9 top activities in Santiago de Chile for slow travellers
Discover the cosmopolitan capital of Chile.
Santiago de Chile is nestled between the magnificent peaks of the Andes and the Pacific ocean. The city’s history has been just as dramatic, with dictators, protests, earthquakes and floods all featuring. Today, Santiago is a premier Latin American destination, considered by many travel commentators as an undiscovered gem.
If you decide to discover Santiago before the tourist crowd finds it, here are 9 suggestions to help you have a great time.
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1. Get high to enjoy the view
A great way to get your bearings in a new city is to see it from above, either from a tower or a hill – as noted in my post on How to see a city. The Cerro San Cristóbal, also known as the Parque Metropolitano, is a 722-hectare urban park extending over a hill. At its peak is a 14 metre-high statue of the Virgin Mary. You can take the funicular up from the Plaza Caupolicán and descend by cable car, or vice versa.
At the top of the hill, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Also within the park are a botanic garden, a Japanese garden, a children’s playground, two large public swimming pools and a zoo.
Another hill with a view is the Cerro Santa Lucia, in the city centre. This is where Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541. Today, you can enjoy the mature trees and gardens, fountains and historical fortifications as well as the panoramic views. A blast from an 1824 cannon is fired at noon every day, so be prepared! Entry is free although you need to register at the gate.
For a different experience, the 62nd floor of Sky Costanera (see also under ‘shopping’ below) has an observation deck with incredible views.
2. Explore the historic centre of the city at Plaza de Armas
The main square of Santiago is a registered monument and is home to a number of significant buildings. At the centre of the plaza is the Freedom of Latin America monument, a marble statue of a woman breaking the chains of a native woman. Also nearby is a statue of founder Pedro de Valdivia.
Overlooking the square are the Cathedral, the Palacio de la Moneda (presidential palace) and the Correo Central (central post office). There are also various commercial buildings and a shopping mall. Enjoy the grand colonial architecture and the street performers as you stroll around the square.
3. Learn about Chile’s history at the national museums
While you’re in the Plaza de Armas, you can visit the Palacio de la Moneda. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the imposing classical building used to be the site of the official mint, hence the name. You can watch the ceremonial changing of the guard, visit the interior courtyards and learn about Chile’s political history.
Also in the Plaza de Armas, the Museo Histórico Nacional is housed in the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, built between 1804 and 1807 and the location of Chile’s first National Congress. The ground floor has a rolling programme of exhibits, while the permanent collections – including paintings, artefacts and furniture – are housed upstairs. These cover Chile’s history from colonial times to the revolution. Descriptions are in Spanish so it does help to know the language if you intend to visit.
The Museo de la Memoria y de los Derechos Humanos commemorates the disappearances and human rights abuses during the military dictatorship period (1973-1990). Housed in a modern building on Santiago’s west side, the museum was inaugurated by the then President, Michelle Bachelet, in 2010. Its purpose is to acknowledge and respect those who lost their lives, including the poet Victor Jara. The story of repression is told through documents, objects and archives.
It’s hard to believe that the last dictatorship ended as recently as 1990. Yet when I visited Santiago on a work trip in 1993, transition to democracy was still in process and the scars of the past very much visible. I was taken to dinner in a restaurant that had once been a secret meeting place for anti-dictatorship protesters, where the customary coded knock on the closed door was still required for entry. Outside, the walls were pitted with bullet holes.
4. Discover Chilean and international arts and crafts
The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is worth visiting, but not so much for the art, which leaves many visitors unimpressed. Go to see the building in which it is housed, with its gorgeous architecture and interior glass ceiling, and the lovely gardens outside. Entry is free, and the museum has its own metro station.
For contemporary, authentic arts and crafts, visit the Centro Artesanal Pueblito Los Dominicos. This was probably my favourite thing to do in Santiago. Around 140 craft workshops in a historical village-like setting sell jewellery, fabrics, Mapuche art, traditional costumes and household products. There are a couple of cafes for your lunch stop.
If street art is your thing, head to the Bellavista neighbourhood – which is also good for boutique shopping and dining. Bellavista is known for its murals and artistic graffiti. Street art was a popular form of self-expression and protest during the military dictatorship period. Some of the best examples can be found in Loreto, Dardignac, and Antonia López de Bello streets. Other neighbourhoods with noteworthy street art are Brasil and Yungay.
5. Visit Pablo Neruda’s house – La Chascona
Chile’s best-known poet, Nobel prize winner Pablo Neruda, built this quirky house in the Bellavista neighbourhood for his mistress Matilde Urrutia, even though he was still living with his second wife Delia at the time. In 1955 he separated from Delia and moved into La Chascona with Matilde. She became his third wife in 1966.
La Chascona was the target of vandalism after the military coup in 1973, which was also the year of Neruda’s death. Matilde did her best to restore the house. She continued living there until her death in 1985. Today, La Chascona is a museum dedicated to the life and works of Neruda. His other homes, in Valparaiso and Isla Negra, are also open to the public.
Visits to La Chascona are on a first-come, first-served basis.
6. Go Shopping
Santiago offers a wide range of shopping, from markets to boutique independent shops to upmarket malls. We’ve already talked about the artisan shops at Los Dominicos. Back in the city centre, if you’re leaving the Plaza de Armas, you might well walk along the pedestrianised street known as Paseo Ahumada. This is a busy central shopping street lined with trees. There are also lots of street vendors here, and plenty of cafes for refreshments.
The Costanera Center houses one of the largest shopping malls in Latin America. One of its buildings is the distinctive Sky Costanera tower that can be spotted from many vantage points around the city. As mentioned earlier, the observation deck on floor 62 is worth a visit. You can enjoy the 360° panoramic view from the coffee bar or restaurant. Or go at night for a different experience, and enjoy a cocktail.
With over 300 stores including local and international names, you can spend a lot of time and money at the Costanera Center. There are also some great dining options.
Parque Arauco is another good mall, with a focus on top-end shopping and dining. Live music and events are often hosted here.
7. Cool off in a park
Depending on when you visit, Santiago can be very hot. So finding shade will be a necessity during your days out. The Parque Bicentenario is a top place to get away from the city for a while and chill out. These 30 acres of green space run alongside the Mapocho river in the neighbourhood of Vitacura.
Enjoy the beautiful gardens, lawns, native plants and trees, lagoons and sculptures. There’s also a restaurant and a contemporary art museum.
If you visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, mentioned above, you can enjoy the Parque Forestal that surrounds it. It has well-maintained paths, lawns, gardens and trees. You can enjoy the statues and street performers.
8. Try world class food and wine
My food memories of Santiago include a delicious peasant-style chicken and corn pie, which settled my upset stomach incredibly well. Plus a fantastic seafood dish at a top-end restaurant. Another memorable moment was when a bartender upended a tray of pisco sours all over my lap!
Pisco sour is a wonderful but lethal drink, containing pisco (a type of brandy), egg white, lemon or lime and Angostura Bitters. (A Chilean colleague of mine favoured a recipe with white wine and Canada Dry instead of Angostura Bitters). Peru and Chile both claim Pisco Sour, but I’ve only ever had the Chilean version.
Apart from amazing cocktails, Chile has fabulous wine – especially the reds. The Maipo Valley and Casablanca vineyards can both be visited from Santiago. One famous label is Casillero del Diablo, which is widely exported. You might find it in your local wine store. Another is Concha y Toro.
Santiago’s restaurant scene has reached the pages of Vogue magazine and the Top 50 listings, placing it right up there with the world’s best. If you fancy trying the 29th best restaurant in the world 2024, head to Boragó in Vitacura neighbourhood.
If you prefer to try more humble, traditional dishes, look out for stews such as pastel de choclo and cazuela; empanadas (meat pasties) and asado – barbecued beef, pork or chicken. Fresh fish and seafood are excellent, with conger eel being a favourite.
9. Enjoy days out from the city
Once you have discovered Santiago, there are various options for getting out of town for a while. The colourful city of Valparaiso, home to Chile’s National Congress, is a popular outing. You can take an organised tour or travel by public transport. Flixbus operates a regular service from Santiago’s Pajaritos bus station, taking around an hour and forty minutes each way.
Not far from Valparaiso is the attractive coastal city of Viña del Mar, noted for its gardens. It also has excellent restaurants and bars, museums and festivals. Visitors from California will notice the references to Sausalito, its sister city.
If you enjoy wine tasting, tours are available to Maipo Valley and Casablanca wineries. Check out Viator* or GetYourGuide*.
Where to stay
Santiago’s eastern suburbs – Providencia, Los Condes and Vitacura – are considered the nicest. I stayed in the Santiago Park Plaza in Providencia, which was very elegant. I still remember the stunning views of the city and the Andes from the top-floor pool.
If our 3 suggestions below don’t appeal, our affiliate partners Booking.com* have many other options.
Santiago Park Plaza*
Great location, elegant public rooms. Walkable to the Costanera Center and nearby Metro. The Park Lane Restaurant serves excellent food and you can enjoy your cocktails and Pisco Sour on the terrace.
Hotel Bidasoa*
This family-run boutique hotel in Vitacura is top-rated on TripAdvisor. Guests love its tropical decor, location, two great restaurants and award-winning ‘green’ practices. Please note, the hotel is non-smoking.
Le Reve Boutique Hotel*
Parisian-style, elegant hotel in a listed building, with a charming courtyard. Located in a quiet Providencia street described by guests as ‘an oasis of calm’. Excellent restaurants, shopping and Metro nearby.
Practical information
Getting around
Santiago has an integrated bus, metro and train system network known as the Red Movilidad. To use it, you will need to purchase a BIP! card, which is available from metro stations and various commercial outlets. The card can be charged and re-charged with credit as needed.
The Red Movilidad website is helpful for trip planning and finding the nearest metro or bus stop.
Weather – and when to go
Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are the best times to visit Santiago de Chile. Temperatures are pleasant, crowds are thinner and prices are lower. Gardens are at their most beautiful in spring, whereas autumn is a great time to see colourful foliage and attend grape harvest festivals in the vineyards.
Santiago’s geographical location contributes to its air pollution. Smog tends to build up during the day. The problem is worst in winter (June to August), when there is little wind or rain to disperse it. Various campaigns and initiatives are actively working on reducing those factors that contribute to the smog. They have achieved some success, but if you have significant respiratory conditions, you may need to consider carefully whether Santiago is the place for you.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed my time in Santiago. The city offers so much to enjoy. But my visit also led me to reflect on how much we in the developed, western world take for granted – such as peace, self-determination, freedom of movement and freedom from oppression. Chile is still on its journey of healing, but it has come a long way. We recommend going now, before the next invasion – mass tourism – takes place.
If you’re interested in Latin America, you can find posts on Montevideo and Buenos Aires on our Americas page.
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