Santiago is the capital of Chile, a city of about seven million set in a valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range, with a walkable historic centre, the Bellavista and Lastarria neighbourhoods, Cerro San Cristobal and a fast, clean metro.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Santiago.
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1
Cerro San Cristobal and Parque Metropolitano
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2
Cerro Santa Lucia
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3
Plaza de Armas and Catedral Metropolitana
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4
Palacio de La Moneda and Centro Cultural La Moneda
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5
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
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6
Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos
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7
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
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8
Mercado Central
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9
La Vega Central
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10
La Chascona (Fundacion Pablo Neruda)
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Plaza de Armas and Catedral Metropolitana
Colonial heart of the city founded in 1541, with the cathedral and the Museo Historico Nacional
Palacio de La Moneda and Centro Cultural La Moneda
Presidential palace plus an underground cultural centre with exhibitions
Estacion Mapocho Centro Cultural
1913 iron railway station turned cultural venue
Teatro Municipal de Santiago
Neoclassical opera house of 1857 with guided tours
Cementerio General
19th-century cemetery with presidents and poets
Museums
Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino
Pre-Columbian art across the Americas
Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos
Dictatorship-era documentation, free entry
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
National collection of Chilean art, free entry
La Chascona (Fundacion Pablo Neruda)
Pablo Neruda's Santiago house, entry by timed visit
Museo Historico Nacional
Chilean history from the colonial period, on Plaza de Armas
Museo de Artes Visuales (MAVI)
Contemporary Chilean visual art in Lastarria
Palacio Cousino
19th-century aristocratic mansion, guided visits only
Parks_and_viewpoints
Cerro San Cristobal and Parque Metropolitano
Funicular and cable car to the hilltop Virgin statue
Cerro Santa Lucia
Founding site of the city with terraced gardens
Sky Costanera
Tallest viewing deck in South America
Parque Bicentenario
Lakeside park in Vitacura with flamingos
Parque Forestal
Linear park along the Mapocho river
Parque Quinta Normal and museums
Historic park with museums and a lake
Neighbourhoods
Barrio Lastarria and Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro
Cafes, wine bars and galleries on tree-lined streets
Patio Bellavista
Open-air restaurant and craft complex at the foot of Cerro San Cristobal
Markets
Mercado Central
Wrought-iron seafood market hall
La Vega Central
Working produce market across the river
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most state museums open Tue-Sun about 10:00AM-6:00PM and close on Mondays; Mercado Central opens about 7:00AM and La Vega Central about 6:00AM; parks and plazas are open daily. Confirm hours on each venue's website before travelling.
- Fees
- State museums such as Bellas Artes and Memoria are free; private museums cost approx CLP 5,000-12,000 (~USD 5-13); Sky Costanera approx CLP 20,000 (~USD 21); Cerro San Cristobal funicular approx CLP 4,000-5,500 (~USD 4-6). 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, September-November) are comfortable; smog is worst in June-August. Visit viewpoints in the morning after rain for the clearest air.
- Booking
- Book La Chascona and Sky Costanera online ahead on peak days; most other museum tickets are bought at the door. Metro payment uses the Tarjeta Bip! card (about CLP 1,550 / ~USD 2 for the card itself, sold at Metro stations).
- Getting Around
- The Metro (lines L1, L2, L3, L5) reaches almost every attraction in this list; Uber, Cabify and DiDi cover the rest. Plaza de Armas, Lastarria, Bellavista and the Alameda museums are walkable from each other.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Load a Tarjeta Bip! card at any Metro station; the Metro is the fastest way between museums and covers most of the central attractions
Check museum opening days before going: most state museums close on Mondays
Carry a photo ID or passport copy for museum free-entry days and for the Cerro Santa Lucia registration desk
Climb Cerro San Cristobal or Santa Lucia early on clear days; haze builds by mid-afternoon in dry months
Keep valuables zipped in crowded markets and Metro cars during rush hour (7:30-9:00AM and 6:00-8:00PM)
Book Concha y Toro, La Chascona and ski-centre transfers a few days ahead through their official websites
Combine Plaza de Armas, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and Mercado Central on one walking day; they are within 15 minutes of each other.
The Metro closes around 11:00PM; plan the last ride or order a ride-hailing car for late returns.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are enough to see Santiago's main attractions?
Two full days cover the historic centre, Cerro San Cristobal, Bellavista, Lastarria and the main museums; add a third day for Pomaire, Pirque wineries or the Cajon del Maipo.
What are the best free attractions in Santiago?
Museo de la Memoria, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Cerro Santa Lucia, Plaza de Armas, Parque Forestal, Parque Bicentenario and the Centro Gabriela Mistral are free.
Which museums are closed on Mondays?
Most state museums, including Bellas Artes, Memoria, Precolombino and the Museo Historico Nacional, close on Mondays. Parks, markets and Cerro Santa Lucia stay open.
Is the Santiago Metro safe and easy to use?
Yes. The Metro is clean and runs approx 6:00AM to 11:00PM; avoid rush hour with large bags and use a Tarjeta Bip! card.
When is the best time to visit Santiago's Andes viewpoints?
Clear days after rain in spring (September-November) and autumn (March-May) give the best visibility; summer is hot and winter has smog.