A photograph of Chile

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Chile — page 2

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

12,954 Places
1Cities

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

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

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 closures come from recorded opening hours.

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile
    07 45 min

    Metropolitan 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
  2. Barrio Lastarria Barrio Lastarria
    08 1 hour

    Barrio 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
  3. Barrio Yungay Barrio Yungay
    09 1 hour

    Barrio 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
  4. Bicentennial Park (Vitacura) Bicentennial Park (Vitacura)
    10 1 hour

    Bicentennial Park (Vitacura)

    Parque Bicentenario

    Parque Bicentenario de Vitacura is a major landscaped public park situated along the Mapocho River in the Vitacura commune of eastern Santiago, Chile.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  5. Quinta Normal Park Quinta Normal Park
    11 1 hour

    Quinta Normal Park

    Parque Quinta Normal

    Parque Quinta Normal is a historic public park in Santiago, Chile. Established in the nineteenth century, it represents one of the city's oldest green spaces and has evolved into a significant cultural destination.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  6. Parque Forestal, Santiago Parque Forestal, Santiago
    12 1 hour

    Parque Forestal, Santiago

    Parque Forestal

    Forestal Park, or Parque Forestal, is a linear public park beside the Mapocho River in central Santiago.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  7. Centro Cultural La Moneda Centro Cultural La Moneda
    13 1 hour

    Centro Cultural La Moneda

    Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda

    La Moneda Cultural Centre, known locally as Centro Cultural La Moneda, is a subterranean exhibition centre located beneath the presidential palace in Santiago, Chile. The venue presents major Chilean and international shows.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Santiago
  8. Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art
    14 1 hour

    Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art

    Museo de Arte Contemporáneo

    The Museum of Contemporary Art, locally known as Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, is a cultural institution operated by the University of Chile. It shares the historic Bellas Artes palace in central Santiago.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Santiago
  9. Convento San Francisco Convento San Francisco
    15 30 min

    Convento San Francisco

    Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco is a historic religious complex in central Santiago, comprising a church, convent, and museum under unified management. Founded by Franciscan missionaries, it stands among the oldest colonial-era structures in Chile's capital.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Santiago
  10. Municipal Theatre of Santiago Municipal Theatre of Santiago
    16 45 min

    Municipal 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
  11. Former National Congress Building Former National Congress Building
    17 45 min

    Former 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
  12. Palacio Cousiño Palacio Cousiño
    18 45 min

    Palacio 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
  13. Palacio Pereira Palacio Pereira
    19 45 min

    Palacio 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
  14. Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Santiago Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Santiago
    20 45 min

    Palacio 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
  15. Museo de Artes Visuales Museo de Artes Visuales
    21 1 hour

    Museo de Artes Visuales

    The Museum of Visual Arts, known as Museo de Artes Visuales, is a focused contemporary art museum in Santiago’s Lastarria neighbourhood.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Santiago
  16. Jardín Japonés de Santiago Jardín Japonés de Santiago
    22 1 hour

    Jardín Japonés de Santiago

    The Japanese Garden of Santiago, Jardín Japonés de Santiago, is a restored terraced garden within Metropolitan Park on Cerro San Cristóbal.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  17. Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill
    23 30 min

    Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill

    Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepción del Cerro San Cristóbal

    Immaculate Conception Sanctuary, or Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepción del Cerro San Cristóbal, stands at the summit of Cerro San Cristóbal in Santiago. The sanctuary and its monumental Virgin statue create the hill’s defining destination.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Santiago
  18. Jardín Botánico Mapulemu Jardín Botánico Mapulemu
    24 1 hour

    Jardín Botánico Mapulemu

    Mapulemu Botanical Garden, known locally as Jardín Botánico Mapulemu, is a botanical garden within Santiago’s Metropolitan Park on Cerro San Cristóbal.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  19. Parque Araucano Parque Araucano
    25 1 hour

    Parque Araucano

    Araucano Park, or Parque Araucano, is a large urban green space in Las Condes, eastern Santiago. It gives visitors a broad recreational landscape within one of the capital’s most developed districts.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  20. Parque Inés de Suárez Parque Inés de Suárez
    26 1 hour

    Parque Inés de Suárez

    Inés de Suárez Park is a substantial neighbourhood park in Providencia, Santiago. Named after the Spanish conquistadora Inés de Suárez, it is primarily a local green space woven into the daily life of a densely populated district.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Santiago
  21. Patio Bellavista Patio Bellavista
    27 45 min

    Patio 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
  22. La Vega Central Market La Vega Central Market
    28 45 min

    La Vega Central Market

    Vega Central

    La Vega Central Market is one of Santiago’s major working food markets, serving both wholesale and retail customers. It connects Chilean agricultural production with everyday city life, so the experience feels practical and energetic rather than staged for visitors.

    • Must see
    • Market
    • Santiago
  23. Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina
    29 45 min

    Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina

    Mercado de Abastos Tirso de Molina

    Tirso de Molina Market, also known as Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina, is a market hall near Santiago’s larger La Vega market area.

    • Must see
    • Market
    • Santiago
  24. Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile
    30 45 min

    Casa 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
  25. Estación Mapocho Cultural Center Estación Mapocho Cultural Center
    31 45 min

    Estación 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

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.