Last updated on by author Juan Víctor Reyes
After working as a local tour guide, for over 12 years in Valparaíso — the city I grew up in! — I finally made up my mind to elaborate the ultimate guide about the unique things that you can do in Valparaíso, Chile. Here you'll learn about what makes this colorful, natural harbor so unique and why Valparaíso is absolutely worth visiting — and why it should be included on the must-visit list of your South America trip.
Now, you can keep reading about Valparaíso or jump straight to The Holy List and check out our top recommendations of what to do in Valparaíso, Chile.
About Valparaíso
Valparaíso — also called 'Valpo' by the locals — was built on a natural amphitheater by the Pacific Ocean, located less than 2 hours away from Santiago de Chile. Valparaíso is packed with a selection of memorable things to do, ready to please a wide range of travelers: from outdoor lovers to inquisitive explorers of all ages.
A globally known port city and Chile's financial center, before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, Valparaíso is nowadays recognized for its rich cultural heritage — including vibrant street art, diverse architectural styles, and picturesque landscapes — that turned Valparaíso into an absolute must visit place for your trip in Chile and South America.
We cover some of the top things to do during our 3-Hour Valparaíso Walking Tour, a memorable experience that we can tailor to fit your own, unique interests and needs.
The Holy List
A first-time visit to any city can be overwhelming, especially in a city with 42 hills (locally called 'cerros'). What to do in Valparaíso? Where to stay? What foods should you try? To help you navigate through our intricate Valparaíso, I've curated the perfect list of Top things to do in Valparaíso, Chile:
- Watch an energizing sunrise from a scenic Valparaíso viewpoint
- Join a walking tour of Valparaíso
- Get fresh seafood at Caleta Portales wet market
- Explore La Sebastiana, Pablo Neruda's quirkiest house
- Climb to a panoramic lookout on a late 1800s funicular
- Walk around the colorful streets of Alegre and Concepción hills
- Discover the vibrant street art spread all over Valparaíso
- Get a sunset drink on a rooftop overlooking the Pacific Ocean
1. Watch an energizing sunrise from a scenic Valparaíso viewpoint
Sunrises are a reward to early birds.
My previous statement is particularly true for Valparaíso, Chile. This seaport city, blessedly facing both the Pacific Ocean to the north and the mountains to the east, offers great opportunities for taking amazing photos.
Keep reading about how to plan for your perfect sunrise in Valparaíso, Chile.
The Planning
Valparaíso's hilly landscape — along with its strategic geographical position — gives you the unique chance to watch the sun rising behind the Andes Mountains, before lighting up Playa Ancha Hill, from the hilltop downwards.
Now, let's suppose that you're already staying in Valparaíso (check here how to get to Valparaíso) and have decided to watch the sunrise — tomorrow morning — from the fantastic rooftop at your hotel. Then it's the right time to check what time the sunrise will be and how weather conditions will be like (we often experience foggy mornings, especially during summer).
Start off by watching the sun rising behind the Andes Mountains, as you'll spot the impressive Aconcagua — the world's highest peak outside Asia — silhouetted against a golden outline and the blue sky.
Immediately after, watch how the sun begins to light up Playa Ancha, the peninsula-like hill at Valparaíso's northwest tip, starting from the hilltop downwards.
If you rather watch it from a public viewpoint, Yugoslavo Lookout (Paseo Yugoslavo) and Bismarck Square (Plaza Bismarck) are two of the best spots in Valparaíso to enjoy both: the sun rising behind the Andes and Playa Ancha Hill lighting up afterward.
Pro tip: Watch the sunrise from a private viewpoint or rooftop by staying at a hotel in Alegre or Concepción hills.
2. Join a walking tour of Valparaíso
The best way to start exploring Valparaíso, such an intricate and amazing city, is on foot. Then, with so much to learn, a walking tour is your way to go, where a local expert — a friendly and knowledgeable guide — will help you navigate through hidden alleys, vibrant street art, scenic lookouts, secret spots, and the nuances of Valparaíso.
Our Valparaíso Insider Private Walking Tour that will take you on a 3-hour walking tour, where you'll learn about the city's frantic history and see lots of significant parts of Valparaíso, including the Historic Quarter (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), colorful hills (Alegre and Concepción), vibrant street art, panoramic views, picturesque funiculars, and more. Anyway, our 3-Hour Walking Tour of Valparaíso with a Local Guide can be 100% tailored to fit your own needs and likes.
Our tours are suited to kids and available in 🇺🇸 English, 🇧🇷 Portuguese, and 🇨🇱 Spanish.
3. Get fresh seafood at Caleta Portales wet market
Strategically located halfway between Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Caleta Portales is Valparaíso's main wet market, where — besides getting fresh fish and seafood directly from the local fishermen — you can experience the natural spectacle provided by a myriad of sea lions, pelicans, and seagulls feeding under the market's pier.
There are several ways to get to Caleta Portales from Valparaíso: during your Valparaíso Insider Private Walking Tour or your Valparaíso Bay Private Experience, by car or taxi, by train, or by bus — the 612 is your to-go bus if you're staying in Alegre hill.
Pro tip: Go in the morning from Tuesday to Sunday, before lunchtime. After visiting Caleta Portales, you might want to walk along the Wheelwright Promenade to visit Barón Pier — from where you can watch Valparaíso from the sea, while enjoying a refreshing craft beer at Chungungo on the pier.
4. Explore La Sebastiana, Pablo Neruda's quirkiest house
Whether you like Pablo Neruda's poetry or not, the Chilean poet and Nobel Prize for Literature's house and museum — La Sebastiana — is a must-see attraction on any trip to Valparaíso, Chile.
La Sebastiana seems to float in thin air yet is well-secured into the ground
, sitting as a watchtower on top of Florida Hill, showing off splendid views of the bay. The museum provides a great insight into Pablo Neruda's life and likes.
Besides La Sebastiana — Neruda's party house — Chile's most famous poet had two other houses, both museums too: La Chascona in Santiago de Chile and his house in Isla Negra (located about 90 minutes south of Valparaíso).
Business hours are between 10:00 and 18:00 from Tuesday to Sunday (in January and February, visitors can enter the museum until 19:00). The museum's fee is $9,500 (about USD 10).
Pro tip: Consider visiting La Sebastiana at the end of your Valparaíso Insider Private Walking Tour.
5. Climb to a panoramic lookout on a late 1800s funicular
Climbing to a panoramic lookout on a century-old funicular — an alive industrial heritage from Valparaíso's golden age — is an unmissable activity to experience on any must-visit list of Valparaíso, Chile.
Though most funiculars — locally called ascensores — are no longer in operation (13 of them have been completely removed), there are 8 of them still operating, namely: Cordillera, San Agustín, El Peral, Concepción, Reina Victoria, Espíritu Santo, Polanco — not a funicular but a lift tower — and Barón.
Most funiculars lead to a panoramic lookout, so you must definitely include them during your visit to Valparaíso. Here's a list of the funiculars we recommend you to ride:
Ascensor El Peral
El Peral Funicular (1902) connects Sotomayor Square — in the Port District — to the Yugoslavo Lookout on the western section of Alegre Hill, two of the most important tourist attractions in Valparaíso.
Ascensor Concepción
Connecting the Finance District to the Gervasoni Lookout on Concepción Hill, the Concepción Funicular — the oldest funicular in Valparaíso (opened in 1883) — originally used to work with a water balance system from 1883 to 1899.
Ascensor Reina Victoria
On the eastern section of Alegre Hill, the Reina Victoria Funicular (1903) — the steepest funicular in Valparaíso with a 52° incline — sits on a cliff overlooking the First Catholic Cemetery of Valparaíso and the hills beyond to the southeast.
Ascensor Polanco
Close to the Chilean National Congress on Argentina Avenue, and after getting 150 meters (164 yd) deeper into the hill — and almost 40 meters (131 ft) under the street level — the Polanco Lift (opened in 1916) leads to a panoramic 360° viewpoint at 80 meters above sea level.
Ascensor Barón
Located at the easternmost section of downtown Valparaíso, the Barón Funicular (1906) climbs to the Barón Lookout, offering a unique panoramic view of the natural amphitheater to the northwest.
Useful information
All funiculars charge $100 (Chilean pesos) per ride — roughly a dime (10¢) — excepting the Concepción Funicular and the Polanco Lift that cost $300 per ride.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 07:00-22:00.
Pro tip: We always ride at least one funicular during your 3-Hour Walking Tour of Valparaíso with Local Guide.
6. Walk around the colorful streets of Alegre and Concepción hills
Once Valparaíso's bourgeois neighborhood, Alegre and Concepción hills are nowadays the city's most tourist district — where your hotel will most likely be located.
Immerse yourself in the neighborhood's colorful, cobbled streets and alleys, while you are captivated by the hills' scenic viewpoints (the Yugoslavo, Gervasoni, Atkinson, and Dimalow) and discover adorable petite shops.
While you walk around the colorful streets of Alegre and Concepción hills, you will discover vibrant murals at every corner, including the most iconic graffiti from Un Kolor Distinto, the Piano Stairs, and the We Are Not Hippies We Are Happies mural.
We include the narrow, colorful streets Alegre and Concepción hills during your Valparaíso Insider Private Walking Tour.
Pro tip: Try ice cream at Amor Porteño, candies at La Dulcería, chocolates at Vivali Chocolatería, and pisco at Bar de Pisco.
7. Discover the vibrant street art spread all over Valparaíso
Valparaíso — South America's street art mecca — will amaze you with picturesque, vibrant murals and colorful steps, in almost every corner!
Although murals can be found throughout Valparaíso's 42 hills and its two downtown area (Puerto and Almendral districts), four of the most graffiti dense neighborhoods — we recommend you to visit — are Concepción Hill, Alegre Hill, downtown Valparaíso, and Polanco Hill.
By including Concepción, Alegre, and Polanco hills to your list, you can also ride three patrimonial elevators (El Peral, Concepción, and Reina Victoria) and the Polanco Lift (with a panoramic lookout on its top), as well as a walk through picturesque alleys to admire charming architecture.
Pro tip: We include lots of vibrant street art during your Valparaíso Insider Private Walking Tour.
8. Get a sunset drink on a rooftop overlooking the Pacific Ocean
Valparaíso's maritime, hilly landscapes offer loads of great opportunities and places where to enjoy a blissful sunset.
From marveling at the warm shades painted by the sun on the mountains — even on the majestic Mt. Aconcagua! — to the heartwarming experience of watching the sun on the horizon over the Pacific Ocean, the options and angles are almost countless.
Next to the Wheelwright Promenade, on the Barón Pier, you can enjoy a refreshing craft-beer at Chungungo, while watching the sun going down behind Playa Ancha, the peninsula-like hill at Valparaíso's westernmost tip.
For a fancier option, book a table at Portofino Restaurant on the cliff in Esperanza Hill (over Caleta Portales Wet Market), to enjoy a delicious dinner and pisco sour while watching the sunset over the bay.
Beside the different public viewpoints in Alegre and Concepción hills, there are a few rooftops offering diverse angles to enjoy the sunset, while sipping a Chilean pisco sour, like Fauna, El Terrat, and Circular Valparaíso.
Now, to watch the sunset on the horizon over the ocean, you have to move from Valparaíso to either Viña del Mar (around the casino) or Playa Ancha Hill's seashore — to enjoy the sunset from the promenade.
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