Santiago with Kids: Volcanoes, Empanadas, and the World's Best Funicular

Emporio La Rosa on Parque Forestal

Wind down the afternoon with artisan ice cream at this beloved Santiago chain, where the rose petal and lucuma flavors are unmissable and the scoops are generously sized. The Parque Forestal branch si

Mercado Central

A five-minute walk from the Plaza, this stunning cast-iron market is the best place in the city for a seafood lunch, and even picky eaters can find empanadas or fresh fruit at the surrounding stalls.

Plaza de Armas

Start the trip at Santiago's founding square, where street performers, pigeons, and the ornate Metropolitan Cathedral keep kids entertained while parents get their bearings. The central fountain is a

Cerro Santa Lucia

This fortified hill park in the middle of the city is a legitimately fun climb for kids aged 5 and up, with winding stone staircases, fountains, turrets, and panoramic views of the downtown skyline. T

Zoologico Nacional de Chile

Tucked into the forested slopes of Cerro San Cristobal, this well-maintained zoo is home to Andean condors, pumas, and llamas alongside more familiar animals, and the hillside terrain makes the layout

La Chimba

Descend into Bellavista for lunch at this casual neighborhood spot known for solid Chilean comfort food including pastel de choclo and grilled meats at prices that do not punish families ordering mult

Teleférico Cerro San Cristobal

The cable car that climbs Santiago's biggest urban hill is one of the most memorable 15 minutes a family can have in the city, with open gondola cars and sweeping views of the entire metropolitan area

La Chascona (Pablo Neruda Museum)

Neruda's famously eccentric Bellavista home is a short walk from lunch and earns genuine reactions from older kids who enjoy the ship-inspired architecture, hidden staircases, and the story of a poet

Parque Metropolitano de Santiago Bike Rental (Tobogan entrance)

The park's Tobogan sector has wide, mostly flat paths and a dedicated bike rental station where families can hire bikes by the hour, making this a relaxed morning ride through eucalyptus forest with m

Mercado Tirso de Molina

This working neighborhood market near Avenida Providencia is a great lunch stop for trying completos (Chilean hot dogs loaded with avocado and tomato), fresh juices, and inexpensive sopaipillas, all i

Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM)

The MIM is Chile's version of a hands-on science museum, with over 400 interactive exhibits covering physics, biology, and technology that are explicitly designed for children ages 4 through 14. Plan

Fuente Alemana

A Santiago institution since 1958, this counter-service restaurant on Avenida Italia is the place to try a lomito completo, a towering sandwich of slow-roasted pork, avocado, tomato, and mayonnaise th

Museo de la Moda

This surprisingly engaging fashion museum in the Vitacura residential neighborhood houses one of Latin America's largest collections of clothing and accessories spanning the 1600s to the present, disp

Parque Araucano

A large, well-equipped urban park in Las Condes with multiple playgrounds, a small train that circuits the grounds, and plenty of open lawn for a mid-day picnic break. The playground structures are sc

Costanera Center Sky Costanera Observatory

The observation deck of Latin America's tallest building sits on the 61st and 62nd floors of the Gran Torre Santiago and delivers a 360-degree view that puts the entire city, the Andes, and the Pacifi

Galeria Drugstore food court

This retro-styled mall on Avenida Providencia has a top-floor food court where families can each choose from different Chilean and international counters and sit together, which solves the classic pro

El Manzano village lunch stop

The small village of El Manzano along the canyon road has several rustic restaurants serving cazuela, grilled meats, and fresh trout pulled from the river, all at reasonable prices and in a setting su

Rafting Cajon del Maipo with Cascada Expediciones

This reputable outfitter based in the Cajon del Maipo canyon runs family-appropriate rafting trips on the Maipo River graded for kids as young as 7, with guides who are experienced at managing mixed-a

Embalse El Yeso reservoir walk

If conditions and timing allow, the turquoise glacial reservoir at Embalse El Yeso sits at 2,475 meters elevation and is reachable by a scenic unpaved road from the canyon, offering a short flat walk

Pomaire Artisan Village pottery shopping

On the return route toward Santiago, the village of Pomaire is a detour worth taking for its handmade clay pottery sold directly by local artisans, including the famous one-kilogram clay mugs that hav