The 8 Most Popular Cities in Chile

Santiago

The capital of Chile, Santiago is a cosmopolitan city, with ample restaurants, bars, hotels, and shopping from tiny boutique and craft fairs to giant shopping malls.

There are cultural attractions such as art galleries, museums, theaters, opera and ballet, lively nightlife, plus parks, tree-lined streets, and distinct neighborhoods.

Viña del Mar

Chile's premier resort on the Chilean "Riviera" attracts Chileans and international visitors to the beaches, the casino, the elegant hotels and restaurants, the museums, and spritely nightlife.

Easter Island

Explore Rapa Nui, the mystery of the Moais, the BirdMan petroglyphs, and Easter Island, past and present.

This ancient indigenous island is located several hundred miles off the coast of Chile and is on many bucket lists because of the Moai, large sculptures of heads that dot the landscape. These gigantic figures continue to be a mystery from the Polynesian population that once inhabited this island.

While it is a bit more difficult to reach Rapa Nui, it is well worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Arica

Called the City of the Eternal Spring, Arica is Chile's northernmost city, a duty-free oasis, and the gateway to archaeological and natural wonders in Lauca National Park, the geoglyphs at Putre, and the high altitude Lake Chungara.

Osorno and the Lake District

Chile's Osorno Volcano has been called the Mt. Fuji of South America. The Lake District has been likened to Switzerland, but Chile's spectacular arrangement of lakes, volcanos, rivers, and waterfalls stand completely on their own.

Valparaíso

In general, port cities tend to be ugly, industrial cities, but this is not the case with Valparaíso, making it one of the best day trips from Santiago.

Sometimes called the South American San Francisco, the city is built on steep hills with colonial architecture overlooking the waterfront. Street art is alive and thriving in Valparaíso, but unfortunately so is petty crime, so keep an eye on your valuables.

San Pedro de Atacama

Chile is a land of extremes and while it's most often known for Patagonia in the south, it also has a vast desert in the north.

Here you can find unique regions like Valle de la Luna, flamingo populations, and sand dunes. For one of the most spectacular places to spend a sunset, do not skip the desert.

If death-defying feats are more up your alley you may want to try sandboarding in San Pedro's Death Valley. It seems quite easy to slide down the steep sand slopes but falling off into the hot sand can be quite unpleasant.

Torres del Paine

This last entry is a bit of a stretch as Torres del Paine isn't a city in Chile but a national park.

Located in southern Patagonia, this is a haven for adventure travelers who want to hike, climb, and kayak through Chile's snow-tipped mountains and stunning glacier lakes. It's one of the last few places on earth that remains largely wild.

You don't need to be an extreme adventure lover to enjoy Torres del Paine as the circuit includes easy day walks as well as the "W" route which takes more than five days to complete.

Updated by Ayngelina Brogan