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Medellín Christmas lights (Alumbrados): the 2026 guide

· By the Safe Ride Medellín team

Short answer

EPM, the city's utility, lights up Medellín every Christmas, and it's free. The 2026 dates are not official yet; in 2025 the lights ran from November 28 to January 12, from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The main walk is along the river, between the Guayaquil bridge and Parques del Río. The Metro closes before the lights go off, so plan your ride back.[1][4]

Dates and hoursWhere to see themGetting back at night
Lit Christmas figures over the Medellín River at Parques del Río, at night, with their reflections on the water

Photo: XalD · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Dates and hours

EPM usually announces each year's dates in November, and we will update this guide when it does. As a reference, the 2025 edition was switched on on November 28, 2025 and stayed on until January 12, 2026: 46 days, from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.[1]

It's free. In 2025 the city expected around 400,000 visitors from other regions, so weekends and the days around Christmas are the busiest.[1]

Where to see them

The main display is the Medellín River corridor, between the Guayaquil bridge and Parques del Río. In 2025 it was split into four stretches, from the Guayaquil bridge to the Calle 33 bridge and on to Parques del Río.[1]

Downtown also lights up: Parque de Bolívar, Avenida La Playa, Plaza Botero, Parque San Antonio and the tram corridor. In 2025 there were lights too on the Las Palmas road, Carrera 70, Cerro Nutibara and Parque Lleras, and in the main park of each neighborhood, such as the Primer Parque de Laureles and the Parque de El Poblado.[1]

A walking route that works

In 2024 EPM suggested starting on Avenida La Playa, continuing along Avenida Oriental and down San Juan to the Guayaquil bridge, and from there following the river path and Parques del Río to the EPM building. Check this year's layout when it is announced.[2]

If you'd rather not walk, part of the river figures can be seen from the car along Avenida Regional and Autopista Sur.[2]

Getting back at night

The lights stay on until midnight, but the Metro runs until 11:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and until 10:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. If you stay late, you'll need another way home.[4][1]

  • Keep your phone out of sight in the crowds, and in your pocket on the street: ride-by phone thefts are common.[3]
  • Don't hail a taxi on the street at night: book one through an app or arrange your ride in advance.[3]
  • Agree on a meeting point if you go as a group: on busy nights it's easy to get separated.

The lights by car, door to door

Book a driver by the hour for the evening: we pick you up at your hotel, drop you at the start of the walk, wait nearby and take you home when you're done, also after the Metro closes. Safe Ride Medellín is a brand of Safe Experience S.A.S., a Colombian travel agency; the rides are operated by a licensed special-transport company.

  • Fixed, all-inclusive price, paid online when you book.
  • By the hour, 4-hour minimum.
  • Verified driver; you get their name and photo before the ride.
  • English and Spanish.
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service.
  • By the hour (city): COP 75,000 / hour · ≈ $23
Book a driver for the eveningBook your driver

Frequently asked questions

When are the Medellín Christmas lights in 2026?

The official dates are not out yet; EPM usually announces them in November. In 2025 they ran from November 28 to January 12.[1]

Are the Christmas lights free?

Yes. Seeing the lights is free; only tourist services and side activities are paid.[1]

What time are they on?

In 2025, every day from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.[1]

Where is the best place to see them?

The river corridor between the Guayaquil bridge and Parques del Río is the main display. Downtown (Parque de Bolívar, La Playa, Plaza Botero) and the neighborhood parks also light up.[1]

Can I see them from a car?

Partly: some of the river figures can be seen from Avenida Regional and Autopista Sur. To enjoy the walk, get dropped off and picked up.[2]

Sources

Every safety figure, fare and schedule on this page comes from these sources. Check them before you travel: rules and fares change.

  1. [1]El Colombiano · Alumbrados navideños van a contar los 350 años de Medellín: esto es lo que debe saber si quiere visitarlos (Nov 8, 2025)2025 edition: dates (Nov 28, 2025 – Jan 12, 2026), hours, free entry, river corridor and its four stretches, other lit spots and neighborhood parks, expected visitors. Accessed Nov 2, 2026.
  2. [2]EPM · Alumbrados Navideños de EPM: Medellín, un pesebre de luz (Nov 29, 2024)2024 edition: EPM's suggested walking route (La Playa, Oriental, San Juan, Guayaquil bridge, river path to the EPM building) and figures visible from Avenida Regional and Autopista Sur. Accessed Nov 2, 2026.
  3. [3]U.S. Department of State · Colombia Travel Advisory (Level 3: Reconsider Travel) and country information (Mar 31, 2026)Level 3 nationwide; “Do not travel” areas; staff ban on street taxis and public transport; taxis, dating apps, drugging, ATMs, ride-by robberies; emergency numbers. Accessed Oct 15, 2026.
  4. [4]Metro de Medellín · Horarios del Metro de MedellínOperating hours, Monday–Saturday and Sundays/holidays. Accessed Oct 15, 2026.