Visit Santiago: what are the best things to do and see in the capital of Chile?
Santiago has always had its measured charms: a refined cuisine, perfectly landscaped gardens, a famous seafood market, with beautiful background canvas The Andes . But in recent years, the Chilean capital has been the object of a cultural metamorphosis . To celebrate the bicentenary of Chile in 2010, the city dedicated millions of pesos to the construction of new cultural centres, well-designed museums and beautiful green parks. The Hupped neighborhoods of Vitacura and El Golf have flourished with elegant new art galleries, celebrities have begun to flock to trendy bars, and the forgotten neighbourhood of Barrio Brasil regained its dynamism through art and funky hostels.
Certainly, Santiago may not be as glamorous as Rio or as dynamic as Buenos Aires, but this is no longer a simple stopover before the Chilean Patagonia or Atacama. Underestimated but full of future, Santiago is now a full-fledged destination. With a Mediterranean climate and almost no rain from October and May, it is easy to enjoy everything that the city has to offer throughout the year. If you have a plan trip to Chile , consider devoting a few days to the capital. To help you explore the city, here are them best things to do in Santiago :
1. Cerro San Cristóbal
Flickr – Jorge Láscar
Start your stay with an overview of the city’s scope. With hills, you can have stunning views of Santiago, so go to the summits and the views of Santiago Parque Metropolitano , better known as Cerro San Cristóbal . With 722 hectares, the park is the largest in Santiago, but it remains resolutely urban: a funicular transports you between the different hills ( cerro ), and cars borrow roads that cross the green space. The park is located north of the Bellavista and Providencia areas from which access can be reached (Metro Baquedano ).
You will find a 14 m tall statue of the Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción . At the foot of this, there are benches where Pope John Paul II said Mass in 1984.
Jardín Japonés – Flickr – Jack Zalium
On this hill you will also find the Jardín Botánico Mapulemu (a botanical garden), but also a children's park with wooden games and interactive fountains ( Plaza de Juegos Infantiles Gabriela Mistral ), as well as two huge public pools to refresh the days of big heat : Piscina Tupahue and Piscina Antilén . 400 meters from there, eastward, Jardín Japonés is small but beautifully furnished.
This hill, you have understood it, can take a good day if you like to walk and enjoy the panoramic views. Another place offers similar views: Cerro Santa Lucia located in the centre of Santiago.
2. Plaza de Armas, with its cathedral, museums and palaces
Flickr – Rafa Alves
From the foundation of the city in 1541, the Plaza de Armas was his symbolic heart. In the colonial era, a potency was the central part of the square... Today, it is a fountain celebrating the Libertador (freezer) Simón Bolívar, shaded by over a hundred Chilean palm trees. The parallel pedestrian streets Paseo Ahumada and Paseo Estado see the Santiaguinos on the square on weekends and sunny afternoons of week.
Neoclassical Catedral Metropolitana built between 1748 and 1800, dominates the Plaza. Bishops celebrating Mass on the sumptuous main altar can feel uncomfortable: below them is a crypt where their predecessors are buried.
If you are interested in religious art, you can go behind the cathedral to Museo de Arte Sagrado , which has a courtyard and colonial architecture.
If you are a feru of history, do not miss the Museo Histórico Nacional which takes place in Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago . This museum includes furniture, weapons, paintings, objects and historical models that trace the colonial and republican history of Chile. After a quick look at the pre-Columbian culture, the ground floor covers the conquest and colony of the country. The floor deals with Chile’s independence through the industrial revolution until the 1973 military coup led by Augusto Pinochet, but does not go further. The last piece of the museum is slippery: these are Salvador Allende's broken glasses.
Always from the busy square in the day, don’t hesitate to return and admire the interior architecture of the post building ( Correo Central ).
3. The Palacio de la Moneda
Flickr – .:GIO::IAB:.
A few blocks away from the Plaza de Armas, it’s in the Palacio de la Moneda the Chilean presidential offices are located. The neoclassical building richly decorated was designed by the Italian architect Joaquín Toesca at the end of the 18th century, and was originally the hotel of finances, its name meaning “the currency”. The north façade was severely damaged by air missile attacks during the 1973 military coup, during which President Salvador Allende, who refused to leave, was overturned here. A monument honoring Allende stands today on the Plaza de la Constitución, facing the palace.
You can book a free guided tour of the Moneda, but you have to plan it a week in advance on the government website. You can also visit Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda , located under the place behind La Moneda, which has several cultural exhibitions. Admission is free if you go by noon.
4. La Chascona
Wikimedia – Marcelo Ois Lagarde
One of the three museums of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda , which are all arranged in its old houses, is located in the middle of Bellavista, the bohemian district of Santiago, where he lived with his third wife Matilde Urrutia. She gave her name to the house because she was nicknamed La Chascona , in reference to the abundant and stubborn hair of his mistress who will later become his third wife. The museum is decorated with an incredible collection of objects from all over the world that belonged to the poet, including his Nobel Prize . House rooms are designed to create the feeling that you are on a boat, and you have very beautiful views of the city.
The other two houses in Neruda are not too far from Santiago (one is in Valparaíso, the other is in Isla Negra, a town south of Valparaíso) and they are all worth a visit if you have time. To get to this one, stop at Baquedano Metro.
5. The Mercado Central and its products of the sea
Flickr – Jimmy Baikovicius
The bunch of fresh and crustacean fish shining on the stalls will shudder the fine gourmets, fishermen and photographers to Mercado Central , which is surrounded by the streets 21 of Mayo, San Pablo, Paseo Puente and Valdés Vergara. While fishermen noisyly compete to attract customers in half of the market, slaughterers for the many seafood restaurants make a similar vacarma in the other. To enjoy a slightly quieter and authentic culinary experience, choose the seafood restaurants around the market that locals frequent at lunchtime.
For the fruit and vegetable market, do not miss the market La Vega .
6. The district (Barrio) of Bellavista
Flickr – Kyle Pearce
Bellavista is a district in the centre of the city and is one of the best in terms of the street art and nightlife Santiago. In the evening, restaurants, bars and discotheques offer you enough possibility to go out until late at night.
In the day, this tourist area is full of artisanal shops (including art made from lapis lazuli stone) and souvenirs. See you at Patio Bellavista where chic restaurants and shops surround a courtyard.
7. Visit the must-see museums of Santiago
Wikimedia – Jorge Barrios
Cultural city, Santiago has many museums. Here are the best:
- Museum of Memory and Human Rights ( Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos ) : Opened in 2010, this brand new museum is not for sensitive souls. The exhibitions present the terrifying violations of human rights and the large-scale “disappearances” that took place under the military government of Chile between the years 1973 and 1990. Even if this museum is hard, it informs us of the 40,000 victims subjected to torture and executions, and helps us to contextualize the recent tumultuous history of Chile.
- National Museum of Fine Arts ( Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes ) : This museum is part of Palacio de Bellas Artes and has an excellent permanent collection of Chilean art. The building itself is impressive, and dates back to 1910.
- Contemporary Art Museum ( Museo de Arte Contemporaneo ) : Temporary exhibitions highlighting contemporary photography, design and sculpture are presented in this museum which is located in Palacio de Bellas Artes . Paintings by Chilean artists of the 20th century are the largest of the permanent collection.
- Science and Technology Museum ( Museo de Ciencia y Tecnologia ) : In the center of the Parque Quinta Normal There's an artificial lagoon where you can rent a boat. Beyond the lagoon, the museum has interactive exhibitions on astronomy, geology and other aspects of science and technology. In this same park you can also visit Museo Infantil and Parque Museo Ferroviario .
See also the museums cited above in the article as well as the Museo de la Moda and Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende .
8. The parks of the city
Flickr – Carlos Reusser Monsalvez
To take the air, walk, picnic, and see outdoor exhibitions, take the time to explore the following parks: Parque Las Esculturas, Parque Forestal, Parque O’Higgins, Parque Quinta Normal and Parque por la Paz.
9. Other ideas of visits to Santiago
- The Cementerio General de Santiago where are the tombs of Bernardo O’Higgins and Augusto Pinochet
- The bohemian and trendy atmosphere of Barrio Lastarria
- Plaza Ñuñoa animated at night
- Eat a homemade ice cream in one of the heladerias
- Visit the Villa Grimaldi to learn more about the Chilean military coup and the dictatorship
- Go see a match Fútbol
- Rent a bike
- Le Barrio Italia
- The Barrio Yungay
10. What to do in the vicinity of Santiago?
- From late June to September/October, it is possible to skiing less than 1h30 from Santiago. Visit the stations of Valle Nevado, El Colorado or La Parva. If you want to ski 1 week, go to Portillo. If you're a beginner, Lagunillas is the closest station to the capital, located in Cajon de Maipo.
- Go visit Valparaíso
- Discover vineyards around Santiago like the Colchagua valley or the Casablanca valley
- The villages Pomaire and Viña Undurraga (avoid Monday because craftsmen don't work this day)
- Go practice activities in the middle of nature in the surrounding mountains, like rafting in Cajon de Maipo
Santiago : How to get there? Where to sleep?
Some companies stand out to visit Chile and Santiago. Air France, LAN, Iberia or TAM often offer the cheapest flights. Depending on the period of your stay, it can of course change. To check it, use the flight comparison Skyscanner .
Santiago is an extended city, try choose a hotel located in the centre for easier. Search for example in Providencia or Bellavista neighbourhoods. To find a cheap hotel in Santiago, search this Compare hotels . An interactive map allows you to search your hotel in relation to its location.
Have you visited Santiago in Chile?
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