The neighbourhood where Medellín lives at street level: flat, leafy and without the passing tourist crowd.
What to see & do
1. The circular street plan
Laureles looks like no other neighbourhood in Medellín. Architect Pedro Nel Gómez laid it out in the 1940s with curved streets and concentric circles instead of the usual grid. That is why getting lost here is easy even with a map, and why it is full of odd corners and leafy roundabouts.
2. Primera and Segunda de Laureles
Two parallel avenues with tree-lined central medians that act as the neighbourhood's spine. They are packed with cafés, bakeries, local restaurants and small bars. This is everyday paisa life without a tourist filter: people walking the dog, students, families.
3. The Atanasio Girardot stadium
Home to Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín, surrounded by the city's largest sports complex: Olympic pools, arenas, tracks. On match days the whole neighbourhood changes colour. Around it lies a green belt heavily used for running and skating.
4. The Segundo Parque de Laureles
A small square ringed by bars and restaurants that turns into a meeting point at night. It is Laureles' answer to Parque Lleras, far calmer and with a fraction of the tourism.
5. How flat it is
This sounds trivial until you have spent three days climbing hills in Medellín. Laureles is one of the few flat areas in the city, which makes it the best neighbourhood to explore by bike without a second thought.
Our tours to this place
All our tours depart from Laureles. You arrive, have a coffee with us, get your e-bike and set off to discover the real Medellín with a local guide. Pick yours:
Related tours
Practical info
- Getting there. Metro line B, stations Estadio, Floresta or Suramericana depending on which part you want. Estadio is the most central for the bar district.
- When to go. By day it is quiet and a pleasure to walk under the trees. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights the 33 and the Segundo Parque get lively.
- How long. A couple of hours to wander it at an easy pace. It is a neighbourhood to spend time in rather than to tick off.
- Safety. A calm residential area with plenty of foot traffic. At night, the normal precautions of any large city apply.
- Prices. Noticeably cheaper than El Poblado, both for eating and for staying, and closer to how people in Medellín actually live.
- By bike. This is the most rewarding neighbourhood in the city to pedal: flat, shaded and with wide streets. Here a bike stops being an effort and becomes the best way to get around.
Frequently asked questions
Laureles or El Poblado to stay in?
Laureles if you want something more local, flatter to walk and cheaper. El Poblado if you prioritise services, an international atmosphere and concentrated nightlife. They are about twenty minutes apart.
Is Laureles safe?
Yes, it is one of the calmest residential areas in the city, busy with people at all hours of the day.
Why are the streets circular?
Because of the original 1940s design, which aimed for an organic layout instead of the traditional grid. It is unique in Medellín.
Is Laureles touristy?
Far less than El Poblado. You notice it mainly in the prices, and in the fact that the people on the street actually live here.
Can you explore it on foot?
Yes, and comfortably, because it is flat. The only difficulty is orientation: the circular layout confuses people even with a map.
Gallery
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