Chile stretches like a ribbon from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, but you don’t need to cross its entire length to feel its rhythm. This 7-day itinerary focuses on the capital, Santiago, and the bohemian coast—Valparaíso and Viña del Mar—curating a relaxed pace and budget-friendly choices with all the color, flavor, and views Chile is loved for.

Santiago blends colonial bones with a youthful arts scene: leafy parks, lively barrios like Lastarria and Bellavista, and mountain-framed sunsets from Cerro San Cristóbal. A quick hop west brings you to Valparaíso, a UNESCO-listed port emblazoned with murals, antique funiculars, and café terraces; just up the coast, Viña del Mar adds palm-lined promenades and easy beach time. Between them lies Casablanca Valley, one of Chile’s most refreshing white-wine regions.

Practical notes: the Chilean Peso (CLP) is standard; consider a 10% tip in restaurants. Santiago’s Metro is clean and efficient, and intercity buses to the coast take about 1.5–2 hours. Expect Mediterranean weather in central Chile; pack layers for cool evenings and ocean breezes. Keep this guide handy—it reads like a local’s plan with a historian’s context, tuned for a relaxing, great-value week.

Santiago

Backed by the Andes, Santiago offers big-sky views, plazas steeped in history, and an easy food-and-wine scene perfect for unwinding. The neighborhoods of Lastarria and Bellavista are walkable and atmospheric, with museums, wine bars, and tree-lined parks close to the Metro.

• Top sights: Plaza de Armas and the cathedral, La Moneda Palace, Parque Forestal, Museo de Bellas Artes, Cerro San Cristóbal (funicular and cable car), and the riverside paths of the Mapocho.
• Eat & drink: Try classic Chilean dishes at Galindo (pastel de choclo, cazuela), wine flights and small plates at Bocanáriz, and a sweet pause at Emporio La Rosa. For a lively, old-school sip, order a “terremoto” at La Piojera near Mercado Central.
• Getting there: Search flights to Santiago (SCL) on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For a smooth arrival, consider a private transfer: Private Transfer between Santiago and the Airport.
• Stay (budget to mid): Hostal Providencia (good value, social, central), Hotel Plaza El Bosque Ebro (spacious rooms in Las Condes). Browse more options on Hotels.com (Santiago) or apartment stays on VRBO (Santiago). Splurge pick if desired: The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago.

Day 1: Arrive and unwind in Lastarria

Afternoon: Arrive in Santiago and check in. Stretch your legs in Parque Forestal, then pop into the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes for a quick look at Chilean art inside a Belle Époque gem.

Evening: Stroll the cobblestone lanes of Lastarria. Share a flight of Chilean reds and small plates at Bocanáriz, or keep it casual with empanadas and a local lager at Galindo in Bellavista. Finish with a scoop at Emporio La Rosa by the park.

Day 2: City views by funicular and easy hop-on sightseeing

Morning: Ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal for an overview of the city and Andes. It’s the laziest, loveliest way to get your bearings, with plenty of benches and viewpoints.

Afternoon: Make the logistics truly easy with a hop-on route that includes San Cristóbal’s cable car and funicular:

Cable Car, Funicular and Sightseeing Bus in Santiago one day

Hop off near Parque Bicentenario to watch flamingos in the lagoons or at Bellavista for colorful street art. For lunch, try a seafood caldillo at Mercado Central or fresh juices and a hearty plato del día at La Vega’s family-run counters.

Evening: Toast sunset from the cable car or Sky Costanera (optional). Dinner near Isidora Goyenechea: Tiramisú for excellent thin-crust pizzas and salads at fair prices, or head back to Lastarria for Castillo Forestal’s French-Chilean bistro classics.

Day 3: Historic Santiago at a gentle pace

Morning: Let a local guide bring the old center to life with a relaxed walking tour:

The best walking tour in Santiago de Chile

See Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, and La Moneda while hearing how the city evolved from colonial outpost to modern capital.

Afternoon: Meander through the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM) exhibitions, then drift back to Parque Forestal for a shady bench and a paperback. Coffee break at Colmado Coffee & Bakery in Lastarria—try the cold brew and a slice of carrot cake.

Evening: Keep dinner easy and local: Liguria (classic Chilean bistro plates, budget-friendly portions) or La Piojera for a lively, historic cantina vibe. Early night before tomorrow’s coast day.

Valparaíso & Viña del Mar

Valparaíso is Chile’s bohemian soul: a labyrinth of painted stairways, hillside funiculars, and century-old houses reborn as cafés and galleries. Its neighbor, Viña del Mar, adds palms, gardens, and beaches perfect for slow seaside hours.

• Top sights: Ascensor Reina Victoria and El Peral, Paseo Gervasoni and Paseo Atkinson viewpoints, Museo a Cielo Abierto murals, Viña del Mar’s Flower Clock, Moai at Museo Fonck, and the Reñaca beach strip.
• Eat & drink: In Valpo, Fauna Restaurant for sunset terraces, La Concepción for seafood with a view, and Il Paparazzo for handmade pasta in a century-old building. In Viña, breakfast at San Antonio (bakery-café institution) and beachside snacks along Avenida Perú.
• Stay (budget to mid): In Valparaíso, Ibis Valparaíso (harbor views, great value), Hotel Diego de Almagro Valparaiso (seafront rooms). Boutique pick: Casa Higueras. Budget hostel: Hostal Po. Browse more on Hotels.com (Valparaíso) or VRBO (Valparaíso). If you prefer to base in Viña del Mar: Sheraton Miramar, Hostal Little Castle, or Hotel San Martin.

Day 4: Guided coast preview from Santiago (with wine)

Today is a gentle, all-in-one introduction that previews the coast before you move there tomorrow. It includes Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, and a Casablanca Valley stop for tastings.

Santiago: Viña del Mar, Valparaiso & Casablanca Valley Tour

Expect an easy pace—flower clock photos, a look at the Fonck Museum’s Moai, cobbled viewpoints in Valpo, and a sip of cool-climate whites. It’s a relaxed way to learn the lay of the land without navigating transit. Dinner back in Santiago—try Tiramisú or a light bite in Lastarria.

Day 5: Transfer to Valparaíso and hilltop sunsets

Morning: Check out and take a bus from Santiago’s Alameda or Pajaritos terminals to Valparaíso (about 1.5–2 hours; roughly CLP 6,000–8,000 per person). Taxis or rideshares can take you uphill to your lodging—streets are steep, so pack light.

Afternoon: Ride Ascensor Reina Victoria up to Cerro Alegre and wander mural-streaked alleys to Paseo Dimalow. Pause for a coffee or pisco sour on Fauna’s terrace, lingering over the harbor view.

Evening: Book a table at La Concepción for reineta or congrio paired with a Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc. Slow walk back via Paseo Gervasoni for twinkling night views over the port.

Day 6: Viña del Mar beach day, back to Valpo for dinner

Morning: After a simple breakfast (San Antonio bakery-café is a local favorite in Viña), ride the local bus or take a short rideshare to Viña del Mar. Stroll Avenida Perú, snap the Flower Clock, and visit the Fonck Museum’s Moai in the garden.

Afternoon: Lay out a towel at Playa Acapulco or Caleta Abarca. When you’re ready for shade, find a café for a mote con huesillo (sweet peach-and-wheat refresher) or a pastelito from a nearby panadería.

Evening: Return to Valparaíso for dinner at Il Paparazzo—homemade tagliatelle with seafood in a cozy, historic house—then a nightcap at a wine bar along Cerro Concepción.

Day 7: Slow viewpoints and departure

Morning: One last wander through Paseo Atkinson and Paseo Gervasoni for classic bay panoramas. Coffee at Café del Poeta near Plaza Aníbal Pinto, then collect your bags.

Afternoon: Bus back to Santiago (plan 2 hours plus airport transfer buffer). Search your outbound flight on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you prefer door-to-door comfort, book a private airport transfer.

Optional Swap: Andes outlook day (if you’d like to trade Day 4)

If you’d rather skip the guided coast preview and save the coast for your stay, consider a sky-and-vines day in the mountains around Santiago for sweeping scenery and a mellow pace:

Santiago Skyline: Cable Car & San Cristobal Walking Tour

This keeps your week restful, scenic, and budget-conscious while avoiding backtracking before your coast stay.

Budget, timing, and transit tips

• Daily budget (target ~CLP 35,000–50,000/$35–$55 per person): breakfast at cafés or bakeries, set-menu lunches (plato del día), and casual dinners keep costs low. Wine by the glass is widely available.
• Metro & funiculars: Santiago’s Metro rides are typically under CLP 1,000. San Cristóbal funicular/cable car fares vary by segment; combo tickets are the best value.
• Santiago–Valparaíso buses: Depart every 10–20 minutes daytime; 1.5–2 hours, ~CLP 6,000–8,000. Aim for morning departures to maximize your day.

Where to book what, at a glance:

• Flights: Trip.com or Kiwi.com
• Hotels & apartments (Santiago): Hotels.com, VRBO
• Hotels (Valparaíso/Viña del Mar): Hotels.com (Valpo), VRBO (Valpo), or base in Viña via Hotels.com (Viña)
• Tours (Santiago and Coast): Hop-on city day, center walking tour, or the coast-and-wine day outlined above via Viator links in this guide.

With mountain vistas, street art, and sea air, this relaxing Chile itinerary leaves space for long coffees, view-filled benches, and unhurried meals. You’ll return home with the colors of Valpo’s hills and Santiago’s sunsets etched in memory—and a shortlist of favorites to revisit.