Chile · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Chile
Our pick of places across Chile, from famous parks, observatories and wineries to neighbourhood picadas, flea markets and hidden lagoons most visitors miss. Check opening days and book the popular ones ahead, especially in summer.
Places to Visit in Santiago
Things to Do
- Cerro San Cristóbal (Parque Metropolitano) (Bellavista)
Funicular and cable car rides to the city's classic viewpoint over the Andes. - Sky Costanera (Providencia)
Panoramic views from the top of South America's tallest building. - Viña Concha y Toro (Pirque)
The country's best known winery, with tours and the cellar of the devil legend. - Viña Cousiño Macul (Peñalolén)
A historic family winery reachable from the city, with old cellars.
Arts and Culture
- Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Barrio Yungay)
A moving, carefully told history of the 1973 to 1990 dictatorship. - Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Centro)
One of the finest collections of pre Columbian art in the Americas. - La Chascona (Bellavista)
Pablo Neruda's quirky hillside house, full of his collections. - Palacio de La Moneda (Centro)
The presidential palace, with a changing of the guard and a cultural centre beneath the square. - Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Parque Forestal)
A grand beaux arts building with Chilean art and a lively park outside. - Teatro Municipal de Santiago (Centro)
Opera, ballet and concerts in the city's historic theatre. - Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM) (Lastarria)
Free exhibitions, theatre and dance in a striking modern cultural centre. - Cementerio General (Recoleta)
A vast cemetery of mausoleums, including Allende's tomb and a memorial to the disappeared. - Villa Grimaldi Parque por la Paz (Peñalolén)
A former detention centre turned into a peace park and place of memory.
Restaurants
- Mercado Central (Centro)
Seafood stews and ceviche under a nineteenth century iron roof. - Boragó (Vitacura)
Chef Rodolfo Guzmán's tasting menus built on native Chilean ingredients. - Peumayén Ancestral Food (Bellavista)
Tasting plates inspired by Mapuche, Aymara and Rapa Nui cooking. - Fuente Alemana (Plaza Italia)
A classic counter for giant lomito and churrasco sandwiches. - Dominó (Centro)
A local chain for a quick completo, the loaded Chilean hot dog. - Liguria (Providencia)
A buzzing bistro with Chilean classics, old posters and a long wine list.
Shopping and Markets
- La Vega Central (Recoleta)
A huge, noisy produce market with cheap local lunches at the cocinerías. - Persa Biobío (Franklin)
A sprawling weekend flea market of antiques, vintage and curiosities. - Pueblito Los Dominicos (Las Condes)
A craft village of workshops selling lapis lazuli, copper and woollens. - Barrio Italia (Providencia)
Design shops, galleries and cafés in old one storey houses.
Nature and Outdoors
- Cerro Santa Lucía (Centro)
The small fortified hill where Santiago was founded, with terraces and fountains. - Cajón del Maipo (San José de Maipo)
An Andean canyon for hiking, rafting and hot springs near the capital. - Embalse El Yeso (Cajón del Maipo)
A turquoise reservoir high in the mountains, best on a guided day trip. - Parque Quinta Normal (Quinta Normal)
A big park with museums, boating and picnicking families on weekends. - Parque Bicentenario (Vitacura)
Lawns, lagoons with flamingos and black necked swans, and Andes views.
Bars and Nightlife
- La Piojera (Centro)
The rowdy old bar that claims to have invented the terremoto. - Bocanáriz (Lastarria)
A wine bar with a huge list of Chilean wines by the glass and tasting flights.
Cafés
- Café Haití (Centro)
A slice of old Santiago: stand up espresso at a classic café. - Emporio La Rosa (Lastarria)
Ice cream in unusual flavours and pastries on a leafy corner.
Events
- Fiestas Patrias fondas at Parque O'Higgins (Parque O'Higgins)
The biggest independence fair in the capital, with cueca, empanadas and games. - Santiago a Mil (Citywide)
A January theatre festival with free street shows across the city. - Lollapalooza Chile (Parque Cerrillos)
A major music festival held each March.
Stays
- The Singular Santiago (Lastarria)
A stylish boutique hotel with a rooftop bar looking over Parque Forestal. - Hotel Magnolia (Centro)
A boutique hotel in a restored mansion with rooftop views. - Hotel Cumbres Lastarria (Lastarria)
A comfortable base in the cafés and theatres of Lastarria.
Places to Visit in Valparaíso
Arts and Culture
- La Sebastiana (Cerro Bellavista)
Neruda's house on the hill, with a breathtaking view across the bay. - Museo a Cielo Abierto (Cerro Bellavista)
An open air museum of murals along winding streets. - Cementerio de Disidentes (Cerro Panteón)
Where the city's foreign Protestant merchants and sailors were buried. - Palacio Baburizza (Cerro Alegre)
The fine arts museum in an art nouveau mansion. - Casa de Isla Negra (Isla Negra)
Neruda's favourite house on the shore, packed with ship figureheads.
Things to Do
- Ascensor Reina Victoria (Cerro Alegre)
One of the restored funiculars that carry you up the hills. - Paseo Gervasoni (Cerro Concepción)
A lookout terrace with views over the port and bay. - Paseo 21 de Mayo (Cerro Artillería)
A viewpoint over the cranes, ships and the whole harbour. - Muelle Prat harbour boats (El Plan)
Short boat rides past navy ships and sea lions. - Viña Casas del Bosque (Casablanca Valley)
A cool climate winery between Santiago and the coast.
Restaurants
- J. Cruz Malbrán (El Plan)
A quirky old dining room said to have invented the chorrillana.
Bars and Nightlife
- Bar Cinzano (Plaza Aníbal Pinto)
A traditional bar with live tango and boleros on weekends.
Shopping and Markets
- Mercado Cardonal (Almendral)
A busy local market for produce and seafood. - Feria de antigüedades of Avenida Argentina (Avenida Argentina)
A weekend flea market of antiques and odds and ends.
Events
- Año Nuevo en el Mar (Bay of Valparaíso)
One of South America's biggest New Year fireworks displays.
Stays
- Hotel Brighton (Cerro Concepción)
A colourful old house hotel with a balcony bar over the bay. - Palacio Astoreca (Cerro Alegre)
A restored Victorian mansion hotel on the hill. - Casa Higueras (Cerro Alegre)
A boutique hotel with a pool and terraces facing the bay.
Places to Visit in Viña del Mar
Things to Do
- Reloj de Flores (Viña del Mar)
The famous flower clock on the hillside by the sea.
Events
- Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar (Quinta Vergara)
Chile's famous song festival, held each February.
Places to Visit in San Pedro de Atacama
Nature and Outdoors
- Valle de la Luna (Los Flamencos National Reserve)
Salt ridges and dunes that glow red at sunset. - Geysers del Tatio (Altiplano)
A huge geyser field steaming at sunrise high in the Andes. - Laguna Cejar (Salar de Atacama)
A salt lagoon where you float effortlessly. - Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques (Altiplano)
Deep blue lagoons ringed by volcanoes. - Laguna Chaxa (Salar de Atacama)
Flamingos feeding in the shallow salt flat lagoon. - Valle del Arcoíris (Río Grande)
Hills in bands of red, green and white, and old petroglyphs nearby. - Termas de Puritama (Puritama canyon)
Natural hot pools in a canyon, perfect after an early start. - Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache (Salar de Atacama)
A chain of quiet hidden salt lagoons.
Arts and Culture
- Pukará de Quitor (Quitor)
A pre Inca hill fort with views over the oasis. - Iglesia de San Pedro (Plaza de Armas)
The whitewashed adobe church with a cactus wood ceiling.
Things to Do
- ALMA Observatory visits (Altiplano)
Free weekend visits to one of the world's great radio telescopes. - Astronomy tours with telescopes (Around town)
Night sky sessions with telescopes, away from the lights of town.
Restaurants
- Adobe (Caracoles)
Open fire dining in the heart of the town. - Ckunna (Tocopilla)
Andean and Mediterranean dishes in an adobe house with a fire pit. - Las Delicias de Carmen (Calama street)
Simple home cooking and empanadas at a local favourite.
Shopping and Markets
- Feria Artesanal de San Pedro (Plaza)
Alpaca knitwear and Andean crafts by the church.
Stays
- Tierra Atacama (Edge of town)
An all inclusive lodge with a spa and volcano views. - explora Atacama (Edge of town)
A lodge with guided excursions, pools and its own observatory. - Awasi Atacama (Tocopilla)
Small adobe lodge with private guides and vehicles. - Hotel Altiplánico (Domingo Atienza)
Adobe rooms around a garden near the town centre.
Events
- Fiesta de San Pedro y San Pablo (Plaza de Armas)
Andean dances and processions for the town's patron saints in June.
Places to Visit in Puerto Natales
Nature and Outdoors
- Torres del Paine National Park (Magallanes)
The granite towers, glaciers and lakes of Chile's most famous park. - Base Torres hike (Torres del Paine)
A long, steep day hike to the lake beneath the towers. - Salto Grande (Torres del Paine)
A short walk to a powerful waterfall facing the Cuernos.
Things to Do
- Grey Glacier boat (Lago Grey)
A boat ride to the face of the glacier among icebergs. - Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers boat (Última Esperanza fjord)
A day on the fjord to two glaciers and an estancia lunch.
Arts and Culture
- Cueva del Milodón (Near Puerto Natales)
A huge cave where remains of a giant ground sloth were found.
Restaurants
- Afrigonia (Centro)
A fusion of African and Patagonian flavours in a cosy room. - Mesita Grande (Costanera)
Pizzas and pasta at long shared tables.
Bars and Nightlife
- Cervecería Baguales (Plaza de Armas)
A local brewpub on the main square. - Last Hope Distillery (Centro)
Small batch gin and whisky from the far south.
Cafés
- Patagonia Dulce (Centro)
Hot chocolate and handmade chocolates after a windy day.
Stays
- The Singular Patagonia (Puerto Bories)
A converted cold storage plant on the fjord, now a design hotel. - Hotel Remota (Ruta 9)
A design hotel with fjord views on the edge of town. - EcoCamp Patagonia (Torres del Paine)
Geodesic domes inside the park, close to the towers trail. - Hotel Las Torres (Torres del Paine)
A lodge at the start of the Base Torres trail. - Tierra Patagonia (Lago Sarmiento)
A low wooden lodge looking straight at the Paine massif.
Places to Visit in Punta Arenas
Nature and Outdoors
- Isla Magdalena penguin colony (Strait of Magellan)
Boat trips to thousands of Magellanic penguins in summer.
Arts and Culture
- Cementerio Municipal de Punta Arenas (Centro)
Grand mausoleums of wool barons and immigrant pioneers.
Places to Visit in Puerto Varas
Nature and Outdoors
- Volcán Osorno (Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park)
The perfect volcano cone, with viewpoints, trails and winter skiing. - Saltos del Petrohué (Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park)
Turquoise rapids over black volcanic rock. - Cochamó Valley (Cochamó)
Granite walls and forest trails in the Yosemite of Chile.
Things to Do
- Lago Todos los Santos boat (Petrohué)
A boat trip on an emerald lake beneath the volcanoes.
Arts and Culture
- Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (Centro)
A red wooden church modelled on one in the Black Forest. - Teatro del Lago (Frutillar)
A striking concert hall built out over the lake. - Museo Colonial Alemán (Frutillar)
Houses and mills of the German settlers in a garden setting.
Restaurants
- Casavaldés (Costanera)
Seafood with views of the lake and Osorno.
Cafés
- Dane's Café (Centro)
Kuchen, empanadas and coffee at a local institution.
Shopping and Markets
- Mercado de Angelmó (Puerto Montt)
Seafood stalls and woollen crafts by the harbour.
Stays
- Hotel Cumbres Puerto Varas (Costanera)
A lakefront hotel facing the volcanoes.
Events
- Semanas Musicales de Frutillar (Frutillar)
A classical music festival each summer by the lake.
Bars and Nightlife
- Mesa Tropera (Costanera)
A lakeside brewpub with pizzas and craft beer.
Places to Visit in Pucón
Nature and Outdoors
- Volcán Villarrica (Villarrica National Park)
A guided climb to the crater of an active volcano, when conditions allow. - Parque Nacional Huerquehue (Huerquehue)
Lakes and araucaria forests on a classic day hike. - Ojos del Caburgua (Caburgua)
Turquoise pools and waterfalls in the forest. - Termas Geométricas (Coñaripe)
Hot spring pools linked by red walkways in a gorge.
Things to Do
- Rafting on the Trancura (Río Trancura)
Fun white water trips for beginners in summer.
Places to Visit in Chiloé
Arts and Culture
- Iglesia de San Francisco de Castro (Castro)
The bright yellow and lilac wooden church, a UNESCO site. - Palafitos de Castro (Castro)
Colourful houses on stilts over the water.
Nature and Outdoors
- Muelle de las Almas (Cucao)
A pier to nowhere on a cliff over the Pacific, tied to island legend. - Parque Nacional Chiloé (Cucao)
Coastal forest, dunes and long wild beaches.
Shopping and Markets
- Feria de Dalcahue (Dalcahue)
A Sunday craft and food market by the water.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Chipe Libre (Lastarria, Santiago)
A bar devoted to pisco, with tastings and creative sours. - Colmado Coffee and Bakery (Providencia, Santiago)
Speciality coffee and pastries in a quieter residential street. - Fauna (Cerro Alegre, Valparaíso)
A terrace restaurant with a sweeping view over the bay. - Café Turri (Cerro Concepción, Valparaíso)
A grand old house at the top of an ascensor, with a bay view. - Delicias del Mar empanadas (Viña del Mar, Viña del Mar)
Fried empanadas with cheese and seafood fillings near the seafront. - Café Peregrino (Plaza de Armas, San Pedro de Atacama)
Coffee and cakes on the main square. - La Olla (Costanera, Puerto Varas)
Generous traditional Chilean seafood and stews. - Casa Kalfu (Centro, Puerto Varas)
A friendly guesthouse in a restored wooden house. - La Fogata (Centro, Pucón)
Grilled meats and southern dishes by the fire. - Curanto at a local fogón (Dalcahue, Chiloé)
The island feast cooked in a pit over hot stones.