Things to Do in Chile: Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss

Things to do in Chile are not limited to its famous landmarks. Apart from the Atacama Desert and the glaciers of Patagonia, Chile is full of mesmerizing landscapes, diverse cultures, and unique experiences across one remarkably diverse country. From the colorful streets of Valparaíso to the vineyards near Santiago, every region offers something different.

This guide to the best things to do in Chile includes the most famous attractions, unique local experiences, and practical travel tips. It will also show you what makes each region special, helping you create an itinerary that matches your interests, travel style, and the time of your visit.

Some of the best things to do in Chile include hiking in Torres del Paine, exploring the Atacama Desert, taking a tour of Valparaíso, discovering Santiago, tasting Chilean wines, and visiting the Moai statues on Easter Island. Chile is long and incredibly diverse, so the experiences that suit you best will depend on your itinerary, available time, and travel style.

If you are a nature lover, focus your trip on Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, Chiloé, and the Carretera Austral. If you are more interested in culture, spend time in Santiago, Valparaíso, and the country's local markets. To make your itinerary even more memorable, consider experiences such as stargazing, visiting the wine valleys, penguin watching, skiing in the Andes, or traveling to Easter Island.

Chile is much simpler to plan when you think about it in terms of regions. The country covers a great variety of landscapes including deserts, mountains, vineyards, forests and glaciers. Trying to visit everything during the same trip results in long travel days and hurried experiences. 

The best way is to select one or two regions and explore them more thoroughly, focusing on the best places to visit in Chile instead of trying to see everything. You can also plan your Chile itinerary with local experts to make the most of your time. 

You can see some of the most surreal landscapes of the country in Northern Chile. The biggest attraction of this region is the Atacama Desert, which encloses dry salt flats, volcanoes, valleys with red rocks, and high-altitude lagoons. Start your trip with Valle de Luna, where the colors of the desert change dramatically at sunset.

El Tatio Geysers provide a more spectacular event in the early morning, with steam coming out of the earth in the chilly air. At night, the region is among the best places on Earth for stargazing. Another great place to visit is Laguna Sejar, a wonderful lake with very salty water, where you can float effortlessly.

For visitors seeking a blend of city life, wine culture and day trips, Central Chile is the perfect spot, with plenty of things to do in Santiago, before exploring the surrounding regions. Santiago offers a rich array of museums, bustling markets, historic neighborhoods and great viewpoints such as San Cristóbal Hill, with the Andes Mountains just outside the city.

The wine regions around Santiago (Maipo, Casablanca and Colchagua) are excellent wine tasting and food destinations. There is also the coast where you will find Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, or a retreat in Cajón del Maipo. Mountain views, hiking trails, hot springs, and rivers are all very close to the city.

Southern Chile is a destination for untamed nature, long drives and outdoor adventures. Torres del Paine is the top national park in the country, famous for its sheer granite towers, ice fields, vivid blue lakes, and walking trails, making it a must-visit for adventure travel in Chile.

Further north, the Carretera Austral is a more laid-back and somewhat isolated route for discovering Patagonia. Along the way, you will see forests, streams, fjords, and small towns. One of the most spectacular natural attractions is the Marble Caves of General Carrera Lake. The island of Chiloé offers a completely different way of life with its wooden churches, houses on stilts, seafood cuisine, and a mysterious atmosphere. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy spotting penguins, condors, guanacos, and sea lions, making this one of the best destinations for nature and wildlife experiences in Chile.

Santiago has a reputation as a transit point to Patagonia or the Atacama Desert. Still, it is worth dedicating more time to it. Santiago offers a combination of stunning views of the Andes, vibrant food markets, neighborhoods full of history, various museums, and even day trips. This is why it is one of the best places to get a feel for Chile before venturing into its more untamed regions. 

Cerro San Cristóbal offers one of the most spectacular views of Santiago. You can take a funicular or a cable car to the top of the hill and see the entire city with the Andes Mountains in the background. Sunset is definitely the best time to visit, especially when the light softens over the mountains and the neighborhoods below begin to glow.

It's a Santiago classic that helps you understand the city's layout. From there you can see how urban life, mountain scenery, and Chile's Central Valley are all intertwined.

If you are a fan of contrasts, then Lastarria and Barrio Yungay should be on your list. The first is polished and full of cafés, bookstores, small galleries, wine bars, and bustling with culture. It is easy to reach on foot from the city center.

Barrio Yungay, on the other hand, is more grounded. It has colorful houses, small, quiet squares, murals, and a slower pace of life. Explore both neighborhoods on foot to get the best experience.

La Vega Central is a great spot to get a glimpse of daily life in Santiago through food. This large market is full of stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, locally produced goods, and simple eateries. It is less polished than the markets aimed at tourists, and that is exactly what makes it worth visiting.

You can sample traditional Chilean foods, watch the arrival of fresh local produce, and see how much of the city's daily life revolves around its markets. It is also a great opportunity to discover the flavors of Santiago before continuing your journey to other regions of Chile, where the cuisine changes with the landscape.

You will find that the museums and historic neighborhoods of Santiago provide a deeper understanding of Chile's turbulent past than simply visiting the city's landmarks. The Museum of Memory and Human Rights offers essential insight into the dictatorship era, while the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art introduces visitors to the indigenous cultures of the Americas.

The historic neighborhoods surrounding the city center, such as Barrio Yungay and Plaza de Armas, showcase the rich cultural and historical heritage of the country. They are essential for cultural and historical travel in Chile.

One of Santiago's biggest advantages is that you can leave the city behind and find yourself in completely different landscapes within a short drive. You can also plan a personalized Santiago itinerary with local experts who know the city's highlights and the best nearby day trips. Cajón del Maipo is one of the most popular escapes for both locals and visitors. Depending on the season, it offers mountain roads, rivers, hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and hot springs.

Wine lovers can head to the Maipo Valley or Casablanca Valley, both famous for their vineyard tours, wine tastings, gourmet lunches, and relaxed atmosphere. These day trips allow you to experience both the Andes Mountains and Chile's renowned wine country without changing hotels, making them ideal for travelers with limited time in Chile.

Valparaíso is without doubt one of the most vibrant and artistic cities in Chile, although it's worth understanding what to expect before visiting and whether Chile is safe to visit. Exploring the city at a leisurely pace will reward you. The top activities in Valparaíso involve a combination of the old-fashioned funiculars, discovering the city's fantastic street art, enjoying poetry and panoramic views of the ocean. And don't forget that all this is jam-packed in a small, walkable area that you can cover in a day or two. 

One of the most genuine experiences of getting around Valparaíso is riding a funicular. The locals refer to them as ascensores, and these have been the means to transport people up the hills since 1883. The wooden Ascensor Concepción was the very first one. Between 1883 and 1916, around 30 were constructed. Today approximately eight operate regularly, and sixteen are preserved as National Monuments.

A single ride costs just a few hundred pesos and can be done in less than two minutes. Concepción and El Peral will take you directly to the most charming hills, Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre. This is where the historic quarter, listed by UNESCO, the cafes and cafés begin. Get on one, then continue your exploration on foot.

For generations, Valparaíso has been attracting poets, painters, and dreamers. That artistic vibe is still evident. The hills of Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcin are decorated with small coffee shops, wine bars, bookstores and tiny galleries. Many of these places are installed in beautifully renovated 19th-century houses overlooking the harbor.

Enjoy a leisurely morning with a cup of coffee. Admire the local poetry and art, and see the city come alive around you, without any kind of hurry. If possible, sit outside, follow the murals from one corner to the next, and let the steep, winding streets lead you between the stops. You can also discover Valparaíso with a local itinerary that combines its artistic neighborhoods, viewpoints and hidden corners.

No tour of the city is complete without a visit to La Sebastiana, the hillside sanctuary of the Nobelist poet, Pablo Neruda. He had three houses in Chile and La Sebastiana is a five-story one in Cerro Bellavista. This one reflects his playful taste with the ships' figureheads, the colored glass, the eclectic furniture and the large windows. It also reveals the poet's character and love for life.

Neruda enjoyed the city's New Year fireworks from this spot. First opened as a museum in 1992, you can visit the house with an audio guide that will take about 30 minutes. The entrance is about 10,000 Chilean pesos. You can walk there or take the Ascensor Espíritu Santo. Photography is only allowed from the terrace.

Sunset is when Valparaíso looks the most spectacular. Sunlight becomes gentle and colorful houses on the hills catch the last of the sun. The Pacific behind the port turns a beautiful gold.

The sea terraces or paseos offer the best views. Paseo Gervasoni and Paseo Yugoslavo look out over the bay from Cerro Concepcin and Cerro Alegre respectively. Paseo 21 de Mayo on Cerro Artillera gives a broad view of the harbor and the cranes below. Bring a drink, sit on a low wall, and enjoy the beautiful flickering lights of the ships. It is completely free, and is one of the city's most unforgettable experiences.

Just a short drive down the coast, Viña del Mar is an easy destination for a day trip and a great choice for family travel in Chile. This city is clean and green, with wide sandy beaches, well-tended parks and a relaxed seaside vibe. The two places are connected by the Merval metro, which takes only about 15 minutes, so you can see both without changing accommodations. 

In Viña, walk along the sea, take pictures of the famous Reloj de Flores (a clock made of flowers), and check out the casino or botanical gardens by the sea. Getting both gives you the whole picture of central Chile's coast: artistic and laid-back, next to each other. 

Some of the most unique and fun things to do in Chile exist nowhere else. The country's extreme geography and living cultures create experiences that stay with you long after you leave.

Remember that since Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are opposite to those in Europe and North America, so understanding Chile's weather will help you plan your trip more effectively. December is hot, and June to August is winter. The in-between shoulder seasons are milder. With this one bit of knowledge you can plan much better. 

Summer starts in December in Chile. Hiking is at its best in Patagonia, as Torres del Paine benefits from longer days, warmer weather and open trails. The beaches of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are great places to visit, but they are only a small part of the many beaches in Chile worth exploring.

The wine regions around Santiago offer amazing experiences for wine tasting and vineyard lunches with some of the prettiest sceneries. December being a Christmas month means cities are full of cheerful holiday festivities, making it a wonderful time to experience Christmas in Chile. Valparaíso's spectacular New Year fireworks that can be seen along the bay are highly anticipated. Plan ahead as this season attracts a lot of travelers.

June through August in central Chile make for a surprising ski destination. Big-name resorts are located just a couple of hours from Santiago, like Valle Nevado, La Parva and Portillo. Together they provide excellent powder snow in the Andes and various slopes for all levels.

Going further south, Nevados de Chillán combines skiing and volcanic landscapes. Winter is the perfect season to enjoy the numerous hot springs or termas of Chile. Getting into the hot pools of the Cajón del Maipo or the southern Andes after a day of snow activities is a great experience. Especially since these places are surrounded by forests and mountains. Travelers benefit in winter by facing far fewer crowds than summer.

The shoulder seasons, spring (September - November) and autumn (March - May), are generally considered the best time to visit Chile thanks to pleasant weather and fewer crowds. The massive tourist groups will depart, prices drop, and the climate remains quite comfortable. These seasons are perfect for wildlife spotting. Spring is when seabirds incubate eggs and, in rare years, the Atacama Desert blooms. Autumn is great for whale watching on the coast as well as grape harvesting in the wine valleys.

Photographers love this time as the gentle light and intense skies allow the scenery to shine. Patagonia in autumn is beautiful, as the forests change color and the trees turn gold and red. Avoiding the peak summer period and the shoulder seasons allow you to have a very satisfying travel experience.

Plan at least 7 to 10 days to see Chile without rushing. The length of the trip depends on how much of the country you want to visit. Chile is an incredibly long country, stretching over 4,300 kilometres from the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonia in the south. It is on average only 180 kilometres wide.

Knowing the extreme length of the country, you realize you simply cannot see everything in one trip. Many travelers choose to explore Chile with a tailor-made trip so they can combine the regions that match their interests without wasting time. The best idea is to concentrate on one or two regions that you can easily combine with domestic flights.

Whatever your trip duration is, always choose flights instead of long overland trips, since distances here are much larger than they appear on a map.

These practical tips will help your trip run smoothly.

From the best things to do in Chile, to locations only few travelers have visited, this guide has revealed how a nation can be quite diverse. We ventured along Patagonia's paths, admired Atacama's skies, visited Santiago's bazaars, climbed Valparaíso's slopes and encountered exclusive activities. We also saw the best to visit and the appropriate length of stay.

Honestly, no two trips are the same. This is where Tailored by Locals shines. Share with us your idea of a dream trip to Chile, and a local expert will design a private itinerary based on what you love. Your perfect trip to Chile starts with a single conversation.