A capital between hills and mountains, shaped by five centuries of earthquakes, revolutions and poetry.
Santiago was founded in 1541 at the foot of Santa Lucía Hill and grew on a grid plan into the capital of Chile. Its centre keeps churches that have survived earthquakes, palaces of the republic, iron markets and places of memory, while neighbourhoods such as Lastarria and Bellavista look out towards the Andes. Three free walking routes to explore it at your own pace.
Choose your free tour
All routes are free and can be combined. If it’s your first visit, start with the mixed route.
Five centuries of the Chilean capital in six stops: a university, a palace, a colonial mansion, the founding square, an iron market and a railway station.
A fire that shocked the world, a Christ with his crown around his neck, a warrior Virgin, a house of torture and a hill that served as a cemetery for outcasts.
Santiago's highlights in one walk: viewpoints, the most bohemian neighbourhood, the great art museum, a Centenary fountain, a Nobel laureate's home and the funicular up San Cristóbal.
The map
The routes cross in the old town. Tap a point to see which story awaits you there.
Filled points already have a published article; the rest are in the works.
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Itineraries
We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.
All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.
See the itinerary 2A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.
See the itinerary 3The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.
See the itineraryWhat to eat
The dishes you can’t leave without trying, and the classic spots that have been serving them for years.
Two soups from the Pacific: paila marina, a piping-hot broth of shellfish and fish served in an earthenware bowl, and caldillo de congrio, the conger eel stew to which Neruda dedicated an ode. The small kitchens of the Central Market have been serving them for generations.
Where to try it
A crust of ground sweetcorn and basil over a filling of minced beef with onion, chicken, hard-boiled egg, olives and raisins, browned with a sprinkle of sugar. It is the great dish of the Chilean summer; Galindo, in Bellavista, has served it since 1968.
Where to try it
Griddled beef and melted cheese in a hot bun. It takes its name from President Ramón Barros Luco who, according to tradition, always ordered it at Confitería Torres, opened in the nineteenth century and still on the Alameda.
Where to try it
Sweet pipeño wine topped with pineapple ice cream and a dash of grenadine or fernet. The name, meaning "earthquake", caught on after the 1985 quake; order a second glass, the "aftershock", at your own risk. La Piojera, next to the Central Market, is its temple.
Where to try it
