Cerro San Cristóbal & Metropolitan Park. A 722-hectare urban mountain park towering above Bellavista, offering panoramic views of Santiago and the snow-capped Andes. Ride the historic funicular or hike up to the hilltop Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, then explore the Japanese Garden and National Zoo below.
Palacio de La Moneda. Chile's neoclassical presidential palace — originally a colonial mint built in 1805 — is the defining symbol of Santiago's historic center. Watch the changing of the guard every odd-numbered day at 10 a.m. and descend free into the subterranean La Moneda Cultural Center for rotating exhibitions.
Cerro Santa Lucía. The rocky hill where Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541 is now a free public park laced with manicured gardens, fountains, and the Caupolicán Terrace viewpoint. It takes only 20–30 minutes to reach the summit, where views over rooftops to the Andes reward the easy climb.
SkyCostanera Observation Deck. Perched on the 61st and 62nd floors of Gran Torre Santiago — the tallest building in South America at 300 meters — this observation deck delivers a 360-degree panorama of the city grid, the Andes, and the Pacific cordillera beyond. The open-air upper terrace is one of the great views in the Americas.
Mercado Central. Santiago's spectacular 1872 cast-iron market hall is the city's premier seafood destination, where vendors stack fresh machas, locos, and oysters harvested from Chile's 2,600-mile Pacific coastline. Pull up a stool at one of the central seafood restaurants for ceviche and pisco sour under the soaring neoclassical dome.
Maipo Valley Wine Country. Often called the Bordeaux of South America, the Maipo Valley lies just 45 minutes from the city center and is home to iconic estates including Viña Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, and Undurraga. Half-day and full-day tours from Santiago include multiple cellar visits, tastings, and a view of the Andes framing the vineyards.
La Chascona — Pablo Neruda House Museum. Poet Pablo Neruda built this eccentric Bellavista home for his muse Matilde Urrutia, filling it with ship-shaped rooms, Diego Rivera paintings, and collections spanning shells, figureheads, and rare books. An audio-guided tour (available in six languages) reveals the intimate world behind Chile's most celebrated…
Barrio Lastarria & Bellas Artes. Santiago's most walkable cultural quarter stitches together cobblestone plazas, the free Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, indie cinemas, street book vendors, and some of the city's most inviting café terraces. Declared a Zona Típica in 1997, the neighborhood rewards an unhurried afternoon of wandering.
Top-rated tours & activities in Santiago
Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes — 5.0★ (52 reviews)
More wine in Valle Casablanca from Santiago — 5.0★ (46 reviews)
Rafting Adventure in the Maipo Cajon — 5.0★ (30 reviews)
Private San Cristobal Hill Mountain Bike Tour — 5.0★ (28 reviews)
Full Day Private Colchagua Wine Tour from Santiago — 5.0★ (20 reviews)
Full Day in the Farellones Park Fun in the Snow — 5.0★ (16 reviews)
From Santiago to the Andes: 4x4, horseback riding, waterfall visit and barbecue — 5.0★ (41 reviews)
Andes Day Volcano 8k Private Tour — 5.0★ (25 reviews)
Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes — 5.0★ (52 reviews)
More wine in Valle Casablanca from Santiago — 5.0★ (46 reviews)
Rafting Adventure in the Maipo Cajon — 5.0★ (30 reviews)
Private San Cristobal Hill Mountain Bike Tour — 5.0★ (28 reviews)
Full Day Private Colchagua Wine Tour from Santiago — 5.0★ (20 reviews)
Full Day in the Farellones Park Fun in the Snow — 5.0★ (16 reviews)
From Santiago to the Andes: 4x4, horseback riding, waterfall visit and barbecue — 5.0★ (41 reviews)
Andes Day Volcano 8k Private Tour — 5.0★ (25 reviews)