There are so many cool things to do in Valparaiso, that it's the perfect alternative to the busy city of Santiago. Known by locals as Valpo, this quirky city is known for its art and poetry.
With its colorful streets and Bohemian vibe, it's a backpacker's paradise, and just perfectly off the beaten path, but not too off the beaten path.
In this guide we're going to share all of the fun things to do in Valparaiso, how to get there, where to stay, and all of the other details for having the perfect trip to this cool Chilean beach city.
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📍 Where is Valparaiso in Chile?
Valparaiso is located on the west coast of Central Chile, 120 km north west of the capital city. Just an hour and a half away from Santiago, it makes for an easy day trip, or better yet, the perfect weekend break from the city.
How to Get to Valparaiso, Chile
Valparaiso can be reached in a number of ways! The most popular way is to travel there from Santiago, but you can also easily get there by bus from some of the other nearby cities in Chile.
🚗 How to Get to Valparaiso from Santiago
As Valparaiso is just an hour and a half drive from Chile's capital, you can get from Santiago to Valparaiso by rental car, taking a tour, or by taking a bus.
🚐 Taking a Tour to Valparaiso
The best way of experiencing the most popular things to do in Valparaiso is by taking a day trip from Santiago. This is actually what I did, and I absolutely loved it! I used Julio Private Tours, which is a family-owned tour company by locals, so you really get to see all of the hidden gems, and get shown everything in an authentic way.
The great thing is that if you really want to extend your experience, you can also have a personalized multi-day tour. If this is something you'd be interested in, send an email, and we can help you organize one.
🚘 Renting a Car to Visit Valparaiso, Chile
If you want to spend several days in Valparaiso, or simply go with the flow, you can also rent a car from Santiago airport. This ranges from $35-$50/day, and is a good option for those traveling with a few people.
🚌 Taking a Bus from Santiago to Valparaiso
The most budget-friendly option for visiting Valparaiso, Chile from Santiago is by taking a public bus. You can get bus tickets from Santiago to Valparaiso for just $3, and the ride is between an hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours.
How to Get to Valparaiso from Other Chilean Cities
If you aren't coming from Santiago, there are some other cities that will go to Valparaiso. We found tickets for Coquimbo to Valparaiso, but we also heard that there are plenty of other cities that go there.
Another fun option is to cruise to Valparaiso! It has become a popular port on many South American cruise itineraries, and can typically be done in the summer months (December to February).
Entry Requirements for Chile
Before booking your trip to Valparaiso, you'll want to know if there are any specific requirements for entering the country. Here's what you need to know in order to visit Chile.
🛂 Visa Requirements for Chile
There are 95 different nationalities that are able to enter Chile visa-free for up to 90 days. Those countries can be found on the offiicial visa page for Chile. If your country does not appear on the list, you must in fact get a visa before entering the country.
💉 Do You Need Any Vaccines to Enter Chile?
Chile does not have any requirements for vaccines in order to enter the country.
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Local Adjustments for Valparaiso
Traveling to a new country, or even a new city in that country may mean things change! For this reason, some things we like to include in all of our articles are the local language, currency, plug type, water potability, and tipping culture.
🗣 What Language is Spoken in Valparaiso, Chile?
The language spoken in Valparaiso, Chile is Chilean Spanish. Chileans can be quite difficult to understand, as they use a lot of slang, and tend to slur a lot of their words together or speak very quickly. That being said, if you do speak a bit of Spanish it will certainly help!
Do People Speak English in Valparaiso?
As tourism is increasing in Valparaiso, it's not uncommon to find people that speak English. While many local vendors might not speak much English, hotels and guides typically have a good level of English.
Speaking Spanish in South America though is overall extremely helpful, as you're less likely to get taken advantage of.
This was another perk of having a guide, as it really helped bridge that gap. Even though I speak Spanish, I found the locals a bit harder to understand than other areas of South America.
💵 Currency in Chile
The currency used in Chile is the Chilean peso. Currently (September 2024), you get 928 Chilean pesos for every 1 USD. We suggest withdrawing money from an ATM, as there are a lot of great street vendors that only accept cash.
🔌 What Plug Adapter Do I Need for Chile?
Chile uses the same plug types as those in Europe, which are for plug types C & L. The standard voltage in Chile is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. If you are coming from the US, you will need a travel adapter for your electronics while you are visiting Chile.
🚰 Can You Drink the Tap Water in Valparaiso, Chile?
The water in Valparaiso is perfectly safe to drink from the tap, so we suggest bringing a reusable water with you.
💸 Tipping Culture in Valparaiso
The average tip in Valparaiso is anywhere from 10-15%.
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The Best Things to Do in Valparaiso
Now that you know the basics for visiting, let's hop into all of the best things to do in Valparaiso, Chile!
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🌈 Explore the Colorful Streets
If you're only in town for a short time, our number one recommendation for the best things to do in Valparaiso is to simply get lost in the colorful streets.
Alleys with vibrant murals, painted staircases, and brightly painted buildings make Valparaiso the captivating and creative city it is, and simply wandering the streets is one of the best ways to experience it.
The two most popular neighborhoods (that blend right together) are Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion. These two hills are where you'll find the best things to do in Valparaiso, and the most colorful art in all of the city.
Valparaiso is a beautiful and colorful city.
That being said, if you want to learn the history behind certain pieces and dive a bit deeper into the culture, we highly suggest signing up for a tour. If you're in town, here are a few short tours you can sign up for in Valparaiso.
🤩 Visit the Vibrant Staircases
Other than the incredible murals all of the city, one of my favorite things to do in Valparaiso was to see all of the colorfully painted staircases!
Here are a few of my favorite staircases in Valparaiso:
- The Piano Stairs
- The Rainbow Stairs
- The Violeta Parra Stairs
🚪 Visit the Iconic Red Door
While I won't bore you with every single mural or staircase to visit in the city, I definitely want to point out some of the most photographed places in Valparaiso! The red door is definitely one you can't miss out on, and it's just up the Violeta Parra stairs to the left.
It's quite popular, so you'll actually find a lot of people lining up here for a photo!
The red door is one of the most photographed spots in Valparaiso.
🚡 Ride the Funiculars Around the City
The city of Valparaiso is all built on hills, and if you don't want to walk a ton up and down the hills, a great short cut is to ride one of the many funiculars or elevators around town!
They are just 300 pesos each way (30 cents), they have great views, and riding them is one of the most iconic things to do in Valparaiso, Chile.
🐟 Check out the Fish Market
One of the most unique things to do in Valparaiso is to check out the fish market!
First, make sure you head to pier. Here you'll get to see a ton of seagulls flying around, and if you go first thing in the morning (around 8-10 am) you'll be able to see the fisherman feeding them all of the leftover pieces, which creates an entire spectacle!
If you go early enough you'll get to see all of the seagulls being feb by the fisherman.
After seeing the seagulls, you'll then want to head over to where the action is happening. Locals will be chopping up the fish, selling raw products, and also serving some delicious small dishes like ceviche.
It was a bit messy, and certainly didn't smell great, but it was such a fun experience, and gives you a true glimpse into the local life in Valparaiso.
The fish market is a great place to try local seafood and to experience the fishermen at work.
🐧 Watch Penguins at Cachagua Island
I'm actually pretty sad because I didn't know about this amazing experience until after I left Valparaiso! And while I wasn't able to do it, I definitely wanted to mention it as one of the best things to do in Valparaiso because it just looks so fun.
Take a boat to Cachagua Island and you'll be able to see an endangered species of adorable penguins. We found this penguin excursion you can sign up for in order to experience this:
🐦 Visit Peñon de los Lobos
if you want to see more of the birdlife and marine life in Valparaiso, head over to Peñon de los Lobos. Here you can find a variety of animals all living together such as pelicans, seagulls, and sea lions. It's a great place to enjoy beautiful views, and see the animals in their natural habitat.
