Sights and landmarks in Santiago

Sights and landmarks in Santiago

1. SeeWest and South

   Basílica Santuario Nacional de Maipú (Templo Votivo)

   Constructed on the orders of Chilean independence leader Bernardo O'Higgins, as he wanted to thank Virgin Mary for the final victory over the Spanish forces in the plains nearby. The best time to visit is the first Sunday after Easter when the Feast of Quasimodo takes place. The basilica complex also includes a museum dedicated to the first Chilean government including documents, clothing, paintings and vehicles.

2. SeeCentral

   Biblioteca Nacional de Chile

   The national library was built in the early 20th century near Cerro Santa Lucía. Here you can find archives of all Chilean newspapers and some foreign ones, map and photo archives and an exhibition hall.

3. SeeCentral

   Casa Colorada

   This colonial building functioned as the seat of the first Chilean leader after independence. It was closed for 14 years due to earthquake damage but has opened once again in 2024. It holds a museum of Santiago's history.

   Free

4. SeeBellavista and North

   Cementerio General de Santiago

   About two million Chileans rest in peace at the country's largest and oldest cemetery, including many important historical figures like Manuel Rodriguez, Violeta Parra, Andres Bello, Maria Luisa Bombal and most presidents of Chile. It's also an open air museum of burial mausoleums in Egyptian, Greek, Gothic, Moorish and almost any other thinkable styles.

5. SeeSanhattan and East

   Centro Artesanal Los Dominicos

   Designed to resemble a traditional Chilean town, its narrow dirt streets and adobe houses with thatched roofs host workshops where artisans create and sell their crafts directly to visitors. The center features cultural events, live performances, and local cuisine. It also houses the Las Condes Wax Museum. Declared a National Monument in 1983, the site preserves the colonial history of the area.

   Open now · closes 7 pm·Free

6. SeeCentral

   Cerro Santa Lucia

   A park with fountains and stairs leading up to a fort and viewpoint the top. The summit has a great view of all but the skyscraper-obscured city center. Charles Darwin visited this peak at one point in his travels; his words are immortalized in a plaque at the summit.

   Free; registration at entrance required

7. SeeCentral

   Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

   Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

   The well put-together Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art houses various artefacts from Mesoamerica and South America, featuring cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Inca civilizations. Descriptions of the artefacts and the ancients' way of life are well-written in both English and Spanish. Highlights include a Mayan stone stele and Andean mummies, which precede their Egyptian counterparts.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·10000 pesos; 5000 pesos for ISIC holders

8. SeeCentral

   Correo Central

   Museo Postal y Telegráfico

   The central post building has a museum of old stamps, letters and mailboxes and even a small replica of the first central post office.

9. SeeWest and South

   Estación Central de Santiago

   The country's main railway station, designed by Gustave Eiffel is past its glory days as rail transport has been replaced by planes, buses and cars. Still, this remarkable building is where you will arrive at if you travel to Santiago by train and worth seeing even if you don't. Plus, it has even given the name to the neighborhood it's located in!

10. SeeSanhattan and East

    Estadio Nacional 'Julio Martínez Prádanos'

    Estadio Nacional de Chile

    This is the site of sports events (both football and others), concerts, and social events including the yearly Teletón charity event. A National Historical Landmark opened in 1938, the World Cup finals were played here in 1962. A decade later, people opposing the dictatorship, were interned here.

    Open now · closes 9:30 pm·Free

11. SeeProvidencia

    Gran Torre Santiago

    Costanera Center

    South America's highest building with a viewing platform on the top floor.

12. SeeCentral

    Iglesia San Agustín

    The city's second oldest church features beautiful colonial religious artwork, including Cristo de Mayo, a statue of Jesus. The thorn crown fell off during an earthquake and legend has that if someone tries to put the thorn crown back on Christ's head, a new earthquake will strike.

13. SeeBellavista and North

    La Chascona

    One of three homes owned by the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman, after his third wife) is in the artistic Bellavista neighborhood. The house is filled with lots of quirky artifacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends. Tours are given in English, French, and Spanish.

    Mar-Dec: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00; Jan Feb: Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00·9500 pesos

14. SeeCentral

    La Moneda Presidential Palace

    Next to the Alameda there is the governmental palace, an Italian neoclassical palace surrounded by more modern buildings with ministries. The squares around them are lined by statues and under one of the squares is an interesting cultural center. Guided one-hour tours are free, but require a reservation of at least seven days in advance (Spanish only).

15. SeeCentral

    Museo Histórico Nacional de Chile

    The national museum showcases both the history and prehistory of today's Chile. There are several temporary themed exhibitions.

    Free

16. SeeWest and South

    Museo Interactivo Mirador

    Interactive science and art museum, targeting children. The exhibits can be touched and manipulated by visitors. You can go there by metro, though it's about 1 km away from the closest station Bellavista de la Florida on line 5.

17. SeeWest and South

    Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio

    This museum is all about historical Chilean aircraft. It's also a venue for aviation-related events.

18. SeeCentral

    Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

    Built to celebrate Chile's 100 year anniversary, this museum boasts 3000 art works from Chile and the rest of Latin America.

    Tue Sun, 10:00—18:30·Free

19. SeeProvidencia

    Museo de Arte Contemporáneo

    Santiago's modern art museum is part of the university's faculty of art. Next to the façade there's a statue by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

20. SeeWest and South

    Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos

    One of the city's newest museums showcasing the human rights violations during the Pinochet dictatorship. It has English explanations to some of the showcasing.

    Free entry. Audioguide 5000 pesos

21. SeeCentral

    Palacio Cousiño

    19th century palace owned by a wealthy Spanish-Portuguese family. The architecture is a mix of Spanish and French styles with inspiration taken from the Versailles palace.

    Mon-Fri 09:30-13:30 14:30-17:00, Sat-Sun 09:30-13:30·4000 pesos. Students with ISIC 3000 pesos. Guided tour only. No pictures inside

22. SeeSanhattan and East

    Parque Bicentenario

    A beautiful park, still under construction. Large extension of grass, children games, dog games, a very nice pond with black neck swans. There is also a restaurant, a café (Le fournil) and Vitacura's city hall. Trails for walking and biking.

23. SeeCentral

    Parque Forestal

    A long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes) and Modern Art Museum. Also known as the green lung of downtown, it's a popular place for cultural and recreational events and activities and the border between the historic center and Barrio Lastarria.

24. SeeBellavista and North

    Parque Metropolitano

    This vast park is home to Cerro San Cristóbal. At 722 ha, it's one of the world's largest urban parks. From the top there is a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. The summit can be reached by funicular (1500 pesos one way, 2000 pesos return; cheaper for children and seniors, more expensive on weekends and holidays), cable car, or a hike (45-90mins). In the park there is also a Japanese garden, the national zoo, and two swimming pools. Pope John Paul II visited its summit in 1987.

25. SeeSanhattan and East

    Parque Observatorio Cerro Calán

    Cerro Calán has been envisioned as an intercommunal park since the early urban development of Las Condes. Originally part of the Hacienda Apoquindo, the area was primarily farmland until the 1950s, when it was divided for urbanization. Known historically as 'Qala' or 'Colón,' meaning "completely bare" in Quechua, the hill was designated for green spaces and later transferred to the University of Chile for the establishment of its National Astronomical Observatory (OAN). Despite early intentions to create a public park, administrative and financial challenges delayed its development. In 2019, a new agreement between the University of Chile and the Municipality of Las Condes initiated the opening of 45 hectares of Cerro Calán for recreational, educational, and environmental purposes. Visitors can also explore the university's astronomical observatory on the hill. For group visits, complete the entrance form: Entrance Forms.

    Open now · closes 8 pm·5000CLP$

26. SeeSanhattan and East

    Parque Padre Hurtado

    (ex Intercomunal de La Reina)

    One of the largest activity parks in Chile, popular among young adults and families on the weekend. Large green expanses, a lake with boats, barbecue grills and there are often unofficial cultural and sports events taking place.

    Tue-Sun·Parking 3500 pesos, using the barbecue equipment 3500 pesos

27. SeeWest and South

    Parque Quinta Normal

    One of the city's largest and most traditional parks, with many museums located in and around it. These include the National Museum of Natural History of Chile, the Museum of Science and Technology, the Railway Museum of Chile. Its surroundings are also the Artequín Museum, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, the Matucana 100 Cultural Center, and Library of Santiago.

28. SeeSanhattan and East

    Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi

    The site of Villa Grimaldi, infamous as a torture center during the Pinochet dictatorship, has now been turned into a memorial park. In 2004 it was listed as a national monument.

29. SeeWest and South

    Paseo de la Historieta

    In San Miguel, next to Gran Avenida there's a park with statues with figures from Chilean history as they appear in the comic book series Condorito.

30. SeeProvidencia

    Plaza Baquedano

    The lively little square in the intersection of the two most important avenues of Santiago, Alameda and Vicuña Mackenna is also frequently the place for public meetings such as celebrating sport successes and political demonstrations.

31. SeeCentral

    Plaza De Armas

    The capital's main plaza, also the site of the national cathedral and main post office. It's few blocks from the traditional Central Market and has its own Metro Station. During the last years, Plaza de Armas has been used as a meeting and recreation place for the community of Peruvian immigrants. This has led to lots of cheap international calling centers, traditional Peruvian restaurants and Peruvian spice and food stores, being an interesting place to walk during day hours.

32. SeeCentral

    San Francisco Church and Museum

    The oldest church in the city. In the plaza, in front of the church, there is a Moaï from Easter Island.

    Museum: Mon-Fri 09:30-13:30 15:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-14:00·Museum: 1000 pesos. No pictures inside

33. SeeCentral

    Teatro Municipal

    Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside.

34. SeeProvidencia

    Torre Telefónica

    Until 2010 Santiago's highest building, now surpassed by Torre Titanium La Portada and Gran Torre Santiago.

35. SeeBellavista and North

    Vega central de Santiago

    A colorful market with over 500 stalls, selling fruits, vegetables and other food products. The current market building was inaugurated a century ago but farmers have been selling their products at this place since colonial times. Worth visiting for the experience.

36. SeeCentral

    Metropolitan Cathedral

    Catedral Metropolitana

    One of the city's major landmarks, next to Plaza de Armas.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Santiago (CC BY-SA 4.0).