Nightlife has changed a lot over the last couple of years, but our cities know a thing or two about adapting – just check out ’s brand-new ranking of the best cities in the world for going out.
Las Vegas was our crowning champion for 2025, and Madrid stole the crown as the first-place entry in Europe, but, we obviously couldn’t overlook the esteemed, colourful nightlife culture of South America, and one city from the continent made its way into our roundup, too.
The city in question? It was (drum roll, please!) Medellín, Colombia’s brilliant second city, which ranked in place number 18 on our worldwide list.
While there are larger, more world-renowned cities in South America which you might have expected to rank (Rio and Buenos Aires, we’re looking at you), Medellín’s success at claiming a spot alongside nightlife heavyweights like Vegas, Berlin and Mexico City is down to its affordability.
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Our survey spoke to more than 18,500 locals worldwide, and residents of Medellín commended how inexpensive a place it is to go out, with 80 percent saying clubbing is budget-friendly and 72 percent saying the same about entertainment.
So, where should you be heading after dark? Well, local expert Luis Gomez says: ‘You’ll find more world-famous bars and clubs on one street in Medellín than you would find in many cities. Carrera 35 in Medellín’s Provenza area is home to legendary basement club Perro Negro – yes, the same Perro Negro from the eponymous Bad Bunny and Feid song – as well as new spots owned by fellow reggaeton stars Karol G (El Callejón del Gato) and Maluma (903).’
And if you fancy something a little more low-key, Somos De Calle and El Faro C13 in Comuna 13 are two solid spots to check out.
Shocked that Rio de Janeiro didn’t make the cut? Well, it was our worldwide champion back in 2024 – read about why here.
Find ’s full list of the world’s best cities for nightlife in 2025 here.
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