The valley around Medellin holds a string of small Antioquian towns that work well as day trips. Guatapé, two hours east, has a polychrome painted village and the climb up El Peñol — 740 steps to the top of a granite plug with one of South America's great views. Santa Fe de Antioquia, an hour and a half northwest, is the old colonial capital, drowsy and white-walled, with the famous Puente de Occidente suspension bridge nearby. Jardín, three hours south, is a coffee-country mountain town built around a hand-painted central plaza. Jericó, on the same southern route, is smaller and quieter. Carmen de Viboral is the ceramics village, an hour east. San Antonio de Pereira is the dessert town, halfway to Guatapé.
For nature without the drive: Parque Arvi at the top of the Metrocable, Cerro El Volador within city limits, and the cloud-forest reserves on the western ridge.