We stayed in some lovely places because of your knowledge, places that we would probably never have found.
At the top, there are a number of restaurants and cafes on offer where you can stop for a coffee and enjoy the breathtaking view.While the Acensor Reina Victoria may appear to be a bit run down and rickety, it has lasted over a hundred years. If you love getting lost in alleyways full of street art, craft beer and cocktails, or just want to escape the sweltering summer heat in Situated on the Pacific coast, an hour or so from Santiago, Valparaíso in its pomp was considered one of the most important port towns in the world. In its heyday the city provided respite to the thousands of sailors heading from Europe to California during the gold rush, when it earned the name “the jewel of South America”.
Our guide to Valparaiso gives you expert recommendations on the best attractions, restaurants, hotels, and more. The city is built on a series of hills, 42 to be exact. A favorite amongst locals and foreigners alike, Pasaje Bavestrello is the perfect introduction to Valparaiso and its fascinating hilltop neighborhoods.With over forty hills dotted about Valparaiso, visitors will quickly discover that the best way to traverse this hilly city is by funicular; Ascensor Artilleria is just one of sixteen scattered about. And it costs just $540 CLP ($0.75 USD). Taxis are plentiful in the city and Uber works here (although its legality across South America is questionable). Its decaying hilltop neighborhoods, so full of beautiful, brightly-colored houses, look down over its busy port and docks. The Best Things to Do in Valparaíso. The delightful architecture on show highlights the influence of the German and British immigrants who settled here. While much of the museum is dedicated to the events that took place during the War of the Pacific, there is loads to see and do. While there is a grittiness about it, beauty is everywhere you look, in the form of wonderful architecture, delightful street art and breathtaking views that bless Valparaiso.Wandering around its steep streets is captivating, and the city’s many funiculars – which are now tourist attractions in their own right – hug the hillsides and help people avoid the climbs. An interesting place, it is well worth visiting to gain a greater appreciation for the poet’s life and to see Valparaiso through his eyes.
The Fine Arts Museum is not far away either. Its enduring popularity means there are often queues to ride on it.Built all the way back in 1916, this delightful building is now a historic monument and is named after the Croatian businessman Pascual Baburizza who used to live here. Valparaiso is where we had some of the best pisco sours we’ve tasted in all of South America. If you’re like me and you just can’t function before you’ve gotten some food in your system, then I recommend heading over to El Desayunador. Get under the skin of Santiago, Valparaíso or indigenous territory across the country with a They’re experts in community-based tourism, with unique trips designed to introduce you to Chile from a different perspective. You need to pick up a Metro card to use it which costs around $1,400 CLP ($2 USD). From the upper floor, there is a great view of the entire city below. Originally a Spanish fort, which then became a prison – and was used to house and torture political prisoners during the Pinochet dictatorship – it’s now a community space for art and culture. A fun and cheap thing to do in Valparaiso, riding this funicular has become a popular tourist attraction.Located at the top of a hill that overlooks Valparaiso’s beautiful bay, La Sebastiana was once the home of Chile’s most famous poet – Pablo Neruda – and it is now a fantastic museum that is dedicated to his life and works. You can watch all of the action from the terrace of Get here as soon as it opens at noon to ensure you get a spot on the outdoor terrace as they don’t take bookings. Its many bars and restaurants often host music and poetry performances and there a lively atmosphere prevails. The rickety ride has become a popular tourist attraction, although just as many locals use it to get up and down the steep hillside. However, we turned up three times and had a table on the terrace within 15 minutes or so every time.Be sure to try the Fauna Pisco Sour (with berries!) A fun, quick and cheap ride, the Ascensor El Peral will save you loads of time and the narrow streets at the top are charming to wander around.Located atop Cerro Concepcion, the Paseo Gervasoni is a wonderful walk that will take visitors past one of the most colorful parts of the city.
Old cannons line the entrance to the museum and the exhibition rooms are full of interesting items and oil paintings as well as maps, models and statues. This small fishing village clings to a pretty cove where dozens of pelicans bob on the ocean, waiting patiently for scraps from the resident fishermen. The third to be built, it was constructed all the way back in 1892 and is now a popular tourist destination; people use it get to the top of Artilleria hill.
THINGS TO DO IN VALPARAISO. She now lives between Europe and South America and, since 2014, has been travelling throughout this continent, authoring guidebooks, writing for international travel publications and creating comprehensive travel guides for Worldly Adventurer. How convenient!But don’t let that make you think there’s no variety.