Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Chile

A photograph of Chile
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Chile is a narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific, the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica. Its 756,102 km² are arranged almost entirely along one north–south line, with Peru and Bolivia at the top and the Drake Passage at the bottom, so nearly every journey here is a journey up or down. The 2024 census counted 18.5 million people. Santiago is the capital and largest city. Chile also administers Pacific islands far offshore, among them Juan Fernández and Easter Island, which means two places under the same flag can sit an ocean apart.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Spanish
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+56
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Chilean peso (CLP)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
133 police · 131 ambulance · 132 fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and L · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers all regions and remote areas

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
    02 1 hr 30 min

    Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art

    Museo de Arte Precolombino

    The Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, known locally as Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, is a museum in Santiago dedicated to Indigenous art and material culture from across the Americas.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  2. La Chascona House Museum La Chascona House Museum
    03 1 hr 30 min

    La Chascona House Museum

    Casa Museo La Chascona

    La Chascona House Museum, locally Casa Museo La Chascona, stands as Pablo Neruda's distinctive Santiago residence in the Bellavista quarter.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  3. National Museum of Fine Arts National Museum of Fine Arts
    04 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Fine Arts

    Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

    The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is Chile's principal fine-arts institution, anchoring the Parque Forestal and the Lastarria museum circuit in Santiago.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  4. National Historical Museum National Historical Museum
    05 1 hr 30 min

    National Historical Museum

    Museo Histórico Nacional

    The National Historical Museum, locally Museo Histórico Nacional, stands as Chile's central national-history collection. It occupies the former Royal Audience building on Plaza de Armas in Santiago.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  5. National Museum of Natural History National Museum of Natural History
    06 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Natural History

    Museo Nacional de Historia Natural

    The National Museum of Natural History, known locally as Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, stands as Chile's principal natural-history museum. It serves as the flagship institution within Quinta Normal, a significant public park in Santiago.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  6. Casa Colorada Casa Colorada
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Casa Colorada

    Museo de Santiago - Casa Colorada

    Casa Colorada is a colonial-era house in central Santiago, Chile. Built in 1769, it is one of the oldest surviving structures in the city and serves as the Museo de Santiago Casa Colorada.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  7. San Francisco Museum of Colonial Art San Francisco Museum of Colonial Art
    08 1 hr 30 min

    San Francisco Museum of Colonial Art

    Museo de Arte Colonial de San Francisco

    The San Francisco Museum of Colonial Art, locally known as Museo de Arte Colonial de San Francisco, occupies part of the historic San Francisco religious complex in central Santiago.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  8. Salvador Allende Solidarity Museum Salvador Allende Solidarity Museum
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Salvador Allende Solidarity Museum

    Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende

    The Salvador Allende Solidarity Museum is a cultural institution in Santiago, Chile, known locally as the Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende. It holds a distinctive international modern-art collection that was formed through artist donations made in solidarity with Chile.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  9. Violeta Parra Museum Violeta Parra Museum
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Violeta Parra Museum

    Museo Violeta Parra

    The Violeta Parra Museum, known locally as Museo Violeta Parra, is a national institution in Santiago dedicated to Chile's foundational folk artist.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  10. Santiago Railway Museum Santiago Railway Museum
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Santiago Railway Museum

    Museo Ferroviario

    The Santiago Railway Museum, known locally as Museo Ferroviario de Santiago, is an outdoor museum dedicated to Chile's railway heritage.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  11. Museum of Science and Technology Museum of Science and Technology
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Science and Technology

    Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología

    The Museum of Science and Technology, locally Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología, is a hands-on science museum in Santiago, Chile. It forms part of Quinta Normal's broad family museum cluster in the capital city.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  12. Museo Interactivo Mirador Museo Interactivo Mirador
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Museo Interactivo Mirador

    The Mirador Interactive Museum, known locally as Museo Interactivo Mirador, is Chile's leading interactive science museum. It stands as one of metropolitan Santiago's strongest family destinations.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  13. Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio

    The Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio is Chile's principal aviation museum. Located in the Cerrillos area of Santiago, it houses a substantial collection of aircraft and aerospace artifacts.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  14. Museo de Artes Decorativas  (Santiago de Chile) Museo de Artes Decorativas (Santiago de Chile)
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Museo de Artes Decorativas (Santiago de Chile)

    Museo de Artes Decorativas

    The Museum of Decorative Arts, known locally as Museo de Artes Decorativas, is a specialist museum located within the Recoleta cultural complex in Santiago, Chile.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  15. Museo Histórico y Militar de Chile Museo Histórico y Militar de Chile
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Museo Histórico y Militar de Chile

    Museo Histórico Militar

    The Historical and Military Museum of Chile is housed in a substantial heritage building that formerly served as Chile's military school. Located in Santiago, this institution presents Chilean military history through its collections and exhibitions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  16. Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral

    The Gabriela Mistral Museum of Education is a national museum dedicated to Chilean schooling and educational history. Located in Barrio Yungay, a historic neighborhood of Santiago, it preserves and exhibits materials related to the development of education in Chile.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  17. Museo del Sonido Museo del Sonido
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Museo del Sonido

    The Museo del Sonido, or Museum of Sound, is a distinctive cultural institution located in Santiago's Yungay neighbourhood. It is devoted to recorded sound, playback technology, and listening culture.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  18. Villa Grimaldi
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Villa Grimaldi

    Museo de Sitio y Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  19. Museo Numismático del Banco Central de Chile Museo Numismático del Banco Central de Chile
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Museo Numismático del Banco Central de Chile

    Museo Numismático

    The Museo Numismático del Banco Central de Chile is Chile's specialist public collection dedicated to coins, banknotes, and monetary history. Housed under the auspices of the nation's central bank, it preserves and exhibits the country's numismatic heritage.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  20. Casa de Isla Negra
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Casa de Isla Negra

    Casa Museo Isla Negra

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  21. Manuel Foster Observatory
    22 1 hr 30 min

    Manuel Foster Observatory

    Museo Astronómico Observatorio Manuel Foster

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  22. Londres 38
    23 1 hr 30 min

    Londres 38

    Espacio de Memoria Londres 38

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  23. Palacio Versailles
    28 1 hr 30 min

    Palacio Versailles

    Museo de Arte Contemporaneo

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  24. Rioja Palace
    31 1 hr 30 min

    Rioja Palace

    Museo de Artes Decorativas Palacio Rioja

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  25. Nido 20
    37 1 hr 30 min

    Nido 20

    Casa Museo Alberto Bachelet Martínez (Ex-Nido 20)

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  26. Alhué Museum
    38 1 hr 30 min

    Alhué Museum

    Museo de Alhué

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  27. Fashion Museum
    52 1 hr 30 min

    Fashion Museum

    Museo de la Moda

    • High
    • Museum
    • Santiago
  28. Casa Lukas
    75 1 hr 30 min

    Casa Lukas

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Santiago

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Chile be?

A 10–16 day visit should pair Santiago with one major region, such as the Atacama, the Lake District or a Patagonian gateway. Chile’s length makes combining north and far south in a short itinerary transfer-heavy.

What entry documents are needed for Chile?

Chile’s consular service publishes the visa rules used for entry. Nationality, travel purpose and length of stay determine the requirement, and any application should be made through the official consular channel.

What is the best way to travel around Chile?

Santiago is the central international and domestic hub. Flights connect the desert, lake and Patagonian gateways, while long-distance buses cover mainland corridors and remote parks require a confirmed final transfer.

When is a practical time to visit Chile?

October through April is the broad operating window for many central and southern journeys. Atacama conditions, central-valley heat and Patagonian wind are distinct, so the least flexible regional leg should set the calendar.

What money and payment basics apply in Chile?

Chile uses the Chilean peso (CLP). Current withdrawal costs and merchant acceptance are Not recorded; review the amount in pesos and any conversion offered before completing payment.

What practical safety details should I save for Chile?

Chile uses 133 for police, 131 for ambulance and 132 for fire. Power is 220 V with Type C and L plugs, while nationwide tap-water guidance remains Not recorded.