Fresh Chilean seafood is the draw — the market has run since 1872 and its restaurants specialise in fish and shellfish served right where they're bought.
Discover Authentic Santiago: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Santiago, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as Parque Metropolitano, Barrio Lastarria and Pablo Neruda's La Chascona, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Santiago
Plaza de Armas
Santiago's founding square, ringed by the cathedral, colonial buildings and street performers. It's the natural starting point for exploring downtown on foot.
Cerro Santa Lucía
A small hill turned into terraced gardens and lookout points right in the city centre. The climb is short, but the views over downtown Santiago make it worth the stop.
Mercado Central
A market hall running since 1872, with an ornate wrought-iron ceiling imported from England letting natural light flood the seafood stalls below. Sit down for fresh fish at one of the restaurants inside rather than just passing through.
Barrio Lastarria
A bohemian pocket between Cerro Santa Lucía and Parque Forestal, with leafy streets, wine bars and independent bookshops. It's a good spot to slow down after a day of sightseeing.
Cerro San Cristóbal
The city's largest hill and urban park, reachable by funicular from Pío Nono Street. The summit gives you a wide view over Santiago with the Andes as a backdrop on clear days.
Explore Santiago's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Santiago
We've mapped local spots across Santiago, from Andes views to poetry and live music.
Art & culture
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Since 1880, Chilean and Latin American art in a neoclassical building inspired by the Petit Palais – look up at the Belgian glass roof, installed in 1907. Entry is free; closed Mondays.
Parque Forestal · Art museum, free entry · Made for art lovers
La Chascona
Pablo Neruda built this playful Bellavista house for Matilde Urrutia in 1953. Now a museum, it's full of the poet's art, objects and hidden nooks. Who knew a house could rhyme?
Bellavista · House museum · Perfect for literature lovers
Teatro Municipal
A national monument for opera, ballet and concerts – and where the law giving Chilean women the vote was signed in 1949. Catch a show or take a guided tour.
City centre · Theatre · Ideal for performing arts
Candlelight concerts
Hour-long live concerts, from classical to Coldplay or Queen tributes, in venues glowing with thousands of candles. Arrive on time: there's no late entry.
Various venues · Concerts · Perfect for a special evening
Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
On Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, the National Library looks like a French palace: marble floors, stained glass, wood-panelled reading rooms. Step in quietly.
Centro · Library · Great for architecture
Palacio de La Moneda
Built as a royal mint in 1805, the neoclassical presidential palace overlooks Plaza de la Constitución. Time your visit for the changing of the guard.
Centro · Landmark · Ideal for history
Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM)
A vast cultural centre named after the first Latin American Nobel laureate in literature, in a building raised in just 275 days in 1972. See what's on.
Centro · Cultural centre · Perfect for culture
Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos
A museum honouring the victims of the 1973–1990 military dictatorship. A place for contemplation and reflection.
Quinta Normal · Museum · Ideal for modern history
Museo Histórico Nacional
Chile's story from pre-Columbian times to 1973, told through furniture, portraits and costumes in the colonial Casa Colorada.
Plaza de Armas · Museum · Great for history
Teatro del Puente
A tiny theatre on a 19th-century bridge over the Mapocho, championing local drama, comedy and indie gigs.
Mapocho · Theatre · Perfect for a night out
Neighbourhoods & parks
Barrio Lastarria
Below Santa Lucía Hill, cobbled streets mix neoclassical and Art Deco buildings with galleries, designer shops, cafés and restaurants around Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro. Linger over lunch.
Lastarria · Neighbourhood · Made for strolling and dining
Parque Metropolitano
Chile's largest urban park, 722 hectares: a historic funicular up San Cristóbal Hill, cable cars, a zoo, gardens and views all the way to the Andes. Entry is free; some attractions charge.
San Cristóbal Hill · Urban park · Perfect for views and families
Mercado Central
Santiago's 1872 market under an iron roof made in England. Come at lunchtime, and come for the seafood.
Centro · Market · Ideal for seafood
Confitería Torres
A Santiago institution since 1879, famous for the barros luco: grilled beef and melted cheese, named after a former president. Order one.
Centro · Café · Great for a local snack
Feria Artesanal Santa Lucía
A sprawling craft market opposite Santa Lucía Park: lapis lazuli jewellery, embroidered bags and Mapuche basketry.
Santa Lucía · Craft market · Perfect for souvenirs
FAQ
Yes — it sits between Plaza Italia and Cerro Santa Lucía, an easy walk from the historic centre and close to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
A funicular departs from the north end of Pío Nono Street and takes you to the summit; you can also hike up from Plaza Caupolicán in around an hour.
Take the funicular up San Cristóbal Hill in Parque Metropolitano for views across the city to the Andes.
Yes. La Chascona in Bellavista, built by Neruda in 1953, is now a museum; tickets are sold on site.
Yes, entry is free. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Where to Sleep in Santiago
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Santiago Centro