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.