Is Medellín Gay-Friendly? Yes, But Read This Before You Book 🛬

• 🌈 Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Areas — Poblado, Laureles, and Envigado are safe and welcoming zones for gay travelers in Medellín.

• 🍸 Best Gay Bars & Clubs — Donde Aquellos, Industry Club, Bar Chiquita and more hot spots for dancing, drag, and drinks.

• 🕺 Hookup Safety Tips — Use Grindr and Tinder wisely, meet in public, and avoid late-night scams.

• 🎉 What to Expect During Pride — Medellín Pride Parade brings color and community, but the real parties are underground.

• 🚫 What NOT to Do — Avoid El Centro late at night, flashy gear, and assuming Colombia is just like home.

This isn’t San Francisco or Barcelona, but it’s not 1950s Bogotá either. Medellín is one of the most progressive cities in Latin America, joining Buenos Aires and Montevideo as the most gay friendly cities in LatAm. That doesn't mean you should test your luck everywhere. It's still a Catholic country and machismo culture still lingers, and plenty of people will smile to your face while whispering behind it - ask a Colombian about "Doble Morale" if you want to know. But in the right parts of town, you’ll be free to be yourself without fear of being singled out for being gay.

Let’s get a few things straight—well, not too straight.

Where You Can Be Yourself Without the Side-Eye

Stick to these three areas. They’re safe, they’re foreigner-heavy, and no one cares who you’re kissing at 2 a.m.

Poblado

This is the place where most tourists and first timers to Medellin go. There's nothing wrong with that. It's a nice, modern area that is geared to tourists. PLEASE make sure to read the Do's and Don'ts in the article here. I also have several articles on how to stay safe. Don't get too comfortable, pack your street smarts right next to your facial sun screen, but all in all this is the best place to be in the city. Also, on Sundays there is a phenomenon called Ciclovia, where the city closes Avenida Poblado and allows for people to walk, jog, bike, rollerblade, and the amount of barely clothed attractive humans here is astounding.

• This is the bubble. It's rich, touristy, and a little over-polished (read: overpriced)

• But it’s also where you can walk around holding hands and nobody blinks.

• You’ll find the most clubs, bars, and shirtless selfies per square meter.
  

Laureles

This is the other, but smaller bubble. It's more of a big town vibe. If I were to compare this to US cities, Poblado is like Manhattan, and Laureles is like Brooklyn. I will say that there are a TON of great restaurants in Laureles, and the bars there are great. There is a bit of a rivalry between Laureles and Poblado foreigners. I'm in the middle of both, so I am Switzerland, so both have their charm. Same thing here with the safety perspective. It's easy to get into a false sense of safety in Laureles, so stay on your toes, but all in all you'll be ok here. There is limited Metro coverage here, so Uber, Didi and InDrive will be your best options.

• The cool cousin that actually listens to music other than reggaetón.

• More locals, fewer gringos, but very gay-friendly.

• Think bars with rainbow flags that aren’t trying to prove a point.
  

Envigado

So, I am going to age myself here, Envigado is a great place for people who like a chill vibe. There isn't a huge nightlife in general, but in terms of living, this is the best place in the valley. Hands down. You and your partner can live out in the open here with no large concerns. Be smart about it, but you won't get dirty looks if you're shopping at Jumbo or having a meal at Calle de la Buena Mesa. You won't see many rainbow flags, but you won't see many people staring at you either. You're just another couple here. I lived in La Frontera which is on the border of Medellin and Envigado and it's one of the nicest places I've ever lived in my life. Expensive but nice.

• The traditional one. Not a gay nightlife hub, but totally chill during the day.

• Locals here are polite and discreet. You’re not going to get harassed, but you’re also not going to be celebrated.

• Good if you’re looking to live, not party.
  

Outside these zones? Watch your back. It's not smart to go to some of the rougher neighborhoods in general if you're not familiar with how to move in these neighborhoods, and if you're out in these areas, the danger is definitely ratcheted up quite a bit.

There are few gay clubs in Centro, but to be blunt, there is no specific danger to be in Centro in the day, especially if you follow my tips on how to stay safe in THIS ARTICLE, but it's not the safest area of the city. This danger goes up if you are practicing PDA with your partner. In general it's a bad idea, I'm straight, and I don't even practice it with my partners here. It's just a general safety tip for Centro and some of the sketchy areas.

To be clear, Comuna 13 is very touristy, but you are 2 wrong turns from danger there. I ALWAYS recommend that tourists go there with tour guides. No graffiti tour is worth putting yourself in danger.

Gay Bars and Clubs That Don’t Suck

Donde Aquellxs (Parque Lleras) https://www.instagram.com/dondeaquellxs/

• Legendary. Not fancy. Just easy and fun.

• Outdoor tables, cheap drinks, and the most diverse crowd you’ll see in one night.

• Amazing shows. I saw Silviana D'Angels "Selena" show here. Best drag shows in the city.

Industry Club (Barrio Colombia) https://www.instagram.com/industryclubmedellin

• The big one. Two floors, go-go dancers, and drag queens throwing shade in Spanish.

• Arrive after midnight, leave when the sun’s up.

• This is the club where you'll see top DJs in the city.

• You’ll sweat, dance, and probably lose a contact.
  

Bar Chiquita (Poblado) https://www.instagram.com/bar_chiquita/

• If you hate loud clubs but still want to be surrounded by queers and tequila, this is your place.

• Artsy vibe, strong cocktails, real conversations.

• No reggaetón remixes of Lady Gaga. Thank God.
  

Purple Club (Envigado) https://www.instagram.com/purpleclub_medellin/

• Lowkey. Still building its reputation.

• Great if you’re tired of Poblado’s overpriced drinks and Miami wannabes.

• Mostly locals. Spanish is going to be almost necessary here. Bring someone who can translate.
  

Hookups Happen. So Do Scams.

Yes, Grindr works here. Tinder too. But don’t be naïve. Read THIS article, because these tips may be for straight people, but you can learn something from it. There are so many scams, but if I can sum them all up in one phrase, it's "If it seems too good to be true, it definitely is"

• Don’t invite strangers to your Airbnb after one exchange.

• If your date wants to bring a friend - HARD NO.

• Meet in public. Preferably somewhere with alot of people and cameras.

• Watch your drink. Keep your wallet in your front pocket.

• If someone’s too hot and too interested, they probably have an extra motive—or a partner waiting outside on a motorbike.

• Leave your valuables at home. Buy a burner phone to take in the streets with you.
  

This city doesn’t care if you’re gay. It cares if you’re dumb. People in vacation mode are targets here.

Pride in Medellín

Medellín Pride Parade is happening on June 27-30th in 2025. It’s real. Big crowds, loud music, and energy that’ll make you believe in humanity again. At the bottom of the article, I'm adding the flyer for the premier party for pride week.

But the real action is in the bars, the house parties, and the Instagram flyers that vanish 24 hours later. The scene here is more underground than advertised.

You can follow the promoters on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lovepridemedellin

Quick Dos and Don'ts

DO:

• Be yourself in Poblado, Laureles, and most of Envigado

• Use rideshare apps, not random taxis

• Say “hola” and “gracias”—you’re in their country

• Hit Bar Chiquita on a Friday

• Buy a burner phone, and use that in the streets.

• Keep a picture of your passport on the phone. If you must carry an ID, I HIGHLY recommend getting a passport ID card.

• Only take one low limit credit/debit card with you, and don't carry alot of cash on you.

• USE your street smarts.
  

DON’T:

• Get sloppy drunk and wander. This is how bad things happen.

• Flash your new iPhone out and about. See above.

• Assume every Colombian guy on Grindr is single, or safe. Tinder gets the publicity, but MANY druggings start on Grindr.

• Expect rainbow crosswalks and drag brunch every Sunday.

• Act like the main character. You're a guest here, so act accordingly.

• Lecture locals about being “more open-minded”
  

Last Thing

Gay travelers do great here. Most locals are friendly, even if they don’t get your fashion choices. But Medellín isn’t a theme park for your identity. It’s a real city with real culture, and real people trying to live their lives. I have to say this also, while this is an incredibly beautiful city, but it's a city with real consequences for anyone who isn't aware of their surroundings, and most importantly people don't respect the city, people and culture.

So enjoy yourself, this city is a beautiful place, with incredibly nice and beautiful people. Just don’t act like the main character, and for the love of everything, be aware of your surroundings. Colombia is the land of magical realism, don't be lulled into it.