How close is Laureles to Plaza Mayor Medellín?
Plaza Mayor Medellín, the city's convention and exhibition center, sits in the La Alpujarra district at Calle 41 #55-80. From Living by Armóniko in Laureles it is about 10 minutes away according to the hotel's reference times: roughly 3.5 km by car along Calle San Juan, across the Medellín River.
Two venues, two addresses
Plaza Mayor has two venues: the Convention Center (Recinto de Convenciones) at Calle 41 #55-80 and the Exhibition Center (Recinto de Exposiciones) at Calle 41 #55-35, the address given for exhibitors' freight. If you are shipping booth materials, ask your organizer which one to use.
The original Palacio de Exposiciones opened on August 21, 1975, and in 2006 merged with the International Convention Center to become Plaza Mayor Medellín. The exhibition venue has five pavilions (White, Yellow, Blue, Green and Red) and a central hall; the convention venue adds 23 meeting rooms.
Why stay in Laureles instead of next to the venue
The area around Plaza Mayor is Medellín's government and office district. Laureles is a residential, walkable neighborhood with parks, cafés and restaurants a few steps away, so after a long show day you switch pace without crossing the city.
How do you get from Laureles to Plaza Mayor?
The easiest way from Laureles to Plaza Mayor is a taxi or ride-hailing app: about 10 minutes in normal traffic. If you prefer public transport, Metro Line B takes you to Cisneros station, and from there it is roughly a one-kilometer walk. At rush hour, leave extra time.
| Option | Route | Approx. time | Best if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi or app | Laureles, Calle San Juan, Plaza Mayor (about 3.5 km) | about 10 min | you're carrying samples or luggage, or dressed for business |
| Metro Line B | Walk to Estadio station, two stops to Cisneros, then about 1 km on foot | 45 to 55 min door to door | you want to skip rush-hour traffic |
| On foot | About 2.8 km, crossing the Medellín River | about 38 min | you travel light, in daylight |
| Bike | Bike lanes reach the venue along Avenida San Juan | at your pace | you already ride around the city |
Metro, walking and cycling times are rough estimates from open map data; the 10 minutes are the hotel's reference.
By taxi or rental car
Plaza Mayor has 730 parking spaces split by venue. If you drive in from another city, the hotel has a state-of-the-art vertical parking system: mention it when you book to get arrival directions.
By Metro and Metroplús
- Walk about 23 minutes (roughly 1.7 km) to Estadio station on Line B, or take a short taxi ride.
- Ride two stops toward downtown: Suramericana, then Cisneros.
- From Cisneros, walk about 1 km (around 13 minutes) to Plaza Mayor, or switch to the Cisneros Metroplús bus station one block away and ride Line 1 to its Plaza Mayor stop.
- Via Line A: stay on to San Antonio, transfer and get off at Alpujarra, about 600 m away. According to Plaza Mayor, Alpujarra and Exposiciones stations are signposted to the venue.
First time in the city? Our guide to getting around Medellín from Laureles covers the Cívica card and airport options.
Which trade fairs and conventions take place at Plaza Mayor?
Plaza Mayor hosts trade shows, conventions and corporate events all year. The best known are fashion events: Colombiatex de las Américas, the textile fair that usually opens the calendar in January, and Colombiamoda in July. The venue has also hosted general assemblies of the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank.
- Colombiatex de las Américas: the textile and apparel supply-chain fair organized by Inexmoda. Its 36th edition, January 23 to 25, 2024, gathered more than 572 exhibitors and guests from 40 countries, expected over 12,000 attendees and took up 26,810 m², nearly all of Plaza Mayor's commercial space.
- Colombiamoda: Inexmoda's fashion, business and knowledge fair. It started in 1990 at the former Palacio de Exposiciones, and the 2026 edition ran from July 28 to 30.
- Expoartesano – La Memoria: Plaza Mayor's own event showcasing handicrafts from across Colombia.
- Industry shows and conventions: for example, the September 2026 calendar includes Nextech (22–24) and the Feria de la Vivienda housing fair (25–27).
Dates change every year. Before booking flights, check the official Plaza Mayor events calendar and confirm your event's pavilion.
What should a hotel near Plaza Mayor Medellín offer for a trade fair trip?
For a trade show or convention, the right hotel combines a short, predictable ride to the venue, breakfast before you leave, a solid connection for evening work and somewhere to leave luggage on the last day. Add a quiet neighborhood: after eight hours on a booth, good sleep matters as much as proximity.
- Commute: a few minutes by car, plus a public transport backup.
- Breakfast on site: no hunting for coffee before the doors open.
- A place to work: a desk or shared space with reliable WiFi.
- A place to meet: a café or restaurant in the same building.
- Luggage storage: closing day often falls on checkout day.
- Kitchen and fridge: handy if you stay a full week of setup, show and teardown.
Still comparing neighborhoods and hotel styles? Read our guide on how to choose a hotel in Medellín for your kind of trip.
Living by Armóniko: a Laureles base for trade fair trips
Living by Armóniko is a boutique hotel with 14 apartment-style suites across from Segundo Parque de Laureles, about 10 minutes from Plaza Mayor. Every suite has an equipped kitchen and a private balcony, and à la carte breakfast at Botswana Café Bar is included, so you head to the show already fed.
Which suite works for a business trip
- Standard Suite (20 m², queen bed): functional, and described by the hotel as ideal for business travel.
- Superior Suite (32 m², queen bed): more room to work or unwind between show days.
- Deluxe Suite (62 m², king bed, up to 3 guests): a separate living room and full kitchen, useful for longer setup-and-show stays.
You can compare the apartment-style suites with kitchen and balcony and take each one's 360° tour before booking.
Work and meet without leaving the building
- High-speed WiFi and a coworking space for guests.
- Botswana Café Bar (2nd floor): breakfast included until 10 a.m.; during the day, specialty coffee and a great spot to work or meet.
- Rocoto Rooftop (5th floor): Peruvian cuisine and signature cocktails for a sunset client dinner.
- 123 Wok and Torrealta: 10% off the full menu for guests (at Torrealta, from 3 p.m.).
Note: under hotel policy, visitors in guest rooms are charged COP 250,000 per person per day, so Botswana or the rooftop make a better setting for business meetings. See all hotel services and restaurants.
Arrivals and departures without dragging luggage
Check-in is at 3:00 p.m. and checkout at noon. Landing early or flying out after closing day? Leave your bags in luggage storage. Airport transfers are arranged on prior request and charged separately; José María Córdova airport is in Rionegro, about 30-35 km by road.
What can you do after the show near Plaza Mayor and in Laureles?
If the day wraps up early, there is plenty right around Plaza Mayor: Parque de los Pies Descalzos, the Teatro Metropolitano and La Alpujarra plaza. Back in Laureles, Segundo Parque, the neighborhood's restaurants and the hotel rooftop round off the evening with no long rides.
Next to the venue
- Parque de los Pies Descalzos: a public park by the utility company EPM next to Plaza Mayor, with fountains, a bamboo grove and a Zen garden.
- Teatro Metropolitano José Gutiérrez Gómez: opened in 1987, seats 1,634 and is home to the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra; check its listings.
- La Alpujarra Administrative Center: seat of the Antioquia governor's office and City Hall, crowned by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur's Monumento a la Raza.
Back in the neighborhood
Two minutes' walk away, La Pampa, a partner steakhouse, offers guests a complimentary starter or dessert. With a free day before your flight, the front desk arranges 16 experiences, from a City Tour to Guatapé. See what's near the hotel in Laureles.
When should you book for a Plaza Mayor trade fair?
Book as soon as your participation is confirmed, especially for big shows like Colombiatex, which bring thousands of domestic and international visitors to the city over three days. If you book direct, you can coordinate setup dates, arrival times or an airport transfer with the team on WhatsApp (+57 301 143 2786).
- Exhibiting? Add setup and teardown days to your reservation.
- Traveling as a team? Message that same WhatsApp number with your dates and headcount to check availability across several suites.
- Watching the budget? The hotel's website offers a best-rate guarantee; here is why booking direct with the hotel usually pays off.
Learn more about our boutique hotel in Laureles.
