Plaza de Armas has been the literal centre of Santiago since Pedro de Valdivia laid it out in 1541, and it's still ringed by the buildings that matter most: the Metropolitan Cathedral, the old Post Office and the National History Museum. Street performers, chess players and shoeshine stalls fill the square most afternoons.
Sit on a bench under the palm trees and just watch — this is where Santiago's daily life plays out, from protest marches to Sunday painters selling canvases along the edges.
Local tip: The square itself is free and open around the clock, but the museums facing it keep their own hours, so check before planning a museum-hop.
Good to know
- Where: Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile
- City: Santiago
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