Historic Center

Colonial HeritagePedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541 at the foot of Huelén Hill, now Cerro Santa Lucía, establishing the city's grid pattern which remains to this day. Few buildings from the colonial era remain, as earthquakes have repeatedly destroyed the city. The Iglesia de San Francisco on the Alameda is considered the city's oldest surviving building. The Palacio de la Real Audiencia on the Plaza de Armas houses the Museo Histórico Nacional, which will be closed for several years from August 2026 for renovations.Republic and Present DayThe 19th century saw the rise of grand neoclassical buildings like the Palacio de La Moneda, the Teatro Municipal, and the Cathedral in their present form. From 1913, for the centenary of independence, the National Library on the Alameda was added. La Moneda remains the President's seat to this day and is also a place of remembrance, as the palace was bombed during the military coup of September 11, 1973. Beneath the forecourt lies the Centro Cultural La Moneda, featuring changing exhibitions.The city center is also a place of public political life: demonstrations march along the Alameda, while chess players and street musicians gather in the Plaza de Armas. On Heritage Day, the Día de los Patrimonios at the end of May, many otherwise closed buildings open their doors, including La Moneda.

The Centro Histórico is best explored on foot. The main attractions are within a few blocks, and the pedestrian streets Paseo Ahumada, Paseo Huérfanos, and Paseo Estado connect the Plaza de Armas with the Alameda.Metro and ConnectionsLine 1 runs beneath the Alameda, with stations La Moneda, Universidad de Chile, and Santa Lucía.Lines 3 and 5 stop at Plaza de Armas; Line 5 also stops at Bellas Artes, near Parque Forestal.Line 2 crosses the city center north-south.Payment is made with the bip! card, or since February 2026, directly contactless with Visa or Mastercard. In the evenings and on Sundays, many streets are empty, so the Metro or a taxi are the more convenient choice for your return journey. The Foreign Office advises in its travel and security warnings about pickpocketing and robbery, especially in the center of Santiago.