Moving to Medellín: everything to do before you fly

Two weeks out: the boring-but-critical list

• Tell your bank you are traveling, and bring at least two cards on different networks — cards do get eaten, frozen and declined at the worst moments.
• Bring some cash to change on arrival; Colombia still runs on cash more than you might expect.
• Download the essentials: a ride-hailing app, an offline map of Medellín, a translation app, and WhatsApp — which in Colombia is not an app, it is infrastructure.
• Scan every important document and email the copies to yourself.
• Book your airport pickup or know your route: the airport sits up the mountain, about an hour from the city.

Week one on the ground: build your rhythm

The first week sets the tone for the whole stay. Resist the urge to treat it as a vacation — the students who thrive are the ones who build a routine fast and let the fun attach itself to it.

1. Day 1–2: get a local SIM card (prepaid is easy — our SIM, bank and health cover guide has the details) and learn your walking radius.
2. Day 2–3: take our free level test online or at the school, so you start in the right class instead of the flattering one.
3. Day 3–4: first classes. Morning Spanish gives your day a spine; everything else fits around it.
4. Day 4–5: ride the metro end to end once — it is the fastest geography lesson the city offers.
5. The weekend: come to a school activity or intercambio and meet the people who will become your Medellín. Nobody remembers their first week for the paperwork.

The do-not list (learned the hard way, by others)

• Do not sign a year-long lease on an apartment you have never stood inside. Book one flexible month, then choose with your own eyes.
• Do not arrive with a single bank card. Two cards, two networks, two locations in your luggage.
• Do not postpone Spanish until you land — the first weeks are infinitely smoother with even survival basics, and online classes exist precisely for this.
• Do not book every tour and trip from home. The best plans here are made on a Tuesday with classmates, for this Saturday.
• Do not overpack. Medellín has malls, markets and everything you forgot — and the spring-like climate means layers, not a wardrobe.

On that last point: the city sits at altitude, so evenings are cooler than the “tropical” label suggests. A light jacket, comfortable walking shoes and a rain layer will serve you better than anything bulky — and leave suitcase room for the coffee you will inevitably carry home.

Still deciding between neighborhoods? Read our honest comparison of Laureles and El Poblado before you book anything long-term — and keep the cost of living guide open while you budget.