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Valparaiso from Santiago de Chile

Visiting Valparaiso from Santiago

Valparaíso is a city located 120 kilometers west of Santiago, the capital of Chile. It is the country’s main port, the capital of the Fifth Region, and home to the national legislature.

This vibrant coastal city is built into steep hills and is famous for its historic funicular elevators. Highlights include:

The National Congress
Prat Pier
Artillery Elevator
Sotomayor Square
Paseo 21 de Mayo
La Sebastiana Museum, Pablo Neruda’s house
Arturo Prat Naval Museum

Valparaiso: the origins

Before the Spanish arrived, the area was inhabited by fishing and nomadic indigenous groups, such as the Chango people. They used wolf-hide rafts to fish and also gathered wild fruits.

The region between Concón and Punta Duprat, now home to the breakwater, was called Alimapu (meaning “land destroyed by fire”) by the Picunche people. The area where the city developed was known as Quintil by the Chango.

Valparaiso: how to arrive?

Valparaíso is a major education hub, with several of Chile’s top universities:

University of Valparaíso
Federico Santa María Technical University
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
University of Playa Ancha

Geographically, Valparaíso is shaped like a natural amphitheater facing the sea and surrounded by hills. Most people live on these hills, while the flat area near the water is the city’s administrative and commercial center. The coastline is dominated by the port.

Because of its rich 19th-century architecture, UNESCO declared its historic center a World Heritage Site in 2003, joining Rapa Nui National Park and the 16 churches of Chiloé.

From Santiago to Valparaíso

To get there from Santiago:

Go to Terminal La Alameda or Terminal Pajaritos.
Take a Turbus or Pullman bus. The ride takes under two hours.
Arrive at Valparaíso’s main bus terminal.
From there, take a local bus to the city center.

At the station, there is a tourist information office where you can show your accommodation and get help on how to reach it.

Tip: It’s easy to navigate—the sea is on one side, and the hil

Weather in Valparaiso

Valparaíso has a cool Mediterranean climate with frequent cloud cover:

Summers: dry and warm
Winters: humid and mild
Average temperature: 14.5°C
Coldest month: July (11.8°C)
Hottest days: above 30°C (rarely), max recorded 32°C
Rainiest month: July (118 mm)
Total annual rainfall: 373 mm

Fun fact: Snow is rare but can fall in higher areas. Winter winds can make it feel below freezing.

What to See in Valparaíso

Cerro Alegre (Alegre Hill)

Cerro Alegre is one of Valparaíso’s most colorful and artistic neighborhoods. Built on a hill, the area is full of vibrant murals, narrow streets, and historic homes.

Its main street, Montealegre, is the heart of this area. The neighborhood was rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1906, which reshaped its architecture.

Cerro Concepción (Concepción Hill)

This is the most popular place to stay overnight. It’s safe and full of:

Street stalls
Handicrafts
Cafés
Murals

Its name comes from a fort that once defended the city. It’s also been called Cerro del Chivato, after a mythical creature believed to live in a nearby cave.

La Sebastiana (Pablo Neruda’s House)

Pablo Neruda had three famous houses in Chile: in Isla Negra, Santiago, and Valparaíso.

La Sebastiana, in Valparaíso, might be the most beautiful. You can walk uphill to it from Cerro Alegre or Cerro Concepción in about 30 minutes. The views are worth the effort.

The Elevators (Ascensores)

Due to the steep terrain, Valparaíso has many historic funicular elevators—a must-see!

They operate daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM and are cheap and scenic.

Reina Victoria Elevator
- Short (40 meters), but steep
- Leads to a small square with murals
- Connects to Paseo Dimalow
Artillery Elevator
- From Plaza Wheelwright to Paseo 21 de Mayo
- Offers amazing views and an artisan market
El Peral Elevator
- Opened in 1901
- Connects Plaza Sotomayor to Paseo Yugoslavo
Concepción Elevator
- The oldest, from 1883
- Recently restored
- Links the Turri Clock with Paseo Gervasoni

The Port of Valparaíso

Valparaíso is Chile’s main passenger port and second-largest for cargo, after San Antonio.

Even after competition from San Antonio, Valparaíso handles:

Over 10 million tons of cargo annually
More than 30% of Chile’s international trade
Over 40 cruise ships and 100,000 visitors per year

You’ll smell the fishing vibe in every corner of the city.

Murals and Street Art

Valparaíso is famous for its street art. You can join guided mural tours or explore:

Open Sky Museum
Murals across Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción

The paintings are colorful, political, and expressive—many painted with leftover boat paint, similar to La Boca in Buenos Aires.

Book an excursion to enjoy Valparaiso from Santiago de Chile

From Santiago, you can book the excursion to the Viña del Mar and Valparaiso.

Visiting Santiago? check our best tours to enjoy Chile

#353 – Santiago, Atacama Desert & Easter Island – 9 nights
#351 – Santiago, Torres del Paine and Atacama Desert – 9 nights
#363 – Santiago, Atacama, Torres del Paine & Skorpios III Cruise – 12 nts
#360 – Chilean Patagonia and Atacama Desert – 12 nts

Tours in Chile with Argentina, Peru, and other destinations in Chile

It´s a nice list of four tours including the Santiago, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar in the itinerary. But, a great idea is to combine these places, with other destinations in Chile and why not… Argentina and Peru. Check some great options below:

#1052 – From Rio to Santiago via Iguazu, Buenos Aires and Atacama – 18 nts
#1081 – Colorful Argentina, Chile & Peru – 17 nights
#1004 – Argentina & Chile in 12 nights – Option IV – 12 nts
#1090 – The Great tour of South America – 26 nights