Things to do in Santiago

Walking Tours

Santiago offers a variety of walking tours, from free options that cover historical highlights to private tours that delve into specific neighbourhoods or themes.

Whether you're interested in learning about Chilean history or getting a taste of local culture, a walking tour is a great way to explore the capital city.

Colonial buildings of Santiago de Chile

Colonial buildings of Santiago de Chile

Hiking & Biking

Santiago is ringed by the Andes Mountains, offering a variety of hiking and biking trails for all skill levels.

Hikers can enjoy trails that range from easy walks in urban parks to challenging climbs up mountain peaks. Some of the most popular hiking trails in Santiago include:

San Cristobal Hill: The most famous route in the capital, with different trails to the top offering scenic views of the city.

Cerro Manquehue: A more challenging hike that rewards with stunning views of the Andes.

Maipo Alto Wine Route: Combine a hike with wine tasting in the Maipo Valley.

Santiago

Bikers also have a variety of options, from family-friendly paths to challenging mountain bike trails. Here are a couple of popular choices:

Panul Park: The last native forest located in the urban area of Santiago, perfect for mountain bikers.

Avenida Andrés Bello: Every Sunday morning, a section of this avenue is closed to traffic for cyclists, creating a safe and scenic route to explore the city.

A variety of local companies offer day hikes, biking trips, and walking city tours in and around Santiago. We have lots of these day trips, to find one that suits you please contact us.

Skyline of Santiago de Chile, Chile

Santiago skyline

Restaurants & Evening Entertainment

From casual cafes serving steaming empanadas to innovative restaurants pushing culinary boundaries with everything from seafood through to vegan dishes, Santiago's dining scene offers something to tempt every taste bud. Check out our restaurant recommendations for your time in Santiago.

There is also fantastic evening entertainment available to suit all tastes. Catch a performance at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago, the city's grand opera house, or enjoy a concert at the Teatro Nescafé de las Artes. We'd also recommend combining a delicious meal with a night of entertainment at a restaurant that offers live music, traditional folklore shows or dance performances—you can even get up and join the dancers if you wish!

Santiago

Santiago and the Central Valley

Illustrated Guide

Staying in Santiago

Neighbourhoods and Hotels of Santiago

Santiago is the gateway to Chilean Patagonia's mountain peaks, glacial valleys, and coastal fjords.

Although it's a sprawling city, the centre is quite compact with many of the historic buildings, bars and restaurants nestled together in just a few neighbourhoods.

On our Hotels in Santiago page, we offer a little description of each neighbourhood so you can see which area suits you best. We also take you through our favourite establishments for a range of budgets. 

Santiago

Trips in and around Santiago

Santiago Express

4.8 out of 5

Santiago Express

The perfect solution for a brief stop in Chile’s stunning capital city. Whether en route to Patagonia or returning home—our stop-off program will ensure you get a taster for the city and a night’s rest at a hotel perfectly suited…

  • 2 Days
  • $645
Classic Santiago, Wines and Valparaíso

Get to know Santiago’s fascinating history, culture and scenery before a spot of wine tasting in the Casablanca Valley and a visit to Valparaiso—the colourful port city. This trip gives you three experiences in one and is an ideal add-on…

  • 4 Days
  • $1,374
Central Valley Vineyard Retreat

Escape to the Chilean wine country at this boutique bodega-style property. Only a short drive from Santiago city or airport you'll have the opportunity to indulge in gourmet cuisine, delicious wine varieties, and strolls in the vineyard. You'll likely get…

  • 3 Days
  • $1,722

Valparaiso

Chile's lively, bustling historic port city is famous for its eclectic mix of UNESCO protected architecture, its multi-coloured houses, turn of the century funiculars that still transport people up to the surrounding hills, world-class street art and delicious fresh seafood. Visit the house of the Noble Prize winner Pablo Neruda or spend a day visiting the vineyards of the near by Casablanca Valley.

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What our customers think of Santiago

Our tour guide was fantastic! He was so knowledgeable and personable. I enjoyed getting to know the area with Jim. I especially loved how personalized and private everything felt. The wineries were wonderful and the lunch at Casa Blanca was amazing. Read the full review

Travelled: March 2023

Megan Hillyard - USA

We liked our hotel and location, and Marcello was an excellent guide. We closed our trip with an afternoon in Valparaiso, which was much more interesting. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2023

Nate Link - USA

We had a very good guide who touched on all the important and practical travel issues such as currency, water, safety etc. He also gave us a good understanding of present day Santiago, and a bit of its history. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Teresa Chow - USA

We had a great city tour, saw a lot and learned about the political climate. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2019

Karen Belding - United States Of America

The hotel was very good and in a great location. Our guide was great – so knowledgable about the city and the country, and so good at answering all our questions. I highly recommend him. We learned so much. His recommendations for dinner and sights were also good. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2019

Mary Lou Bell - United States Of America

Santiago is a big city, but Swoop did a great job putting us up in the right part of town. We spent a day and half walking the area, city markets, and climbing the hills, and a half day in the wine country. Hotel was perfect and had an awesome rooftop bar/restaurant. Pickup at the airport with a driver and English speaking guide was a great way to start our trip. She gave us the layout of the land and expedited our check in process. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2019

Brian McIntyre - United States Of America

Review:

Before & After Santiago

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