Santiago: Cable Car, Funicular & Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Day Tour

Summary

Ride Santiago’s cable car, funicular & open-top bus in one day

You’ll feel Santiago shift beneath your feet as you ride its cable car high above city parks, wander historic plazas from your hop-on hop-off bus seat, and catch unexpected moments with locals along the way. Flexible stops mean you can chase churros or city views — or both.

What’s the experience like?

“Wait, is that the Andes?” I blurted out as we rattled up San Cristobal Hill on the old funicular — our guide just grinned and nodded, like he’d heard it a hundred times but still liked the surprise. The city below looked hazy in the morning light, all soft blues and traffic hum. We’d started earlier than I wanted (I’m not really a morning person), hopping on the big red sightseeing bus near Costanera Center — which is apparently the tallest building in Latin America, though I mostly noticed how shiny it was compared to the older neighborhoods we passed.

The hop-on hop-off thing sounded touristy at first, but honestly? It made everything easy. We jumped off at Bicentennial Park because someone said there were flamingos (they were right). The air smelled of wet grass and something sweet from a food cart — churros maybe? Later, when we reached Bellavista for the cable car ride, I tried to ask for directions in Spanish and totally butchered it; a woman selling empanadas laughed and pointed us toward Parquemet. That little moment stuck with me more than I expected.

Up top, after the cable car glided over treetops and rooftops (my friend got quiet for a second — she’s afraid of heights), Santiago just sprawled out forever. You could see all the way to Cerro Santa Lucia and back toward La Moneda Palace if you squinted. We lingered too long at one stop — lost track of time watching street performers near Plaza de Armas — so we almost missed the last loop before 4pm. Not my most organized day but no regrets. The whole thing felt like stitching together pieces of Santiago: old plazas, glossy malls, parks where people napped under trees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Santiago city tour with cable car

• Start bus tour at 9:30 AM
• Visit Parque Arauco mall
• Walk in Parque Araucano
• Stop at Bicentennial Park
• Walk to Cable Car entrance
• Ride Cable Car to San Cristobal Hill
• Visit Sculpture Park
• Ride Santiago Funicular
• Explore Plaza de Armas historic center
• Visit Constitution Square and La Moneda Palace
• Explore Cerro Santa Lucia
• Stop at Plaza de la Aviación and stroll Avenida Providencia
• Visit Costanera Center mall and Sky Costanera viewpoint
• Stop at El Golf neighborhood and Interactive Museum
• Return to bus and complete last lap before 4:00 PM

Top questions

How long does the Santiago cable car & funicular tour take?

You have unlimited rides for one day; most people spend 5-7 hours exploring all stops.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

No hotel pickup; you join at any official Turistik stop like Costanera Center or Parque Arauco.

What days do the cable car & funicular operate?

They run Tuesday to Sunday; both are closed on Mondays.

Can I use a stroller or pram on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller on buses and at most stops.

Are all entry tickets included in the price?

Yes, your ticket covers unlimited hop-on hop-off bus rides plus cable car and funicular rides for one day.

What are some main stops on this Santiago tour?

Main stops include Parque Arauco mall, Bicentennial Park, Plaza de Armas, San Cristobal Hill (cable car & funicular), La Moneda Palace, Cerro Santa Lucia, and Costanera Center.

Is lunch included during this Santiago sightseeing day?

No meals are included but there are plenty of cafes and food stalls at many stops along the route.

What’s included

Your day includes unlimited rides on Santiago’s hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus plus full access to both the cable car and historic funicular up San Cristobal Hill (Tuesday to Sunday). You can start at any official stop such as Costanera Center or Parque Arauco mall. All entry tickets are covered; just bring some pesos for snacks or souvenirs along the way.