2 days in Santiago

Day by day

1. Day 1: Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano and La Chascona

   Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano, La Chascona, Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral and La Moneda Palace, then Sky Costanera in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano

      A funicular climbs from Pío Nono street in Bellavista and a cable car crosses to the Providencia side; on a clear morning the summit terrace looks across the whole city to the Andes. Walking and cycling roads wind up the slopes, and summer brings two public swimming pools.

   2. Late morning

      La Chascona

      Its rooms are designed like a ship and filled with his collections of glass, paintings and curiosities. Visits are guided or by audio guide in several languages and run by the Fundación Pablo Neruda.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Empanada de pino

      Bakeries and empanaderías across the city, especially on Sundays and around the September national holidays.

   4. Afternoon

      Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral

      Chess players, street performers and painters gather under the trees, and the cathedral's interior is free to visit outside services.

   5. Late afternoon

      La Moneda Palace

      It was bombed during the 1973 coup and later restored. A changing-of-the-guard ceremony is usually held in front of the palace on alternate days, and the Centro Cultural La Moneda beneath the Plaza de la Ciudadanía hosts exhibitions and a crafts shop.

   6. Evening

      Sky Costanera

      Time your visit for late afternoon so you see the city by day and the lights after sunset.

2. Day 2: Mercado Central and Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

   Mercado Central, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, Museum of Memory and Human Rights and Cerro Santa Lucía, then Barrio Lastarria and GAM in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mercado Central

      The large central restaurants are aimed at visitors; the small counters around the edges are cheaper and more local.

   2. Late morning

      Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

      The basement gallery devoted to Chilean peoples, including Mapuche wooden figures and Andean textiles, is particularly strong, and labels are in English.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Completo

      Fuente de soda counters and sandwich bars in the centre and Providencia.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Memory and Human Rights

      The modern glass-and-copper building faces the Quinta Normal Metro station. Entry is free, and an audio guide in English helps non-Spanish speakers.

   5. Late afternoon

      Cerro Santa Lucía

      The climb to the summit lookout takes about 15 minutes, and the views over the centre and towards San Cristóbal are good at sunset.

   6. Evening

      Barrio Lastarria and GAM

      Visit on a weekend afternoon, when the stalls are out and the café terraces are full.

Before you go

• La Moneda Palace: Guided visits inside the palace are limited and must be requested in advance through the presidency's official channels.
• La Chascona: Visitor numbers are limited at busy times; arrive early or check the foundation's site for reservations.

If it rains

• Swap in Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Parque Forestal): Walk through Parque Forestal along the Mapocho afterwards towards Lastarria.
• Swap in Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (Quinta Normal): Combine it with the Museum of Memory, across the road from the park's north side.
• Swap in Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM) (La Granja): Take Metro Line 5 to Mirador station, then walk or take a short taxi ride; weekday mornings are busy with school groups.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–17 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in June to 14.4 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. The Metro has several lines covering the centre, Providencia, Las Condes and the suburbs, with fares that vary slightly by time of day.

More or fewer days

• One day in Santiago
• 3 days in Santiago
• 5 days in Santiago

Questions travellers ask