Cerro San Cristobal, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile

5Monica S 5:00 PM Mar 4, 2020

Great day out for the family with top panoramic views of Santiago
This place is great for all sort of activities. Conveniently located in Santiago's city centre, you can have a great time visiting the zoo, enjoying the views from the finicular, having a picnic, go swimming (Tupahue swimming pool open only during summer)... and everything in the same place! If you're the sporty type, going up to the top of the hill either cycling, jogging or just walking, is a very enjoyable activity, especially in autumn or spring when the temperature is mild. At the top of the hill you'll be able to access The Virgin Mary's gigantic sculpture, sanctuary and chapel. An open air space with great views of the city. You'll also be able to get any sort of refreshments, icecream and 'mote con huesillos", a cold an sweet beverage very popular among Chileans made of dried peaches boiled in sweet water and wheat. Loads of calories in it but something your body will thank you for if you opted for cycling to the top! The access to San Cristóbal hill is free, but obviously you need to pay to enter the zoo, the funicular, teleférico or the swimming pool. If you're not the walking/explorer type, you could take the teleferico to the hill top from Pedro de Valdivia Norte access and then take the funicular down to the Pio Nono access, which will lead you to the always busy Barrio Bellavista, where you could finish your day having a fab meal in one of the hundreds of restaurants you can find in the area. This is a very turistic area, but the quality of the food in the restaurants that offer sort of 'fusion food' is exceptional!

4Carolynt23 5:00 PM Feb 16, 2023

Worth a visit especially on a Monday
We were in Santiago for one full day and as a Monday we found all the museums were closed. We walked to San Cristobal Hill (from Lastarria - 20 minutes) and took the funicular railway up to the top - to save time maybe buy your ticket online before you visit. Walking around the Immaculate Conception Sanctuary was easy with many different painted crosses on the walkway and also a church (Plaza Vasca) to look inside. The views from the top over Santiago city were worth the ride up too.