Metro de Medellín: lines, schedules and Cívica
The Medellín metro is the fastest way to move around the Aburrá Valley and connects with cable cars, tram, and Metroplús. We tell you how to use it and how to get from the metro to the airport bus.
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Medellín ↔ Medellín Airport (MDE)
Two Train Lines
Line A from Niquía to La Estrella and Line B from San Antonio to San Javier.
From 4:30 to 23:00
Monday to Saturday; Sundays and holidays from 5:00 to 22:00 on the main lines.
Civic Card
Pay with the Civic Card: personalized for free the first time or occasional at authorized channels.
Metro + Bus to the Airport
At the north exit of Exposiciones, the COMBUSES bus departs every 20 minutes.
Lines of the Medellín metro
The Medellín metro began operating on November 30, 1995, and today it is the backbone of the Integrated Transport System of the Aburrá Valley. It has two train lines:
- Line A: runs the valley from north to south, from Niquía (Bello) to La Estrella, with 21 stations and about 25.8 km. It passes through the center (Parque Berrío, San Antonio, Exposiciones) and through El Poblado.
- Line B: goes from San Antonio to San Javier, towards the west, with 7 stations.
The system is complemented by the cable cars (lines H, J, K, L, M, and P), the Ayacucho tram (line T-A, from San Antonio to Oriente), and the Metroplús bus lines (1, 2, and O). With the same card, you can integrate between modes. San Antonio is the key station: lines A and B cross there and the tram starts there.
Metro schedules in 2026
According to the schedule published by the Medellín Metro:
- Monday to Saturday: from 4:30 to 23:00 on most lines. The last trains from Niquía and La Estrella leave at 22:40.
- Sundays and holidays: lines A, B, T-A, O, 1, and 2 from 5:00 to 22:00. Cable car K opens at 8:30, and lines H, J, M, and P at 9:00.
- Cable car L (Santo Domingo–Arví): from 9:00 to 18:00 Monday and from Wednesday to Saturday; Sundays and holidays from 8:30 to 18:00. It does not operate on Tuesdays.
Peak hours, at the start of the morning and the end of the afternoon on weekdays, are the busiest. If you are traveling with a large suitcase on your way to the airport, try to avoid them. For the schedule of the first and last vehicle at each station, check the user section at metrodemedellin.gov.co, as there may be adjustments due to works or events.
Bus to the Airport with COMBUSES
The metro and COMBUSES complement each other: take Line A to Exposiciones or Parque Berrío and continue by direct bus to José María Córdova Airport. Buy your ticket online and travel whenever you want within 30 days.
Cívica card and fares
You enter the metro with the Cívica card; there are no more paper tickets. There are two types:
- Personalized Cívica: the first issuance is free. It is obtained at the Customer Service Points of the Niquía, Acevedo, San Javier, Itagüí, and San Antonio stations, from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 18:30. Foreigners can request it with a passport. If you lose it, the balance can be recovered.
- Occasional Cívica: it does not carry your data and is obtained at authorized channels. Its value is set by the transport authority. If lost, the balance is not recoverable.
In the 2026 fare table of the Metro, a trip costs 3,820 pesos with a frequent profile (personalized Cívica) and 4,400 pesos with an occasional or bearer Cívica. The ticket offices, recharge machines, and service points accept cash only; you can also recharge with apps like Nequi, DaviPlata, or Mi Bancolombia. Confirm the current fare at the station before recharging.
How to use the metro step by step
- Get and recharge your Cívica at a ticket office or recharge machine. Bring small bills.
- Swipe the card through the turnstile. If you are going to integrate (for example, metro and cable car), the system deducts it according to your route.
- Check the direction: on Line A the platforms are marked as "towards Niquía" (north) or "towards La Estrella" (south).
- To transfer to Line B or the tram, get off at San Antonio; for cable cars K and P, at Acevedo; for J, at San Javier.
The metro culture is taken seriously: no eating inside the system, queue to enter the train, let people exit before boarding, and priority seats are for those who need them. On the train, keep your phone and carry your backpack in front during crowded hours.
From the Metro to José María Córdova Airport
The metro does not reach the airport, which is in Rionegro, on the other side of the mountain. But it has a direct connection with the COMBUSES bus:
- Metro Exposiciones (Line A, between Alpujarra and Industriales): at the north exit of the station, the bus to the airport departs every 20 minutes, from 4:00 to 18:00. The journey takes about 1 hour.
- Hotel Nutibara (Cra. 50A #53-1, next to Plaza Botero): a couple of blocks from the Parque Berrío station. Departures every 15 minutes, 24 hours, about 40 minutes.
- San Diego Stop, in La Candelaria: every 15 minutes, 24 hours, about 35 minutes.
For early morning flights or after 18:00, use San Diego or Nutibara, which operate all night. The fare starts from 20,000 pesos, the ticket is digital and valid for 30 days on the same route, with no reservation or fixed time.
Places on the Map
Exposiciones Station – COMBUSES
Exposiciones Station (north exit), Line A, La Candelaria, Medellín
Bus to the airport every 20 minutes from 4:00 to 18:00, about 60 minutes.
How to Get ThereParque Berrío Station
Line A, Parque de Berrío, La Candelaria, Medellín
Two blocks from Hotel Nutibara, COMBUSES point open 24 hours.
How to Get ThereSan Antonio Station
Lines A, B and tram T-A, Carrera 51, La Candelaria, Medellín
Transfer between Line A, Line B and tram; has Civic Attention Point.
How to Get ThereFrequently Asked Questions
More Guides of Medellín
Photo: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)