Top 20 Things to do in Santiago, Chile

Chile is one of the most diverse geographical and geological countries in the world. From the Atacama desert in the north (the driest desert in the world) to the ice fjords of Patagonia in the south, and wine valleys, the long stretch of Pacific coast, and the Andes mountain range in between, there is something for everyone. To reach any of these places, it is likely that you will need to fly in and/or out of the country’s capital, Santiago. 

The popular opinion on the world wide web is that a visit to Santiago requires no more than 24-48 hours. I, too, was of this opinion when I first visited the city 10 years ago en route to go skiing at Portillo in the Andes. However, after living in Santiago for 5 weeks, I can tell you that it is worth more than just a stopover.

Santiago is a great place to call home for at least a few days while visiting Chile. Due to its close proximity to the ocean and the mountains and the wine valleys, there are numerous day trip options available. And even though there aren’t many “bucket list” tourist attractions in the city itself, there is still plenty to keep visitors entertained in this sprawling metropolis. Here are my recommendations for the top 20 things to do in Santiago, Chile.

1. Join a Free Walking Tour

One of the best ways to get your bearings when arriving in a new city is to go on a walking tour. They are a great way to learn about the city from a local’s perspective and a perfect opportunity to get some insider tips on things to do and places to eat!

There are several tour companies in Santiago that offer these types of “tours for tips” but I recommend Strawberry Tours. They offer 3 “free” tours, including a historical center tour, an “untouched Santiago” tour, and a market tour. I went on all three during my month-long stay in Santiago and highly recommend them all! Plus, Strawberry Tours gives a portion of the tips received to charity so you’ll get some exercise while doing good.

2. Go on a Bike Ride

Biking is a great way to explore different areas of a city and there are a couple of options to do so in Santiago. You can take advantage of the bike-sharing companies such as Bike Santiago. They have daily plans where you can rent a bike in 30-minute increments. Alternatively, you could join a bike tour, such as the ones run by La Bicicleta Verde. The tours range from about $40-75 USD.

Whichever option you choose, don’t miss car-free Sundays if you are in Santiago over the weekend! Thanks to an initiative by CicloRecreoVía, the city shuts down tens of kilometers of city roads from 9 AM to 2 PM every Sunday. It is estimated that 40,000 bicyclists, runners, and other pedestrians hit the car-free streets!

3. People Watch in Plaza de Armas

The palm tree-lined Plaza de Armas is the main square in Santiago Centro. It was designed as the civic hub of the city by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia in 1541.

The square was initially used as a parade ground surrounded by government offices, and later became a commercial shopping area. Nowadays, it is a place where locals and tourists alike gather to watch the street performers, play chess, or relax on a park bench.

It is a prime spot for people-watching and admiring the beautiful buildings that still line the square, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, Central Post Office, and the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago. Don’t miss out on the chance to snap a picture sitting in one of the huge STGO letters in the square!

4. Visit Palacio de La Moneda

While exploring Santiago Centro, be sure to pass by the Palacio de La Moneda, a Neoclassical building that currently serves as Chile’s presidential headquarters. The building is named La Moneda, meaning “the coin” in Spanish, because it was initially used as the nation’s mint.

If you time your visit right, you can witness the changing of the guards that takes place every other day at 10 am. You can also take a tour of La Moneda but you need to sign up at least a week in advance. While there, you can also visit the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda, a cultural center located under the plaza behind La Moneda.

The building is also significant because it was the site of the 1973 coup d’état by General Pinochet, which led to decades of military dictatorship. The building was bombed by the Chilean Air Force and then-president Salvador Allende addressed the nation one last time before he died during the attack. It is an ongoing controversy about whether he died by assassination or suicide.

There are other opportunities to learn more about this dark part of Chile’s past which are explained further below.

5. Climb Cerro Santa Lucía

Cerro Santa Lucía is a hill (“cerro” means “hill” in Spanish) located right in downtown Santiago. It has historical significance as the site on which the city of Santiago was founded in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.

Castillo Hidalgo, the castle at the summit, was built in 1816 to protect the city during the Chilean War of Independence. However, the main draw nowadays is the view you get as a reward for climbing to the top.

The park is open every day from 9 AM to 7 PM and is free to enter, although you are supposed to sign in to the logbook upon entering. There are two points of entry but make sure you choose the one on the Avenida Alameda side. This way you will be greeted by the regal Neptune Fountain encircled by two staircases.

The path to the top is kind of like a “choose your own adventure” with multiple paths and staircases that eventually converge at the lookout point at the top. If you are there in the early afternoon, beware of the daily cannon boom that goes off each day at noon!

6. Hike up Cerro San Cristóbal

Cerro San Cristóbal is a bigger version of Cerro Santa Lucía located just outside the city center and offers breathtaking panoramic views from the top. It is actually part of Parque Metropolitan, the largest park in Santiago, which also encompasses a zoo, a Japanese zen garden, and outdoor swimming pools open in the summertime.

There are several ways to reach the top of the hill and I recommend trying them all if you have time! If you’re feeling active, head to the Pedro de Valdivia entrance at the north end of the park. From here you can embark on a leisurely hour-long hike up the winding road.

Alternatively, you could opt for a relaxing, scenic lift up the hill by taking a cable car (teleférico in Spanish) from the nearby Oasis station. Make sure you stay in the cable car until you reach the Cumbre station at the top (don’t disembark at the Tupahue mid-mountain station). Don’t miss the photo op to sit in the giant red chair with STGO letters outside the Cumbre cable car station!

Instead of taking the cable car back down the hill, however, I recommend utilizing the third mode of transportation, the funicular. The funicular entrance is located in the Bellavista neighborhood at the south end of the park. Since it is the entrance closest to the city center, it is also the busiest! So, in my opinion, it’s best to hike or take the cable car up the hill and save the funicular ride for the descent.

No matter which option you choose, make sure you leave enough time to savor the sweeping views of Santiago and the Andes from the top of the hill. At the summit, you’ll find a sanctuary dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, with a giant 22-meter statue of the Virgin Mary that is visible from around the city. The amphitheater in front of the statue is a tranquil place to pause and take in the views of the sprawling city framed by the mountains.

The best time to go to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal is the day after it rains. The notorious smog that permeates the city will have dissipated, and you will truly see “Santiago in HD.” Bonus points if you time it right to watch the sunset – just make sure you catch the last funicular back down the hill!

7. Take in the Views from Sky Costanera

Sky Costanera, the glittering glass tower dominating the Santiago skyline, is the tallest building in Latin America at 300 meters. The observatory on the 62^nd floor offers a fantastic 360-degree view of the city below and the surrounding Andes mountain range. From here, you can also get a bird’s-eye view of the Virgin Mary statue atop Cerro San Cristóbal.

The observatory is open 365 days a year, but, as a forewarning, the entry fee is a bit pricey at around $20 USD. Make the most of your splurge and time your visit to coincide with the sunset and to see the city light up at night!

8. Hang Out In A Park

If you prefer to stay closer to sea level, take advantage of one of the many parks dotted around the city to rest your weary legs. 

Parque Forestal is located on the edge of the city center and runs along the Mapocho River. It’s a great escape from the bustling streets of Santiago Centro.

Parque Quinta Normal, famous for its wide variety of trees, is a short metro ride from the city center to the Quinta Normal station. Inside the 88-acre park, you’ll find a lake, fountains, picnic areas, and a number of science museums.

Parque Bicentennial is located in the northern part of the city, in the residential Vitacura neighborhood. It was built to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Chile’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810.

The park offers a nice view of the Santiago skyline to one side and of the Andes mountains to the other. The network of paths crisscrossing the manicured green lawn is the perfect place for a run or bike ride.

However, the biggest reason to venture to this park is to see the flamingos! They are located in a lagoon at the far end of the park, near the enticing patio of the Mestizo restaurant.

9. Learn the Dark Side of Chile’s History

The Museum of Memory and Human Rights is located just outside the Quinta Normal metro stop and is a must-visit while in Santiago. The museum was opened in 2010 to mark the bicentennial of Chile’s independence from Spain. It serves as a reminder of Chile’s not-so-distant dark past under the Augusto Pinochet regime, which lasted from 1973 through 1990.

During these 17 years of military dictatorship, thousands of Chilean citizens thought to be dissidents were arrested, tortured, murdered, or simply “went missing.” This museum commemorates the lives of these victims of human rights violations through various mediums, including actual news footage, eyewitness testimony, and other artifacts and exhibits. The museum is free to visit and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM. The displays are mainly in Spanish but you can pay a small fee for an English audio guide.

In addition, you should also carve out some time to visit the museum at Londres 38, in the París-Londres neighborhood. Behind the beautiful facade of this early 20t^h-century mansion, lies an important piece of Chile’s dark past. This building was used as a jail and torture facility during the Pinochet regime. It has been left largely untouched since that time period. Inside each room, there are descriptions written on the walls (in Spanish) detailing the atrocities that took place there. The bricks on the sidewalk in front of the building depict the names of the political prisoners who were imprisoned, tortured, and killed there.

10. Museum Hop

If you haven’t had your fill of museums after the Museum of Memory and Human rights, or just want to lighten the mood, there are plenty of other options to explore.

The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art is located just outside of the Plaza de Armas in an early 19th-century building that once served as the Royal Customs House. It is now home to one of the most extensive collections of Pre-Columbian art and artifacts (i.e., from the indigenous cultures prior to the arrival of the Spanish). The art encompasses all regions of Latin America, from Mexico to the tip of Chile. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. The entrance ticket is about $10 USD, except for the first Sunday of every month when the entrance is free!

For an art fix, stop by the National Museum of Fine Arts is the Bellas Artes neighborhood by Parque Forestal. This museum was built in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of Chile’s independence from Spain. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6:45 PM and is free to visit. The Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in the same building, but accessed through a separate entrance. It is also free to enter and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM (6 PM on Sundays).

Some additional museums worth checking out are the Museum of National History located near Plaza de Armas, the National Museum of Natural History located in Parque Quinta Normal, and the Museum of Visual Arts located in the Lastarria neighborhood.

11. Get Whimsical at La Chascona

La Chascona is one of 3 homes-turned-museums owned by Pablo Neruda, Chile’s Nobel Prize-winning poet and politician. The house is named after Neruda’s 3rd wife, Matilde, for her wavy red hair (La Chascona means “tangle-haired woman” in Spanish). It is located at the base of San Cristobal Hill in the Bellavista neighborhood of Santiago. His other two homes are located in Valparaiso and Isla Negra.

La Chascona was designed in a whimsical way that makes one feel as though they are on a ship. It is now a museum open to the public and is filled with a quirky collection of art and other objects from around the world. The museum operates on a first-come, first-served basis. It is open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 10 AM and tickets cost about $10 USD.

12. Go On A Street Art Scavenger Hunt

While the city of Valparaiso, located a few hours south of Santiago, may be better known for its abundance of incredible street art, Chile’s capital itself has a burgeoning street art scene, if you know where to look. The best neighborhoods for going on an informal art stroll are Bellavista and Yungay. Simply meander the streets of these neighborhoods and you will uncover mural after mural on buildings around every street corner.

There is also an open-air museum called Museo A Cielo Abierto in the San Miguel neighborhood. The project was started in 2010 as a way to revitalize the crumbling building facades that were being overtaken by random graffiti. It now encompasses over 60 huge professionally-painted murals.

Paseo Bandera, a pedestrian-only street located in downtown Santiago, is another great spot for street art. Here you will find literal “street art” as the pavement itself has been painted in an array of vibrant rainbow colors and patterns. The street is also dotted with various other sculptures and pieces of art. The best time to go is on a Sunday or a public holiday when the street is likely to be less crowded.

13. Shop Local at Central & Vega Market

If you want to get a taste of life as a local, make sure to visit Central Market and Vega Market. Mercado Central has been in business since 1872 and is lined with seafood stalls selling the daily catch from Chile’s 4,000 kilometers of coastline. There are a number of restaurants located in the main hall of the market but these tend to be touristy and overpriced.

My advice is to head across the street to the Vega Market, which sells every fruit and vegetable imaginable. The tiny, unassuming restaurants at the center of Vega Market are the place to go for a true local (and cheap) dining experience.

14. Seek Out These Chilean Foods

Chile may not be internationally famous for its cuisine, like neighboring Argentina or Peru, but there are a number of Chilean specialties you must try. Here are just a few:

Empanadas: these doughy pastry pockets filled with yumminess come in a variety of flavors like plain cheese, mushroom and cheese, or seafood. But the most famous kind is the empanada de pino, which is filled with a mixture of beef and onions, a quarter of a boiled egg, olives, and golden raisins.

Sopaipillas: these deep-fried discs of pumpkin bread dough are sold by nearly every street vendor and are usually served with Chile’s version of salsa, called pebre, or with a sauce made from merquen, a Chilean spice similar to paprika.

Completo: this classic is a hot dog piled high with various toppings. The most common pairing is the “Italiano,” named as such because the combination of avocado, tomato, and mayonnaise resembles the Italian flag.

Pastel de choclo: this savory dish is sort of like a deconstructed empanada served sizzling hot in a cast-iron pan. It contains the pino mixture of minced beef and onion, with slices of hard-boiled egg, olives, and golden raisins, and is covered with a cornbread-type of crust.

Chorrillana: this artery-clogging dish is comprised of a mound of French fries piled with a mixture of beef and onions, and topped with a fried egg. It’s a great food to share when imbibing in terremotos (more on those below) or other alcoholic beverages!

Mote con Huesillos: this sweet drink is sold by street vendors and is made from peach juice, sugar, cinnamon, and served with husked barley wheat (mote) and an actual dried peach.

15. Sample Pisco at Chipe Libre

Chipe Libre, Républica Independiente del Pisco, is a resto-bar in the Lastarria neighborhood of Santiago that specializes in all things pisco. There is an ongoing debate between Chileans and Peruvians about who created pisco but Chipe Libre puts the argument aside and serves pisco concoctions native to both Chile and Peru (CHPE is a combination of the two country names). Try the piscola (pisco + Coke native to Chile), or the chilcano (pisco + ginger ale native to Peru). Or you can’t go wrong with the classic pisco sour found in both countries!

16. Drink a Terremoto at La Piojera

Terremotos are Chile’s most popular alcoholic beverage, made from a mix of sweet fermented pipeño wine, pineapple ice cream, and a splash of grenadine. The word “terremoto” literally translates to “earthquake” because the unassumingly potent drink will have your legs shaking after drinking just one. There are other variations that include fernet or creme de menthe instead of grenadine, and are cheekily named “Aftershock” and “Tsunami.”

The classic place to imbibe in a terremoto is a dive bar/restaurant called La Piojera, located in downtown Santiago. One of my friends in Santiago told me a classic Chilean saying is “if you haven’t had a terremoto at La Piojera, did you really even visit Santiago?” La Piojera literally translates to “Flea House,” a moniker it playfully adopted after former Chilean president Arturo Alessandri Palma was brought there to visit and exclaimed that it resembled a flea house.

The gritty establishment has sticky floors and graffiti on the walls and tables. At any given time of day, the hole-in-the-wall is packed with a boisterous crowd made up of tourists and locals alike. If you are going to try a terremoto while in Santiago, this is the place. Make sure to order a serving of chorrillana to help soak up the alcohol!

17. Explore by Neighborhood

What Santiago is lacking in big-name tourist attractions, it makes up for big time in the charming and diverse neighborhoods. For me, one of the best things to do in Santiago is to check out what each “barrio” has to offer.

Barrio Bellavista

The Bellavista neighborhood is located at the foot of San Cristóbal Hill (where the funicular entrance is located) and is known for being the bohemian quarter of Santiago. 

During the day, it is a great place to check out some of Santiago’s street art, shop for lapis lazuli (a stone only found in Chile and Afghanistan), visit one of Pablo Neruda’s houses, or eat at one of the many restaurants lining Pío Nono and Constitución. Patio Bellavista is a great option for lunch; it’s a conglomeration of shops and restaurants of all kinds with sunny outdoor patios (try Vendetta or Panko).

For dinner in Barrio Bellavista, you can find a classic pastel de choclo at Galindo or traditional Mapuche food at Peumayén. If you’re looking for something more lowkey, my best recommendation is to check out Jardín Mallinkrodt 170, which is a courtyard lined with various food trucks serving tacos, sushi, craft beer, and more! This neighborhood is also a prime spot for nightlife, so if you are looking for a lively atmosphere or a place to dance, this is your place.

Barrio Italia

Barrio Italia is probably the neighborhood most overlooked by tourists. It is about a 20-30 minute walk from downtown and is well worth a visit if you’re looking for a more relaxing day. Avenida Italia is a charming street lined with adorable shops and restaurants. It’s great for brunch and window shopping. Make sure you step inside some of the shop buildings – there are hidden galleries of stores almost everywhere you look thanks to the layout of the original houses.

Barrio Lastarria

I am partial to Barrio Lastarria because it was where I lived during my month in Santiago! It is a small neighborhood adjacent to the downtown area, nestled between Parque Forestal and Santa Lucía Hill. The “main” road, José Victorino Lastarria, is partially pedestrian-only and always has a number of street vendors selling their art, jewelry, and used books. There are a number of good restaurants and a few small boutiques and is always buzzing with people at night (in a more low key way than Barrio Bellavista).

It’s on this street that you’ll find Bocanáriz, famous for its variety of wines, as well as Chipe Libre, famous for both Chilean and Peruvian pisco concoctions. For restaurants, you can’t miss brunch at Wonderland or dinner at Liguria or Casa Lastarria. Rooftop drinks on the 3^rd-floor terrace of Casa Lastarria are a must, or you can splurge a little and have a drink on the rooftop of the nearby Singular Hotel. Heladería Emporio La Rosa is rumored to have the best gelato in Santiago!

Barrio París-Londres

Barrio París-Londres is named after the two eponymous cobblestone streets that comprise this neighborhood. These two quaint streets lined with mansions are an oasis in the heart of bustling downtown Santiago. When strolling cobbled streets lined with Jacaranda trees, you feel more like you are walking along a street in Paris or London (again, hence the name of the neighborhood) rather than the downtown of a Latin American capital city. 

But looks can be deceiving – as mentioned above – the mansion at Londres 38 was actually the site of the initial interrogations and torture conducted by the Pinochet military regime after the coup took place in 1973.

Barrio Yungay

Barrio Yungay is the centerpiece of the “Untouched Santiago” walking tour offered by Strawberry Tours. This neighborhood is full of mansions built by wealthy mining families at the turn of the 20th century. When the mining industry declined, the mansions were left abandoned. The neighborhood has recently been declared a heritage site and the mansions are gradually being restored. You’ll see examples of mirror-image mansions juxtaposed side by side, one crumbling in disrepair and the other perfectly restored. This area is also replete with politically charged street murals. Stop in for lunch at Boulevard Lavaud, a historic French restaurant in this neighborhood whose menus double as a street map for a self-guided walking tour of Barrio Yungay.

18. Cheer on the Local Fútbol Team

Chileans, like the majority of Latin Americans, are very passionate about fútbol (aka soccer). The three most popular teams in Chile are Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica, and Colo-Colo. The first two teams are national level and are not affiliated with their namesake universities while Colo Colo is named after an indigenous Mapuche leader.

The Universidad Católica Stadium is located in the Las Condes neighborhood of Santiago. If you are lucky enough to score tickets, you are treated to a breathtaking backdrop of the Andes Mountains behind the playing field. While watching the actual game is exciting, the atmosphere in the stadium itself is also very lively. The most dedicated fans congregate in the “la barra” section of the stadium behind the goal, standing and jumping around the entire game while chanting team rally songs non-stop.

19. Skydive Over The Andes

Okay, so this next suggestion may not be for everyone. But, if you have ever thought about skydiving, Chile is the place to do it. Because of the unique geography of Chile, it is possible to see both the Andes Mountain range and the Pacific Ocean while soaring through the sky. I highly recommend the team at Paracaidismo Chile, located in the Curacaví valley about an hour outside of Santiago. Ask for Nacho – he is the best!

20. Take a Day Trip

Undoubtedly, one of the major draws for choosing Santiago for a home base for at least part of your trip to Chile is the proximity to some pretty amazing day trips! Santiago is one of the only cities in the world where you can go skiing one day and hit the beach the next. Here are my top picks for epic day trips while in Santiago:

Valparaiso

One of the more popular day trips from Santiago is to the vibrant coastal city of Valparaíso (“Valpo” for short). This port town is about a 1.5-hour drive from Santiago and is considered to be the cultural capital of Chile. The main draw of spending a day in Valpo, aside from riding its numerous funiculars, is to wander the hilly streets for hours on end admiring the impressive street art. The street art scene developed in secret during the days of military dictatorship but today it is the only place in Chile where street art is legal.

Casablanca Wine Valley

Chile may be most well-known for its outstanding wine production! And the great thing is that you don’t have to travel too far to sample award-winning wines. The Casablanca Wine Valley is located on a coastal plain between Santiago and Valparaíso, about an hour drive from the capital city. It is best known for its white wines such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. But the best part, in my opinion, is the gorgeous mountain backdrop of the Andes mountains that surround the wineries in this region. From Casablanca Valley, you could easily continue about 30 minutes northwest to Valparaíso/Vina del Mar or about 45 minutes southwest to Isla Negra.

Isla Negra

You can’t travel to Chile and not hear the name Pablo Neruda mentioned nearly everywhere you go. Neruda was a Nobel Prize-winning poet and national icon who was also integrally involved in Chilean politics. As mentioned above, he had 3 houses-turned-museums and one of these houses is located in the coastal town of Isla Negra, about a 1.5-hour drive from Santiago (his two other houses are in Santiago and Valparaíso).

It is at this house that he spent his final days and it is where he and his wife are buried. The main draw for some may be to visit the museum dedicated to his legacy. But, for me, I found the coastal scenery to be utterly gorgeous.

Maipo Valley

The Maipo Valley is located about 45 minutes from Santiago. The Andes mountain range plays a key role in the natural beauty of this area, and there are other natural wonders such as volcanoes, glaciers, and hot springs that make this valley worthy of a day trip. One popular place to go in Maipo Valley is the Colinas de Termas, which are natural hot spring lagoons fed by the steaming hot water from the nearby volcanoes. Relaxing in these natural pools of water with the view of the Andes mountains in the background is an experience that can’t be beaten!

Skiing in the Andes

On my first trip to Chile, I spent a week skiing at Portillo mountain in the Andes. I highly recommend this mountain resort to anyone; however, it is located over 2 hours away from Chile and usually requires a week-long reservation. For skiers and snowboarders looking for less of a commitment and a quick day trip from Santiago, there are plenty of other options that are less than an hour’s drive away. While living in Santiago for 5 weeks this year, I went skiing at Valle Nevado (bonus points that the Ikon Pass works here!). La Parva and El Colorado resorts are other options nearby as well.

What’s the first thing you want to do on your trip to Santiago?

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