Best neighborhoods for going out in Medellín without wandering into trouble?

Base yourself in El Poblado (Parque Lleras area) or Laureles. Poblado is the tourist-forward option — dense, walkable, lots of rooftop bars. Laureles is more local and lower-key, still very walkable. Either way, take a registered taxi or an app car home rather than walking across neighborhoods late, and keep your phone out of sight on the street.