Santafé Shopping Center
Santafé Shopping Center is one of the largest and most popular malls in Medellín. Its diversity of stores and restaurants, strategic location, architecture, and constant cultural programming make this place really attractive for the whole family, including pets, since it’s a pet-friendly mall.
During the Flowers Festival, the city’s largest festival, the central court of this mall is transformed into a garden with monumental figures made of flowers. In December, it’s illuminated with lanterns and magical Christmas decorations, which makes it the perfect place to visit and buy Christmas gifts (or the gift from Baby Jesus, as we say in Colombia).
On average, eleven shopping centers open every year in Colombia, and Medellín is widely recognized for its shopping tourism. It’s leveraged by its experience in the textile sector, its business-oriented spirit, the creativity of its young entrepreneurs, and two of the industry’s most renowned platforms in Latin America: Colombiamoda and Colombiatex fairs.
The city offers everything from small stores in downtown Medellín, with competitive prices and a wide range of options, to streets lined with alternative fashion boutiques or independent entrepreneurs and designers like Vía Primavera, as well as large shopping centers such as Parque Comercial El Tesoro or Santafé Shopping Center, which has more than 203,000 square meters of floor space. Here are some other similar places you’re sure to love.
The shopping centers in Medellín follow the worldwide trend that seeks to make people feel like they’re in “small cities”, and indeed, visiting the Santafé Shopping Center is an incredible experience.
Upon entering the huge building, you find a world full of talent and joy; visitors find here a variety of shops that make them feel that everything is possible—stores for all tastes, coffee shops, delicious restaurants, bookstores, and stationery shops. There are also financial and health services, supermarkets, and chain stores. In addition, its strategic location on Avenida El Poblado and close to Medellín’s entertainment district, makes it an ideal place to enjoy at any time of the day.
- Large central court. With an area of 950 square meters and a sliding roof, this setting is one of its main attractions. It changes throughout the year—it blooms during the Flowers Festival, is covered with ice for Christmas, and offers attractions for every member of the family. The whole city blooms once a year, is painted in a myriad of colors, and is filled with life and people applauding the silleteros‘ tradition during the Flowers Festival! Santafé Shopping Center is no exception to the celebration and becomes one of the most charming places to visit between the end of July and the beginning of August. Its central court literally blossoms. A flower carpet with huge 3D figures, such as a 12-meter peacock, has been set up there since 2011. There have also been immense hummingbirds and four butterflies flapping their wings as a symbol of transformation. All of them have been sculptures full of magic that make visitors fall in love with the novel way of decorating the space! In December, the central court is covered with ice to turn it into a skating rink where families have fun with falls and spins. During the mid-year vacations, the central court turns into a big ball pit with slides!
- Diversity of stores. With around 400 stores, Santafé Shopping Center offers a diverse selection of clothing, travel agencies, food, decorative items, makeup and accessories, technology, and more! There are stores of all sizes and sectors: from small to large, and national and foreign brands. Here you can check out the Santafé Shopping Center’s brand guide!
- There’s a wide gastronomic offer for all tastes. You can enjoy delicious traditional food at the Don Jediondo restaurant, as well as gourmet and artisanal food at Romero. There’s also a variety of bakeries and ice cream shops. You’ll find Crepes and Waffles, a chain of restaurants that began as a small rustic French-style creperie in 1980. It has conquered the hearts of its diners with French and Mediterranean food, salads, ice cream, and dishes with a Colombian touch. With this formula they have reached countries such as Mexico, Spain, Panama, Chile, and Ecuador.
- Cultural agenda. Different activities for the whole family take place during the week—mass, dance fitness, yoga, pilates, among others. Check the schedule here!
Santafé Shopping Center is at Carrera 43A # 7 Sur – 170, Medellín, in the Milla de Oro area (Golden Mile). It’s located in the El Poblado neighborhood, on Avenida El Poblado, one of the city’s main avenues.
- By metro. Once you arrive at Aguacatala station, head to the right side, where you’ll find different buses that pass close to this shopping center. Keep in mind that if you have a Cívica card (which allows you to pay for your trips in the metro system and its articulated means of transport), you can get a cheaper fare. You can obtain the card at San Antonio station. Click here for fare information.
- By bus. Any bus that travels along Avenida El Poblado, between Envigado and Parque de El Poblado, can get you there. Some of the bus routes that operate near Santafé Shopping Center are 130I, 133IA, 135, 302, 305, M 39B.
- On foot. You can walk from Aguacatala station to the mall in about 18 minutes and enjoy a path surrounded by trees, urban biodiversity, and quiet residential areas. It’s a recommended plan!
By private vehicle. You’ll have about 2,700 parking spaces available at the shopping center, but be aware that Avenida El Poblado can be very busy, especially during peak hours. Also, the Santafé Shopping Center is so big that you’ll need to memorize where your car is. It’s a big challenge! Thankfully, there is an app that finds it for you (click here to download it). If you’re coming from Laureles, it’s a nine-kilometer ride approximately, and you can choose between two routes to get there: Autopista Sur, which will take you about 20 minutes, or Avenida Guayabal, which will take you 25 minutes if traffic is flowing smoothly. If you have an electric vehicle, you can charge it in the cells available at the shopping center.
- The Santafé Shopping Center is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Remember that the mall is very large and you should allow at least two hours if you want to leisurely browse through the many shops, restaurants, and activities.
- Santafé is ideal for children; however, you should never leave them unattended because it’s a very crowded place: more than 15 million people visit it every year.
- You can also take your pet with you to enjoy the experience offered by this place. Please read the regulations so that you and your dog or cat will have a much more pleasant experience.
- The mall is located on Avenida El Poblado, which can easily get congested as it’s one of the main roads in the city. Walking from Parque El Poblado is a good plan. It takes about 15 minutes while enjoying a very nice view of the city.
- Support local business by visiting Santafé Shopping Center and buying at the stores of Medellín’s talented locals. This is a way to support sustainable and responsible tourism.
Like everyone who visits this mall, you surely will love it. The Santafé world of shopping and entertainment awaits you!