Stand on the Alameda at dusk and the city shows you its shape at once: the long spine of the old town running west, the Andes standing over the rooftops to the east, and the pavements filling with people who have come out to walk, talk and perform. Santiago rewards a traveller who is willing to move between its neighbourhoods rather than stay in one.
It suits anyone who likes a city with a strong centre and distinct quarters around it — history and politics in the Historical Center, cafés and galleries in Lastarria, nightlife in Bellavista, shopping in Providencia, and hills and parks almost everywhere in between. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Santiago
1. Plaza de Armas
The most lively area of the downtown, and the natural starting point for the Historical Center. Alongside the vendors you can often find artists, comedians and singers performing here, which makes it worth lingering rather than passing through.
Combine it with the sights that sit around the square itself: the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palace of the Royal Court, which is nowadays a museum, and the mayor's residence.
2. Palacio de la Moneda
A modernist colonial building constructed for the minting of coins, and from the mid-19th century also the residence of the president. It was bombed during the coup of 1973, the damage was repaired, and it remains the residence of the president today.
It sits in the Historical Center, so pair it with a walk along the Alameda just to its south.
3. Cerro Santa Lucía
A hill rising out of the old town with great views over it. It was known as Huelén before Pedro de Valdivia renamed it Santa Lucía at the founding of the city.
Approach it from the Alameda, where it stands near the Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile and the San Francisco church, and go up for the view across the historic centre.
4. Cerro San Cristóbal
One of the best vantage points in the city, with views over Santiago and the Maipo Valley. You can take the funicular or walk up.
It sits north of the river in Bellavista, so it works well as the finish to an afternoon in that neighbourhood.
5. Mercado Central
Going north from Plaza de Armas brings you to the market, which has plenty of restaurants. It is the obvious place to stop for a meal in the middle of a day spent in the centre.
Pair it with the walk east along the Mapocho river's southern bank towards Parque Forestal.
6. Parque Forestal and Museo de Bellas Artes
A parkland along the Mapocho River with the Museo de Bellas Artes beside it. This stretch of the city is one of the most pleasant to walk, and it puts you next to Lastarria.
Continue into Lastarria afterwards for its cafés, restaurants and art galleries.
7. Lastarria
A vibrant neighbourhood of cafés, restaurants and art galleries, sitting just east of Parque Forestal. It is a good place to break up a day of sightseeing, or to end one.
Come here after the Museo de Bellas Artes, when you want to sit down rather than look at anything else.
8. Bellavista
The nightlife hotspot north of the river, and the base for visiting the home of the poet Pablo Neruda. It is where you go when the sightseeing is done.
Combine it with the Cerro San Cristóbal, since the funicular and the walking route up both start from this side of the river.
9. La Chascona, the home of Pablo Neruda
The home of the poet Pablo Neruda, in Bellavista, described as mythical. It gives a different register to a day otherwise spent among palaces, churches and hills.
See it as part of an afternoon in Bellavista, before the neighbourhood turns into its evening self.
10. Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile
The central university building, on the Alameda, the main drag of the city. It is one of the landmarks that defines the historic spine of Santiago.
It stands opposite Plaza de Armas, so it fits naturally into a walk between the square and Cerro Santa Lucía.
11. San Francisco church
A church on the Alameda, among the sights of the old town. It is one of the surviving pieces of the city's religious architecture and sits on the route between the centre and the hill.
Fold it into the same walk as Cerro Santa Lucía and the Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile.
12. Metropolitan Cathedral
The cathedral stands near Plaza de Armas, in the heart of the Historical Center. It belongs to the group of buildings that made the square the centre of the colonial city.
Visit it while you are already at the plaza, together with the Palace of the Royal Court and the mayor's residence.
13. Palace of the Royal Court
The former royal court building, nowadays a museum, near Plaza de Armas. It is one of the historical sights of the centre and an easy addition to a walk around the square.
Pair it with the Metropolitan Cathedral and the mayor's residence, all of them close to Plaza de Armas.
14. Providencia
A district of trendy shops, southeast of the centre. It is where to go if you want to shop rather than sightsee, and it has its own cultural calendar.
A jazz festival takes place here each January, with both local and foreign bands playing.
15. Gran Torre Santiago and Sanhattan
The skyscrapers of Sanhattan, including Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest building in Latin America and the second tallest in the Southern Hemisphere. Further out than the historic sights, but a striking contrast to them.
Combine it with Providencia, which lies on the way, and see the two together as the modern face of the city.
16. Quinta Normal
A huge park to the west, surrounded by museums. It is a full afternoon in itself if you want one, and a change of pace from the centre.
Plan it as its own outing rather than trying to squeeze it between downtown sights.
17. A winery visit
Central Chile is famous for its wines, and there are many wineries in the outskirts of Santiago, both inside and outside the city borders. Many offer tours to visitors, wine tasting and on-premise restaurants.
Set aside a half day or more for this, since it takes you out of the city proper.
18. Jazz and the city's cultural centres
Santiago has an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city, one famous example being Club Jazz in the Nuñoa district. For current theatre, dance and concert listings, look in the El Mercurio newspaper.
Several cultural centres around the city host exhibitions, performances and workshops, and at some you can buy local art and handicraft.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Plaza de Armas, where the performers and vendors set the tone for the day, and see the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palace of the Royal Court and the mayor's residence around the square. Walk south to the Palacio de la Moneda, then along the Alameda past the Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile and the San Francisco church, and climb Cerro Santa Lucía for the view over the old town.
Afternoon: Head north to the Mercado Central for lunch, then walk east along the Mapocho river's southern bank to Parque Forestal and the Museo de Bellas Artes. Continue into Lastarria for its cafés and galleries, and cross into Bellavista to visit the home of Pablo Neruda.
Evening: Take the funicular or walk up Cerro San Cristóbal for the views over Santiago and the Maipo Valley, then come back down into Bellavista for the nightlife, or find a jazz club for the rest of the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start in Santiago?
The Historical Center, and specifically Plaza de Armas. It is the most lively part of the downtown, it has the cathedral, the Palace of the Royal Court and the mayor's residence around it, and the Alameda and Cerro Santa Lucía are within a short walk.
How do I get up Cerro San Cristóbal?
You can take the funicular or walk up. Either way you are rewarded with some of the best views of Santiago and the Maipo Valley.
What is there to do in the evening?
Bellavista, north of the river, is the nightlife hotspot. The city also has an impressive jazz scene with several intimate clubs, one famous one being Club Jazz in the Nuñoa district, and listings for theatre, dance and concerts appear in the El Mercurio newspaper.
Is it worth leaving the city centre?
Yes. Providencia has trendy shops, Sanhattan has the skyscrapers including Gran Torre Santiago, Quinta Normal is a huge park surrounded by museums, and the wineries on the outskirts of Santiago offer tours, tastings and on-premise restaurants.
Decide how many days you have, pick the neighbourhoods that match them, and start planning your trip to Santiago.