SANTIAGO DE CHILE (2025) | 10 Awesome Things To Do In & Around Santiago de Chile

What's up guys we're here in Santiago de Chile and in this video we're going to show you our top things to do here. So hope you enjoy it. Santiago is the dynamic capital city of Chile tucked in a valley between the Andes mountains and the pacific ocean. This modern city boasts a thriving culinary scene, diverse neighborhoods, a vibrant nightlife, and a pleasant Mediterranean climate. On top of that Santiago serves as the ideal starting point for Chilean adventures offering easy transportation connections all around the country from vineyards and beaches to national parks and canyons. In this video we highlight 10 of the best things to do in and around Santiago de Chile. At the end we'll also highlight a few travel tips. Now let's dive in. We are Zach and Ina. We make helpful videos about destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures. Santa Lucia hill is a small green oasis in the heart of Santiago. Once a fortress this historic hill was transformed into a beautiful park offering panoramic views of the city. Ascend through its charming pathways adorned with flowers, fountains, and historical monuments. Explore the remains of the fortress walls and take in the views from the top. At the time of our visit it was free to go to the park but it does close in the evening. Santiago de Chile boasts a variety of museums covering diverse fields and topics. We visited the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art which houses an extensive collection of artifacts from across South America and Chile specifically. From intricately carved stone sculptures to delicate textiles and gold objects the museum offers a journey through the rich and cultures that thrive before the arrival of Europeans. The Chile section is especially interesting as you'll learn about various indigenous groups that lived across the country. The Cajon del Maipo is a picturesque gorge located in the Andes mountains about two hours to the east of Santiago de Chile. This stunning landscape features towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and crystal clear rivers. The El Yeso dam takes center stage here a reservoir that provides a significant portion of the drinking water supply for the city of Santiago. We visited the large artificial lake as a day trip from Santiago and made several stops at different viewpoints. The tour ended with a picnic style lunch served with a glass of wine along the El Yeso river. Located in the high-end east side of Santiago, Parque Bicentenario is an expansive park that stretches along the Mapocho river. In this urban oasis you'll find many lush green spaces, walking paths, a vibrant lake, and various recreational areas. Above all it's scenic, well-maintained, and clean with lots of picnic areas. It offers a welcoming escape from the city and provides a tranquil setting for a relaxing afternoon. Santiago de Chile boasts a surprising number of vineyards within its city limits. Two notable examples are Santa Carolina and Cusino Macul. We visited the latter vineyard which is one of the oldest wineries in Chile. During a one and a half hour tour we explored the winery's impressive cellars while indulging in wine tastings. We also learned about the winemaking process, the history of Chilean wine, and this family-owned vineyard. If you have more time you can also venture beyond the city to nearby valleys like Casablanca, Maipo, or Colchagua. These offer a wider range of vineyards coupled with breathtaking scenery. Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are two coastal cities located about 120 kilometers northwest of Santiago. Valparaíso is a UNESCO world heritage site and is known for its colorful hillside houses, beautiful street art, and vibrant port. Viña del Mar on the other hand is often called the garden city and boasts stunning beaches and parks. We combined both of these cities in a day trip from Santiago. This tour included a scenic coastal drive, spotting sea lions, getting a guided tour of the artsy streets in Valparaíso, and taking a ride on traditional elevators to ascend the city's hills. Out of the two cities we preferred Valparaíso since it seemed to have more character, but it was also a place that required awareness of our surroundings. The city is known to be a bit unsafe so that's why we highly recommend to either do tour or research so you know where to go and where not to go, or get a tour guide and in that way you also learn a bit of history. The Sky Costanera located atop the Gran Torre Santiago is the tallest skyscraper in South America reaching 300 meters or 984 feet in height. At the top you'll find an observation deck with 360 degree vistas that stretch across the city as well as the Andes mountains. There's also a bar that serves drinks and light meals. As it's open late at night this is one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset. However you should also keep in mind that golden hour is the busiest time to visit. Providencia is a vibrant and safe district in Santiago known for its modern infrastructure, diverse culinary scene, and charming neighborhoods. Explore Barrio Italia, a haven for foodies. Stroll along its picturesque streets, admire the architecture, and enjoy some amazing cuisine. For a taste of bohemian charm venture into nearby Barrio La Estrella known for its art galleries, antiques, and a vibrant nightlife scene with a variety of bars and restaurants. You can find a link to our interactive map with great places to eat and drink here in the description below this video. Cerro San Cristobal is a prominent hill and largest green space in the heart of Santiago. It's accessed from various points in the city by funicular, cable car, hiking, or biking trails. The summit boasts a towering statue of the Virgin Mary and offers stunning vistas of the city below. Enjoy a leisurely stroll or sip on a traditional Chilean drink from one of the snack stands while taking in the views. Within its park limits you can also find a zoo, botanical gardens, and public playgrounds. Centered around Plaza de Armas, the historic center of Santiago is a blend of Spanish colonial, neoclassical, and art deco architecture. Santiago has served as Chile's capital city since colonial times and experienced significant growth and development as well as challenges such as Some iconic landmarks include the San Francisco Church, the Stock Exchange Building, La Moneda Presidential Palace, and the Grand Cathedral of Santiago. If you want to delve deeper into the city's history and culture, we recommend going on a free walking tour. Our guide offered great insight on Chilean society, politics, and current events. As we promised at the beginning of the video, we'll now share a few travel and safety tips for Santiago de Chile. First, staying in areas like Providencia, Barrio La Estrella, and Bellas Artes offers a good balance of safety, convenience, and access to restaurants, cafes, and cultural attractions. We stayed in a hotel in Barrio Yungay, which had a great price quality, but the downside was its safety concerns and lack of tourist facilities. However, if you're willing to take Ubers around, it's a good option. Santiago has an excellent metro system, making it easy to navigate the city quickly and efficiently, especially during rush hour. Consider using Uber for shorter distances or areas not well served by the metro. Finally, while Santiago offers a lot to explore, it's crucial to be mindful of your surroundings. Research and be aware of areas that may have higher crime rates. At the time of our visit, some parts of Bella Vista, the historic center, and the central market and bus station experienced some safety concerns. It's advisable to exercise caution, especially at night, and avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas. If you have more time in Santiago, there are also a few more interesting things to do. We put a list of those on the screen here for you. And if you're planning your trip to Chile, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner. Find a discount code in the description below. We also included other important links in the description that will help with your Santiago experience, such as an interactive map so you can get to each place we mentioned. We'll catch you on the next adventure.