Country guide
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 alm...
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
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.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Omnespsx (D•ES) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
14 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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