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Country guide
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.
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Omnespsx (D•ES) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
100 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Cerro San Cristóbal is a prominent hill rising within Santiago's Metropolitan Park, recognized as the city's defining urban viewpoint. The hill offers panoramic vistas across the Chilean capital toward the Andes Mountains.
Plaza de Armas is Santiago's principal historic square and the city's Kilometre Zero.
La Moneda Palace, known locally as Palacio de La Moneda, serves as Chile's presidential palace and stands as Santiago's foremost national civic landmark. The neoclassical building occupies a central position in the city's civic district.
Sky Costanera is an observation deck situated at the summit of Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest completed building in South America. Located in the Providencia district of Santiago, Chile, it offers the highest public panoramic viewpoint in the city.
Santa Lucia Hill, known locally as Cerro Santa Lucía, is a landscaped historic hill situated at the edge of Santiago's city centre. The site combines military fortifications, garden terraces, and a compact viewpoint overlooking the urban area.
The Mercado Central de Santiago is a historic iron market building and Santiago's best-known seafood and food-market landmark. The structure features distinctive cast-iron architecture imported from Britain in the 19th century, with a prominent central nave and skylight.
The Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral, known locally as Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago, stands as the principal Catholic cathedral of Chile's national capital. It occupies a commanding position on the west side of Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of Santiago.
Barrio Lastarria is a compact neighbourhood in central Santiago known for its concentration of cultural venues, dining, and pedestrian-friendly streets.
Barrio Yungay is a community-protected heritage district in Santiago, Chile. It is recognized for its distinctive low-rise architectural character, network of passages, and prominent large-scale street murals.
Parque Bicentenario de Vitacura is a major landscaped public park situated along the Mapocho River in the Vitacura commune of eastern Santiago, Chile.
Parque Quinta Normal is a historic public park in Santiago, Chile. Established in the nineteenth century, it represents one of the city's oldest green spaces and has evolved into a significant cultural destination.
Parque Forestal is a linear urban park in central Santiago, Chile. It runs alongside the Mapocho River, forming a green corridor through the city centre.
La Moneda Cultural Centre, known locally as Centro Cultural La Moneda, is a subterranean exhibition centre located beneath the presidential palace in Santiago, Chile. The venue presents major Chilean and international shows.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, locally known as Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, is a cultural institution operated by the University of Chile. It shares the historic Bellas Artes palace in central Santiago.
Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco is a historic religious complex in central Santiago, comprising a church, convent, and museum under unified management. Founded by Franciscan missionaries, it stands among the oldest colonial-era structures in Chile's capital.
The Municipal Theatre of Santiago, known locally as Teatro Municipal de Santiago, stands as Chile's premier venue for opera, ballet, and classical music. This nineteenth-century architectural landmark occupies a central position in the capital.
The Former National Congress Building, known locally as Ex Congreso Nacional de Chile, stands as a historic legislative palace in central Santiago.
Palacio Cousiño is a nineteenth-century mansion in Santiago, Chile, built during the country's mining boom era. The palace was constructed for the Cousiño-Goyenechea family, whose wealth derived from silver, coal, and other mineral extraction.
Palacio Pereira is a restored mansion dating from 1874, now serving as a national heritage centre. It stands as a significant architectural landmark on Santiago's historic-centre visitor route, recognized for its cultural and historical importance to Chile.
The Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Santiago serves as the seat of Chile's Supreme Court. This monumental neoclassical structure anchors a significant civic block in the Chilean capital, positioned beside the pre-Columbian museum.
The Museum of Visual Arts, known locally as Museo de Artes Visuales, is a contemporary Chilean art museum situated in the Lastarria neighbourhood of Santiago.
The Japanese Garden of Santiago, known locally as Jardín Japonés de Santiago, is a restored terraced garden situated within Metropolitan Park on Cerro San Cristóbal.
The Immaculate Conception Sanctuary, known locally as Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepción del Cerro San Cristóbal, crowns the summit of Cerro San Cristóbal in Santiago.
Mapulemu Botanical Garden, locally known as Jardín Botánico Mapulemu, is a dedicated botanical garden situated within the broader Metropolitan Park system on Cerro San Cristóbal in Santiago, Chile.
Parque Araucano is a large urban park situated in the eastern sector of Santiago, within the Las Condes commune. The park serves as a significant green space in a densely developed area of the Chilean capital.
Parque Inés de Suárez is a substantial neighbourhood park located in the Providencia district of Santiago, Chile. Named after the Spanish conquistadora Inés de Suárez, the park serves as an important green space within this densely populated urban area.
Patio Bellavista is a commercial and entertainment complex situated at the entrance to the Bellavista neighborhood in Santiago, Chile. It serves as a gateway point between the city and Cerro San Cristóbal, one of the capital's prominent hills.
Sewell is a UNESCO World Heritage mining town in the Andes mountains of central Chile. Established as a company town for copper extraction, it represents an exceptional example of early 20th century industrial urbanism at high altitude.
La Vega Central Market, locally named Mercado La Vega Central, stands as Santiago's principal wholesale and retail produce market. It functions as the backbone of everyday food distribution for Chile's capital, connecting rural agricultural supply with urban consumer demand.
Tirso de Molina Market, known locally as Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina, is a timber-roofed market hall in Santiago, Chile. It serves as an accessible companion to the larger La Vega market complex.
The Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, locally known as Palacio Museo de Bellas Artes, stands as a principal cultural institution in Santiago. Located within the city's urban fabric, this landmark occupies a significant position in Chile's museum landscape.
The Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile is the historic headquarters of Chile's oldest state university, founded in 1842. Located on the Alameda, Santiago's principal avenue, this institutional landmark anchors one of the country's most significant educational traditions.
Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho is a monumental former railway terminus in Santiago, Chile, now reused as one of the city's principal exhibition and event spaces.
Plaza de la Constitución is a ceremonial public square in central Santiago, Chile. The space serves as the formal forecourt to Palacio de La Moneda, the presidential palace.
Plaza Baquedano, known locally by that name, is a major public square in Santiago, Chile. It functions as a critical urban junction connecting the city centre with the districts of Providencia, Bellavista, and Parque Bustamante.
Parque de la Familia is a large public park located on the west side of the Mapocho River in Santiago, Chile. The park serves as a significant recreational space for residents and visitors seeking outdoor leisure in an urban setting.
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary, known locally as Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán, is a foothill nature reserve situated on the northeastern metropolitan edge of Santiago, Chile.
Parque Natural Aguas de Ramón is a protected natural area on Santiago's eastern foothills, part of the Chilean Coastal Range. The park preserves Mediterranean sclerophyll forest, a biome adapted to hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Parque Natural Quebrada de Macul is a natural park located in the eastern foothills of Santiago, Chile.
Cajón del Maipo is a canyon and mountainous valley region southeast of Santiago, Chile, formed by the Maipo River as it descends from the Andes.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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