Bogotá and Medellín Are Both “World Best” Cities

Finally getting the global attention they deserve, two Colombian cities recently made TIME Magazine and Time Out lists of the world’s best places to live and visit.

Bogotá made the TIME list of the “Best Places of the World to Visit in 2022” The magazine praised Colombia’s capital city for its sustainability efforts and enhancement of its culinary offerings during the pandemic.

Over the past two years, the city has added 52 miles of bike paths for a total of 442 miles of cycling routes, making it one of the best cities in Latin America for bicycle riding. A new bike-share program is set to be launched this autumn to improve the accessibility for people in five neighborhoods including the Historic District of La Candelaria, where the program will offer both muscle-powered and electric bikes.

In a report about the best cities in the world by Time Out Magazine in New York, Medellín ranked third after Edinburg (Scotland) and Chicago (USA). Although the city was once considered one of the most dangerous places in the world, Medellín is now renowned for its urban innovation, infrastructure, social transformation and tourism.

Great weather throughout the year, the sense of belonging of its inhabitants, and being the only city in Colombia with a metro system were among the city’s advantages according to the article. As the birthplace of reggaeton stars like J. Balvin, Maluma and Karol G., Medellín’s nightlife was another plus.