Chile
Santiago's walkable center, a wine-and-coast day trip, and a surprising amount of good golf just outside the city.
Santiago Highlights
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Plaza de Armas | historic center, must-do | The colonial main square anchors downtown Santiago, ringed by palm trees, grand buildings, and plenty of street life. Pair it with the Metropolitan Cathedral right next door. |
| Metropolitan Cathedral | quick stop | A neoclassical cathedral on Plaza de Armas with painted ceilings and ornate altars. Worth a quiet 30 to 45 minute detour while you're in the square. |
| Cerro Santa Lucía | viewpoint, must-do | A hilltop fort turned park with stone stairs, fountains, and 360-degree views over the city. About a 10 minute walk from Barrio Lastarria, so easy to combine into one outing. |
| Cerro San Cristóbal & Teleférico | cable car, must-do | A cable car ride up the city's tallest hill for sweeping views of Santiago and the Andes. Pair with a wander through Bellavista at the base. |
| Sky Costanera | observation deck | A 61st-floor deck with sunset views over the city and mountains. Best combined with dinner in nearby Providencia. |
| Barrio Lastarria | neighborhood, must-do | A walkable pocket of cafes, wine bars, and shops, and one of the best bases for exploring on foot. Easy to pair with Cerro Santa Lucía. |
| Bellavista & Bohemian Murals | street art neighborhood | A colorful, art-covered neighborhood with open-air cafes, bars, and patio dining. Pairs naturally with a ride up Cerro San Cristóbal. |
| Barrio Italia | boutiques, must-do | A neighborhood of boutiques and courtyard cafes that folds easily into an afternoon near Providencia. |
| La Chascona (Pablo Neruda House) | museum | The poet Pablo Neruda's quirky hillside home, filled with eccentric nautical collections. A good complement to a Bellavista or San Cristóbal visit. |
| Pueblito Los Dominicos | artisan market | A craft village with over 150 workshops selling leather, copper, and lapis lazuli goods, about 20 minutes by metro from downtown. |
Day Trips (Wine & Coast)
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Casablanca Valley | wine, must-do | A cool-climate wine valley about an hour from the city, known for crisp Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Easy to pair with an afternoon in Valparaíso on the same day. |
| Valparaíso | UNESCO port town, must-do | A colorful hillside port city famous for its funiculars and street art, about 1.5 hours from Santiago. Combine with Casablanca wine tasting or Viña del Mar for a full coastal day. |
| Viña del Mar | coastal resort town | A seaside resort town with a promenade, beaches, and good seafood, right next to Valparaíso. Worth 2 to 4 hours tacked onto a Valparaíso day trip. |
| Maipo Valley | wine, closest to city | The historic wine valley closest to Santiago, known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère. A good half-day option if you don't want the longer drive to Casablanca. |
| Cajón del Maipo | full day, Andes | A dramatic Andean canyon day trip past a turquoise alpine reservoir, though it involves several hours on rough dirt roads. Best treated as a dedicated full day, and only if you don't mind a long drive before onward travel. |
Golf
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Club de Golf Mapocho | $$ · easiest access | Santiago's top public course, about 20 minutes from downtown near the airport, with rental clubs and online booking. The lowest-friction golf option for a casual half-day round without much planning. |
| Club de Golf La Dehesa | $$$ · scenic | A private championship course in the eastern foothills with dramatic Andes views and South America's longest par 5. Visitor access requires advance arrangement through a tour operator or club reciprocity. |
| Club de Golf Las Brisas de Chicureo | $$$ · 36 holes | An upscale 36-hole complex north of the city with a desert-valley feel in the mountain foothills. Weekday visitor access needs to be booked ahead through a golf concierge. |
| Prince of Wales Country Club | $$$ · historic | A prestigious 1925 parkland course in eastern Santiago with tight, tree-lined fairways and a classic British-Chilean club feel. Access is limited to member guests or a full-service golf tour booking. |
| Club de Golf Las Brisas de Santo Domingo | $$-$$$ · coastal | A scenic 27-hole course on the Valparaíso coast, though the 1.5 to 2 hour drive each way turns it into a full-day commitment. Worth it only if golf is the point of the day rather than an add-on. |