Things to Do in Santiago

Plaza de Armas is a must-see location during your stay in the capital of Chile. The square includes key buildings: the City Hall, the National History Museum, the Central Post Office, and the beautiful neoclassical Cathedral.
The best thing to do in Plaza de Armas is to soak in its dynamic atmosphere. There's life in the square with street musicians, vendors, and tricksters keen to make a few coins off the unwary. One of the decorative features that stands out at Plaza de Armas is the Equestrian Statue, representing Pedro de Valdivia at the act of the founding of Santiago. On the other hand, Cardinal José María Caro's statue is located at the front of Santiago Cathedral.
So, probably one of the greatest views of Plaza de Armas is the Cathedral; the building dates back to colonial times, just like the square itself, even though it has undergone several changes over time and the many earthquakes that have shaken this city. Another vibrant monument is that of Indigenous People, quite an ordinary work by Enrique Villalobos, the winner of the contest called by the Municipality of Santiago in 1991 because of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of America.
Another eye-catching sculpture in the plaza is "Freedom of America" by an Italian artist named Francisco Orsolino. It is a strong piece in which the goddess Minerva offers her gift to an Indigenous lady who is breaking the chains of slavery and giving independence.

Another thing to do in Santiago, Chile, is visit San Cristóbal Hill (Cerro San Cristóbal). Considered the largest urban park in South America, it covers practically all of the northwestern part of the city.
Gradually, more and more features have been included in the enjoyment of this mountain. A Japanese Garden** stands out: a beautiful park with a water mill, lotus flowers, Japanese ornamentation, and some of the finest views you can get over the city. You can visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception or the Camino de las Cruces at the Summit station.
Other points of interest include Tupahue, a huge public pool at the top. Access to the top of an Cristóbal Hill can be achieved in two ways: one travels either by cable car from Providencia, which is very close to the Pedro de Valdivia metro station or uses the funicular in the Bellavista district.
Tip: Go up with the cable car from Providencia and down with the funicular in Bellavista. That is what we did, and each of the ways of transport gives a very different view of the city.

One of the great preoccupations of the elite of Chile in the 18th century was to have its own Mint House (Casa de Moneda), a Mint House that would allow the region to be fully economically independent from Peru and that the currency would not flow towards that nation. Finally, in 1780, the latter had funds approved for constructing a building for the Mint.
The Mint operated there until 1847 when the building was converted into the Government Palace. A related fact about this building: it suffered one of the most striking events in the history of Chilean society, such as its bombing and the death of its incumbent tenant, President Salvador Allende, in 1973 due to the military coup. Nowadays, it houses the office of the President of the Republic of Chile.
Just opposite La Moneda, at the opposite end of Bernardo O'Higgins Avenue, is the largest Chilean flag—a very strong expression of national pride and history.
Visit La Moneda would be an excellent addition to your santiago sity tour.

Perched in the foothills of the Andes 1,000 meters above sea level, the Bahá'í Temple of South America provides expansive views over much of the city of Santiago, Chile.
The temple, which is 11 hectares, was designed by the Canadian architect Hariri Pontarini, while the landscape architect Juan Grimm has landscaped 6 hectares.
Thanks to its privileged location, the temple offers a unique experience and lets us see Santiago city from a perspective, which is complemented by temple lighting, whose aim was to transform the temple into a body of light. On this project, Limarí Lighting Design gives details, which won the 2017 London Lighting Design Awards.

Santa Lucía Hill (Cerro Santa Lucía) has an area of 65,300 square meters and is 69 meters high above sea level. To discover it, you will have to climb steep stairs and zigzag routes at the different levels and hidden spots.
One of the summits of the hill, at one of its highest points, offers a view of Santiago that is simply spectacular and panoramic. The access system to this interesting monument is via a spiral staircase that wraps around the tower with a clock and weathervane, holds 25 people, and operates from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Other points of interest in Cerro Santa Lucía include Plaza Pedro de Valdivia, the Lovers' Walk, Atkinson Terrace, the Circular Garden, the Greek Amphitheater, and the Archaeological Museum. There is a good display of flora and fauna on the hill: palm trees, cacti, roses, seagulls, hawks, and lizards.