Bellavista's most famous resident writer was Pablo Neruda, who made a point of watching Valparaíso's annual New Year's fireworks from his house at the top…
Must see attractions in Valparaíso
- Top ChoiceLa Sebastiana
- PTop ChoiceParque Cultural de Valparaíso
This cultural center built from the bones of a prison has a little bit of everything the thinking traveler could ask for. There are excellent murals in…
- Museo Marítimo Nacional
Cannons still stand ready outside this naval museum. Much space is devoted to Chile's victory in the 19th-century War of the Pacific. Other exhibits…
- Mercado Cardonal
As colorful as Valparaíso's trademark houses – and built almost as high – are the fruit and vegetable displays in the Mercado Cardonal, bordered by Yungay…
- PPlaza Sotomayor
Plaza Sotomayor is dominated by the palatial blue-colored Edificio Armada de Chile. In the middle of the square lies the Monumento a los Héroes de Iquique…
- CCementerios 1 & 2
The city's most illustrious, influential and infamous residents rest in peace in Cementerios 1 and 2, where the tombs look like ornate mini alaces. Nearby…
- AAscensor El Peral
The recently revamped Ascensor El Peral starts from near the Tribunales (Law Courts) just off Plaza Sotomayor and continues to Cerro Alegre, home to the…
- RReloj Turri
Where Prat and Cochrane converge to become Esmeralda, the Edificio Turri narrows to the width of its namesake clock tower, the Reloj Turri. This is one of…
- AAscensor Concepción
The city's oldest funicular, Ascensor Concepción takes you to Paseo Gervasoni, at the lower end of Cerro Concepción. Built in 1883, it originally ran on…
- MMuseo de Historia Natural
Explore the natural history of central Chile in nine rooms that focus on biology and ecosystems. Signage is in Spanish only.
- EEdificio Armada de Chile
This palatial blue-colored naval command building dominates Plaza Sotomayor.
- AAscensor Reina Victoria
This funicular dates back to 1902 and connects Av Elias to Paseo Dimalow.
- Plaza Matriz
The historic heart of the city is Plaza Matriz, which is watched over by Iglesia La Matriz. Begun in 1837, it's the fifth church to occupy this site since…
- CCementerio de Disidentes
Adjoining the main cemetery, the Cementerio de Disidentes is the spot where English and European immigrants were buried. Despite the name, these departed…
- MMuseo a Cielo Abierto
Twenty classic, colorful murals are dotted through this cerro's lower streets, forming the Museo a Cielo Abierto, an open-air museum with works from famed…
- MMuseo de Bellas Artes
The rambling art nouveau building at the western end of Cerro Alegre is called Palacio Baburizza; it houses the Museo de Bellas Artes, which has a decent…
- CCongreso Nacional
One of Valpo's only modern landmarks is the controversial horseshoe-shaped Congreso Nacional, located in the eastern section of El Plan. Its roots lie in…
- MMuseo Lukas
Local cartoonist Lukas had a sharp eye for the idiosyncrasies of Valparaíso. You need to speak Spanish to understand his sardonic political strips…
- BBarrio El Puerto
In the west of El Plan, Barrio El Puerto (the port neighborhood) has the twin honors of being the oldest part of Valparaíso and the most run-down…
- MMercado Puerto
Long defunct (and home to a pack of street cats), El Puerto's beautifully restored food market should be open again by the time you read this.