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On a classic Chile travel itinerary, Santiago gets snubbed: between stopovers, however, it certainly happens to spend time in the Chilean capital, and so here is a list of what to see in Santiago, Chile.
Actually, in my opinion Santiago de Chile is worth a visit. There are some parts of the city that are pleasant, although some parts of Santiago are dangerous: for example, the Bellavista barrio is no longer safe at night times. In 2019 there was the estadillo social in Chile: so many people took to the streets to protest against the government.
The demonstrations were successful, as the government president had to call new elections.There was, however, a real battle between police and demonstrators, which led to radical changes in city life. Even today in the Plaza Italia area there are signs of this battle in many buildings.
Santiago de Chile airport is about half an hour from the central areas: I recommend booking a transfer, available here on Civitatis.
Best of Santiago de Chile: Cerro San Cristobal
Cerro San Cristobal tops the list of what to see in Santiago de Chile. This hill is located at an elevation of 845 meters, 300 meters higher than the rest of the city. You can reach Cerro San Cristobal from barrio Bellavista (walking about 45 minutes uphill or taking the funicular that starts from calle Pio nono), or from barrio Providencia (walking about an hour, passing through the Japanese gardens (beautiful!), or by cable car). Near Pio nono is Pablo Neruda’s house, called la Chascona.
At the top of Cerro San Cristobal are the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the astronomical observatory. Also, you can find many street vendors selling the typical mote con huesillo, a non-alcoholic drink made with dried peaches, sugar, water and cinnamon. I, personally, do not like it!
The closest metro to Cerro San Cristobal is Los Leones: the walk to the base of the Cerro is pleasant as it passes through the Providencia barrio, one of the most beautiful areas of Santiago de Chile.
Best of Santiago de Chile: Museum of Memory
The Museum of Memory and Human Rights is, in my opinion, not to be missed. The museum is located near the Quinta Normal metro and can be visited free of charge Tuesday through Sunday. In this museum you can immerse yourself in Chilean history, and in particular learn about what happened in 1973: on September 11 of that year, in fact, there was Pinochet’s coup d’รฉtat.
The museum recounts the events that took place-I admit I came out a bit shaken, as there is no shortage in accounts of the torture that took place during those years. I recommend devoting at least an hour to the visit.
Best of Santiago de Chile: Palacio de la Moneda and downtown
The Palacio de la Moneda is one of the historical palaces of Santiago de Chile.. Inside the Palacio de la Moneda there are various exhibitions: in 2019 I was able to enjoy an exhibition by Joaquin Torres Garcia, very nice!
Near the Palacio de la Moneda is the beautiful Calle Bandera, where the street is colored like a rainbow. Also on this street is the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, dedicated to ancient peoples.
Calle Bandera leads up to the very central Plaza de Armas, which I honestly did not like. This area is also not recommended at night. It might be a good idea to visit downtown Santiago with this free tour of Civitatis.
What to see in Santiago de Chile: Cerro Santa Lucia and Lastarria
In the middle of downtown Santiago is Cerro Santa Lucia, the city’s true green lung. Santiago de Chile was founded here in 1541 and it is still a perfect place to relax. From Cerro Santa Lucia you can appreciate beautiful views of the nearby mountains.
Near Cerro Santa Lucia there is a beautiful barrio, Lastarria. During my 2019 visit to Santiago there were many murals, which unfortunately are no longer there. Lastarria is still a very nice area, however, with various markets, bars and restaurants. Chipe libre in particular stands out: here you can drink one of the best pisco sours in the city, highly recommended!
Within walking distance of Lastarria is another park that is very popular with Chileans: parque Forestal. Near this park are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The most useful subway stops for visiting this part of Santiago are Bellas Artes and Universidad Catolica.
Map of what to see in Santiago, Chile
Before I continue to describe what to see in Santiago, Chile, I leave a map with all the best of Santiago.
What to see in Santiago de Chile: Barrio Italia
Another area of Santiago that is very pleasant to visit, especially in the evening hours, is Barrio Italia. This area of Santiago de Chile is characterized by renovated houses that house small stores and art galleries. There are plenty of restaurants and bars: the Marina, Mar de Tapas is one of my favorites in Santiago, as you can eat excellent raw fish (they are not licensed to sell alcohol, but you can bring your own bottle of wine from home).
There is also a wine festival at Barrio Italia: it is generally held in mid-March and is really well done!
What to see in Santiago, Chile: Lost BioBio
There are many markets in Santiago de Chile. One of the most famous is the Persa BioBio (metro Franklin and BioBio). The BioBio market there is on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Here you can really find everything: old books, souvenirs, home appliances, video games…it is really interesting to visit this market!
There are also small restaurants where you can eat local delicacies. I strongly recommend not to take a lot of valuables with you to Persa BioBio as theft may occur. Personally, however, I did not find the market dangerous.
What to see in Santiago de Chile: Nunoa
For good food and great beer, the Nunoa neighborhood is definitely one of the best in Santiago de Chile. This is also one of the best neighborhoods to stay in, as it is close to the Chile Espana and Nunoa metro stops. Recommended places to drink and eat include Barbudo Beer Garden, Agua Santa Bar, Casa Conejo, Tapas y Birra, and Punto Pais-the last two are highly recommended places to eat!
Also in Nunoa is the pinseria Campo Marzio: I had a very good pinsa!
What to see in Santiago de Chile: parque Bicentenario
In Santiago de Chile there is another very beautiful park. Walking through the parque Bicentenario is a nice experience, as there are small ponds and views of the skyscrapers of the Costanera Center: seeing the green of the park with the modernity of the skyscrapers in the background is a definitely interesting mix!
The nearest subway is Tobalaba: from the stop it is convenient to take Uber.
What to see in Santiago de Chile: parque Aguas de Ramon
Parque Aguas de Ramon is a real gem in Santiago! This is one of the most beloved places by the people of Santiago, and when I visited it, I had no trouble understanding why they love it so much! In fact, Parque Aguas de Ramon boasts several trails, which allow you to admire the city of Santiago and some small waterfalls-the viewpoints are truly beautiful!
I personally hiked the Sendero Los Peumos, coming all the way to Puente Cascada and returning from the Ruta Palenteologica. In total the trek was about three hours long, and it is truly beautiful! You have to book the ticket online, on this site (cost about three euros).. The easiest way to get to Parque Aguas de Ramon is Uber, as there are no subway stops near the park.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT TO SEE IN SANTIAGO DEL CILE YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN …
Torres del Paine, a spectacle!
La Paz, capital city at high altitude!
USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO SEE IN SANTIAGO DEL CILE
- Santiago de Chile is not one of the most beautiful cities in South America, but it is not as bad as it is painted. In my opinion, it is pleasant to stay a couple of nights in the Chilean capital to learn more about Chile and appreciate Chilean cuisine.
- Santiago de Chile’s climate is pleasant. Summers are not exaggeratedly hot and winters are not freezing. It rains little: the wettest months are July and August.
- In my opinion Santiago de Chile is a fairly expensive city. Expect to pay 15 to 20 euros for a dish in a restaurant.
- The best places to sleep in Santiago de Chile are Barrio Italia and Nunoa. There are several Airbnb: the average price for a studio apartment is around 40 euros.
- Where to eat in Santiago de Chile? My favorite places are Tapas y Birra in Nunoa, Marina Tapas in Barrio Italia, and Punto Pais in Nunoa.
- Where to drink in Santiago, Chile? My favorite brewery is Barbudo, while Chipe Libre is a great place to drink a great pisco sour.
- The metro in Santiago de Chile is very good. Uber works very well and prices are generally low, even at night.
