Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Santiago tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
Santiago is often regarded by travellers as simply an air travel ‘hub’ — a place you’re forced to go through to get to somewhere else in South America.
You get off one plane, you get on another. You get the picture. However, those who escape the austere confines of the airport and reach the city proper will discover a dynamic destination that has a huge amount to offer visitors.
With the majestic Andes Mountains as a backdrop, the capital of Chile consists of a historic centre punctuated with grand Neoclassical architecture. The city was established by Spanish conquistadors way back in 1541. Multiple earthquakes have made short work of many of the original colonial buildings, but there are more than enough surviving monuments to keep the most voracious of tourists happy.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Santiago on a first visit.
1. Watch the presidential changing of the guard
Whatever you do, don’t miss the spectacular changing of the guard ceremony at the presidential offices. It’s more a full scale parade than a ceremony! It takes place in front of the magnificent Palacio de la Moneda every other day, and includes toe-tapping numbers from an accompanying military band. I bet the President loves to sit in his office and hum along.
2. See some amazing art
Nearby, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts) is a superb example of 19th century beaux-arts architecture. There are regular special exhibitions in addition to the permanent collection of Chilean art. Check the website for details.
3. Admire the view from Cerro San Cristobal…
Board the creaking 1920s funicular in Barrio Bellavista (the bohemian quarter) for the short journey to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, which is adorned by a giant statue of the Virgin Mary. Up here, you’ll get awesome views of the city and Andes, and an appreciation of just how big Santiago is (the city has a population of around seven million people).
4. …and Sky Costanera
Awesome views can also be had from Sky Costanera — the observation deck of the glittering Gran Torre Santiago (Great Santiago Tower), which dominates the city’s skyline. The deck is situated at a giddying height of 300 metres.
5. Learn about Chile’s past
There are plenty of historical must-sees in Santiago. Visit the oldest surviving colonial building in town — the La iglesia de San Francisco (San Francisco Church), which was constructed in the late 1500s. From there, take a stroll down the gorgeous cobbled Barrio Londres.
Over in the busy Plaza de Armas — the centre of life in the city since it was established – you can also visit the Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago (Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago) or the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago (Royal Court Palace). The latter houses the excellent Museo Histórico Nacional (National History Museum of Chile). Peruse the colourful works of the various artists hard at it in the square out the front.
History buffs may also want to visit the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights), which commemorates the victims of human rights abuses under the infamous rule of Augusto Pinochet from 1973 and 1990.
6. Go boho in Barrio Bellavista
Following your visit to Cerro San Cristobal, descend to Barrio Bellavista and explore the neighbourhood’s marvellous jumble of cafes, galleries, and boutiques — their external walls emblazoned with street art. Now we’re talking! It reminds me of Melbourne’s Brunswick or Collingwood, or perhaps Sydney’s Paddington or Marrickville — with a Latin twist! For a snack on the go, grab a completo — which literally means ‘hotdog with the lot’.
Make sure you check out trendy Patio Bellavista — an urban renewal project that boasts a swag of buzzing bars and eateries. It’s the perfect spot to mark wine-o-clock. Settle into the nearest wine bar and order a carménère – a medium-bodied red, which originated in Bordeaux (France) but is now produced almost exclusively in Chile.
7. Get some retail therapy in Vitacura
If grunge chic isn’t really your thing, don’t stress! Santiago is also awash with designer label boutiques and outlets for luxury goods. Those with cash to splash can do so along Avenue Alonso de Cordova in Vitacura. Very Toorak/Double Bay, darling.
8. Shop fresh at the Central Market
For an authentic taste of local life, visit the Mercado Central de Santiago (Central Market). Situated on the northern side of the old centre, this venerable institution dates back to 1872. Today it’s largely a seafood market and the central plaza has a great (if slightly whiffy) selection of seafood restaurants.
9. Park yourself in a park
Central Santiago is incredibly neat and tidy, thanks to a strong municipal program of maintenance and improvement. The city has a huge number of parks and gardens, many of which feature engaging pieces of public art. Take your pick of the green spaces and enjoy a spot of urban R&R.
One of the best options is Parque Forestal, which runs alongside the Mapocho River. It’s a great location for some people-watching around lunchtime. The river (which is more like a concrete canal) flows best from September to November. When the water level is low, the walls of the channel play a civic role; they’re covered in political graffiti.
10. Soak in a hot spring
And finally, if you love taking a nice warm bath, plan a day trip to the Termas Valle de Colina (Colina Hot Springs) in the Andes — 140 kilometres south-east of Santiago. An organised tour is the easiest way to get to and from the complex, which boasts spectacular mountain views. The stepped pools have been formed by calcified sediment from the thermal spring. Soak up the arid beauty of the setting as your cares drift away.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.chile.travel.
Browse our range of Santiago tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Santiago? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours and Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
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