Before you start

A valid passport (and tourist permit/PIP stamp) to ride transport and drive short-term on a foreign licence
A valid foreign driving licence — plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) recommended for short-term driving
A cédula de extranjería (foreigner ID) — required to get a Colombian licence or register a vehicle in the RUNT
A smartphone with the ride-apps installed (Uber, DiDi, Cabify, InDriver) and a local payment method (card or Nequi)

Step-by-step

1
Get a Cívica card and ride the Metro + integrated system
The Cívica card is free, contactless and the cheapest way to move — load it at any Metro station and tap in. A single integrated trip is about 3,820 COP (~US$0.95) on the frecuente profile, or roughly 4,400 COP (~US$1.10) on the unregistered 'al portador'/tourist card, and the same fare covers the metro, Metrocable gondolas, the tranvía and Metroplús BRT. The Cívica also unlocks EnCicla, the city's free public-bike system. The Metro runs ~4:30am to ~11pm and is genuinely clean, safe and a point of local pride.
In personWho: You, at any Metro station ticket office (taquilla)15 minutes to get the card; same-day useCard free; ~3,820 COP (~US$0.95) per trip
2
Install the ride-apps for taxis and door-to-door trips
Most nomads rely on apps rather than the street. Uber, DiDi, Cabify, InDriver and the local Picap (motorbike) all operate in Medellín; Cabify and many trips route you a yellow taxi, while InDriver lets you propose your own fare. A short ride runs ~US$2-4 and an airport run ~US$15-20. Uber and ride-hailing sit in a legal grey area in Colombia but are widely used; install two or three apps so you always have coverage.
Mobile appWho: YouMinutes to install and add payment~US$2-4 short ride; ~US$15-20 to the airport
3
Drive short-term on your foreign licence (with an IDP)
Under Colombia's Código Nacional de Tránsito (Ley 769, Art. 25), a foreigner in tourist/transit status may drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 6 months. Carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it — it translates your licence and smooths things at checkpoints, especially if your licence isn't in Spanish or roman script. After the 6-month window (or once you're a resident), you need a Colombian licence to keep driving legally; driving without one risks a fine of ~8 daily minimum wages plus possible impoundment.
In personWho: YouValid up to 6 months of tourist statusIDP obtained in your home country before arrival
4
Get a Colombian licence once you're a resident (school + exams)
There is no direct swap for most nationalities — only a handful of treaty countries can homologate. The standard path: register your cédula de extranjería in the RUNT (Registro Único Nacional de Tránsito), pass a psychomotor medical exam at an authorised CRC, enrol in a driving school (CEA / academia de conducción) for your category, then pass the theory and practical exams. The whole process typically takes 4-8 weeks and is more involved (and pricier) than a licence renewal back home.
In personWho: You, via a RUNT-registered CEA driving school and CRC medical centre4-8 weeks end to endSchool + medical + fees roughly US$200-400 (~800,000-1,600,000 COP)
5
Optional: own a car — SOAT, tecnomecánica & pico y placa
To run a car legally you must register it in the RUNT, hold the mandatory SOAT accident insurance (a 1,500-2,500cc car is ~544,700 COP / ~US$135 a year) and pass the annual tecnomecánica technical inspection (~317,000-369,000 COP / ~US$80-92; first one is 5 years after a new car's registration). Then there's pico y placa: on weekdays 5am-8pm cars are banned from much of the city on the day matching their last plate digit, with the digit-to-day pairing rotating each semester. Add a private todo riesgo policy on top of SOAT, which only covers injuries, not your vehicle.
In personWho: You, plus an insurer and a CDA inspection centreOngoing; SOAT + RTM are annualSOAT ~US$135/yr; tecnomecánica ~US$80-92/yr; private insurance extra

Documents you’ll need

Passport with valid entry stamp / tourist permit (and cédula de extranjería once resident)
Valid foreign driving licence + International Driving Permit (IDP) for short-term driving
RUNT registration, CRC medical certificate and CEA course certificate (for a Colombian licence)
Vehicle papers: licencia de tránsito, current SOAT and tecnomecánica (RTM) certificate (if you own a car)

Things most newcomers don’t know

Medellín's Metro is world-class for its price — clean, safe, punctual and a genuine source of civic pride — so most nomads never buy a car and just pair it with ride-apps.

It's Colombia's only metro and is integrated with Metrocable gondolas, a tram, BRT and public bikes on one Cívica card, reaching neighbourhoods cars can't; combined with cheap apps it covers nearly every trip.

Source: Metro de Medellín; Medellín Guru

Use the ride-apps rather than flagging taxis on the street, especially after dark — order an Uber, DiDi, Cabify or InDriver instead of hailing.

Street-hailing carries a higher risk of scams or unsafe drivers; ordering through an app gives you a tracked trip, a known fare and a record of the driver. InDriver also lets you set your own price.

Source: ColombiaMove; Casacol expat guides

Colombia does NOT directly convert most foreign licences — you'll do a driving school plus theory and practical exams, not a quick swap.

Only a few treaty countries can homologate; everyone else must register in the RUNT, pass a medical exam and complete a CEA course before testing, which surprises newcomers expecting a simple exchange.

Source: Ventanilla de Movilidad (Código Nacional de Tránsito Art. 25)

If you do drive, pico y placa bans your car from much of Medellín on set weekdays based on your plate's last digit — and the day rotates every semester.

The restriction runs Mon-Fri 5am-8pm to cut congestion; getting caught means a hefty fine, and because the digit-to-day mapping changes (e.g. it rotated again on 2 Feb 2026) you have to re-check each term.

Source: Alcaldía de Medellín, Secretaría de Movilidad

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming you can swap your home licence for a Colombian one — there's no direct exchange for most nationalities, so budget weeks for the school + exams + medical.
Driving past your 6-month tourist window without a Colombian licence — it risks a fine of ~8 daily minimum wages and possible vehicle impoundment.
Ignoring pico y placa and driving on your restricted day — the day depends on your last plate digit and rotates each semester, so a stale assumption gets you fined.
Letting your SOAT or tecnomecánica lapse — driving without them brings fines over 600,000 COP plus impoundment, tow and lot fees.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.