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104 Santiago trips. Compare tour itineraries from 15 tour companies. 809 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.
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Top Santiago Attractions
- Check out the new Centro Gabriela Mistral, named for the Chilean poet who was the first Latin American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. There are concerts and performances most days at this breathtaking performing-arts center and rotating art exhibits on the bottom floor.
- Wander poet Pablo Neruda’s hideaway, La Chascona - check out the dining room modeled after a ship’s cabin and the living room reminiscent of a lighthouse.
- Marvel at the pre-Colombian pottery, Mapuche totems and Andean textiles on display at the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino.
- Spend a couple hours browsing the stalls at the largest and most entertaining handicraft market in the city, Los Graneros del Abla.
- Listen to the sounds of the city’s popular jazz scene - the most famous venue is Club de Jazz, frequented by legends Louis Armstrong and Wynton Marsalis.
- Shop and dine like a local at Mercado Central - for seafood and fish - and La Vega Central - for fruit and vegetables.
- Picnic at the top of Cerro San Cristobal.
- Beat the heat with a local helado (ice cream). Dairy-free? Look for helados de fruta, fruit flavors but without the cream.
- Ski Valle Nevado or Portillo, convenient to the city and ranked among the world’s top ski areas.
- Sip famous Chilean wines in nearby Maipo Valley, center of the country’s wine production.
Santiago Tours & Travel Guide
Santiago Attractions & Landmarks Guide
An attractive, modern city of parks, wide boulevards, hills, museums, restaurants, and cafes, Santiago is both the commercial and political capital of Chile. Situated about halfway down the narrow 2,600-mile-long country, it forms a convenient base for forays into the nearby wine country, the colorful coastal city of Valparaiso, and various national parks. If you tour Chile, you’re almost certain to spend time in centrally located Santiago.
Get to Know Santiago
With more than 40 percent of Chileans making their home in this surprisingly cosmopolitan city in full view of the Andes and the coastal peaks, the capital city of Santiago is a rising star in the travel community. In between meals of haute cuisine, there are intriguing museums to get lost in, massive Cerro San Cristóbal park to picnic in and a funky neighborhood that is a colorful canvas for impressive street art and independent art galleries.
With an excellent modern subway system whisking one throughout the city, it’s easier than ever to see all of Santiago’s distinct and vibrant neighborhoods.A reputable Santiago tour company will cover this and more, inspiring you to get out and explore on your own, while holding your hand just enough to make sure you don’t leave any stone unturned.
5 Must-See Santiago Attractions
1. Metropolitan Cathedral - Set on the western edge of the Plaza de Armas, the Metropolitan Cathedral has been around since 1541. Back then, city founder and Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia was in need of a place to worship and demanded that it be built on the edge of this famous square.
That original structure succumbed to fire … two more buildings were built on the spot and they were also destroyed, this time by earthquakes in 1647 and 1730. The third and current attempt was built around 1750 - thanks to Italian architect Joaquin Toesca, the impressive cathedral displays an aesthetically pleasing blend of neoclassical and baroque elements, complete with intricate stained-glass windows.
2. Bellavista Neighborhood - One needn’t even go inside to take in the art of the bohemian Barrio Bellavista neighborhood - it’s often described as an outdoor art museum, particularly along its main street, Pio Nono. The street art that adorns many of the buildings was created as a weapon of resistance during the dictatorship and after the fall.
Look for the colorful murals on Bombero Núñez and Santa Filomena, then, just as the shop owners hoped, you’ll be swayed to come in to the neighborhood galleries and boutiques to check out their wares. Also in this neighborhood: the former home of poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona.
3. Cerro San Cristobal - At nearly 3,000 feet above the rest of the city’s Metropolitan Park, St. Christopher Hill is popular for those seeking the best summit views. There are two ways to get to the top: Take the funicular at the north end of Pio Nono Street in Bellavista, or don your sturdiest hikers for the one-hour climb from Plaza Caupolican. Make sure you get the iconic Virgin Mary statue photo at the summit.
4. Santa Lucia Hill - Not to be outdone by Cerro San Cristobal, Santa Lucia Hill is a hilltop oasis on the eastern edge of downtown. Take the challenge and follow the long narrow path and high stone steps to the top - well worth it for the spectacular views and photo ops.
5. Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights) - Of Santiago’s myriad museums, this is the one to visit if you’re interested in the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. Learn about his 17-year rule, defined by countless murders and the disappearance of thousands of Chileans. The museum is a cultural success, paying tribute to lives lost and illuminating for present-day visitors this somber chapter in the city’s history.
5 Favorite Santiago Neighborhoods
1. Bellavista - At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we really do love Bellavista, a Bohemian quarter between the Mapocho River and San Cristobal Hill. Look for colorful street art, quiet tree-lined streets, sidewalk cafes, funky boutiques and more - plenty to keep you busy for hours. If you can, make it to the weekend craft market near Pio Nono for local handiwork and semiprecious stones.
2. Lastarria - The historical and cultural epicenter of Santiago, this is the place for theater, cinema, live performances and festivals of all ilk. This is also where you’ll find Santa Lucia Hill - formed by a 15-million-year-old volcano - which you’ll want to hike for the best views over the city.
3. Las Condes - Home to the upper echelon of Santiago society, Las Condes is the financial center and as glitzy as you might expect. Plus, foodies are in heaven here - there are more than 500 restaurants from which to choose. Stroll along busy Apoquindo Avenue, coined “Sanhattan.”
4. Providencia - Need to shop? Check out residential Providencia near San Cristobal Hill. A number of classic older buildings are home to restaurants and boutiques sure to fill your suitcases with treasures to bring home. Bags full, rest your weary legs at Sculpture and Balmaceda Parks.
5 Off-the-Beaten-Path Santiago Tour Activities
1. Check out the wildlife - Leave the museums and art galleries for another day and venture outside Santiago to Cajon del Maipo or the National Reserve Rio Los Ciprses. You’ll meet the majestic condor here, the national bird of Chile, and definitely not something you see every day!
2. Go back in time - Delve into the history of Santiago - beneath its cosmopolitan facade, you’ll fine more than 400 archaeological sites, some more than 10,000 years old. If you’re in town at the end of June, El Blanco Hill comes alive with Mapuche and Aymara ceremonies in celebration of the indigenous people’s New Year.
3. Uncover UNESCO - Check another couple UNESCO sites off your bucket list - the Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaiso and Sewell Mining Town are closeby. Plus, the city itself has a couple sites that are just waiting to be approved, so you can be ahead of the curve: visit Iglesia de San Francisco and La Moneda.
4. Tallest Building in Latin America - Something to boast about at your next dinner party? Take in the sunset from Latin America’s tallest building, Sky Costanera. It’s in the Providencia neighborhood and clocks in at nearly one thousand feet tall.
5. Marketing Like a Local - One of the best ways to explore a new city is to get lost with its residents where they eat, shop and play. Wend your way through the weekend open-air market, Persa Bio Bio, which takes over several streets and sells everything from antiques and used books to national delicacies. During the week, check out La Vega Central, for the largest selection of fruits and vegetables in the city center.
What to Eat in Santiago
In a country as geographically varied as Chile, Santiago won’t claim one particular dish or cuisine as its trademark. Why stop at one? With all of these unique environments, it’s no surprise that there are countless recipes and emblematic dishes for visitors to try. Five favorites to try:
1. Pastel de Choclo - “Corn pie” was born in the Elqui Valley and while it has many variations, you’re pretty much guaranteed some combination of sweet corn, hardboiled egg, olives and ground beef or chicken. It has been likened to a quiche - but with a corn base instead of egg.
2. Empanada de Pino - Stuffed pastry? Yes, please. Chile packs its empanadas full - opt for the traditional pino, filled with ground beef, onion, raisins (trust us), olives and hardboiled eggs.
3. Churrasco Sandwich - Thin slices of beef, lamb or goat on locally made bread - maybe with tomato or avocado, depending on your preference - and sold everywhere from the streets to the finest restaurants. And not to leave out those ever-popular eggs … you can get your sandwich with a fried egg on top (“a lo pobre” style).
4. Arrollado de Huaso - Followers of Anthony Bourdain may recognize this traditional pork roll. Bacon, chilis and spices are rolled up inside pork skin and then boiled.
5. Seafood - So much seafood … from razor clams to crab pie, lobster, squid, sea urchin, eel soup. You’ll find all this and more.
Hungry? Make sure your Santiago tour includes a stop at the Mercado Central, a historic market with just about every flavor the country offers. Try bites of seafood, fresh fruit, charcuterie, empanadas, cheese, baked goods and more, then shop for jewelry and handicrafts. It’s open all year-round, every day.
Weather in Santiago
Let’s be frank - while Santiago’s plum placement between two gorgeous mountain ranges (the Andes and the coastal peaks) makes for jaw-dropping views when the stars align, this valley setting also has the tendency to trap smog. Hedge your bets by visiting March to May and September to November.
Santiago Reviews & Ratings
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The nicest part of traveling with you was the prompt replies we received from the start of the planning process all the way through the trip. We were able to make a ...
They were all very knowledgable and jovial, and they clearly like their jobs.
Dear Lujan, We returned from our vacation to Argentina, which you organized for us, two days ago. I would just like to say a big thank you for your help; we had a wo...
They were all very knowledgable and jovial, and they clearly like their jobs.
Dear Lujan, We returned from our vacation to Argentina, which you organized for us, two days ago. I would just like to say a big thank you for your help; we had a wo...
I had a fantastic experience!
I'd like to express my gratitude for all of your efforts in preparing and organizing my recent visit to your great nation. Everything went smoothly, and the places I...
I had a fantastic experience!
I'd like to express my gratitude for all of your efforts in preparing and organizing my recent visit to your great nation. Everything went smoothly, and the places I...
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