The Medellin Metro is the greatest insignia of the capital city of Medellin, not only for being the only Metro in Colombia for 30 years, but also because it has been praised worldwide for its organization, cleanliness and the good manners of its passengers.

But like every Metro in the world, you may be a little afraid to get lost on it, go in the wrong direction or get off at a station you shouldn’t be.

Don’t worry! The truth is that unlike many subways in the world, which are real labyrinths, Medellín’s system is quite simple to use and you only need to read this updated guide to master it as if you had been riding it for many years.

Medellín Metro Map

Before we begin I leave you with an interactive map of the Medellin Metro, where you will find the main lines for sightseeing tours. You can click on each of the stations and see the places of interest closest to each one.

Medellín Metro Lines

The Medellín Metro consists of 12 lines: 2 train lines, 6 Metrocable lines (overhead cables), 1 streetcar line and 3 bus lines.

While this number of lines may seem overwhelming, the reality is that to get around the city as a visitor or tourist you will only have to use between 2 and 4 lines, depending on the places you want to visit. And to make it simpler for you, in this guide we are going to focus only on these.

Line A (train)

This line is the backbone of the Metro. Keep in mind that the city is geographically elongated and is split in two by the “Medellín River”. This Metro line follows practically the entire course of the river and makes a small detour to connect with the city center.

Line A connects the two points of the city. Niquía station, which is located at the northern end, and La Estrella station, which is located at the southern end.

Therefore, when you must go to a place in the city that is to the north of your point of origin, you must take the train in the direction of Niquía and when you must go to a place further south, you take the train that goes in the direction of La Estrella. (These indications are clearly marked at any station on the line).

Look at the Metro signs to orient yourself in the direction of the train you are about to take.

Line A connects you to many places of interest in the city. Therefore, here is a list from north to south of the stations that are close to some of the main attractions of the city.

Line B (train)

This is the secondary train line and connects the center of the city with the western sector, which is a much more residential area and far from the tourist movement. However, there are a couple of stations that can get you close to very interesting places.

Metrocables (lines L and K)

At the Acevedo station on Line A you can take the first Metrocable that was built in Medellín (Line K). In the middle of this tour you will be able to appreciate the imposing Parque Biblioteca España in the middle of the small humble houses of the sector. And when you reach the last station (Santo Domingo) you can take a second Metrocable that will take you directly to the Arví Park.

Tramway (T line)

The streetcar is the Metro’s most recent work (and in this guide we tell you all about it). It has a very modern infrastructure that makes it unique in Latin America. The streetcar ride itself is an experience that allows you to discover different facets of the city, from the hustle and bustle of downtown to the everyday life of the most popular districts.

There are a couple of places of interest that you can see on your streetcar ride. The first is the Bulevar del Tranvía, which is a gastronomic center where you can try the best food. And on the other hand, the Casa de La Memoria Museum, a journey through the history of the armed conflict in Colombia that you will find a few minutes away from the “Bicentenario” station.

Please note that, unlike the Metrocable, on the Tramway you cannot make the round trip with a single ticket. So if you wish to return to San Antonio station, you must take the train back and pay a new ticket.

Medellín Metro Stations

These are some of the most important stations of the Medellín Metro system.

  • Acevedo Station: This station is one of the last ones at the north end of the Metro. It is important because from here you can take the first Metrocable that was built in Medellín and connects you to the Arví Park.

  • Caribe Station: While there are no tourist attractions around, this station connects directly to the North bus terminal. Buses leave from there to several of the towns near Medellín, including Guatapé.

  • Universidad Station: The Universidad station has this name because it is located right at the entrance of the Universidad de Antioquia (the most important university in Medellín). In front of it you will find places of great interest, such as the Botanical Garden, Explora Park, Parque de Los Deseos and the Planetarium.

  • Parque Berrío Station: This is the first of 3 stations that pass through downtown Medellín. If you wish to tour the entire center, it is an excellent starting point. A few steps from the entrance you will find Plaza Botero, the Museumof Antioquia, Berrío Park and the iconic Hotel Nutibara.

  • San Antonio Station: It is the second station located downtown. It connects with the most commercial part. But additionally it is the heart of the Metro system, as you can transfer to the second line of trains (the B line) and also to the streetcar.

  • Alpujarra Station: This is the last station that passes through the city center. It is located near the historic buildings from which Medellín and Antioquia are governed (known as La Alpujarra). It is also close to the Parque de las Luces, theWater Museum and can be a starting point for a walk to Parques del Rio.

  • Industriales Station: Located near one of the coolest areas of Medellín. There you can visit Ciudad del Rio, the gastronomic plaza Mercados del Rio and the Museum of Modern Art.

  • Poblado Station: This is the station that connects with the tourist epicenter of Medellin. El Poblado is one of the best areas to stay in Medellin, the area with the largest offer ofrestaurants, hotels,bars and cultural life. There you are just a few steps away from Lleras Park, El Poblado Park and the popular area known as Provenza.

  • Sabaneta Station: If you want to connect with the most traditional part of Medellin, I recommend you to visit “Sabaneta” which is a municipality adjacent to the city, which retains many architectural roots. From Sabaneta station you can walk or take a short cab to Sabaneta Park, where on weekends locals gather to eat and drink.

  • Estadio Station: The stadium station is close to the Atanasio Girardot soccer stadium, where there is an incredible sports atmosphere. But it also connects you directly to Calle 70, which is known for its nightlife, and to Barrio Laureles, which has very good restaurants, hotels and apartments.

  • San Javier Station: This is the last station of the B line and probably one of the busiest in the Metro. San Javier is the starting point for many visitors who want to go to the graffiti tour.

Tickets and prices

As of January 1, 2025, the Metro fare for tourists will be $3,900 pesos (approximately $0.9 dollars) and for frequent travelers with the Civic card it will be $3,430 pesos ($0.8 dollars). If you are not from Medellín and do not have a Civic card, you can buy an occasional traveler card.

You can buy the Civic occasional traveler card at any Metro ticket office. It costs $5,000 pesos (approximately $1.14 dollars). And to use it, in addition, you must make a recharge for a minimum value of $2,650 pesos (approximately $ 0.6 dollars).

With this card you will be able to make several trips in the system paying only one fare, as long as you do not leave the stations. For example, you can ride the train and then transfer to the streetcar, the Metrocable or even the Metroplús bus system, all without paying an additional fare.

Schedules

The opening and closing times of the Metro vary depending on the line you are going to use. But to make it easier for you, here we tell you what are the schedules on line A (which is the main line, which crosses the entire city from north to south):

  • Monday to Saturday from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Sundays and Holidays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on other lines you can consult the official Metro website.

Security

The Medellín Metro is one of the safest subways in the world. This is because the system is extensively guarded by police and assistance personnel who are attentive to the needs of travelers.

In this sense, no Metro station is unsafe. However, it is important that you take certain precautions when going out around some Metro stations.

If you are not from Medellín, these are some of the stations where I recommend you to be careful, especially if you are going to walk around at night: Poblado / Madera / Acevedo / Tricentenario / Prado / Cisneros / Hospital / San Antonio / Parque Berrío / Alpujarra / Exposiciones / Industriales / Aguacatala / Ayurá / Sabaneta / Suramericana.