Top Things to Do in Chile
20 must-see attractions and experiences
Chile stretches like a ribbon along South America's western edge, encompassing an almost impossible range of landscapes across its 4,300-kilometer length. From the hyper-arid Atacama Desert in the north — home to steaming geysers and surreal salt flats — to the glacial fjords and granite towers of Patagonia in the south, this is a country that rewards travelers with some of the continent's most dramatic natural scenery. Santiago, the cosmopolitan capital, offers excellent urban attractions including Latin America's tallest observation deck and elegant colonial plazas. But Chile's true magic lies beyond the city limits: volcanic national parks, ancient forests, marble caverns carved by millennia of turquoise water, and hot springs hidden deep in temperate rainforest valleys. Whether you seek adventure, contemplation, or simply landscapes that defy belief, Chile delivers at every turn.
Don't Miss These
Our top picks for visitors to Chile
Centro Costanera
Urban ExplorationLatin America's tallest skyscraper anchors Santiago's modern skyline, housing a massive shopping center and the Sky Costanera observation deck. The complex draws over 200,000 visitors who come for retail therapy and panoramic city views.
Av. Andrés Bello 2425, 7510689 Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
Plaza de Armas de Santiago
Natural WondersSantiago's founding square has been the city's civic heart since 1541, surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the Royal Court Palace. Street performers, chess players, and portrait artists give the plaza a lively everyday energy.
Pl. de Armas, 8320341 Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
Parque Metropolitano de Santiago
Natural WondersOne of the world's largest urban parks sprawls across Cerro San Cristóbal, offering hiking trails, botanical gardens, swimming pools, and the well-known Virgin Mary statue at the summit. The funicular railway and cable car provide effortless access to sweeping views.
Pío Nono 450, Recoleta, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
Saltos del Laja
Notable AttractionsThese thundering horseshoe-shaped waterfalls on the Laja River cascade 35 meters into a basalt canyon, creating a spectacle often compared to a miniature Niagara. The surrounding parkland offers excellent viewpoints and picnic areas.
Cabrero, Bio Bio, Chile ·View on Map
Petrohué Waterfalls
Natural WondersBrilliant turquoise water crashes over sculpted basalt rock formations created by ancient lava flows from Osorno Volcano. The surrounding Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park provides a impressive volcanic backdrop to the falls.
Saltos de Petrohue, 5550000 Puerto Varas, Los Lagos, Chile ·View on Map
Sky Costanera
Notable AttractionsAt 300 meters above street level, South America's highest observation deck occupies the top floors of the Gran Torre Santiago. The 360-degree views extend from the Andes to the Pacific coast on clear days.
Av. Andrés Bello 2425, 7510689 Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
Torres del Paine National Park
Natural WondersPatagonia's crown jewel protects 242,000 hectares of granite towers, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and golden pampas teeming with guanacos and condors. The well-known W Trek and O Circuit are among the world's premier multi-day hikes.
Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile ·View on Map
Parque Nacional Villarrica
Natural WondersDominated by the well conical, snow-capped Villarrica Volcano — one of South America's most active — this park combines araucaria forests, hot springs, and challenging summit climbs. The volcano's glow is visible from Pucón on clear nights.
Chile · View on Map
Termas Geometricas
Notable AttractionsSeventeen naturally heated pools connected by red-painted wooden boardwalks wind through a narrow, fern-draped canyon in Chile's Lake District. The geometric design harmonizes architecture with the wild landscape.
Parque Nacional Villarrica - camino Coñaripe Km 16, Panguipulli, Los Ríos, Chile ·View on Map
El Tatio
Notable AttractionsThe world's third-largest geyser field sits at 4,320 meters above sea level in the Atacama Desert, with over 80 active geysers erupting columns of steam into the frigid dawn air. The fumaroles are most dramatic at sunrise when temperatures can drop below freezing.
B-245, Antofagasta, Calama, Antofagasta, Chile ·View on Map
Notable Attractions
From presidential palaces and geothermal hot springs to hidden desert lagoons and lunar valleys, Chile's landmark attractions span the full spectrum of human and geological wonder.
Cajón del Maipo
Notable AttractionsThis dramatic Andean canyon just southeast of Santiago has a full spectrum of outdoor adventures: rafting, hiking, horseback riding, and natural hot springs. The Embalse El Yeso reservoir, with its impossibly blue water, is the star attraction.
Inmaculada 170, San José de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
La Moneda Palace
Notable AttractionsChile's presidential palace, a masterpiece of colonial neoclassical architecture, occupies an entire city block in central Santiago. The ceremonial changing of the guard takes place every other day, and the Centro Cultural La Moneda beneath the plaza hosts major art exhibitions.
Moneda, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
Valley of the Moon
Notable AttractionsWind and time have carved the Atacama's salt-crusted terrain into a lunar landscape of jagged ridges, sand dunes, and crystalline salt formations. The sunsets here produce some of the most extraordinary color displays on Earth.
San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, Chile ·View on Map
Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache
Notable AttractionsSeven hidden salt lagoons of intensely turquoise water sit in the Atacama's arid salt flats, some with salinity so high that visitors float easily. Daily visitor numbers are strictly limited to protect this fragile ecosystem.
Desvío ruta - B-241, San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, Chile ·View on Map
Natural Wonders
Chile's extraordinary geographic length creates an unmatched variety of natural landscapes — Atacama Desert geysers, Patagonian glaciers, volcanic lakes, marble caves, and ancient temperate rainforests.
Marble Caves
Natural WondersThousands of years of wave erosion have sculpted General Carrera Lake's marble promontories into swirling blue caverns and cathedral-like chambers. The intense blue reflections shift with water levels and sunlight, creating an ever-changing natural gallery.
Chile Chico, Aysén, Chile ·View on Map
Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar
Natural WondersWhere the Atacama Desert meets the Pacific Ocean, this coastal desert park protects colonies of Humboldt penguins, sea otters, and dolphins alongside clean beaches set against stark desert hills. The contrast of arid terrain and marine life is striking.
Atacama, Chile ·View on Map
Parque Nacional Lauca
Natural WondersThis high-altitude park on the Bolivian border protects shimmering Lago Chungará — one of the world's highest lakes — along with herds of vicuñas, viscachas, and over 130 bird species including Andean flamingos.
Putre, Arica y Parinacota, Chile ·View on Map
Jardín Mapulemu
Natural WondersTucked within Santiago's Parque Metropolitano, this specialized botanical garden shows native Chilean flora from all of the country's varied climate zones. The collection of endemic trees and medicinal plants provides an educational counterpoint to the park's recreational areas.
Cam. Claudio Gay, Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile ·View on Map
Bioparque Puquén
Natural WondersThis coastal conservation park north of Santiago protects a rare fragment of fog-dependent coastal ecosystem, home to native cacti, succulents, and the endangered Chilean palm. Walking trails wind through archaeological sites and ocean viewpoints.
Ortiz de Rosas 701, La Ligua, Valparaíso, Chile ·View on Map
Parque Nacional Chiloé
Natural WondersOn the wild western coast of Chiloé Island, this park protects dense Valdivian temperate rainforest, long deserted beaches, and the island's endemic wildlife. Wooden boardwalk trails lead through ancient forests dripping with moss and ferns.
Los Lagos, Chile ·View on Map
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
October to April covers the widest range of regions, though Patagonia is best November to March and the Atacama is excellent year-round.
Booking Advice
Reserve Torres del Paine refugios and Termas Geometricas visits well in advance during peak season (December-February). Atacama tours can often be booked a few days ahead.
Save Money
Many of Santiago's top attractions — Plaza de Armas, La Moneda's cultural center, and Parque Metropolitano — are free. In the regions, camping in national parks is significantly cheaper than refugios.
Local Etiquette
Chileans greet with a single kiss on the right cheek. Tipping 10% at restaurants is customary. In national parks, carry all trash out and stay on marked trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
chile tourism and attractions
Chile stretches over 4,300 km along South America's western edge, offering incredibly varied attractions from the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonian glaciers in the south. Key highlights include Torres del Paine National Park for hiking, the moai statues on Easter Island, the colorful port city of Valparaíso, and the Atacama Desert for stargazing and geysers. The country's wine valleys around Santiago and the Lake District near Puerto Varas are also popular destinations. Most visitors fly into Santiago and then take domestic flights or buses to reach other regions, as distances are substantial.
santiago chile tourist attractions
Santiago's main attractions include Cerro San Cristóbal (a hill with panoramic city views accessible by funicular), the historic Plaza de Armas, and the colorful Mercado Central for seafood. The bohemian neighborhoods of Bellavista and Lastarria offer street art, cafes, and the pre-Columbian art museum (Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino). Day trips from Santiago include the coastal city of Valparaíso (1.5 hours by bus) and nearby wine valleys like Maipo and Casablanca, which offer tastings typically ranging from 10,000-25,000 CLP per person.
places to visit in chile
Beyond Santiago, the most visited places include Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia (famous for the W Trek), San Pedro de Atacama for desert landscapes and El Tatio geysers, and the port city of Valparaíso with its colorful hillside houses. The Lake District around Puerto Varas offers volcanoes and German-influenced architecture, while Easter Island (Rapa Nui) provides a unique Polynesian cultural experience with its well-known moai statues. The wine regions of Colchagua and Casablanca valleys are popular for shorter visits, and Pucón attracts adventure travelers with volcano hiking and hot springs.
best cities to visit in chile
Santiago is the main gateway and offers museums, dining, and day-trip access to wine country and beaches. Valparaíso, about 90 minutes from Santiago, is known for its UNESCO-listed historic quarter with colorful houses and street art. Puerto Varas in the Lake District is a base for exploring nearby volcanoes and Chiloé Island, while Pucón attracts outdoor enthusiasts with activities around Villarrica Volcano. For northern Chile, the small town of San Pedro de Atacama is the hub for desert excursions, though it's more of a tourist village than a city.
Book Your Experiences
Guided tours, tickets, and activities in Chile