16 Best Things to Do in Santiago (Ultimate 2025 Guide)

June 29, 2025
No Comments

Santiago, Chile was my first city in South America and I quickly fell in love with it. Nestled against the backdrop of the Andes, this dynamic city offers a rich mix of history and modern culture, with plenty to experience. Here are the 16 best things to do in Santiago!

I spent over two weeks in Santiago, visiting my friend here as well as waiting for Fiestas Patrias – the massive national holiday that is celebrated in Chile around the 18th of September. It was one of my highlights of my entire South America trip.

Santiago itself has so much to explore and a ton of amazing daytrip options. I would recommend around 3-days here if you are shorter on time: The Ultimate 3-Day Santiago de Chile Itinerary

As for safety, I was solo travelling and generally felt pretty safe. There are areas you should avoid alone (downtown and around Plaza des Armas), but other areas like Las Condes and Cerro San Cristobal felt completely safe. Do not walk around at night, especially not alone – get an Uber!

That being said, here are my top 16 things you should do while visiting Santiago:

Table of Contents

How to get to Santiago de Chile?

Most people arrive in Chile at Santiago Airport (check for flights here). The cheapest way to get to the city centre from Santiago de Chile Airport is by using public transport, specifically by bus and then the metro. It is very affordable and surprisingly quick and easy if you know where to go and what to take – check out my full guide below:

For more convenience, you could get an Uber, which will cost about CLP$20,000 (~16GBP). They pick you up at the elevator exit in front of Door 5. Some sources say uber isn’t allowed to pick up at the airport, however, I saw plenty when I was there and my AirBnB host also recommended it. I think they aren’t allowed in the normal taxi pickup area, so your driver will let you know where to go for pick-up.

Another great alternative is getting a Transvip transfer that you can pre-book. Prices start at just CLP $9.400 (~7.50GBP) for a shared van which aims to take around 45 minutes to the city. This company is known for not always being super punctual, so I wouldn’t rely on it to get to the airport but for getting to the city centre, it’s fine.

How to get around Santiago, Chile using public transport?

Santiago has an extensive metro system as well as buses. You pay with a bip! card where a single fare lasts for two hours and you can switch between modes of transport. The card costs 1550CLP ($1.70) and you have buy it in cash. You can then recharge it at metro stations and a ride costs between 610-800 CLP.

Where to stay in Santiago?

Santiago de Chile is a little different than many other cities as in you don’t want to stay in the centre, at least not the Old Centre (Anywhere near Plaza des Armas). Unfortunately, over the past few years this area has become very unsafe especially at night. Better areas to stay in are Providencia, Barrio Italia, Las Condes and Lastarria.

Check out my full accommodation guide for Santiago here: Where to Stay in Santiago de Chile

Top things to do in Santiago

1. Learn from a local with a free walking tour of Downtown Santiago

Locally run, “free” walking tours are an amazing way to get to know a new city. In Santiago this is particularly important as my tour guide also gave lots of information on things to be careful of, how to stay safe, where to go, where to eat and more.

I would recommend a tour of downtown and historic Santiago (most of the tours will go here) as there is so much historical and cultural significance to this area and how it has developed over the past few years. The area is also one of the ones you should be a bit more wary of, hence it is great to have a guide with you and be in a bigger group.

Tours will usually cover the main attractions here such as Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago, the Presidential Palace, Plaza des Armas and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile.

2. Marvel at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile is stunning both from outside and inside. It features a gorgeous rooftop and beautiful architecture. Plaza des Armas also always has something going on, though I would be extra careful here – the area is known for petty crime and a huge no-go at night.

3. Visit Santa Lucia Hill with the Neptune Fountain

Santa Lucia is an area right by downtown Santiago with a big urban park that leads up a hill with a castle at the top and beautiful views over Santiago. Check out the Neptune Fountain at the bottom too, it is stunning.

4. Admire the street art of Bellas Artes

The neighbourhood of Bellas Artes is home to Santiago’s museum of fine art as well as a myriad of street art paintings that cover the houses on every corner. Wander the streets and enjoy the artistic explosion of colour and creativity.

5. Head to Wonderland Café for a magical afternoon break

Wonderland Cafe may look like an Instagram Cafe but it is much more than that. I at first thought it was over-hyped and overpriced, but the cafe has a magical charm to it and the cakes here are delicious. The whole building is in the style of Alice in Wonderland, and the top floor is a whimsical dreamscape of decorations complete with a souvenir shop.

6. Enjoy the vibrant mix of culture and artists in Lastarria

Lastarria is the cultural hotpot of Santiago. Here you will find bustling street markets full of handmade art and souvenirs, beautiful buildings in the neo-classic style and a bohemian vibe that is different to many other areas of Santiago.

Make sure to wander down Paseo José Victorino Lastarria and check out the market stalls there. Don’t worry if you suddenly see them scrambling – it’s likely police is near and no one has a license to sell.

In the evenings, you will find many people here in the trendy cafes and small restaurants eating their “La Once Chilena”. It is a light snack or meal enjoyed in the early evening, often in the form of pastries or a selection of cold snacks.

7. Explore the area of Las Condes and huge Cenco Costanera Shopping Centre

Get the metro to Tobalaba to start exploring the Las Condes neighbourhood, the most modern and safest area in Santiago currently. In recent years, this has become the centre of politics and business in Santiago, after leaving the downtown area. Here you will find modern skyscrapers, the huge shopping mall Cenco Costanera (where I got lost and couldn’t find an exit for an hour) as well as the Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest tower in South America.

8. Take a Eiropean detour at Paseo La Villa

Just around the corner of Cenco Costanera, you will find Paseo la Villa – a hidden street with European-style buildings that house shops selling local delicacies. It’s a super cute area and so different to the rest of Santiago in terms of architecture and overall vibe.

9. Stunning views over Santiago at Japanese Gardens

The Japanese Garden is not far from Cenco Costanero and at the beginning of the hike to Cerro San Cristóbal. It resembles a traditional Japanese garden with beautiful architecture and plants. The views from here over Santiago and the mountains in the distance are amazing.

10. Give Mote a try

You can find this Chilean drink all around Santiago, but you will come across a bunch of stands on the way up to Cerro San Cristóbal. It is called a Mote con huesillo and made of Peach liquid, sugar and fresh cooked husked wheat berries. I personally found it a little too sweet for my liking, but you have to try it while in Chile!

11. Hike up Cerro San Cristóbal (or get the funicular)

The best view of Santiago is at the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, with an elevation gain of about 300m. The walk up the hill takes about one hour starting from e.g. Oasis station – there are a variety of hiking paths starting from different areas of Santiago. You will get beautiful sweeping views over Santiago and the Andes mountains.

Hiking trails are pretty clearly walked and there will be lots of other people heading up too. Alternatively, you can also take the cable car up which only takes around 10 minutes. The station is called Oasis station and near the Japanese park.

12. Watch the sun set over Santiago

At the summit you will find a few food stands, a big park to walk around as well as a 22-meter statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Climb up the stairs to the statue for the most incredible views over Santiago, especially during sunset.

From here, you don’t have to walk down again but can take the funicular to the Bella Vista neigbourhood. It costs 1600 CLP one-way ($1.80).

13. Enjoy the atmosphere of the lively barrio Bella Vista

Bella Vista is one of the liveliest and most colourful neighbourhoods of Santiago, with tons of restaurant and bar options. It’s known for its nightlife and comes to life in the evening – I’d recommend grabbing dinner here.

14. Take a tour to the majestic Cajón del Maipo

Cajón del Maipo is one of the most popular daytrips from Santiago and for good reason. It features a bright blue lake surrounded by jagged mountains. Even the drive up here is scenic. I would especially recommend this trip for those who won’t make it to Patagonia while in Chile – its your chance to experience the impressive Andes Mountain range.

15. Explore the world-class wine of the Maipo Valley

Did you know Chile produces some delicious wine? The Maipo Valley is home to the most famous Chilean vineyards and produces most wine variants, most notably the famous Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Tours here are a fantastic way to learn more about the region while sampling the wines on offer.

16. Daytrip to Valaparaiso and Vina del Mar

While I would highly recommend spending at least 2 days in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, if not 3, you can also do it as a daytrip from Santiago. These areas were some of my favourite of my Chile trip, so I would only do them as a day trip if you are short on time.

Valparaiso is alive with street art, a city so vibrant it is incomparable to any other. Vina del Mar on the other hand is a beach town, with lots of delicious seafood options.

How many days do you need in Santiago, Chile?

I’d say you need at least two days to explore Santiago’s neighbourhoods and an additional 2-3 days to include some of the main day trips as well as a stay in Valparaiso (which I’d highly recommend).

Related Article: 3-Day Santiago Itinerary

Is Santiago safe?

When I first came to Santiago, I was honestly quite worried about safety. I am a solo, female traveller and had heard some horror stories about the capital. However, I have a friend who lives in Santiago and was able to give me all the tips to stay safe. Overall, I felt pretty safe and had no incidents at all while in Santiago. Here are the “rules” I would strongly recommend anyone visiting to follow:

Stick to the touristy areas
Don’t have your phone out when walking around as phone theft is extremely common – go into a store for example to look at directions
Don’t walk around alone at night (especially as a girl!) – get an Uber if you find yourself away from your accommodation after dark. I went out for drinks a few times with friends and always made it safely back with Uber and they are quite affordable there.
Avoid the downtown area unless on a tour
Keep valuables hidden and close to your body
Don’t wear flashy jewellery and watches – just don’t bring them
Ask your accommodation for tips on areas and streets to avoid – they are local and will be able to help you best with this. Even in groups, there are a lot of areas that you should not go to at night.
Choose an accommodation in a safe and touristy area, as discussed at the beginning of this article.

My main advice would be to be vigilant and apply common sense. People tend to over-exaggerate the apparent “danger” of Santiago, however it is very different when actually travelling there. I had a great time in the city and even took part in the Fiestas Patrias celebrations in September which were such an amazing experience.