Visiting the Medellín Christmas Lights

Every December through January, Medellín transforms into one of the most magical places in Colombia thanks to its famous Christmas lights, or Alumbrados Navideños. National Geographic even named Medellín’s lights one of the top 10 holiday light displays in the world back in 2012!

If you’re visiting Colombia during the holidays, this is one of the best experiences to add to your itinerary.

Tips for Visiting the Medellín Christmas Lights

• The Medellín Christmas lights are safe to visit. At each entrance to the riverwalk, you’ll go through a quick security check where bags are looked into as well.
• Inside, I felt completely safe. I had my phone out the entire time taking photos, and so did everyone else.
• We even visited on Christmas Eve, and while it was lively, it never felt uncomfortably crowded.
• Arrive before 8:30 pm, since security stops letting people in after that, and the lights shut down at 9 pm
• There are street stands selling food and sweets
• I suggest getting an Uber to and from the park area. At night, we walked to a train station, but the timings must have been off because we eventually ordered an Uber after waiting a while.

Where to See the Lights

Enter the lights through Parques del Río. This has the biggest attractions, and there are amazing designs along the Medellín River.

We spent about an hour walking up and down, taking pictures, and enjoying the atmosphere. Honestly, you could spend even longer if you stop for food or take in every detail.

I really enjoyed the animals!

And the arabesque buildings.

Every year, the lights have a different theme. In 2024, the theme was the Nativity Scene. There were tons of animals, bright colors, and even an Arabian Nights vibe to the designs.

There are stalls selling food and candy along the light routes.

A Little History of the Christmas Lights

According to a few sources, the first public Christmas lighting in Medellín was back in 1851 at Plaza Mayor. The modern tradition took off in the 1950s, when private companies started contributing. By 1955, Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), the city’s public utilities company, began supporting the event. In 1967, they officially took over everything—design, assembly, and the massive costs.

Since then, EPM has turned the lights into an annual mega-production, with millions of bulbs decorating the city and attracting visitors from all over the world.