From the top of the Cerro Caracol trail, the eucalyptus forest opens and a stone tower comes into view, built in 1921 by the city's German community. Below it, the streets of Concepción spread out toward the Biobío. It is a good first orientation to a city that rewards a slow half-day on foot and a few short trips out along the coast.
Concepción suits travellers who are happy to mix a university district and its gardens with ship museums, seafood towns and native forest. This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, in the order worth doing them, plus a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Concepción
1. Universidad de Concepción
A beautiful university with big gardens, and the reason many visitors start here. The campus is walkable and green, so it works well as a gentle introduction to the city.
Make sure to see La Pinacoteca while you are on campus. If you are coming down from the Mirador Alemán hike, you can walk north-east towards the university rather than retracing your steps.
2. Mirador Alemán (Bismarck Tower)
A nice hike uphill on well maintained trails, through a eucalyptus forest. At the highest point of the Cerro Caracol stands a stone tower built in 1921 by the German community in Concepción as a tribute to the first chancellor of Germany, Otto von Bismarck.
Start the hike from Parque Ecuador. On the way back you can either retrace your steps or walk north-east towards the Universidad de Concepción, which makes a natural pairing with the campus gardens.
3. Parque Pedro del Río Zañartu
This park offers beautiful natural landscapes and recreational places. It sits about 10 minutes from downtown, and five minutes farther on you can see the join of the Biobío river and the Pacific Ocean.
The only way to get into this place is by car or taxi, so do not pay more than 10,000 pesos for a single ride, and ask the taxi driver for "Museo Hualpén". The museums listed below are inside the park.
4. Museo Hualpén (Museo Pedro del Río Zañartu)
A beautiful old house that was converted to a museum holding the collection of Mr. Pedro del Río Zañartu, a world traveller. It is the anchor of a visit to the park.
Combine it with the Hualpén Museum and the Desembocadura, which sit inside Parque Pedro del Río Zañartu at the rivermouth of the Biobío river. That museum has a big variety of archaeological, natural and historical pieces of collection.
5. The Huascar
At the naval base in Talcahuano, the Huascar is a ship that was captured from the Peruvian navy in a war in the late 1800s. It is a symbol of Chilean national pride and is the oldest floating historical relic in the world, and you can visit the museum to learn more.
Visiting hours are 9:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:00, and entry costs 3100 CLP. Plan your Talcahuano trip around those two windows.
6. Península of Hualpén
A peninsula where you can visit an old whale factory in Chome, a white sanded bay called Ramuntcho, or the Nature Sanctuary. It is a good half-day outdoors rather than a single stop.
Choose one focus for the day, since the whale factory, the bay and the sanctuary are separate draws within the same area.
7. Lenga
Go and eat seafood in this seaside town. Try some seafood empanadas or mariscal caliente in one of the numerous eating places.
It is about 15 minutes from Concepción by car and 35 minutes by bus (Puchacay, Line 71). The bus will take much longer as it doesn't take the highway, but is cheaper (US$0.80). These restaurants do not accept credit cards, so bring cash, and El Viejo Lobo del Mar is recommended.
8. Chivilingo Hydroelectric Plant (Central hidroeléctrica de Chivilingo)
Near Lota is Chile's first electric plant, today a beautiful museum and picnic area. It pairs naturally with a trip south.
Combine it with Lota, since the two sit in the same direction from the city.
9. Lota
An old mining town that offers tours of an old coal mine. It is about 40 km south of Concepción.
Pair the mine tour with the Chivilingo Hydroelectric Plant nearby, and note that the Federico Schwager Stadium in Lota has been abandoned, so it is not advisable to visit.
10. Dichato
A popular beach in the Bio-Bio region, surrounded by a large forest, with a long beach and delicious seafood. It is about 45 minutes from Concepción.
Go for the beach and the seafood in the same outing, and treat it as a full half-day rather than a quick stop.
11. Nonguén National Park (Reserva Nonguén)
A natural reserve with untouched native forests and endemic animals such as the Rana de Darwin and the Pudú. It is about 20 minutes by car from Concepción.
Come for the forest and wildlife rather than facilities, and allow time to walk rather than drive through.
12. Tomé
A seaside town, which is fairly forgettable, but go in the spring or summer to enjoy the beautiful beach. It is about 30 minutes from Concepción centre by bus.
Time your visit to spring or summer, when the beach is the reason to make the trip.
13. Marina del Sol Casino
A new establishment for gambling and entertainment, offering a big variety of games and shows for adults and kids. It is 5 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from Concepción.
It works well as an evening option, and it is one of the few listed places that suits both adults and children.
14. Regional Stadium
The main and biggest stadium in the metropolitan area, hosting Universidad de Concepción and Deportes Concepción matches. A ticket price can vary from 2,000 to 5,000 pesos depending on the match.
Check which of the two clubs is playing before you go, since the fixture decides the day and the price.
15. CAP Stadium
This stadium hosts Huachipato's matches. A ticket is more expensive, 4000 pesos, as it has very comfortable accommodations.
Choose this over the Regional Stadium if comfort matters more to you than price.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start with the Universidad de Concepción and its big gardens, making sure to see La Pinacoteca. From there, hike up from Parque Ecuador to the Mirador Alemán (Bismarck Tower) through the eucalyptus forest, then walk back down north-east towards the university.
Afternoon: Take a car or taxi to Parque Pedro del Río Zañartu, asking the driver for "Museo Hualpén" and paying no more than 10,000 pesos for the ride. Inside the park, see the Museo Hualpén (Museo Pedro del Río Zañartu) and the Hualpén Museum and the Desembocadura at the rivermouth of the Biobío, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean.
Evening: Head to Lenga for seafood, trying the seafood empanadas or mariscal caliente, with El Viejo Lobo del Mar recommended. Bring cash, as the restaurants do not accept credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Parque Pedro del Río Zañartu?
The only way to get into this place is by car or taxi, about 10 minutes from downtown. Do not pay more than 10,000 pesos for a single ride, and ask the taxi driver for "Museo Hualpén".
When can I visit the Huascar, and what does it cost?
Visiting hours are 9:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:00, and entry costs 3100 CLP. It is at the naval base in Talcahuano.
Can I pay by card at the seafood restaurants in Lenga?
No. These restaurants do not accept credit cards, so bring cash. El Viejo Lobo del Mar is recommended.
Which stadiums should I avoid?
El Morro Stadium was destroyed by the 2010 earthquake and tsunami and is not advisable to visit. Federico Schwager Stadium has been abandoned, so it is not advisable to visit either.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the Huascar hours and the Lenga bus before you set out, and you have enough to start planning a trip to Concepción.