Stories · Chile
5 days in Santiago
Not a list: a thread to follow, at your own pace.
You don’t visit Santiago; it takes you in. Here is how I’d spend 5 days there without rushing, leaving room for the things you can’t plan.
Day 1 · The icons
To start, it’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (6,068 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
Around noon, head to Plaza de Armas de Santiago. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Unmissable, and for good reason. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
For lunch, Región Metropolitana is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, meet me at Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.7 out of 5 across 10,765 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or go through Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Santiago does the rest.
Day 2 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, I make my way to Santiago Metropolitan Park. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (45,406 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
Late morning, head to La Chascona. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 5,438 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Región Metropolitana: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
In the afternoon, head to Parque Forestal. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. 4.5 out of 5 across 38,250 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Santiago is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 3 · Museums and culture
In the morning, it’s Museum of Memory & Human Rights. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.7 out of 5 across 14,813 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Then, I make my way to Parque Quinta Normal. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (29,882 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Región Metropolitana: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
Later, meet me at Chaman Yungay. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Santiago is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 4 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, meet me at Bicentennial Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.8 out of 5 across 55,487 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Late morning, head to Sky Costanera. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. 4.7 out of 5 across 27,926 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
For lunch, Región Metropolitana is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
Later, head to Sculpture Park Museum. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. 4.6 out of 5 across 6,378 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Santiago is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 5 · Museums and culture
To start, I make my way to Fantasilandia. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (54,923 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Then, it’s La Moneda Cultural Center. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 17,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.
For lunch, Región Metropolitana is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
In the afternoon, meet me at National Museum of Fine Arts. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (17,000 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Santiago is a city that tells itself better at night.
If you’re still hungry
I still have a few up my sleeve: Araucano Park, La Moneda Palace, Santiago Central Market, Citizenship Park, Fuente Neptuno and Museo la Merced. Your call.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
And if you go, tell me what you loved. Santiago changes, and so do I.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.