Best Things to Do in Santiago, Chile
Are you looking for the best things to do in Santiago, Chile?
Santiago is a city that doesn’t seem to get a lot of love from travelers. Many people only spend a day in Chile’s capital or bypass it entirely. I personally spent a full week in Santiago and I enjoyed it. It’s not my favorite big city in South America (that would definitely be Buenos Aires) but I do think it’s worth visiting.
What is Santiago like? Santiago is a modern city surrounded by mountains. In comparison to other Latin American cities, it feels clean and orderly and not at all chaotic. Santiago is a major hub for banking, finance, and business, and Chile as a whole is the second-richest country in South America after Uruguay. It’s also among the safest countries in South America closely following Uruguay and Argentina.
I write about this more in-depth in my guide about where to stay in Santiago, but the neighborhoods of Lastarria, Bellavista, Barrio Suecia, and Plaza de Armas are the best areas for tourists. This is where you’ll find the majority of tourist attractions in Santiago and they are all nice and safe neighborhoods.
Santiago is a pretty large city but many areas are walkable in the city center, and you can also get around by Uber (which is pretty affordable for rides within the city), taxis, and the metro.
I recommend spending at least two full days in Santiago. You can also use the city as a base for taking a day trip or two, which I will share my recommendations for at the end of this guide.
Note: I included approximate prices for activities in USD. Be sure to research current prices before you go!
Here’s a look at the best things to do in South America:
1. Visit Sky Costanera
Sky Costanera is one of the most popular attractions in Santiago. It’s an observation deck at the top of the Costanera Center, a skyscraper which is the tallest building in all of South America.
I recommend purchasing your tickets online to avoid waiting in line. (You will also need to choose a time slot for your visit.) The tickets are on the pricy side (I paid approximately $15) but the view is worth it. I would also recommend going on a weekday for fewer crowds than if you go on a weekend.
2. Ride the Teleférico
Another one of the best things to do in Santiago is ride the Teleférico. This scenic cable car is located in the massive Metropolitan Park and it offers spectacular panoramic views over the city.
There are three cable car stations: Oasis, the intermediary station Tupahoe, and Cumbre. You can purchase a round-trip or one-way ticket from whichever station you are starting at. The total journey time from one end to the other is about 10 minutes. You can purchase tickets online or buy them in person.
I personally decided to pay about $10 for the “Vive El Parque” ticket which included unlimited rides on the cable car, plus the funicular and the park’s panoramic buses, for one day. I really got my money’s worth and basically spent a whole day exploring the city and the park using all the different types of transportation.
3. Visit the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
My favorite museum in Santiago was the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. I found the collection here to be really impressive. The museum showcases Pre-Columbian art from all over the Americas, not just Chile. Not only was the art really great, but I also learned a lot about Pre-Columbian history here.
The museum is open every day of the week except Monday from 10 AM until 6 PM. Tickets are about $12 for adults and $5 for students. You can find more information on the museum website.
4. Walk up Santa Lucia Hill
Santa Lucia Hill is an urban park located in the heart of the city. Walking to the top of the hill takes about 15 or 20 minutes and the viewpoint at the top offers some nice views around Santiago.
It’s just a short walk from Plaza de Armas in the center of the city, so this is a great place to stop in the midst of your sightseeing to relax on a bench in the park and enjoy the view for a while.
5. See street art in Bellavista
Bellavista is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Santiago that you definitely shouldn’t miss. There are tons of colorful houses in this neighborhood, along with some amazing street art. The streets of Bellavista are filled with boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, making it a great area to explore.
You can also visit Bellavista by night — the neighborhood really comes alive after dark and it’s where you’ll find a lot of cool bars and late-night dance clubs if you want to experience Santiago nightlife.
6. Tour La Chascona
While you’re in the Bellavista neighborhood, be sure to visit La Chascona. This quirky, colorful house was owned by Pablo Neruda, a famous Chilean poet. Now his house has been turned into a museum.
I personally did not visit the museum, but if you’re interested, it’s open every day of the week except Monday from 10 AM to 6 PM or 7 PM depending on the season. Tickets are about $10. Find more info here.
7. Visit the Memory and Human Rights Museum
Another museum to visit in Santiago is the Memory and Human Rights Museum. I did not end up getting to this museum but I wish I would have visited to learn more about this period in Chile’s history.
The museum is dedicated to the victims of the human rights violations that occurred during Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship from 1973 until 1990. It’s supposed to be a very moving museum.
The Memory and Human Rights Museum is open every day of the week except Monday from 10 AM until 6 PM. Admission is free and first come, first served. You can read more on the museum website.
8. Stroll around Lastarria
Lastarria is another amazing neighborhood in Santiago that you can’t skip. It’s known for being the city’s historical bohemian district. Lastarria is full of charming tree-lined cobblestoned streets and tons of cool cafes, restaurants, bars, bookstores, boutiques, design shops, cinemas, theaters, and more.
You can easily spend a couple of hours in the afternoon or evening exploring this neighborhood. If you’re looking for a great dinner spot, try Bocanariz, which is known for its food and wine pairings.
9. Visit the National Museum of Fine Arts and the MAC
Two other museums in Santiago that are worth a visit are the National Museum of Fine Arts and the MAC (a contemporary art museum.) These two museums are adjacent to each other in the city center.
Both museums offer free admission, so it’s worth stopping by to check them out and peruse the collections and exhibits. The National Museum of Fine Arts is open every day of the week except Monday from 10 AM until 6:30 PM, while the MAC is open every day of the week except Monday from 11 AM to 5:30 PM.
10. Wander the Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is a large public square located the heart of Santiago’s city center. Almost every big city in Latin America has a grand Plaza de Armas, and Santiago’s has a modern twist, with flashy glass buildings alongside historic architecture. There are two stops I recommend making in Plaza de Armas.
The first is the Museum of National History of Chile, which is located in a 19th-century palace. This free museum offers some great insight into Chile’s history throughout the ages. You should also spend a few minutes inside the Metropolitan Cathedral, a grand cathedral that rivals anything you might see in Europe.
11. Take a day trip
Finally, Santiago makes a great base for taking several day trips. If you have the time, I would recommend taking at least one day trip from Santiago to explore a different part of the country outside the city.
Here are my top picks for day trips from Santiago:
- Valparaiso: This colorful coastal city is 1.5 hours from Santiago and well worth a visit. This full-day tour includes several hours in Valparaiso, as well as a wine tasting and visit to the beach.
- Cajon del Maipo: Located just under 2.5 hours from the city, Cajon del Maipo is a popular getaway for nature lovers because of its dramatic mountains and gorgeous alpine lake. This full-day tour from Santiago includes a journey to the picturesque lake Embalse de Yeso and a picnic lunch.
- Portillo: One other day trip destination is Portillo, which is also just under 2.5 hours from Santiago. It’s popular in the winter for skiing and snowboarding. In the summer, it’s a great area for hiking and famous for its Inca Lagoon. This full-day tour includes time in Portillo and a picnic lunch.
I recommend booking a tour so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of a rental car. Traffic in Santiago can be really bad, and driving the winding mountain roads to Cajon del Maipo or Portillo is not for the faint of heart! The cost of booking a tour is usually pretty reasonable (under $50 per person.)
Best Things to Do in Santiago, Chile
This guide showed you the best things to do in Santiago, Chile.
While Santiago might not be the most exciting city in the world, I do think it’s worth a visit for a few days. Since you’ll likely need to start or end your trip to Chile here (if you’re flying internationally) you might as well spend some time exploring the city rather than skipping it like many travelers do.
I really enjoyed my time in Santiago and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.
Enjoy your trip to Santiago!
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