Santiago Private Half-Day City Tour
by MTO Tour
Choose from 4 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$153.80Overview
This private half-day bus tour covers key sites in Santiago, Chile’s capital. It lasts about four hours and includes hotel or address pickup and drop-off within specified districts. A professional bilingual guide provides live commentary throughout the tour. The itinerary includes stops at the Central Market, known for fresh local produce and recognized by National Geographic, and Plaza de Armas, a central square connected by Paseo Ahumada street lined with shops. Visitors see the Metropolitan Cathedral, a neoclassical building constructed between 1753 and 1799, and La Moneda, the presidential palace occupying a full city block. Other stops include the Central Post Office, located next to the Palacio de la Real Audiencia, and the Ex Congreso Nacional, the former Chilean Congress building with historical significance from the 1973 coup. The tour passes Castillo Hidalgo on Santa Lucia hill, built in 1816 during the Spanish Reconquest. Additional highlights include Plaza de La Constitucion with government buildings, San Francisco Church consecrated in 1622, and the Centro Cultural Palacio De La Moneda, an underground cultural center with exhibition spaces and a film theater. The route also covers Bellavista, a neighborhood known for restaurants, galleries, and Pablo Neruda’s house, La Chascona. If selected, the tour may include visits to Cerro San Cristobal and Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, offering city views and green spaces. Other points of interest along the way are the Biblioteca Nacional, Palacio de Tribunales de Justicia, Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral GAM, Torre Costanera (the tallest building in Latin America), Parque Forestal, Patio Bellavista, the National Museum of Fine Arts, Parque Bicentenario, and Parque de las Esculturas. Food, drinks, and gratuities are not included. The tour suits travelers wanting a comprehensive introduction to Santiago’s main landmarks and neighborhoods in a private setting.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Central Market (Mercado Central)
This market in Santiago is listed by National Geographic among the top ten food markets worldwide for fresh local produce and local life.
Plaza de Armas
A central square connected by Paseo Ahumada street, a four-block retail street stretching from Plaza de Armas to Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, with metro stations at each end. The stop is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana)
The neoclassical cathedral, built between 1753 and 1799 by Italian architect Gioacchino Toesca, is the seat of Santiago’s archbishop. Later 19th-century alterations gave it its current form. Visit lasts about 10 minutes.
10 min
La Moneda
The presidential palace of Chile, occupying a full block in downtown Santiago. It also houses offices of three cabinet ministers. The stop duration is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Central Post Office
Historic post office building on the northern edge of Plaza de Armas, adjacent to Palacio de la Real Audiencia. Built on the original land lot of Pedro de Valdivia’s house. The visit lasts 5 minutes.
5 min
Ex Congreso Nacional
Former Chilean Congress building in central Santiago. Congress met here until the 1973 coup. Declared a national monument in 1976, it housed the foreign affairs ministry (1990–2006) and the Senate offices from 2000.
Castillo Hidalgo
Located on Santa Lucia hill, this building was constructed in 1816 during the Spanish Reconquest by order of Governor Casimiro Marco del Pont. It is historically important for Santiago.
10 min
Cerro San Cristobal
If selected, visit this large hill offering panoramic views of Santiago and its surroundings, including the Andes and Cordillera de la Costa. The stop is about 30 minutes.
30 min
Cerro Santa Lucia
If selected, visit this hill formed from a 15-million-year-old volcano. It was a lookout point for conquistadors and the site where Santiago was founded in 1541. It is now a park with gates, stairways, fountains, and statues, covering 65,300 square meters. Stop duration is 20 minutes.
20 min
Financial District Drive-By
View of Santiago’s upper financial sector, known as Sanhattan.
Plaza de La Constitucion
A plaza occupying a full block in the civic district, located in front of La Moneda’s northern facade and surrounded by government buildings including Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Banco Central de Chile, and Intendencia de Santiago. Stop duration is 10 minutes.
10 min
San Francisco Church
One of Chile’s oldest colonial buildings, comprising a church and adjacent convent consecrated in 1622.
Centro Cultural Palacio De La Moneda
An underground cultural center beneath Plaza de la Ciudadanía with natural light from a glass roof, housing the Cineteca Nacional art-house cinema and two large temporary exhibition spaces. Visit lasts about 10 minutes.
10 min
Bellavista
Neighborhood between the Mapocho River and San Cristóbal Hill known for restaurants, boutiques, galleries, bars, clubs, and Pablo Neruda’s house La Chascona.
Parque Metropolitano De Santiago
If selected, visit this park created in 1966, incorporating the Chilean National Zoo and San Cristóbal Hill. It is managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Stop lasts about 25 minutes.
25 min
Biblioteca Nacional (National Library)
One of Chile’s earliest public institutions, founded in 1813 with a call for citizens to submit books for a national library.
Palacio de Tribunales de Justicia
Building housing Chile’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals of Santiago, and military courts. It occupies a full block on Compañía Street between Bandera and Morandé Streets.
Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral GAM
A cultural center named after Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral (1889–1957), inspired by her work and dedication to education.
Cenco Costanera
The Torre Costanera, designed by architect César Pelli, is 300 metres (980 ft) tall, making it the tallest building in Latin America and the second tallest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Parque Forestal
A large narrow park along the Mapocho River featuring major sites such as Plaza Italia, Estación Mapocho cultural center, Mercado Central, La Vega, and Bellas Artes museum.
Patio Bellavista
An open-air complex of bars, restaurants, and shops at the corner of Pio Nono and Constitución, part of Santiago’s cultural and nightlife scene.
National Museum of Fine Arts
Founded in 1880, this museum is one of South America’s oldest and hosts Chilean and regional art. The Beaux-arts style building dates to 1910 and is located in Parque Forestal.
Parque Bicentenario
A nature park alongside Santiago’s financial district with extensive lawns, artificial lagoons with swans and birds, and leisure spaces. The stop is about 25 minutes.
25 min
Parque De Las Esculturas
An open-air sculpture park opened in 1982 between the Mapocho River and Avenida Santa María, created to beautify an area damaged by flooding.
Santiago
Departure point for the tour in Santiago city.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Santiago Private Half-Day City Tour
by MTO Tour
Choose from 4 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$153.80Overview
This private half-day bus tour covers key sites in Santiago, Chile’s capital. It lasts about four hours and includes hotel or address pickup and drop-off within specified districts. A professional bilingual guide provides live commentary throughout the tour. The itinerary includes stops at the Central Market, known for fresh local produce and recognized by National Geographic, and Plaza de Armas, a central square connected by Paseo Ahumada street lined with shops. Visitors see the Metropolitan Cathedral, a neoclassical building constructed between 1753 and 1799, and La Moneda, the presidential palace occupying a full city block. Other stops include the Central Post Office, located next to the Palacio de la Real Audiencia, and the Ex Congreso Nacional, the former Chilean Congress building with historical significance from the 1973 coup. The tour passes Castillo Hidalgo on Santa Lucia hill, built in 1816 during the Spanish Reconquest. Additional highlights include Plaza de La Constitucion with government buildings, San Francisco Church consecrated in 1622, and the Centro Cultural Palacio De La Moneda, an underground cultural center with exhibition spaces and a film theater. The route also covers Bellavista, a neighborhood known for restaurants, galleries, and Pablo Neruda’s house, La Chascona. If selected, the tour may include visits to Cerro San Cristobal and Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, offering city views and green spaces. Other points of interest along the way are the Biblioteca Nacional, Palacio de Tribunales de Justicia, Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral GAM, Torre Costanera (the tallest building in Latin America), Parque Forestal, Patio Bellavista, the National Museum of Fine Arts, Parque Bicentenario, and Parque de las Esculturas. Food, drinks, and gratuities are not included. The tour suits travelers wanting a comprehensive introduction to Santiago’s main landmarks and neighborhoods in a private setting.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Central Market (Mercado Central)
This market in Santiago is listed by National Geographic among the top ten food markets worldwide for fresh local produce and local life.
Plaza de Armas
A central square connected by Paseo Ahumada street, a four-block retail street stretching from Plaza de Armas to Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, with metro stations at each end. The stop is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana)
The neoclassical cathedral, built between 1753 and 1799 by Italian architect Gioacchino Toesca, is the seat of Santiago’s archbishop. Later 19th-century alterations gave it its current form. Visit lasts about 10 minutes.
10 min
La Moneda
The presidential palace of Chile, occupying a full block in downtown Santiago. It also houses offices of three cabinet ministers. The stop duration is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Central Post Office
Historic post office building on the northern edge of Plaza de Armas, adjacent to Palacio de la Real Audiencia. Built on the original land lot of Pedro de Valdivia’s house. The visit lasts 5 minutes.
5 min
Ex Congreso Nacional
Former Chilean Congress building in central Santiago. Congress met here until the 1973 coup. Declared a national monument in 1976, it housed the foreign affairs ministry (1990–2006) and the Senate offices from 2000.
Castillo Hidalgo
Located on Santa Lucia hill, this building was constructed in 1816 during the Spanish Reconquest by order of Governor Casimiro Marco del Pont. It is historically important for Santiago.
10 min
Cerro San Cristobal
If selected, visit this large hill offering panoramic views of Santiago and its surroundings, including the Andes and Cordillera de la Costa. The stop is about 30 minutes.
30 min
Cerro Santa Lucia
If selected, visit this hill formed from a 15-million-year-old volcano. It was a lookout point for conquistadors and the site where Santiago was founded in 1541. It is now a park with gates, stairways, fountains, and statues, covering 65,300 square meters. Stop duration is 20 minutes.
20 min
Financial District Drive-By
View of Santiago’s upper financial sector, known as Sanhattan.
Plaza de La Constitucion
A plaza occupying a full block in the civic district, located in front of La Moneda’s northern facade and surrounded by government buildings including Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Banco Central de Chile, and Intendencia de Santiago. Stop duration is 10 minutes.
10 min
San Francisco Church
One of Chile’s oldest colonial buildings, comprising a church and adjacent convent consecrated in 1622.
Centro Cultural Palacio De La Moneda
An underground cultural center beneath Plaza de la Ciudadanía with natural light from a glass roof, housing the Cineteca Nacional art-house cinema and two large temporary exhibition spaces. Visit lasts about 10 minutes.
10 min
Bellavista
Neighborhood between the Mapocho River and San Cristóbal Hill known for restaurants, boutiques, galleries, bars, clubs, and Pablo Neruda’s house La Chascona.
Parque Metropolitano De Santiago
If selected, visit this park created in 1966, incorporating the Chilean National Zoo and San Cristóbal Hill. It is managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Stop lasts about 25 minutes.
25 min
Biblioteca Nacional (National Library)
One of Chile’s earliest public institutions, founded in 1813 with a call for citizens to submit books for a national library.
Palacio de Tribunales de Justicia
Building housing Chile’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals of Santiago, and military courts. It occupies a full block on Compañía Street between Bandera and Morandé Streets.
Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral GAM
A cultural center named after Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral (1889–1957), inspired by her work and dedication to education.
Cenco Costanera
The Torre Costanera, designed by architect César Pelli, is 300 metres (980 ft) tall, making it the tallest building in Latin America and the second tallest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Parque Forestal
A large narrow park along the Mapocho River featuring major sites such as Plaza Italia, Estación Mapocho cultural center, Mercado Central, La Vega, and Bellas Artes museum.
Patio Bellavista
An open-air complex of bars, restaurants, and shops at the corner of Pio Nono and Constitución, part of Santiago’s cultural and nightlife scene.
National Museum of Fine Arts
Founded in 1880, this museum is one of South America’s oldest and hosts Chilean and regional art. The Beaux-arts style building dates to 1910 and is located in Parque Forestal.
Parque Bicentenario
A nature park alongside Santiago’s financial district with extensive lawns, artificial lagoons with swans and birds, and leisure spaces. The stop is about 25 minutes.
25 min
Parque De Las Esculturas
An open-air sculpture park opened in 1982 between the Mapocho River and Avenida Santa María, created to beautify an area damaged by flooding.
Santiago
Departure point for the tour in Santiago city.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.