Reading about Santiago in my trusty Moon guide, author Wayne Bernhardson called Santiago South America’s most underrated city. After visiting in 2025, I totally understand what he means.
Santiago often gets overlooked as a transit hub. And I’m not going to lie to you – if it’s a choice between Santiago and Chile’s southern destinations, it’s hard to make a case for a large, capital city.
That said, if you have a bit of time and you’re not super tight on cash (capitals rarely deliver bang for buck), you can have a wonderful time. I found that Santiago packs a punch, offering a great mix of pretty and safe neighbourhoods, excellent cultural institutions, a clean and effective transport system, and a range of dining and wining options to keep you happily occupied.
We spent lazy days at the tail end of Santiago’s summer walking around, taking our time in museums, eating out and catching up on movies while sampling Chile’s excellent wines. We found people to be kind and helpful, and had a fabulous time.
So while lots of people slate Santiago online, I am prepared to make the argument that spending a few days in Santiago is a fantastic way to acquainted with Chile. I’d even go as far as saying that it’s one of the easiest capitals in the continent. So if you’re ready to dip your toes into Chile, read on to discover 10 things to do in Santiago.
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Kick off with a Santiago walking tour
Walking tours are an effective and interesting introduction to get oriented, ask a local questions, and brush up on a place’s history.
Join a tour or tackle a walk by yourself on a self-guided one. Free group walking tours usually depart from the central Plaza de Armas and last around three hours. We did ours with local guide Carlos and thought it a great introduction to the city.
You can also do themed walking tours, covering everything from history and food to street art. For something a little special, hire a private guide ($40-200 USD and upwards for a couple of hours), and plan a customised route. Morning tours are recommended in the summer and autumn months to avoid the heat.
📍 Getting there: tours usually start from Plaza de Armas (metro Line 5)
💰 Cost: some walking tours free but tips are expected ($10-15 USD per person)
Credit: Stubborn Travel
Eat your way around Barrio Lastarria
The charming Lastarria neighborhood combines historic architecture with fun dining options. Institutions on offer include the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM), Cinema Arte Alameda, and the Museo de Artes Visuales (MAVI), although multiple locals warned us against visiting the latter. Nearby is also the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
Lastarria is well known for gastronomy, but it’s also fun to just walk around. Between restaurants and bars, you’ll find cobblestone streets, elegant stone buildings and a bustling market with everything from handmade crafts to Simpsons T-shirts. During evenings and weekends, you may see street performers and musicians as locals and tourists gather at outdoor seating areas.
There are too many restaurants to name, but just know there are enough to sample both Chilean cuisine (such as Chipe Libre) as well as most palettes. Wine enthusiasts may want to sample one of the 344 wines on offer at Bocanáriz, a renowned bar offering flights representing Chile’s diverse terroirs. Fear not if that doesn’t look up your street, as great wine is easy to find here. Just don’t forget about the Pisco Sours.
📍 Getting there: take the metro to Bellas Artes (Line 5) or Universidad Católica (Line 1) and walk 5-10 minutes
💰 Cost: free to walk around + cost of a meal or cocktail
Confront Chile’s past at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights and Villa Grimaldi
More on the somber side but not one to miss is the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights). It does a thorough job commemorating the victims of of Chile’s military dictatorship from 1973 to 1989.
The museum documents tens of thousands of photographs, testimonials, letters and artefacts from this tumultuous time to ensure that no story – however heartbreaking or cruel – is left untold. It is a powerful and moving effort to remember victims as well as preventing human rights abuse worldwide.
Located near the Quinta Normal metro station, a thorough visit should take around 2-3 hours, and admission is free (you can make voluntary donations). Audio guides are available in multiple languages in exchange for a CLP 5,000 donation. If you don’t speak Spanish, you may want to pick one of these up to help you better understand the context, as a lot is translated, but not everything. Free WiFi and helpful staff are there to help bridge gaps.
📍 Getting there: metro to Quinta Normal (Line 5) + a few minutes walk
💰 Cost: free
Villa Grimaldi and Parque por la Paz
Another option is to visit Villa Grimaldi, a notorious detention center where thousands were tortured or executed. The area has since been transformed into Parque por la Paz (Peace Park), as a memorial to honor those who suffered here. You’ll find rose gardens, recreations and inscriptions of names. To learn more along the way, listen to the free audioguides provided by the Parque por la Paz, or go with a guide.
📍 Getting there: metro to Plaza Egaña or Fernando Castillo Velasco (both Line 3), then take a bus (like the 227, D09) or walk 30 minutes
💰 Cost: free
Enjoy the views
Santiago offers several vantage points to appreciate pretty city views, with the Andes standing guard in the background. On clear days, you would think you can reach them on foot (you can’t, unless you want to walk 80km on a highway).
At first, we didn’t understand why everyone recommended viewpoints in the afternoon. Surely there can’t be a big difference between the morning and the afternoon, right?
Not quite. We found the afternoons yielded significantly better visibility than the hazy mornings. Apparently this is due to a few factors, including the ‘thermal inversion’ that traps pollutants overnight, and the afternoon winds that help disperse them.
There are viewpoints across the city, but three main ones get points for special views. Remember to check the weather ahead of time to plan your visit , as Santiago can get very hazy.
Cerro San Cristóbal
For a nature-based experience, head to Cerro San Cristóbal in the Bellavista neighborhood. This is near where a lot of walking tours end, so you easily could pair these activities (walking tour in the morning, Cerro in the afternoon). You can hike up (about 45 minutes, some it quite steep) or take the historic funicular railway that has been operating since 1925 – both are great options. At the summit, you’ll find the 22-meter statue of the Virgin Mary, beautiful gardens, and some market stalls. Oh, and pretty panoramic views.
📍 Getting there: metro to Pedro de Valdivia (Line 1), then 15-20 minute walk to get to the entrance
💰 Cost: free
Cerro Santa Lucía
For something a little closer to the ground, Cerro Santa Lucía is built on the remnants of a 15-million-year-old volcano. It’s a quick climb up, and you’ll find terraced gardens, Vicuña Mackenna’s tomb and pretty fountains as well as city views, particularly at golden hour. It’s also the site where Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541. There’s a lot to see in the vicinity as well, from Fuerte Hidalgo to the Japanese Gardens, the National Library and Municipal Theatre.
📍 Getting there: metro to Santa Lucía (Line 1), then walk
💰 Cost: free. Security guards may ask you for your ID number when you walk in, but this is not always enforced.
Sky Costanera
If you’re willing to splurge for your view, Sky Costanera is the place to do it. The Costanera Center provides Santiago’s highest viewpoint (and South America’s). At 300 meters up, the observation deck on floors 61 and 62 offers unobstructed 360-degree views.
At nearly $20 USD per person, it’s not cheap. Some people say it’s totally worth it, others prefer to go elsewhere. We would have actually loved to do it, but ran out of time. I’ll report back once we do.
📍 Getting there: metro to Plaza Egaña or Fernando Castillo Velasco (both Line 3), then take a bus (like the 227, D09) or walk 30 minutes
💰 Cost: 18,000 CLP per person ($18.5 USD)
Feed your inner artist at La Chascona, Pablo Neruda’s Santiago residence
Whether you like Chile’s most famous poet or not, Pablo Neruda’s whimsical Santiago home in Bellavista offers a fascinating insight into his creative mind. Called La Chascona (meaning unkempt), the house was built for his mistress at the time, and later wife, Matilde.
The home has been restored after its looting during the infamous 1973 coup in Santiago. While Pablo Neruda (a loyal Allende supporter) was not directly injured in the coup (he was receiving hospital treatment for cancer), he died shortly after. In an era where many Pinochet critics were tortured or mysteriously disappeared, some say Neruda was poisoned.
Photography is not allowed inside the house (only in outside areas), so you’ll have to take my word for it: it’s an incredible place to spend an hour. The house is filled with eclectic collections, famous art and maritime-themed architecture, as Neruda famously loved the sea. I recommend watching the video at the beginning of the tour to help put it all into context. Audio guides are included in the price of the ticket and offer information on each quirky room.
If you like the visit, consider that la Chascona is actually the most conventional of three Neruda houses. The other two are in Valparaiso and Isla Negra (where he is buried).
📍 Getting there: metro to Baquedano (Lines 1 and 5) + 15-minute walk
💰 Cost: CLP 9,000 per ticket (approximately $10 USD)
Explore Bellavista’s street art
You may want to pair a visit to La Chascona with a tour or wander around the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood, with its colourful buildings, outdoor restaurants, trams and street art. There are also a range of restaurants and bars on offer where you can rest your tired legs.
During the day, this is a beautiful part of Santiago. Come evening, the area transforms into a nightlife hub and comes with a warning. Don’t walk around alone here at night, especially with visible valuables. Exercise caution and if you’re drinking at one of the many bars there, keep an eye on your drinks.
Sample Chilean wine
Many Chilean wines sit at that delightful intersection between delicious and inexpensive. It almost feels rude not to indulge, and there are plenty of ways to sip and savor.
Vineyards near Santiago
The Maipo Valley (just 45 minutes from Santiago) is known for excellent cabernet sauvignons, while the Casablanca Valley (about 1.5 hours away) specializes in cool climate sauvignon blancs and chardonnays. Many wineries offer tours and tastings, with options ranging from budget-friendly to luxurious experiences. Most hotels or hostels can help arrange transportation, or you can join an organized tour if you don’t want to worry about driving back.
Vineyards in Santiago
Within Santiago itself, Viña Cousiño Macul is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, with cellars and museums open for tours. Classic wine tours start around $20 USD, but there’s a range on offer. You can even see the vineyard by bicycle.
Wine supermarkets
If you’re looking to enjoy wine without a tour, consider the Boutique del Vino Baco, the retail outlet of Providencia restaurant Baco. In Las Condes, El Mundo del Vino also has a wide choice, which you can peruse both in-store and online.
Supermarkets and bars
Finally, there’s nothing wrong with just getting a copa at a bar or restaurant, or picking up a bottle at your closest supermarket to enjoy at your accommodation. You may not have as much choice as a specialised market, but I found there was plenty.
📍 Getting there: depends on winery. For Viña Cousiño Macul, take the metro to Quilin station (Lines 4) and walk for 20 minutes
💰 Cost: varies, starting around $20 USD and upwards
Explore art and culture through the ages
For culture enthusiasts, Santiago offers two exceptional museums worth visiting, and even on the same day. The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Fine Arts Museum) is housed in a stunning Beaux-Arts building in Parque Forestal and showcases Chilean art from the colonial period to present day.
Just a short walk away through the park is the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art), and its displays of fascinating artifacts from ancient civilizations across the Americas. The building itself – a restored 19th-century customs house – adds to the experience.
If you’re short on time, I’d recommend prioritizing the Pre-Columbian museum for its unique collection – which is really incredible. Though art lovers will appreciate both.
📍 Getting there: metro to Bellas Artes (Line 5)
💰 Cost: the National Fine Arts Museum is free. The Pre-Columbian Art Museum costs around CLP 12,000 ($12 USD) and is closed on Mondays.
Visit Barrio Italia for lower key shopping and cafés
The Barrio Italia neighborhood offers a more relaxed alternative to Lastarria, with converted warehouses now housing design shops, antique stores, and cozy cafés. We were walking around before dinner and ended up spending a few hours browsing homeware and vintage finds.
The area has a distinctly European feel and is less touristy than other parts of the city. Don’t miss the hidden passageways with their charming courtyards.
📍 Getting there: metro to Santa Isabel (Line 5)
💰 Cost: free to browse + whatever you’re tempted to buy!
Step back in time at the Museo Histórico Nacional and Museo de Santiago
Located in the former Royal Court building on Plaza de Armas, the Museo Histórico Nacional (the Historical National Museum) offers an engaging (and free) overview of Chilean history. The exhibits chronicles Chile’s development through time, highlighting artifacts from the pre-Columbian era, to the independence period and modern day.
For something a little more local, consider the Museo de Santiago. Housed in the beautiful Casa Colorada (Red House), one of the city’s few remaining colonial buildings, the Museo de Santiago offers insight into the capital’s development through the centuries. Exhibits include old maps, photographs, artifacts, and scale models that showcase the city at different points in time. The museum is quite small and can be explored in about an hour, making it a great pairing to your Museo Histórico Nacional visit.
📍 Getting there: metro to Plaza de Armas (Line 5)
💰 Cost: Free, closed on Mondays
Final thoughts on Santiago
Santiago surprised us with its charm, variety of activities, and ease of getting around. The city makes an excellent bookend to adventures in Patagonia or the Atacama Desert, but deserves more than just a passing glance. The cherry on top was that we found Santiaguinos to be extremely friendly, kind, and eager to share recommendations.
While it may not have the immediate wow factor of Rio or Buenos Aires, Santiago rewards those who take the time to explore its neighborhoods and institutions. Give it a chance – you might find yourself, like us, extending your stay to soak up more of what this underrated South American capital has to offer.
If you’ve made it down to here, I’d love to know… have you been to Santiago? What did you think?
Frequently asked questions
Is Santiago safe?
I’ve written a whole post about this, but the short answer is this: Santiago is the safest capital in South America and the biggest safety concerns are petty crime and pickpocketing. More serious crime does occur, but it’s rare. Don’t take taxis, walk around late and flash expensive valuables, and you should be fine. We were there for two weeks and had no problems at all, but we were careful.
Where should I stay in Santiago?
I go more detail on places to stay in Santiago in the FAQs of my safety post, but the recommended areas for tourists are Las Condes, Providencia (it’s a huge area, so scope individual accommodation out), Ñuñoa, El Golf and Vitacura. As always, check reviews for individual accommodations, and check specifically what people say about location.
We stayed in Providencia, Ñuñoa and Las Condes (in that order). Our favourite was Las Condes, a ten-minute walk from Hernando de Magallanes metro. It was a bit more far out, but we didn’t mind. In case you’re interested, this is the apartment we stayed at. We loved it, although the host wasn’t always super responsive.
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