Valparaiso
★ 4.7🇨🇱 ValparaisoSuggested visit 1 dayBest season October to March, with mild weather
World HeritageCity walkStreet art
Chile's bohemian port city, where colourful houses cascade down steep hills among funiculars and street art.
Overview
About 120 kilometres from Santiago, Valparaíso is one of Chile's main ports. Its old town climbs steep hillsides, houses painted in vivid colours and lanes covered in murals. Several century-old funiculars climb to viewpoints over the Pacific and the harbour, and the historic quarter joined the World Heritage List in 2003.
History
It prospered in the 19th century on Pacific shipping before the Panama Canal opened, when wealthy merchants built houses up the hills; it declined after 1914.
Highlights
- •The Alegre and Concepción funiculars
- •The rainbow hillside streets
- •Plaza Sotomayor
- •Viewpoints over the Pacific
Practical tips
- •The hills are steep and the lanes maze-like — wear flat shoes
- •Some areas are best avoided at night; keep valuables with you
Practical information
- Best time
- October-March
- Tickets
- The old town is free; funiculars from about CLP 100
- Opening hours
- Old town open all day; funiculars roughly 10:00-18:00
- Local food
- Caldillo de congrio, machas a la parmesana, wine
- Getting around
- About 1.5 hours by bus from Santiago.
- Visa
- A visa is required; holders of a valid US visa may enter Chile visa-free.
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