Things to Do in Rionegro, Antioquia

Things to do in Rionegro: the historic centre

Looking for things to do in Rionegro? Start in the centre. Rionegro calls itself the “Cradle of Liberty” (Cuna de la Libertad), and its historic centre was declared a national monument in 1963.

• Plaza de la Libertad: the main square, redesigned in 2017, with about 10,000 m² of open space, trees and benches. The Museo de Artes de Rionegro (MAR) sits underneath it.
• Concatedral de San Nicolás el Magno: the white church with red domes on the square. It houses a religious art museum, and its sacristy is where the constitution of the Free State of Antioquia was signed in 1812.
• Casa de la Convención: a short walk from the square. Colombia's 1863 constitution, known as the Rionegro Constitution, was drafted here; today it's a history museum and the town archive. Repair works were announced in 2026, so check it's open before you go.

You can see the centre on foot in a couple of hours, with time for coffee in the old houses around the square.

San Antonio de Pereira: desserts and empanadas

A few minutes south of the centre is San Antonio de Pereira, a village that belongs to Rionegro, with a quiet square and a colonial church. Across eastern Antioquia it's known for its desserts: merengón (meringue with fruit and cream), natilla and homemade sweets, plus empanadas.

On weekends and public holidays, especially in the afternoon, the square fills with local families out for dessert. Weekdays are calmer and it's easier to find a table.

Every October the village holds the Fiestas de la Empanada, el Dulce y el Postre, a food fair with dozens of local producers. Dates change each year, so check with the Rionegro town hall if you want to time your visit.

It's an easy outing if you have a long layover or arrive early for an afternoon flight: the village is very close to the airport and a couple of hours is enough.

Airport bus with COMBUSES

Landing in Rionegro but staying in Medellín? The COMBUSES airport bus runs from José María Córdova Airport to San Diego, Hotel Nutibara and Metro Exposiciones, with a 23 kg checked bag included.

Book your ticket →

Llanogrande: country restaurants and stays

Llanogrande is a rural district of Rionegro, officially named Gilberto Echeverri Mejía, just south of the town and close to the airport. It has no real centre: think country estates, gated communities, hotels and restaurants, with some farming and flower growing in between.

Plenty of Medellín families drive up for a weekend lunch here, and it's a popular place to stay if you have a very early flight and want to sleep near the airport.

Bear in mind that everything is spread out. You'll need a car or taxi to get between places; it's not an area to explore on foot.

From Llanogrande it's also easy to reach neighbouring towns in eastern Antioquia such as La Ceja, El Carmen de Viboral and El Retiro.

El Retiro: a neighbouring town for an afternoon

El Retiro borders Rionegro and sits at around 2,175 m, with an average temperature of 16 °C, so it's cooler still. You can pair it with Rionegro or visit it as a day trip from Medellín, about 33 km away via Las Palmas.

What to see in El Retiro:

• Parque Principal Santander and the colonial houses around it.
• The Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario and the small Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, now a religious art museum.
• Woodworking and furniture workshops, a local tradition you still see along the streets.
• The Fiesta de los Negritos, held 26–30 December, one of the best-known year-end festivals in Antioquia.

Nature is close by too, including the Tequendamita waterfall and the La Fe reservoir, which supplies water to Medellín.

Tips for visiting Rionegro

• Bring a warm layer: Rionegro sits at about 2,130 m and averages around 18 °C, several degrees cooler than Medellín. Nights and early mornings are chilly.
• Pack an umbrella: weather on the high plateau changes quickly and showers can arrive with little warning.
• Leave a buffer before your flight: distances are short, but traffic on the airport roads builds up at rush hour and on holiday weekends.
• Use official taxis: take one from the official taxi rank at the airport or book through an app.
• Combine it with Guatapé: both Rionegro and Guatapé are in eastern Antioquia, so they fit easily into one trip around the region.
• Heading into Medellín? From the airport, the COMBUSES bus takes you straight to the city centre (San Diego or Hotel Nutibara) or to Metro Exposiciones.

Rionegro's historic centre is compact and easy to walk, and it is usually quieter than central Medellín, which makes it a relaxed first or last stop on a trip to Colombia.

Places on the map

Frequently asked questions

More Medellín guides

Photo: Concatedral de San Nicolás el Magno de Rionegro - exterior 3.jpg — XalD (CC BY-SA 4.0)