Metro, Taxi, Apps
Metro
Medellín’s modern metro system is the pride of the city. Travel by metro is reliable, fast, cheap and safe. And this system does not consist only of the subway. In addition to two metro lines, there are a streetcar line, 5 Metrocable lines (cable cars) two Metroplús bus lines, an electric bus line and small vans that connect to the metro stations. Especially if you want to go to the city center, the metro is more convenient than a cab. Because of the heavy traffic, it takes a long time to get to the center and traffic is often jammed there.
Metro lines:
Line A: from north to south, this is the main line for travelers, with 21 stations, including Poblado, San Antonio, Parque Berrío (centro) and Universidad (metro station for tourist attractions in the north, such as Parque Explora and the botanical garden). Line A also takes you to Acevedo station, for the cable car to Santo Domingo/ Parque Arví
Line B: from downtown to west, with 6 stations, including Estadio (Laureles/Estadio)
Line L: cable car from Santo Domingo Savio to Parque Arví
Check out here for the map showing routes and subway stations.
To avoid lines at the ticket office, you can buy a rechargeable Civica card at any of the metro stations, the Tarjeta Eventual. Purchasing the card (without credit) costs COP10.000 and you can use the card with multiple people. The card can be recharged at the metro stations and many other points in the city. Standard fare per ride with Cívica card is COP 3900/$1.
Update June 2025
As of 2025, the Medellín Metro no longer offers paper tickets for single rides. Instead, all passengers must use a Cívica card, which comes in two main types:
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Personalized Cívica Card: Issued free of charge at select metro stations (e.g., Itagüí, Niquía, San Antonio, San Javier) upon presentation of valid identification. This card offers discounted fares and additional benefits.
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Eventual Cívica Card: Designed for tourists and occasional users, this card can be purchased for COP 10,000 at any metro station. It does not provide fare discounts but allows access to the entire metro system.
Taxi
Traveling short distances by taxi is efficient and inexpensive. If you travel by taxi in the evening, have your hotel call a cab for you instead of stopping one on the street or order a taxi through one of the cab apps.
Prices
(standard rates 2025)
- Base fare: COP4.136.50/$1.00
- Rate per kilometer: COP 6,650 /$1.75
- Waiting time (per hour): COP 26,500/$6.60
Ride to/from airport:
- Standard yellow taxi: Approximately COP 118,000/$29.50
- White airport Taxi: fixed fare around COP 130,000/$32.50
- Shared colectivo taxi: COP 32,000 per person/$8
Apps
In addition to the Uber app, there are other cab apps in Colombia, such as InDriver, Didi and Easy Tappsi These apps work like Uber, where you can track the driver. This makes it a safe, alternative way of ordering a cab.
Our favorite taxi app is Uber. Why do we like Uber so much?
– you don’t need a local phone number. The app is linked to your email address. While traveling, we use an E-sim card and that worked perfectly with the Uber app.
–No need to pay by cash or card for every trip. You can choose to link your credit card to the Uber app and the ride is paid automatically. Super efficient!
Uber’s pricing in Medellín is based on a combination of base fare, distance, and time:
- Base Fare: COP 2,500
- Per Kilometer: COP 625
- Per Minute: COP 100
- Minimum Fare: COP 4,600
- Cancellation Fee: COP 2,500
During peak hours or high-demand periods, Uber may charge extra, increasing fares up to twice the standard rate.
InDriver works a bit different than Uber and the other apps, as you offer a price for the ride. The drivers can accept your price or make a counter-offer. There are often more than one driver willing to do a ride, so you can make your choice and even view reviews about the driver if you want. We found InDriver to be a bit cheaper, but not that much that it weighs up agains the advantages of Uber.
ColombiaMyWay tips for traveling by subway
Tip # 1: Medellín has a metrocultura
That is, there is an unwritten rule, not to make phone calls in the metro and not to eat and drink there. As a result, it stays remarkably clean in the metro and it is pleasant to travel.
Tip # 2: from a local for traveling during rush hour
Can you avoid the subway during 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.? Perfect! During rush hour, the metro is packed and travelers are crammed close together. If you do have to travel during rush hour, don’t give pickpockets a chance. Phones are especially popular. While boarding and alighting, thieves can get in and out of the subway unseen. If you stand resolutely to the left against the wall when boarding, you won’t give pickpockets a chance.
Bus transportation for trips in the area
There are two bus stations in Medellín:
1) Bus Terminal del Norte.
Buses to/from north and east including:
- Bogotá
- Cartagena
- Guatapé
- Rio Claro
- Santa Fe de Antioquia
You get to Bus terminal del Norte with a 20-minute cab ride from el Poblado or 3-minute walk from Caribe subway station (line A)
2) Bus terminal del Sur
Buses to/from the south include:
- Manizales
- Pereira
- Cali
- Jardin
- Jericó
- Abejorral
Bus Terminal del Sur is located at 3 min walk from Olaya Herrera Airport and 15 min walk from el Poblado metro station (Line A). A cab from el Poblado gets you there in about 10 min.
