8 Must-See Sites in Medellín, Colombia

Every summer, Medellín hosts the Flower Festival, where countless flower displays and flower-themed events and contests transform the streets into a rainbow. Drawing nearly 2 million visitors a year, this popular festival also includes an antique car parade, musical performances and a bike ride. © Barna Tanko | Dreamstime.com

For a walk in the garden, a tour of a castle or a day perusing exhibitions, head to El Castillo Museum and Gardens. Here, you’ll find permanent exhibitions of items in porcelain, stained glass, paintings and sculptures, as well as a maintained garden and access to nine rooms within the early 20th-century building. © Markpittimages | Dreamstime.com

A trip to the city isn’t complete without a ride in a chiva bus, a rustic bus most used in rural Colombia, but now a popular way to get around the city for tourists and locals alike. How can you identify a chiva? The colorful and patterned exteriors are a dead giveaway and exude the lively energy of the city. © Barna Tanko | Dreamstime.com

Honoring one of Colombia’s most celebrated artists and sculptors, the Fernando Botero sculpture display pays homage to Botero’s signature style of figures depicted as large and exaggerated. Botero (who just passed on Sept. 15) donated several sculptures to Plaza Botero and the Government of Colombia, letting all enjoy his work. © Dvrcan | Dreamstime.com

Designed to reach some of the city’s hard-to-access settlements high up the mountains, the metrocable of Medellín spans more than 9 miles and features five separate lines. Primarily used by low-income people who live in underdeveloped areas atop these hills, the metrocable has become inextricably linked with Medellín’s image. © James Wagstaff | Dreamstime.com

Street artists in Medellín have garnered a global reputation thanks to their moving, vibrant and thought-provoking artwork. One of the city’s neighborhoods, Comuna 13, is now one of the must-visit spots in the city to see such art. Once a violent place where visitors were warned to avoid, this area is now a colorful and safe place to enjoy the city’s most talented artists. © Antoine Barthelemy | Dreamstime.com

Those up for a challenge can scale the Rock of Guatapé, a massive granite rock more than 7,000 feet tall, located less than two hours from Medellín. This ancient rock was once revered by the indigenous Tahamí people. A series of staggered (708 in total) steps reach the top, in which outlooks over the surrounding area await. At the bottom of the stairs, visitors can also enjoy several food and market stalls. © Sevenkingdom | Dreamstime.com

Medellín is home to not one but several great fruit markets selling the freshest local fruits of the region. From mangoes to plantains to passionfruit to tropical fruits like soursop, many markets across the city sell fruits in their true form, as well as fruit-influenced items like juices. Some fruit markets to visit include Mercado La Presidenta and Plaza Minorista José María Villa. © Markpittimages | Dreamstime.com