day trip to the Rio Claro Natural Reserve is a must! The Rio Claro is a river with crystal-clear water that rushes through a picturesque gorge, providing lots of opportunities for stunning photos of waterfalls and wildlife. You'll definitely want to go swimming in the turquoise waters, and you can also hike along the trails or go rafting. There's also an eco-hotel and a restaurant in the reserve if you want to stay the night, or just enjoy a meal of local dishes in the restaurant.

Go zip lining in the jungle

If regular old hiking and swimming aren't exciting enough for you, near to Medellin you can also experience the biggest zipline in Colombia! In the natural reserve of La Ceja is an epic zipline that's 330 metres high and 1400 metres long. Careening across the river and jungle was one of the most exhilarating experiences we've ever had. In this nature reserve, you can also enjoy hiking to a variety of waterfalls, which are lovely to have a relaxing splash around in after the excitement of the zipline adventure.

Gay-friendly restaurants in Medellin

Since the transformation of Medellin from crime capital to a vibrant travel destination, the city has also gained a thriving foodie scene. El Poblado has some of the best restaurants in Medellin, especially around Lleras Park. Here gay travellers will be able to sample all sorts of delicious cuisine, from traditional Colombian to yummy pizzas and even Greek cuisine!

Egeo

Stefan was particularly impressed by the Greek fare on offer at Egeo, one of the restaurants in the Click Clack Hotel. This unique restaurant has a really cool terrace, where it gets very busy! It attracts a large crowd partly due to the friendly staff and partly due to the fantastic Mediterranean food. Located in the heart of El Poblado, Egeo serves up mouthwatering tapenades, calamari, lamb chops, moussaka, and a variety of souvlakis. Make sure you also save some room for delicious desserts such as traditional baklava or the amazing chocolate volcano!

El Cielo

Also very close to El Poblado and Lleras Park is the incredible gourmet fusion restaurant El Cielo. From the moment you arrive, you are whisked away on a magical experience of ‘moments' as you taste all sorts of amazing dishes and wines. Imagine – we started our meal washing our hands using warm chocolate! Everything here is a spectacle and while it's a bit pricey for Medellin, it's totally worth it, especially for a special occasion. Just have a look at the incredible photos on the website if you need convincing…the tasty head chef also has a strong persuasive effect!

Restaurante Hatoviejo

If you're looking for some authentic Colombian cuisine, Restaurante Hatoviejo is one of the most popular in Medellin, and for good reason. They actually have three locations around the city; one nearby Botero Plaza, one in Oviedo and one in Poblado just by Lleras Park. This cosy restaurant is where you'll want to come to try out some of the best of Colombia's traditional dishes such as Bandeja Paisa, Ajiaco, Sancocho, Mondongo and Sudado. We found the staff to be so welcoming and friendly here, willing to go to any lengths to keep us happy.

Clandestino

Advertised as being the most romantic restaurant in town, Clandestino is a delightful space with a restaurant, bar, lounge, and even a cinema. The decor here is adorable, with 6 different sections in the restaurant – with wrought-iron chairs, sofas, an outdoor patio, and an indoor garden. The menu isn't huge but delicious, with dishes like steak or pizza and oreo cheesecake for dessert. They specialize in romantic evenings and the staff is very gay-friendly. If you don't feel like a meal you can also come for drinks on the lovely terrace lounge and be seated on a swing or pretty picnic blankets.

Before you go

We've put together some handy hints and tips to help you plan your own trip to Medellin. Read on to find out everything the gay traveller should know before they go.

Gay map of Medellin

We've put together this map with all the places we've mentioned in this article so you can easily plan your own wonderful gay holiday to Medellin.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

For more inspiration:

• Find out more in our interview with Jesus from Barranquilla about gay life in Colombia
• Read our full gay guide to the country of Colombia
• Don't miss our gay city guide for Bogota while you're at it
• We also have a gay guide to the city of Cartagena
• Find out which traditional Colombian dishes you need to eat during your trip
• Read more in our interesting facts about Colombia
• Loved-up couples will want to know the most romantic things to do in Bogota
• Or how about our favourite romantic activities in Cartagena?
• And if you're travelling to experience Pride don't miss our guide to the best gay pride events in Latin America!

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