Where is Atanasio Girardot Stadium?
Atanasio Girardot Stadium sits inside the Atanasio Girardot sports complex (Unidad Deportiva) in Laureles-Estadio, district 11 in western Medellín, between Carreras 70 and 74 and between Calle 48 and Avenida Colombia. Estadio station on metro Line B is right next to it, on Carrera 70.
It is the city's main football stadium and the second largest in Colombia, holding about 45,000 people. It is owned by the City of Medellín, run by the city sports institute INDER, and it is home to both Atlético Nacional and Deportivo Independiente Medellín (DIM).
Who was Atanasio Girardot?
The stadium opened in March 1953 and honors Atanasio Girardot, an independence hero born in San Jerónimo, Antioquia, in 1791 and killed in 1813, aged 22, at the Battle of Bárbula in Venezuela. It has hosted the 2001 Copa América, the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup and Copa Libertadores finals such as 2016's.
More than football: the sports complex
Around the stadium there are roughly 50 sports venues, including the Iván de Bedout indoor arena, swimming pools, a velodrome and a skating track. On Sunday mornings the city's car-free ciclovía usually loops around the complex (check current routes with INDER), so the area is lively even without a match.
Why pick a hotel near Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Laureles?
Laureles is the residential neighborhood right next to the stadium. You can walk to the game, skip long taxi rides through event-day traffic, and afterwards head back to leafy streets and quiet parks instead of a busy nightlife strip. You get proximity without sleeping in the middle of the crowd.
In 2023 Time Out named Laureles the coolest neighborhood in the world, noting its laid-back feel despite having the stadium and La 70 on its doorstep.
- Short distances: from Segundo Parque de Laureles to the stadium is about 1.8 km on foot, according to OpenStreetMap routing.
- Pre- and post-match plans: Carrera 70 is lined with traditional paisa restaurants and bars. Our La 70 Medellín guide helps you pick where to eat or celebrate.
- Actual rest: the hotel faces a neighborhood park rather than the stadium access roads, so after the final whistle you return to a calmer setting.
- Other venues nearby: per the hotel's reference times, Plaza Mayor is about 10 minutes away and La Macarena about 13. Coming for a trade fair too? See our guide to a hotel near Plaza Mayor Medellín.
How do you get to the stadium from Living by Armóniko?
Walking is the easiest option: it is about 1.8 km, or 20 to 25 minutes through Laureles, to the sports complex. By car it is about 2.9 km, or roughly 9 minutes without traffic according to OpenStreetMap routing, but on match days the roads around the stadium get congested both before kickoff and after the final whistle.
| Option | Approx. distance or time | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| On foot | 1.8 km, 20-25 min | Afternoon matches and groups | Carry only what you need and stick to main, well-lit streets |
| Taxi or ride-hailing app | About 9 min without traffic | Rain, kids or reduced mobility | After the match, request your ride a few blocks away from the gates |
| Metro Line B | Estadio station, next to the complex | Coming from downtown or elsewhere in the city | From the hotel it saves no time, since the station is already at the stadium |
| Football Tour | Round-trip transportation included | Tickets, guide and logistics handled for you | Subject to match availability |
Arriving by metro from another part of town
Line B runs from San Antonio, where it connects with Line A, to San Javier. If you are counting on the metro after a night match, check the last train on the official Metro de Medellín website: the last train toward San Antonio passes Estadio at around 10:50 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10:15 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays (approx.).
How should you plan match day?
Buy your ticket only through the home club's official channels, get to the sports complex early, pick a stand that matches the experience you want and decide in advance how you will get back. With that sorted, a match at the Atanasio is one of the most intense experiences Medellín has to offer.
- Official tickets: buy through the channels announced by Atlético Nacional or Independiente Medellín, depending on who is at home, and avoid street resellers.
- ID: carry your passport or ID card and check when buying whether tickets are issued in your name and which items are not allowed inside.
- Eat first: have lunch or an early dinner in Laureles or on La 70; everything around the stadium fills up in the hours before kickoff.
- Leave a buffer: entry lines grow as kickoff nears; arriving at least an hour early keeps things relaxed.
- Plan the way back: agree on a meeting point in case your group gets separated and decide whether you will walk or take a taxi.
Which stand should you choose?
The organized supporter groups, known as barras, fill the end stands: Nacional's Los del Sur in the south stand and DIM's Rexixtenxia Norte in the north. They sing and stand for all 90 minutes. For a first visit or with children, the side stands, Oriental (east) and Occidental (west), are usually calmer; during the renovation, check which sections are on sale.
Club colors and the clásico paisa
Green means Atlético Nacional; red and blue mean Independiente Medellín. When the two meet it is the clásico paisa, the city's biggest derby. If you have no team yet, wear neutral colors, and never wear one club's shirt in the rival barra's section.
Getting back after the final whistle
When the match ends, thousands of people leave at once. Wait a few minutes for the crowd to thin, keep your phone out of sight and walk as a group along main streets.
Is the stadium still open during the renovation?
Yes. As of September 2026, Atanasio Girardot is still hosting matches while its renovation moves forward; work began in July and pauses during events. A full closure is planned for the second half of 2027 and, according to El Tiempo (September 2026), the renovated stadium, holding more than 60,000 people, should be completed in 2028.
The first phase involved the controlled removal of the roof over the Occidental (west) stand. For that closure, Medellín's mayor announced that matches will be played at the Cincuentenario stadium, according to Infobae (July 2026). If you are traveling from mid-2027 or in 2028:
- Confirm that your match or concert is actually at Atanasio Girardot and not at an alternative venue.
- Check which sections are open when you buy, since the works can affect availability.
- Follow official announcements from the clubs and the city before booking your dates.
What other events take place at the stadium?
Beyond football, Atanasio Girardot is Medellín's big concert venue: Madonna, Beyoncé, Karol G and J Balvin are among the artists who have played there. During the 2026 Flower Festival it hosted the Superconcierto on August 8, and the rest of the sports complex holds tournaments and events all year round.
The same logic applies to concerts: arrive early, agree on a meeting point and have more than one way back. Still comparing places to stay? Our guide on how to choose a hotel in Medellín walks you through neighborhoods and room types.
Living by Armóniko: your football base in Laureles
Living by Armóniko is a boutique hotel in Laureles with 14 apartment-style suites, across from Segundo Parque de Laureles and about 9 minutes from Atanasio Girardot Stadium per its reference times. Every suite has an equipped kitchen and a private balcony, handy if you are staying several nights or traveling with friends.
Which suite suits your group?
For a group of friends or a small family, the Deluxe Suite offers 62 m², a king bed, a separate living room and space for three guests. The Superior, Confort and Estándar suites sleep up to two, each with a queen bed. Compare them all on our apartment-style suites with kitchen and balcony page.
Services that help on a football trip
- Football Tour: the front desk arranges the Football Tour, a 6-hour experience with match tickets, a local team jersey, face painting, traditional drinks and spirits, an introduction to football culture, round-trip transportation, a bilingual guide and travel insurance. It is subject to match availability.
- Breakfast included: the morning after, the à la carte breakfast at Botswana Café Bar on the second floor is included in your stay until 10 a.m.
- Luggage storage: if the match falls on your departure day, you can leave your bags at the hotel after the 12:00 p.m. check-out.
- Food without leaving the building: Rocoto Rooftop (fifth floor) serves Peruvian cuisine and signature cocktails; Torrealta pours craft beer with pizza, and guests get 10% off from 3 p.m.
