Looking for things to do in Medellin? Luckily, you don’t even have to venture out of the Manila neighborhood in order to find some fun. Whether you’re looking to take some tours, wander the halls of art galleries, or put your dancing shoes on, Manila Poblado has it all.
Medellin tours are a big draw for tourists, both national and international. Here are a few of our favorite tour agencies in the Manila neighborhood where you can plan a trip out to Guatape or to just check out what lies beyond the reaches of Manila!
Moto Ride Tours
476,000 COP – 680,000 COP
- The Vibe: Sporty
- What to Try: The ride-along city tour. If you don’t know how to drive a motorcycle, you can ride on one as a passenger while you check out the city.
- Pro Tips: You can take these tours out to Guatape and Parque Arvi, but they take a long time and the long ride can get uncomfortable. We recommend sticking to city tours or 24-hour rentals!
Parches En Medellin
FREE – 250,000 COP
- The Vibe: Relaxed
- What to Try: The Comuna 13 tour. It includes artisanal ice cream, a coffee tasting, a hip-hop lesson, and entrance to art galleries.
- Pro Tips: All their tours are in both English and Spanish, and the majority use public transportation to get around. The metro fare isn’t included, so bring a few pesos extra.
Capture Colombia Tours
FREE – 260,000 COP
- The Vibe: Adventurous
- What to Try: The coffee tour, which takes you out to a traditional finca. You’ll get to walk through the coffee farm, sample different coffees, and learn about the growing process.
- Pro Tips: Skip the free walking tour. You won’t see much and you’re expected to pay quite a bit in tips and metro fees.
If you’re after art and culture in Medellin, you should definitely swing by some of the local Colombian art galleries. Here are three of our favorites, all located just around the corner from the Landmark!
Mundo Arte Gallery
FREE – 3,000,000 COP
- The Vibe: Modern
- What to Try: A small gallery focused on paintings and digital art.
- Pro Tips: They prefer if you don’t take photos. However, they have some gorgeous pamphlets for sale that are full of the gallery’s work.
Galería Carlos Orozco
FREE – 3,500,000 COP
- The Vibe: Modern
- What to Try: Quite a small gallery that is most focused on sculpture.
- Pro Tips: You’re not allowed to take photos indoors, but it’s still a great place to check out some beautiful art.
Milnueve32 Tienda de Arte Cafe Galeria
FREE – 1,200,000 COP
- The Vibe: Eclectic
- What to Try: A quirky art gallery that’s full of vinyls, books, and tons of great art. Everything in the shop is for sale!
- Pro Tips: The shop sells coffee and great wine. It’s a lovely place to sit and chat for a few hours.
Dancing is a big part of nightlife in Medellin. In Manila Poblado, there are a couple of fun dance schools where you can learn salsa in Medellin or try out another form of dance. Here are top picks for where to learn to dance in the area!
Academia de Baile El Candombe
25,000 COP – 70,000 COP
- The Vibe: Historic
- What to Try: This dance school focuses almost exclusively on tango lessons. You can take group or private classes.
- Pro Tips: They host shows and tango events about once a month, so be sure to see what’s on while you’re in the area!
Tattoos in Medellin are much cheaper than in many other parts of the world. One of the best places to get a tattoo in the city is actually located in barrio Manila. Here’s what to know about this spot!
Sailor Tattoos
200,000 COP – 2,000,000 COP
- The Vibe: Hippie
- What to Try: A tattoo parlor with a biological twist, this group is located in an ecological park right next to one of our favorite Asian restaurants!
- Pro Tips: You can make an appointment but they’re more than happy to take walk-ins!
While you’re in Colombia, you might as well try learning Spanish! Grab your textbooks and get ready to take some Spanish classes in Medellin at any of these Manila neighborhood haunts.
Blink Spanish Immersion School & Hostel
779,000 COP – 1,149,000 COP
- The Vibe: Fun-loving
- What to Try: This Spanish-language school offers weekly packages of 2-10 hours of private lessons and 20 hours of group classes. Or, you can choose weekly private classes only.
- Pro Tips: The school is connected to a dance school that teaches salsa three times a week. They also run regular activities and excursions for their students.
OLSA Spanish English School
925,000 COP – 2,600,000 COP
- The Vibe: Professional
- What to Try: A well-established Spanish and English language school. They offer both private classes and conversation groups.
- Pro Tips: If you want to stay longer, they offer 6 to 12-month Spanish programs in private, group, or partner settings. These count for a Colombian visa.
Elefun Spanish School
300,000 COP – 1,000,000 COP
- The Vibe: Laid-back
- What to Try: This Spanish school offers excellent Spanish classes as well as organized group activities and tours.
- Pro Tips: They have free trial periods and regular discounts, so be sure to ask what deals they have going!
Even while on vacation, it’s nice to be able to connect with your religion. Here are a few of the religious centers located around Manila Poblado where you can reconnect spiritually.
Iglesia de San Jose
FREE
- What to Try: There are services almost every day, as well as services on special holidays and feast days.
- Pro Tips: There’s a café run by the church in the inner courtyard. It’s a nice place to meet new people after the service.
Diamond Way Buddhist Center
FREE
- What to Try: This is the only Diamond Way Buddhist center in Medellin. They help out with public projects and city improvements.
- Pro Tips: The center is on the 2nd floor of Almonte and hosts two weekly meditation sessions, a weekly Buddhist seminar, and a weekly Ngöndro practice.
Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witness
FREE
- What to Try: They offer regular meetings twice a week as well as bible studies. On days when there are no meetings, the hall is closed.
- Pro Tips: They have an English congregation that meets in the evenings twice a week!