Metropolitana de Santiago Attractions Guide 2026

Top attractions

The most popular and significant attractions in Metropolitana de Santiago.

1. 1

   Cerro San Cristobal and Parque Metropolitano

   viewpointAdult Funicular round trip approx CLP 4,000-5,500 (~USD 4-6); combined funicular and cable car approx CLP 7,500-9,000 (~USD 8-10) · Child Approx CLP 2,000-3,000 (~USD 2-3) for ages 3-123-4 hours

   The 880 m hill rising above Bellavista is Santiago's biggest green space. A funicular (running since 1925) climbs to the summit, where the 14 m Virgin Mary statue looks over the city, with a cable car continuing to the Pedro de Valdivia Norte side. Walking and cycling roads wind through the park, which also holds two public swimming pools and the Camino Real trail.

2. 2

   Cerro Santa Lucia

   parkAdult Free · Child Free1-1.5 hours

   A rocky outcrop in the heart of downtown where Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541, then called Huelen by the Mapuche and Picunche. In the 1870s it was landscaped into terraced gardens with stairways, fountains, the Neptune fountain, a chapel, and the Castillo Hidalgo fort. The summit viewpoint gives a 360-degree panorama of the city.

3. 3

   Plaza de Armas and Catedral Metropolitana

   landmarkAdult Free · Child Free45 minutes - 1.5 hours

   The historic centre of Santiago, laid out by Valdivia in 1541. The square is framed by the neoclassical cathedral (rebuilt in the late 1700s with Joaquin Toesca involved), the Correo Central post office, the Municipalidad, and the Museo Historico Nacional. Palm trees, shoe-shine stands, caricaturists and chess players fill the plaza.

4. 4

   Palacio de La Moneda and Centro Cultural La Moneda

   landmarkAdult Plaza and cultural centre entry free; exhibitions approx CLP 5,000-9,000 (~USD 5-10) · Child Free under 12 or reduced (verify at ticket desk)1.5-2 hours

   The presidential palace, designed by Joaquin Toesca and finished in 1805 as the colonial mint, was bombed during the 1973 coup and later restored. Beneath the Plaza de la Ciudadania, the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda hosts major international exhibitions, a cinema, shops and a cafe. The palace interior can be seen only on advance-registered guided visits through the government's official site.

5. 5

   Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

   museumAdult Approx CLP 10,000 (~USD 11) · Child Free for children under 12 (verify at entrance)1.5-2 hours

   Housed in the 1807 Real Aduana building, this museum displays about 3,000 pieces from Mesoamerica, the Andes, the Amazon and Chile, including Chinchorro mummies, Inca textiles and Moche ceramics. The collection is laid out chronologically across two floors around a covered courtyard. Considered one of the best museums in South America; website precolombino.cl.

6. 6

   Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos

   museumAdult Free · Child Free2-3 hours

   Opened in January 2010, the museum documents human rights violations committed during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship through photographs, documents, personal belongings, video testimony and the original letters of the disappeared. Audio guides in English are available; the content is sombre and best visited with time to reflect. Website museodememoria.gob.cl.

7. 7

   Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

   museumAdult Free · Child Free1.5-2 hours

   A neoclassical palace built for the 1910 centenary, with a glass-and-iron central hall, holding the country's national collection of Chilean painting, sculpture and prints from the colonial period to the present. Rotating contemporary exhibitions occupy the side galleries. The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo sits in the adjoining Parque Forestal annex.

8. 8

   Mercado Central

   marketAdult Free entry; seafood lunch approx CLP 12,000-25,000 (~USD 13-27) · Child Free1-1.5 hours

   A wrought-iron market hall (1872) with fresh fish, shellfish and produce stalls and traditional seafood restaurants around a central fountain. The fish counters hold congrio, merluza, sea urchin, locos and machas. Restaurants near the hall's edges often have touts; pick a seated stall inside and check prices before ordering.

9. 9

   La Vega Central

   marketAdult Free · Child Free1-1.5 hours

   Santiago's working wholesale and retail produce market across the river from Mercado Central, with stalls of fruit, vegetables, herbs, cheese and meat, plus cheap lunch counters serving cazuela and pastel de choclo. Tourist-friendly in the daytime, but crowded; keep bags in front.

10. 10

    La Chascona (Fundacion Pablo Neruda)

    museumAdult Approx CLP 12,000 (~USD 13) including audio guide · Child Approx CLP 3,500 (~USD 4) for children1-1.5 hours

    Poet Pablo Neruda's Santiago house, built in the 1950s and named for his wife Matilde Urrutia's untamed hair (la chascona). The curving rooms are packed with maritime collections, glassware, ship figureheads and art; the poet and Matilde are buried in the garden's memorial. Audio guides in English are included.

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Hidden gems

Off-the-beaten-path attractions worth seeking out.

Practical information

What you need to know before you go.

Hours

Most museums open Tue-Sun 10:00AM-6:00PM and close on Mondays; markets open early (7:00AM) and close mid-afternoon; parks and plazas are open daily

Fees

Many state museums (Bellas Artes, Memoria) are free; private museums cost approx CLP 5,000-12,000 (~USD 5-13); viewpoints approx CLP 4,000-20,000 (~USD 4-21); a Metro ride costs approx CLP 800-900 (~USD 1)

Best Times

October-April brings dry weather and clear Andes views; the shoulder months (March-May and September-November) are comfortable; smog is worst in June-August

Booking

Book La Chascona, Concha y Toro and ski transfers online in advance; museum tickets can be bought at the door. Metro payment uses the Tarjeta Bip! card (about CLP 1,550 / ~USD 2 for the card itself)

Tips for visiting attractions

Make the most of your sightseeing time.

Frequently asked questions