Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile

Santiago

Santiago's centre has a grand main square, markets and hilltop parks, with neighbourhoods of murals and bars and the Andes as a backdrop.

Santiago: The best walking tour in Santiago de Chile
Featured walk: The best walking tour in Santiago de Chile · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Santiago was founded in 1541 and is now home to about a third of Chile's people.

The historic centre around the Plaza de Armas is flat and walkable, and two hills, Santa Lucía and San Cristóbal, give views of the city and the mountains.

What makes Santiago distinctive

  • The Andes on the skyline
  • Cerro Santa Lucía and Cerro San Cristóbal
  • Mercado Central and its seafood
  • Bellavista's murals and bars

Walking tours in Santiago

Hand-picked guided walks in Santiago, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

Advertising disclosure: tour links go to Viator. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the price you pay or which tours we choose.

Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 29 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Food tours in Santiago · History walks in Santiago

Compare with other cities: Food tours · History walks

More walking tours on GetYourGuide

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Lastarria

    Cafés, cinemas and bookshops.

  • Bellavista

    Murals, bars and Pablo Neruda's house.

  • Barrio Italia

    Antique shops and restaurants.

Free self-guided walk

Plaza de Armas to Cerro Santa Lucía

A free self-guided walk through central Santiago, from La Moneda to the Plaza de Armas, the Mercado Central and up Cerro Santa Lucía.

2.8 km · 4 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Historic centre

    Plaza de Armas to La Moneda.

  2. Cerro Santa Lucía

    Paths and stairs up the hill.

  3. Parque Forestal

    A park along the Mapocho River.

Practical walking notes

  • Terrain

    Flat in the centre; steep on the hills.

  • Air

    Smog can be heavy in winter.

  • Safety

    Watch bags in crowded areas.

When to visit

  • Spring and autumn

    Mild and best for walking.

  • Summer

    Hot and dry; many locals leave in February.

  • Winter

    Cool and sometimes smoggy, with snow on the mountains.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By air

    Arturo Merino Benítez Airport is about 30 minutes away.

Local transport

  • Metro

    A modern metro covers the city.

  • Funicular

    Climbs Cerro San Cristóbal from Bellavista.

Questions travellers ask about Santiago

How many days do I need?

Two or three days, with a trip to Valparaíso or the vineyards.

Is Santiago walkable?

The centre and Lastarria are.

What should I eat?

Seafood at the Mercado Central, empanadas and completos.

Santiago: The best walking tour in Santiago de Chile
Country overview

Chile

A capital beneath the Andes

Explore destinations

Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.