Things to see in Santiago

Views & landmarks

Gran Torre Costanera

A skyscraper in Santiago, ranked as the fourth-tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. It stands as a landmark defining the city's skyline.

Museums & galleries

Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts

Chile's National Museum of Fine Arts in Santiago, founded in 1880 with a long history. It houses a wide range of works representing Chilean art.

Temples & religious sites

Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral

This cathedral is the center of the Catholic Church in Chile and the seat of the Archdiocese of Santiago. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, it's a peaceful place to explore.

Museums & galleries

Chilean National Museum of Natural History

This museum stands in Quinta Normal Park in Santiago, founded in 1830 by French naturalist Claudio Gay. As one of Chile's three major national museums, it houses an extensive natural history collection.

Museums & galleries

Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

An art museum in Santiago showcasing pre-Columbian artworks and artifacts gathered from across Latin America. It's a great place to explore the artistic world of the Americas' ancient civilizations.

Attraction

National Astronomical Observatory

This observatory sits atop Cerro Calán hill in Las Condes, east of Santiago, and is operated by the University of Chile. Founded in 1852, it has a long history, and visitors can tour its astronomical facilities.

Parks & gardens

Santa Lucía Hill

A small hill rising in the heart of downtown Santiago. It stands about 70 meters above the surrounding terrain, and a metro station named after it makes it easy to reach.

Nature

Cerro San Cristóbal

A hill rising in northern Santiago, Chile, about 300 meters above the city and offering sweeping views over downtown. It ranks as Santiago's third-highest peak.

Museums & galleries

Museum of Memory and Human Rights

A museum in Santiago built to honor the victims of human rights abuses during Pinochet's military dictatorship. It opened in 2010 to mark Chile's bicentennial and offers a place to reflect on this difficult history.

Parks & gardens

Plaza Baquedano

This is one of the most prominent squares in central Santiago, considered a landmark symbol of the city. It's also widely known by another name, reflecting how familiar it is to locals as a meeting spot.

Temples & religious sites

As-Salam Mosque

Located in the Ñuñoa district of Santiago, this Sunni mosque was completed in 1989 as Chile's first mosque. Its Islamic architecture offers a distinctive sight in South America.

Museums & galleries

Santiago Museum of Contemporary Art

Opened in 1947, this is one of Santiago's leading art museums, run by the University of Chile's Faculty of Arts. Since 2005, it has operated exhibition spaces at two locations in the city.

Temples & religious sites

Bahá'í House of Worship for the South American continent

A Bahá'í house of worship designed by Siamak Hariri, serving as the faith's main temple for South America. It opened in 2016 and welcomes visitors of all beliefs.

Parks & gardens

O'Higgins Park

A park of about 75 hectares in downtown Santiago, the city's second-largest after Metropolitan Park. Its expansive green space is a great place to relax.

Heritage & monuments

Votive Temple of Maipú

A Catholic church in Maipú, Chile, built in gratitude for the victory at the Battle of Maipú, which secured Chile's independence. Standing about 90 meters tall, its grand scale lets visitors feel the weight of Chile's history of independence.

Museums & galleries

Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral

This cultural complex in central Santiago was built in 1972 to host the UN Conference on Trade and Development. It consists of a convention center and a 22-story tower, and is also known for being completed in just 275 days.

Temples & religious sites

Basílica del Salvador

This Neo-Gothic basilica stands in the Barrio Brasil district of Santiago. Designed by German architect Teodoro Burchard, it took its current form after a 1932 reconstruction.

Parks & gardens

Quinta Normal Park

This 35.5-hectare urban park in Santiago is home to several cultural institutions, including the National Museum of Natural History. A railway museum is also on site, making it a great spot to combine a stroll with some sightseeing.

Temples & religious sites

Basilica of Lourdes

A basilica near Quinta Normal Park in Santiago, Chile. It pairs well with a park visit for a relaxing break in the city.

Museums & galleries

Museo Colonial

A museum in downtown Santiago that sheds light on the colonial era of Chile and South America. Alongside religious artworks like paintings and sculptures, a massive Franciscan genealogical chart made up of 644 portraits stands out.

Museums & galleries

Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende

This museum of contemporary art in Santiago is named after former Chilean president Salvador Allende. It houses a wide range of contemporary artworks.

Temples & religious sites

San Francisco Church, Santiago de Chile

A Franciscan church located on Alameda O'Higgins in downtown Santiago. Together with its adjoining monastery, it is considered one of Chile's oldest colonial-era buildings.

Temples & religious sites

Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro

A Catholic basilica in Santiago, Chile, notable for its delicate Gothic Revival facade. It's a pleasant stop while exploring downtown to admire the architecture.

Culture & venues

Municipal Theatre of Santiago

Santiago's leading theatre and opera house, serving as the heart of Chile's performing arts scene. It's a great venue for enjoying opera and other performances.

Museums & galleries

Chilean National History Museum

This building on Plaza de Armas in Santiago dates back to 1808 and has housed the National History Museum since 1982. It offers a great overview of Chile's history.

Temples & religious sites

Basilica de la Merced

This basilica in Santiago belongs to the Mercedarian order; built on an 18th-century church, its two bell towers were completed one after another in the 19th century. It is designated a national monument of Chile.

Parks & gardens

Jardín Japonés de Santiago

This Japanese garden sits within Metropolitan Park on San Cristóbal Hill, in the Providencia district of Santiago. It's a peaceful spot for a quiet stroll amid the city.

Theme parks

Fantasilandia

A Chilean amusement park that opened in 1978, located within O'Higgins Park. It offers a variety of rides for an enjoyable day out.

Temples & religious sites

Santo Domingo Church, Santiago de Chile

A Dominican church in Santiago's old town, standing at the corner where Santo Domingo Street meets 21 de Mayo Street. You're likely to come across it naturally while strolling through the city center.

Temples & religious sites

St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo

This cathedral stands beside the Plaza de Armas in San Bernardo, in the greater Santiago area of Chile. As the center of Catholic faith in the area, it pairs well with a visit to the square.

Nature

Cerro Renca

This hill stretches between Quilicura and Renca in northern Santiago, reaching 905 meters above sea level with two peaks. It's a good escape from downtown for hiking and enjoying the views.

Museums & galleries

Londres 38

This building in downtown Santiago carries a painful history as a detention and torture site run by the secret police during the Pinochet dictatorship. It offers a meaningful place to reflect on a dark chapter of Chile's recent history.

Parks & gardens

Santiago Metropolitan Park

A park centered on San Cristóbal Hill, spanning about 722 hectares and considered the largest urban park in the Americas. It's a great place to stroll through vast greenery and enjoy a moment of calm in the city.

Temples & religious sites

Basílica del Corazón de María, Santiago de Chile

A Catholic church founded by the Claretian order, it opened in 1879 and was designated a basilica in 1929. As a national monument of Chile, it's an architectural highlight worth seeing in Santiago.

Temples & religious sites

Iglesia de los Sacramentinos

This Roman Catholic church in Santiago features architecture inspired by the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. Its central dome, rising 69 meters, is a striking sight to look up at.

Museums & galleries

Centro Cultural Matucana 100

A cultural complex located in the Estación Central district of Santiago, close to Quinta Normal Park. It hosts a wide range of performances and exhibitions spanning dance, theater, music, photography, art, and film.

Temples & religious sites

Military Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Santiago

This Catholic cathedral stands on Avenida Los Leones in Santiago's Providencia district. As the seat of Chile's military diocese, it's a quiet place to pause and take a look around amid the city.

Nature

Cerro Manquehue

This hill rises to the northeast of Santiago and is a well-known hiking spot popular with locals. From the summit, downtown Santiago and the Andes unfold in a single view.

Zoos & aquariums

Chilean National Zoo

A zoo in Santiago with a long history dating back to its opening in 1925. It's a great family outing for getting up close with a variety of animals.

Nature

Cerro Blanco

A hill in downtown Santiago that rises about 89 meters above its surroundings, making it a distinctive landmark in the heart of the city. It has long been regarded as one of the city's historic sites.

Parks & gardens

Bustamante Park

This urban park in Santiago's Providencia district, near Plaza Baquedano, was built on the site of a former train station. It's a pleasant spot for a stroll and a break.

Nature

Cerro de Chena

This low hill rises on the outskirts of the city, offering a sweeping view of the surrounding countryside from its summit. It's a great spot for an easy hike and open panoramas.

Shopping & districts

Lastarria

A historic neighborhood in central Santiago, known as a cultural hub with cinemas, theaters, art galleries, restaurants, and bars. Its main street and nearby park often host festivals and performances, giving the area a lively atmosphere.

Temples & religious sites

Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill

A sanctuary atop San Cristóbal Hill, 863 meters above sea level, and one of Chile's foremost Catholic pilgrimage sites. A massive statue of the Virgin Mary stands here, making it an iconic symbol of Santiago's skyline.

Views & landmarks

Torre Telefónica Chile

This 34-story, 143-meter office building stands in Santiago's Providencia district. Built between 1993 and 1996, it remains one of Chile's tallest buildings and a defining part of the city skyline.