Posted 22/08/24 | 22nd August, 2024
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I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Santiago, Chile, following a fantastic few days in the Atacama Desert, and it’s safe to say this city has a lot to explore!
It’s a sprawling city with a population of over five million, so you’ll need more than a couple of days to scratch the surface of the Chilean capital.
So, from viewpoints to museums to tasting some famous Chilean wines – here are all the best things to do in Santiago, Chile.
9 Fun Things to Do in Santiago, Chile
Santa Lucia Hill
Santa Lucia Hill was one of the first attractions I visited in Santiago. It was a welcome relief from the concrete jungle I had spent the morning walking around. It’s completely free to enter, and you can visit the Pedro De Valdivia Letter, Castillo Hidalgo, and the Japanese Gardens. From here, you can get some excellent photos of the city, with the incredible snow-capped mountains providing an unforgettable backdrop.
However, even in the height of winter, this place was packed! (I guess that’s to be expected from one of the best free things to do in Santiago.) So, be prepared for the crowds and a wait for a great picture.
Explore Barrio Italia
This is a trendy, hip area of the city, similar to Shoreditch in London. It’s packed with fun markets, great wine bars, and excellent coffee shops. Side note: if you’re celiac, there’s an excellent gluten-free cake shop (literally one of the best carrot cakes I’ve ever eaten!).
I would dedicate an afternoon to wandering the streets, a spot of shopping, and plenty of eating!
Take a Day Trip to Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar
Valparaiso
I was initially planning on heading out to Valvalparaiso for a few nights. However, after a schedule change, we only had a day to give to this coastal area, but it was plenty of time to hit the highlights.
Valparaiso is a vibrant port city on Chile’s coast, renowned for its steep hillsides adorned with colourful houses. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is celebrated for its rich cultural heritage. The city’s bohemian atmosphere attracts artists, musicians, and writers, fostering a lively arts scene.
It’s fair to say that Valparaíso has a less-than-ideal reputation, and petty crime against tourists is very common here.
Therefore, I recommend booking a walking tour. We enjoyed this one through Guru Walk, and it was amazing! Our guide spent two and a half hours showing us around the city, explaining the history, and showing us the best street art. We got a glimpse into areas of the city we would have never found on our own, and I thoroughly recommend it.
Viña Del Mar
Just up the road is the holiday destination of Viña Del Mar, with a selection of sandy beaches, restaurants, and huge hotels. If you’re travelling in the heart of summer, then I recommend visiting for a few nights and enjoying the coastline. However, if the weather isn’t great, an afternoon here is plenty.
You can easily take the public bus between Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar, which departs from the main road and takes just fifteen minutes.
Museum of Memory and Human Rights
The Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago, Chile, is a powerful, chilling museum that I recommend every tourist visit.
It was built to commemorate the victims of human rights violations during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990).
Opened in 2010, the museum seeks to preserve the memory of those who suffered, raise awareness of the importance of human rights, and educate future generations. Its exhibits include documents, photographs, testimonies, and interactive displays that offer a poignant reminder of Chile’s dark past. Most of the exhibits are just in Spanish, but some are translated into English.
The museum is completely free, and you don’t need to book anything ahead of time.
Visit the Plaza de Armas and Palacio De la Moneda
The Plaza de Armas is the historic heart of Santiago, Chile. It has served as the city’s main square since its founding in 1541. Surrounded by significant buildings like the Metropolitan Cathedral, it remains a lively, bustling hub filled with locals and tourists.
The Palacio de La Moneda, located nearby, is the presidential palace and a symbol of Chilean governance. Completed in 1805, it was originally a mint and is now the seat of the President of Chile, featuring neoclassical architecture.
Both are well worth a visit, and you can easily walk between them in under ten minutes. The historic centre felt very safe and comfortable during the day, with lots of offices and a large police presence around the government buildings. However, I would stay away from this area after dark.
Enjoy Some Green Spaces
In a way, Chile felt similar to London in that although it’s a crazy, busy city packed with skyscrapers, plenty of parks and green spaces are dotted around to give you a slice of tranquility.
All the parks I visited were clean and well-lit. People were socialising and exercising, and they all felt like welcoming spaces to relax.
Take a Wine Tour!
I’ve been lucky enough to have a few different alcohol tasting experiences around the world. These included exploring the Guinness Factory in Ireland, trying port in Porto, and I honestly thought nothing could top the Tequila experience in Mexico.
However, a wine-tasting tour was definitely one of my favourite things we did in Santiago. We opted for the tour at Concho y Toro, and I honestly could not recommend it more.
The setting is beautiful, and you can take the tour in either English, Spanish or Portuguese. Our guide, Filipe, was absolutely incredible. He was kind, funny and extremely knowledgeable. He took us through a little history of the place, showed us around the grounds, and then onto the tastings.
We sampled three different wines (there are options to do three, seven, or ten glasses!). The tour took just over an hour, and there is a reasonably priced shop at the end (if you have enough space in your backpack).
I also really recommend heading into their restaurant to sample some cheese and wines. The prices were very reasonable for this kind of establishment, and the service was very friendly.
You do not need a tour to get to Concho y Toro. Instead, take the metro to Las Mercedes station and then hop in a cab for the final part of the journey. This taxi should cost between 3000 and 5000 CLP. It is much cheaper than booking through an agent, and you will experience the exact same tour once you arrive at the venue.
Visit The Cemetery
Ok, hear me out. A little bit of a strange addition to the best things to do in Santiago, Chile. But the General Cemetery of Santiago is a hugely poignant place to visit on your trip.
Established in 1821, is a vast and historic burial ground located in the Recoleta district. Spanning over 210 acres, it is the final resting place for many of Chile’s most prominent figures, including Salvador Allende and Víctor Jara.
The cemetery is known for its grand mausoleums, intricate tombstones, and diverse architectural styles, reflecting the country’s rich history. It also houses the Memorial of the Disappeared, dedicated to victims of the Pinochet dictatorship.
Ride the Fenicular to Cerro San Cristobal
Riding the funicular to Cerro San Cristóbal in Santiago is one of the most popular things to do in Santiago.
The funicular, operational since 1925, ascends the hill, offering breathtaking views of the city and the Andes Mountains. At the summit, visitors can explore the iconic Virgin Mary statue, which overlooks Santiago, and enjoy the serene surroundings of the Parque Metropolitano.
I really recommend arriving here early and purchasing your tickets online ahead of time. We arrived around midday (on a weekday), and both queues were absolutely huge!
Getting Around in Santiago
If you’ve travelled much of South America, you will certainly feel the pinch of Chilean prices! This is not a cheap country to travel to. Uber is plentiful, but I would avoid using it where possible, as the costs can quickly mount up, especially in such a large city with lots of ground to cover.
Instead, use the metro! You will need to buy a travel card, and then you can just top it up using cash or a bank card. There didn’t appear to be any machines to recharge your card. Instead, head to the desk and simply tell them how much you want to recharge. Each journey costs around $750 CLP, and it is a flat fee regardless of where you are going.
If there are two of you travelling together, you don’t need to purchase multiple cards; just tap the card twice, and it will take two fares.
Where to Stay in Santiago
As mentioned, Santiago is a huge city with over five million residents, so choosing where to stay can be a minefield. In fact, this is probably the first capital city where I’ve really struggled to understand which are the best and worst areas to be based.
I stayed in two areas that I really liked. The first was Barrio Italia. This is a trendy area with lots of bars, restaurants and cafes. However, after dark, it didn’t feel the safest of neighbourhoods.
I also stayed a lot further east, in the area close to Parque Araucano. This wasn’t quite as cool, but it had a much safer, more residential feel to it. Because of the ease of using the metro in Santiago, being a little outside of the more bustling areas wasn’t really a problem.
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