Santiago
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Santiago - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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21. Ex Congreso Nacional
Santiago CentroOnce the meeting place for the National Congress (the legislature moved to Valparaíso in 1990), this palatial neoclassical building became the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a time but was returned to the Senate for meetings after the Ministry moved to the former Hotel Carrera in Plaza de la Constitución in December 2005. The original structure on the site, the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, was destroyed by a fire in 1863 in which 2,000 people perished. Two bells from that church now grace the elaborate gardens. To coordinate a tour, email [email protected] with at least two days' notice. More formal attire is appreciated, and neither shorts nor baseball caps are permitted. The tour is free and lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Catedral 1158, entrance on Morande, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8340325, ChileSight Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
22. Iglesia San Francisco
Santiago CentroSantiago's oldest structure, greatest symbol, and principal landmark, the Church of San Francisco is the last trace of 16th-century colonial architecture in the city. Construction began in 1586, and although the church survived successive earthquakes, early tremors took their toll and portions had to be rebuilt several times. Today's neoclassical tower, which forms the city's most recognizable silhouette, was added in 1857 by architect Fermín Vivaceta. Inside are rough stone-and-brick walls and an ornate coffered wood ceiling. Visible on the main altar is the image of the Virgen del Socorro (Virgin of Perpetual Help) that conquistador Pedro de Valdivia carried for protection and guidance.
La Alameda 834, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8330082, Chile2-2638–3238 -
23. Jardín Botánico Mapulemu
BellavistaGravel paths lead you to restful nooks in the Mapulemu Botanical Garden, dedicated to more than 70 native Chilean species. Every path and stairway seems to bring you to better views of Santiago and the Andes. On weekends, the Instituto Nacional de Deportes conducts classes starting at 9:30 am. These free municipality-run seminars may include yoga, Zumba, aerobics, aeroboxing, or bicicleta estática, a spinning-like activity. There are also paid yoga classes on Sundays from 10 to noon. The easiest access is from the Pedro de Valdivia side.
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8420541, Chile2-2730–1331Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
24. Londres 38 Espacio de Memorias
Santiago CentroThis lovely facade on Calle Londres holds dark secrets: Londres 38 was a clandestine torture center for 98 people for three years during Chile's 27-year dictatorship, beginning in 1973. Rooms include a tiny bathroom, where multiple DNA was recovered that helped to identify victims; a video shows the work forensic scientists undertook. Simple signs add to the sad and dignified ambience that holds a torrid past and now plays its part as a space for memory.
Londres 38, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, Chile2-26320–7859Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri.–Mon. -
25. Mercado Central
Parque ForestalAt the Central Market you'll find a matchless selection of edible products from the sea. Depending on the season, you might see the delicate beaks of picorocos, the world's only edible barnacles; erizos, the prickly-shelled sea urchins; or heaps of giant mussels. If the seafood doesn't capture your interest, the architecture may: the lofty wrought-iron ceiling of the structure, reminiscent of a Victorian train station, was prefabricated in England and erected in Santiago between 1868 and 1872. Diners are regaled by minstrels in the middle of the market, where a few larger restaurants compete for customers. You can also find a cheap meal at the smaller restaurants around the edge of the market.
View Tours and ActivitiesIsmael Valdés Vergara 900, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320009, Chile2-2696–8327 -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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26. Metropolitan Cathedral
Santiago CentroConquistador Pedro de Valdivia declared in 1541 that a house of worship would be constructed at this site bordering the Plaza de Armas. The first adobe building burned to the ground, and the structures that replaced it were destroyed by the earthquakes of 1647 and 1730. The finishing touches of the neoclassical cathedral standing today were added in 1789 by Italian architect Joaquín Toesca. Be sure to check out the baroque interior stained-glass-topped arched colonnade, and look out for the sparkling silver altar of a side chapel in the south nave.
Plaza de Armas 444, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320147, Chile2-2671–8105 -
27. Municipalidad de Santiago
Santiago CentroToday's city hall for central Santiago can be found on the site of the colonial city hall and jail. The original structure, built in 1552, survived until a devastating earthquake in 1730. Joaquín Toesca, the architect who also designed the presidential palace and completed the cathedral, reconstructed the building in 1785, but it was destroyed by fire a century later. In 1891, Eugenio Joannon, who favored an Italian Renaissance style, erected the structure standing today. On the facade hangs an elaborate coat of arms presented by Spain. The interior now houses a tourist office as well as a small gallery and souvenir shop. The tourism office runs free tours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 am with no previous registration required.
Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320096, Chile -
28. Museo Artequín
Parque Quinta NormalThe resplendent Pabellón París outside the Parque Quinta Normal grounds houses this interactive museum that teaches the fundamentals of art to children, but the pavilion itself—with its glass domes, Pompeian-red walls, and blue-steel columns—is the real jewel. Designed by French architect Pierre-Henri Picq, it housed Chile's exhibition in the 1889 Paris International Exposition (where Gustave Eiffel's skyline-defining tower was unveiled); the structure was later shipped to Santiago. On weekdays, school groups explore the two floors of reproductions of famous artworks hung at kid-height as well as the virtual reality salon. There are occasional interactive exhibits and workshops, plus an on-site café.
Av. Portales 3530, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 9170007, Chile2-2681–8656Sight Details
Rate Includes: 2000 pesos; free Sun., Mon. and Feb. -
29. Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
Santiago CentroThis well-endowed collection of artifacts of the region's indigenous peoples, much of it donated by the collector Sergio Larraín García-Moreno, is displayed in the beautifully restored Royal Customs House that dates from 1807. The permanent collection, on the upper floor, showcases ceramics and textiles from Mexico to Patagonia. Unlike many of the city's museums, the displays here are well labeled in Spanish and English. Guided tours in English are available at no extra cost, but must be booked in advance. There is a shop with a good selection of on-topic books and an airy café as well.
View Tours and ActivitiesBandera 361, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320298, Chile2-2928–1500-generalSight Details
Rate Includes: 5000 pesos; free 1st Sun. of every month, Closed Mon. -
30. Museo de Arte Colonial San Francisco
Santiago CentroThis monastery adjacent to Iglesia San Francisco houses the best collection of 17th-century colonial paintings on the continent. Contained in rooms that wrap around the courtyard are 54 large-scale canvases portraying the life of St. Francis, painted in Cusco, Peru, as well as a plethora of religious iconography and an impressive collection of silver artifacts. Most pieces are labeled in Spanish and English. Peacocks roam the central courtyard.
La Alameda 834, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8330082, Chile2-2639–8737Sight Details
Rate Includes: 1000 pesos, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
31. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
Parque ForestalThe elegant Museum of Contemporary Art, set in a classic building, showcases modern Latin American paintings, photography, and sculpture. The museum is run by the art school of Universidad de Chile and isn't afraid to take risks. Look for Fernando Botero's pudgy Caballo (Horse) sculpture out front, and drop in at its café serving gourmet coffee and homemade treats. There is a second location of this museum near Quinta Normal, and a bus-turned-café called Central Placeres or simply La Micro ("the bus," in Chilean slang) parked outside.
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320000, Chile2-2977–1755Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
32. Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología
Parque Quinta NormalChildren can spend a happy half hour at this small science-and-technology museum's interactive exhibits, while adults can peruse its collection of old phonographs, calculators, and computers. A small part of the Museo Infantil's (Children's Museum) collection was also moved to this museum after the 2010 earthquake, and there are exhibits for ages three and up on astronomy and vision.
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 9170007, Chile2-2681–6022Sight Details
Rate Includes: 1000 pesos, Closed Mon. -
33. Museo de la Moda
VitacuraThe Fashion Museum, opened in 2007 by a son of Jorge Yarur Banna, one of Chile's most successful textile barons, hosts small but choice exhibitions mostly featuring women's dresses that date to the 1600s. Housed in the Yarur family's former home, designed by Chilean architects in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1960s, the museum offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the Chilean oligarchy in the run-up to the upheaval of Salvador Allende's socialist government and the ensuing military coup. The main rooms feature original furnishings, while the pink 1958 Ford Thunderbird driven by Yarur's wife is parked in a courtyard. Call before visiting; the museum can close for up to two months between exhibitions. El Garage café, open daily, serves light meals and snacks at reasonable prices.
Av. Vitacura 4562, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 7630253, Chile2-2219–3623Sight Details
Rate Includes: 3000 pesos, Closed Mon. -
34. Museo Histórico Nacional
Santiago CentroThe colonial-era Palacio de la Real Audiencia served as the meeting place for Chile's first Congress in July 1811. The building then functioned as a telegraph office before the museum moved here in 1911. It's worth the small admission charge to see the interior of the 200-year-old structure, where exhibits tracing Chile's history from the preconquest period to the 20th century are arranged chronologically in rooms centered on a courtyard. Keep an eye out for Allende's eyeglasses. Ask for the English brochure and free audio guide, and if you are not heights-averse, take a tour up the tower for a bird's-eye view of the Plaza de Armas, cathedral, and downtown Santiago.
Plaza de Armas 951, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320096, Chile2-2997–8930Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
35. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Parque ForestalUnfortunately, Chile's main fine arts museum now has only a small part of its excellent collection of Chilean paintings on display, confining it to just six small rooms on the first floor. The rest of the museum is given over to temporary exhibitions of varying interest. The elegant, neoclassical building, which was originally intended to house the city's school of fine arts, has an impressive glass-domed ceiling, which illuminates the main hall. Guided tours are available in Spanish only, with reduced schedules in January and February. Walk through to the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, housed in the same building.
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8320000, Chile2-2997–8000Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon., Guided tours daily in Spanish; reserve ahead to [email protected] -
36. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
Parque Quinta NormalThe National Natural History Museum is the centerpiece of Parque Quinta Normal. French architect Paul Lathoud designed the building for Chile's first international exposition in 1875. Damaged by successive earthquakes, the neoclassical structure was rebuilt and enlarged. There are large dioramas of stuffed animals against painted backdrops, descriptions of wrongs committed against indigenous people, and occasionally, paleontologists working in glass-walled exhibits. The skeleton of an enormous blue whale hangs in the central hall, delighting children of all ages. Exhibits are labeled only in Spanish, but audio guides in English are available.
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 9170007, Chile2-2997–9229Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. -
37. Palacio Cousiño
La AlamedaDating from the early 1870s, this fabulous mansion was built by the wealthy Cousiño-Goyenechea family. All that mining money allowed them to build this palace with amenities such as one of the country's first elevators. The elegant furnishings were—of course—imported from France. Extensive refurbishments to all four salons were done in 2017. Email ahead for 45-minute tours in English that take place daily.
Dieciocho 438, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, Chile2-2386–7448Sight Details
Rate Includes: 4000 pesos, Closed Sat.–Mon. -
38. Palacio de La Moneda
Santiago CentroOriginally the royal mint, this sober neoclassical edifice designed by Joaquín Toesca in the 1780s and completed in 1805 became the presidential palace in 1846, serving that purpose for more than a century. It was bombarded by the military in the 1973 coup, when Salvador Allende defended his presidency against the assault of General Augusto Pinochet before he committed suicide there. Free tours can be arranged by email with at least two days' notice---tell them you want to see the Salón Blanco if you'd like to go upstairs.
View Tours and Activities -
39. Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia
Santiago CentroDuring Augusto Pinochet's rule, countless human-rights demonstrations were held outside the Courts of Justice, which house the country's Supreme Court. The imposing neoclassical interior is worth a look, but the guards reserve the right to admission and prefer more formal attire (no shorts, flip-flops, tank tops). It is open for visits from 9 to 2.
Av. Compañía 1140, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8340370, Chile -
40. Parque O'Higgins
Santiago CentroNamed for Chile's first president and national hero, whose troops were victorious against the Spanish, this park has plenty of open space for everything from ball games to military parades and a dedicated picnic area complete with barbecues. Street vendors sell volantines (kites) in the park year-round; breezy September and early October comprise prime kite-flying season, especially around September 18, Chile's national holiday. There are pedalcab and rollerblade rentals on weekends, a competitive rollerblade track, and a terrain park with a deep bowl for skateboarders and rollerbladers. The park has a beautiful covered pool, which costs 7,000 pesos for an hour-long pass; goggles and bathing cap are required. Both the Movistar Arena and Cúpola Multiespacio theater are also located at this park.
Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 8330915, ChileNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: Free
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