Santiago Walking Tour: La Moneda & Plaza de Armas

Three hours through Santiago's layers, from the presidential palace to the hill where it all began

A 2.5-hour guided walking tour of Santiago's historic downtown, visiting La Moneda Palace, Plaza de Armas, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and ending with panoramic views from Santa Lucía Hill. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, and the group stays small so you get genuine attention. Entry to select churches and landmarks is included, along with photo stops and recommendations for what to do next.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Red Housepassing by
2. Plaza de Armas10m
3. Metropolitan Cathedral5m
4. Forestal Parkpassing by
5. Palacio de Bellas Artespassing by
6. Santa Lucia Hill15m

Historic Santiago walking tour highlights

• Visit Plaza de la Ciudadanía
• Admire La Moneda Palace façade
• Explore Plaza de la Constitución
• See Church of San Francisco
• Walk along Paseo Estado
• Stroll Paseo Nueva York street
• View Santiago Stock Exchange building
• Pass Casa Colorada colonial mansion
• Pass Church of St. Augustine
• Discover Plaza de Armas
• Visit Metropolitan Cathedral interior
• Pass former National Congress building
• Pass Mercado Central seafood market
• Walk through Parque Forestal
• Pass Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
• End at Santa Lucía Hill panoramic views

The experience

You start in the heart of Santiago's government quarter at Plaza de la Ciudadanía, the grand civic space that stretches from La Moneda Palace itself: Chile's presidential seat, completed in 1805 as a neoclassical masterpiece. From there the walk moves through the layers of the city: the Church of San Francisco, dating to 1618 and one of the oldest buildings still standing; Casa Colorada, the red colonial mansion from 1769 that sheltered independence leaders; and Paseo Nueva York, a quiet street of early 20th-century neoclassical buildings that feels transplanted from Manhattan. Your guide shares stories of Santiago's Spanish colonial roots and its transformation into a modern capital, pointing out the architecture and the everyday rhythms of local life as you move through the streets.

The walk passes through the commercial pulse of the city: Paseo Estado, one of Santiago's busiest pedestrian streets, and the Santiago Stock Exchange, housed in a French-style building from 1893 that symbolizes Chile's economic boom. You'll see the Church of St. Augustine with its baroque architecture and the famous Cristo de Mayo crucifix. Then you reach Plaza de Armas, founded in 1541 and still the historic heart of Santiago, surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral: a neoclassical masterpiece built over the 18th and 19th centuries with a richly decorated interior. The tour ends at Santa Lucía Hill, where Santiago was officially founded, and the panoramic views from the top frame the entire city you've just walked through.

The group stays small by design, which means your guide can answer questions and adjust the pace without herding a crowd. Entry into select churches and historic landmarks is included when they're accessible. You get photo stops at key locations, recommendations for food and shopping, and insights into the city's history and architecture that go beyond what a solo walk would offer. The certified guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, so you get the narration in your language.

What’s included

• Certified local guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• fully narrated walking tour through Santiago's historic downtown.
• entry into select churches and historic landmarks when accessible.
• photo stops at Plaza de Armas, Santa Lucía Hill and other key locations.
• panoramic views from Santa Lucía Hill.
• insights into Santiago's history, culture, architecture and traditions.
• recommendations for food, shopping and things to do after the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 09:30 and 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 29 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Unplanned Detours

Is this one for you?If you're arriving in Santiago without a car or staying in a different neighborhood, this tour starts in the city center and needs no transport beyond getting yourself downtown: the walk itself covers the major landmarks on foot, and the small-group format means you move at a pace that lets you actually absorb the stories and architecture instead of rushing through a checklist.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is La Moneda Palace and why does the tour start there?

La Moneda is Chile's presidential palace and the seat of government, completed in 1805 as a neoclassical building that originally housed the colonial mint. The tour begins at Plaza de la Ciudadanía, the civic space in front of it, which was redesigned in 2006 and includes the Altar de la Patria where the remains of national hero Bernardo O'Higgins rest.

Does the tour actually go inside these churches and landmarks, or just walk past them?

Entry into select churches and historic landmarks is included when they're accessible, so you'll step inside rather than just view the exteriors. The specific sites depend on opening hours and access on the day of your tour.

How long does it take to walk from Plaza de Armas to Santa Lucía Hill at the end?

The entire tour is 2.5 hours, with the final stop at Santa Lucía Hill where you climb to the top for panoramic views of Santiago. The hill is where the city was officially founded in 1541, and the stairways and fountains make it a natural endpoint for the walk.

Is this tour suitable if I'm visiting Santiago for the first time and don't know the city?

Yes, the tour is designed for first-time visitors and history lovers. Your certified guide shares stories of Santiago's colonial roots and transformation over centuries, so you get context for what you're seeing rather than just a list of landmarks.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes the certified guide, entry into select churches and landmarks when accessible, photo stops at key locations, and recommendations for food and shopping. Gratuities and transportation to the starting point are not included.