Valparaíso
Chile
Historic funiculars (ascensores)Photo: Javier Rubilar from Santiago, Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0
Hills of ValparaísoPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
Palacio BaburizzaPhoto: Ana Soto Castro · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sotomayor SquarePhoto: simenon simenon from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0
Barrio PuertoPhoto: Ricardo Martins from Gent, Belgium · CC BY 2.0
About Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a port city on Chile's Pacific coast, about 75 miles northwest of Santiago by road. Its historic quarter became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, and the National Congress of Chile has met here since 1990.
The city spreads over the hills rising right behind the port. Colorful houses, street murals and historic funiculars (ascensores), running since 1883, are its trademarks.
How many days do you need?
One or two days is enough: one for the hillside streets and funiculars, one for the port area and Sotomayor Square. Add half a day for neighboring Viña del Mar.
Where to stay
- Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción — The most popular hills, with boutique hotels, cafés and viewpoints.
- Viña del Mar — The neighboring beach city, with more modern hotels, linked by metro.
From the airport to the city
Valparaíso has no scheduled international flights; most travelers use Santiago International Airport (SCL), about 75 miles away. There is no direct bus from the airport, so take a bus to Santiago's Pajaritos terminal and change to a Valparaíso bus; the trip takes about two hours in total. A taxi straight to the city is also possible.
Getting around
Explore the hills on foot; the historic funiculars help on the steepest slopes. Historic trolleybuses and buses run on the flat. Metro Valparaíso (Merval) links the city with Viña del Mar.
Good to know
- Check current official travel advisories; take care of your valuables, especially around the port and after dark.
- Streets are steep and can be slippery; wear comfortable shoes.
- The currency is the Chilean peso.
Useful links
- Chile Travel (official Chile tourism site) chile.travel
When to go?
Best time to visit for the weather: January–March. The warmest month is February (average high 67 °F); the wettest is June (2.2 in).
Monthly climate
| Month | Avg. high °F | Rain in | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65.8 | 0.07 | Ideal |
| February | 66.6 | 0.06 | Ideal |
| March | 65.3 | 0.10 | Ideal |
| April | 62.1 | 0.33 | Good |
| May | 59.7 | 1.41 | Good |
| June | 57.6 | 2.22 | Cool or rainy |
| July | 56.1 | 1.39 | Cool or rainy |
| August | 56.1 | 1.54 | Cool or rainy |
| September | 57.0 | 0.49 | Cool or rainy |
| October | 58.6 | 0.44 | Cool or rainy |
| November | 61.2 | 0.21 | Good |
| December | 63.7 | 0.12 | Good |
Source: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), 2005–2024 monthly averages of daily high temperature and total rainfall. Values are estimates for an area of about 50 km and may differ from the city-centre weather station.
Public holidays 2027
- New Year's DayJanuary 1
- Good FridayMarch 26
- Easter SundayMarch 28
- Labour DayMay 1
- Navy DayMay 21
- Indigenous People's DayJune 21
- Saints Peter and PaulJune 28
- Our Lady of Mount CarmelJuly 16
- AssumptionAugust 15
- National holidaySeptember 17
- National holidaySeptember 18
- Army DaySeptember 19
- Columbus DayOctober 11
- Reformation DayOctober 31
- All Saints' DayNovember 1
- Immaculate ConceptionDecember 8
- Christmas DayDecember 25
Sources: date-holidays and python-holidays open data projects; for Northern Cyprus, its public holidays law.
Practical info
- CurrencyChilean Peso ($)
- Dialling code+56
- Plugs & voltageType C, L · 220 V · 50 Hz
- EmergencyPolice 133 · Ambulance 131 · Fire 132
- DrivingOn the right
Sources: IEC plug types, Wikidata, Wikipedia; unverified details are left blank.