12 Best Things to Do in Valparaíso: Street Art, Funiculars, Neruda & Viña

From riding 120-year-old inclined railways up to cliffside art museums to tracing Pablo Neruda's poetry overlooking the harbour and tasting razor clams along the Pacific coast, Valparaíso packs an extraordinary density of character into its steep hills and waterfront. Here are the twelve essential experiences.

1. Hills, Funiculars, and Literary Landmarks

1. Wander the Murals & Cliffside Balconies of Cerro Alegre & Cerro Concepción: Follow the continuous balcony route linking Paseo Yugoslavo, Paseo Gervasoni, and Paseo Atkinson across Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, photographing the Piano Staircase (Pasaje Beethoven), Pasaje Gálvez, and the 1916 Art Nouveau Palacio Baburizza.
2. Ride the 19th-Century Ascensores (Funiculars): Step aboard National Monument inclined railways such as Ascensor Concepción (1883), Ascensor El Peral (1902), and Ascensor Reina Victoria (1902) to climb effortlessly from El Plan into the hills; see our funiculars and trolleybuses guide.
3. Tour Pablo Neruda's House Museum, La Sebastiana: Climb into the five ship-like levels of La Sebastiana on Cerro Florida, inaugurated by Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda in 1961 and filled with marine figureheads, antique maps, coloured glass, and bay views.
4. Walk the Open-Air Museum (Museo a Cielo Abierto) on Cerro Bellavista: Follow the pathways of Cerro Bellavista to see twenty outdoor murals created by leading Chilean painters including Roberto Matta, Nemesio Antúnez, and Mario Toral.
5. Overlook the Port from Paseo 21 de Mayo & Museo Marítimo Nacional: Ride the 1893 Ascensor Artillería to the cliffside belvedere of Paseo 21 de Mayo and the National Maritime Museum.

2. The Harbour, Trolleybuses, and Porteño Cuisine

6. Visit Plaza Sotomayor & Take a Muelle Prat Harbour Boat Tour: Admire the 1910 Chilean Navy headquarters and the Monumento a los Héroes de Iquique on Plaza Sotomayor, then board a wooden lancha at Muelle Prat for a 30-minute bay cruise past Navy warships and barking sea lions.
7. Ride a 1952 Pullman Trolleybus Across El Plan: Hop onto the historic green-and-cream electric trolleybus (Line 802) running between Barón and Plaza Aduana.
8. Eat Chorrillana & Caldillo de Congrio: Share a late-night plate of chorrillana porteña at historic J. Cruz M. and lunch on conger-eel chowder upstairs at the 1912 Mercado El Cardonal.
9. Watch Pelicans & Fishermen at Caleta Portales: Stroll the working fishing pier of Caleta Diego Portales along the coastal avenue toward Viña del Mar.

3. Coastal Excursions and Cool-Climate Vineyards

4. Sunset Over the Concón Sand Dunes

End a coastal afternoon watching the sun sink into the Pacific from the golden crest of the Concón dunes.

10. Take the Coastal Train to Viña del Mar & Museo Fonck: Ride the EFE train 15 minutes to Viña del Mar to see the 1962 Flower Clock, wave-battered Castillo Wulff, and the original Easter Island basalt Moai statue outside Museo Fonck.
11. Climb the Coastal Sand Dunes of Concón: Combine golden sunset panoramas at the Dunas de Concón nature sanctuary with fried seafood empanadas.
12. Taste Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir in the Casablanca Valley: Stop forty kilometres east along Route 68 in the Casablanca Valley or travel south to Neruda's seaside home at Isla Negra.