Valparaíso — “Valpo” to Chileans — is the reason many visitors come to this coast, and it is right next door. In the 19th century it was the great port of the Pacific, a stop on the route round Cape Horn with British, German and Italian merchants building houses on the hills. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 ended the boom, leaving behind a spectacular, slightly faded city that UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 2003.
The city is built on some forty-odd cerros (hills) rising from a narrow waterfront. Wooden and corrugated-iron houses painted every colour cling to the slopes, connected by stairways, alleys and the famous ascensores — funiculars, some well over a century old. Add world-class street art, bohemian bars and endless viewpoints and you have the most photogenic city in Chile.
Top things to do at Valparaíso
Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción
The best-restored hills and the heart of the UNESCO area: take the Ascensor Reina Victoria or Ascensor Concepción up, then wander Paseo Gervasoni, Paseo Atkinson and Paseo Yugoslavo, with the Palacio Baburizza fine-arts museum on the way.
Take a street-art walking tour
Valparaíso’s murals are extraordinary, and a local guide will explain the artists and stories behind them. The small-group street-art and funicular tour is one of the best-reviewed activities on the coast.
Visit La Sebastiana
Pablo Neruda’s house on Cerro Florida — see our La Sebastiana guide.
See the port from the water
Small boats leave from Muelle Prat for a short trip round the bay, past the navy ships, cranes and — often — sea lions.
Plaza Sotomayor and the old centre
The monument to the heroes of Iquique, the navy headquarters and the old commercial streets of the “plan” (the flat part of the city).
How to get to Valparaíso
- By train: Metro Valparaíso runs from Viña del Mar stations to Puerto station, by Muelle Prat and Plaza Sotomayor, in about 15–20 minutes. You need a rechargeable card.
- By bus: buses and colectivos run constantly along Avenida España between the two cities.
- From Santiago: about 1.5–2 hours by bus to the Valparaíso terminal — see getting here.
- On a tour: most day trips from Santiago combine Valparaíso with Viña del Mar.
Insider tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: the hills are steep, cobbled and full of stairs.
- Valparaíso has a petty-crime problem. Keep phones and cameras discreet, avoid empty streets after dark and stick to well-trodden hills, especially at night. A guided walk is a good first introduction.
- Funicular fares are small and paid in cash or card depending on the ascensor; some may be closed for maintenance.
- Try a chorrillana — a mountain of fries, beef, onions and egg said to have been invented in Valparaíso.
Best tours & tickets for Valparaíso
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Valparaíso, from Viña del Mar or on a day trip from Santiago:
Walking tour · max 6 from €25 Valparaíso Tour: Street Art, Funiculars & Port (6 pax)
The best way to spend a morning in Valparaíso if you are staying in Viña del Mar: take the train to Puerto, meet your guide by the Prat pier and spend two hours climbing through the murals and lanes of the hills, with a funicular ride included. Rated 4.8 by hundreds of walkers.
- Groups of no more than six people
- Ride a historic funicular up into the hills
- Street art, colourful houses and hidden viewpoints
Walking tour from €27 Valparaíso: Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide
A three-hour guided walk that covers Valparaíso’s essentials, from the port and its squares to the painted hills above. Easy to combine with a morning train from Viña del Mar.
- Plaza Sotomayor, the port and the historic centre
- Funiculars, stairways and Cerro Alegre
- The best viewpoints over the bay
Private tour from €255 Valparaíso: Full-Day Private Tour with Funicular Ride
A private, fully flexible day in the UNESCO-listed city with a guide who adapts to your interests — architecture, street art, history or food. Consistently five-star reviews.
- Your own guide for a whole day
- Funicular ride and the best viewpoints
- Flexible pace and itinerary
