History · Santiago · Chile
7 historic sites to see in Santiago
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Warko, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral, La Moneda Palace and Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 5 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- Centro Histórico, Quinta Normal and Bellavista
Historic sites in Santiago
Landmark · Centro Histórico
1.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Palace · Centro Histórico
2.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Iconic
Museum · Centro Histórico
3.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.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Quinta Normal
4.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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Historic site · Bellavista
5.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Couples
- Rainy day
Park · Lastarria
6.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Historic site · Recoleta
7.Cementerio General
It holds the tombs of most Chilean presidents, including Salvador Allende, and the singer Víctor Jara, and a memorial wall lists those who disappeared under the military regime.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Histórico | Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral, La Moneda Palace and Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino | 1 hour + 1 hour + 1.5–2 hours |
| Quinta Normal | Museum of Memory and Human Rights | 2 hours |
| Bellavista | La Chascona | 1 hour |
| Lastarria | Cerro Santa Lucía | 1 hour |
| Recoleta | Cementerio General | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 5 free, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for La Moneda Palace and La Chascona. The longest visit is Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- 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.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Centro Histórico): Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral → La Moneda Palace → Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Quinta Normal, Bellavista and Lastarria): Museum of Memory and Human Rights → La Chascona → Cerro Santa Lucía, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Recoleta): Cementerio General, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. The height of the local summer holidays, with very hot afternoons and many small restaurants closed for a few weeks.
- April: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 2 rainy days, quiet crowds. Pleasant autumn days and cool nights, with vineyards turning red and gold.
- May: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 4 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cooler with the first rains; smog can build up on still days before the winter fronts arrive.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Lastarria — Cobbled streets, bookshops, cafés and theatres below Cerro Santa Lucía
- Bellavista — Murals, Neruda's house and late bars at the foot of San Cristóbal
- Centro Histórico — Plaza de Armas, government palaces and busy pedestrian streets
More of Santiago
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Santiago?
Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral. Laid out when Pedro de Valdivia founded the city in 1541, the palm-shaded main square is framed by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the Museo Histórico Nacional in the old Royal Audience building.
+Which of these are free in Santiago?
Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral, La Moneda Palace, Museum of Memory and Human Rights, Cerro Santa Lucía and Cementerio General.