.jpg){kind=link}
01
45 min
Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas de Santiago de Chile
Plaza de Armas is Santiago's principal historic square and the city's Kilometre Zero.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
Country guide
Chile
Chile is a narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific, the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica. Its 756,102 km² are arranged almost entirely along one north–south line, with Peru and Bolivia at the top and the Drake Passage at the bottom, so nearly every journey here is a journey up or down. The 2024 census counted 18.5 million people. Santiago is the capital and largest city. Chile also administers Pacific islands far offshore, among them Juan Fernández and Easter Island, which means two places under the same flag can sit an ocean apart.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Cities
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
-
Santiago
Photograph · Omnespsx (D•ES) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Santiago 12,954 places
Practical information
Practical information
- Language spoken
- Spanish
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +56
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Chilean peso (CLP)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 133 police · 131 ambulance · 132 fire
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type C and L · 220 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Not recorded
- No single verified statement covers all regions and remote areas
Planning a visit
- Seasonal closure recorded
- No data recorded for this month
- The current month
- January: seasonal closure recorded
- February: seasonal closure recorded
- March: seasonal closure recorded
- April: no seasonality data recorded
- May: no seasonality data recorded
- June: no seasonality data recorded
- July: no seasonality data recorded
- August: no seasonality data recorded
- September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
- October: seasonal closure recorded
- November: seasonal closure recorded
- December: seasonal closure recorded
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
14 places match
14 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
-
-
02 45 minPalacio de La Moneda
La Moneda Palace, known locally as Palacio de La Moneda, serves as Chile's presidential palace and stands as Santiago's foremost national civic landmark. The neoclassical building occupies a central position in the city's civic district.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
03 45 minMetropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile
Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago de Chile
The Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral, known locally as Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago, stands as the principal Catholic cathedral of Chile's national capital. It occupies a commanding position on the west side of Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of Santiago.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
04 1 hourBarrio Lastarria
Barrio Lastarria is a compact neighbourhood in central Santiago known for its concentration of cultural venues, dining, and pedestrian-friendly streets.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
05 1 hourBarrio Yungay
Barrio Yungay is a community-protected heritage district in Santiago, Chile. It is recognized for its distinctive low-rise architectural character, network of passages, and prominent large-scale street murals.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
06 45 minMunicipal Theatre of Santiago
Teatro Municipal de Santiago
The Municipal Theatre of Santiago, known locally as Teatro Municipal de Santiago, stands as Chile's premier venue for opera, ballet, and classical music. This nineteenth-century architectural landmark occupies a central position in the capital.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
07 45 minFormer National Congress Building
Palacio del Ex-Congreso Nacional de Chile
Former National Congress Building, known locally as Ex Congreso Nacional de Chile, is a historic legislative palace in central Santiago. The republican ensemble includes the former palace and its surrounding gardens.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
08 45 minPalacio Cousiño
Palacio Cousiño is a nineteenth-century mansion in Santiago, Chile, built during the country's mining boom era. The palace was constructed for the Cousiño-Goyenechea family, whose wealth derived from silver, coal, and other mineral extraction.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
09 45 minPalacio Pereira
Pereira Palace, or Palacio Pereira, is a restored mansion dating from 1874 in Santiago's historic centre. It functions as a national heritage centre and represents nineteenth-century elite residential architecture in Chile's capital.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
10 45 minPalacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Santiago
Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia
Palace of the Courts of Justice, or Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Santiago, is a monumental neoclassical civic building in central Santiago.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
11 45 minPatio Bellavista
Patio Bellavista is a commercial and entertainment complex at the entrance to Santiago’s Bellavista neighbourhood. It works well as a lively urban stop between central Santiago and Cerro San Cristóbal.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
12 45 minCasa Central de la Universidad de Chile
Casa Central Universidad de Chile
University of Chile Central House, or Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile, is the historic headquarters of Chile’s oldest state university.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
13 45 minEstación Mapocho Cultural Center
Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho
Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho is a monumental former railway terminus in Santiago, Chile, now reused as one of the city's principal exhibition and event spaces.
- Must see
- Historic monument
- Santiago
-
14 45 minMaipo Canyon
Cajón del Maipo is a canyon and mountainous valley region southeast of Santiago, Chile, formed by the Maipo River as it descends from the Andes.
- High
- Historic monument
- Santiago
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Common questions
How long should a first trip to Chile be?
A 10–16 day visit should pair Santiago with one major region, such as the Atacama, the Lake District or a Patagonian gateway. Chile’s length makes combining north and far south in a short itinerary transfer-heavy.
What entry documents are needed for Chile?
Chile’s consular service publishes the visa rules used for entry. Nationality, travel purpose and length of stay determine the requirement, and any application should be made through the official consular channel.
What is the best way to travel around Chile?
Santiago is the central international and domestic hub. Flights connect the desert, lake and Patagonian gateways, while long-distance buses cover mainland corridors and remote parks require a confirmed final transfer.
When is a practical time to visit Chile?
October through April is the broad operating window for many central and southern journeys. Atacama conditions, central-valley heat and Patagonian wind are distinct, so the least flexible regional leg should set the calendar.
What money and payment basics apply in Chile?
Chile uses the Chilean peso (CLP). Current withdrawal costs and merchant acceptance are Not recorded; review the amount in pesos and any conversion offered before completing payment.
What practical safety details should I save for Chile?
Chile uses 133 for police, 131 for ambulance and 132 for fire. Power is 220 V with Type C and L plugs, while nationwide tap-water guidance remains Not recorded.