Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
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This central plaza features famous monuments, the Governor's palace and is the point from which all distances to other parts of Chile are measured.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- Plaza de Armas • 2 min walk
- Puente Cal y Canto • 8 min walk
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- JAMES C3 contributionsSantiago a warm Christmas surpriseChile is by far my favorite country on the west coast of South America. I do not begrudge anyone the many tourist wonders of Peru, but as a country Chile is far less chaotic. I was in Santiago just before Christmas and I really enjoyed it. It was sunny and clear and the weather reminded of Colorado Springs. The nearby vineyards in the valleys are an amazing value and a must see for those who enjoy wine. The city itself feels safe and friendly. I won’t reiterate all the tourist sites in it, but I will just pile on. I will be back to ski!Visited December 2023Traveled soloWritten January 6, 2024
- Isabela R2 contributionsIt’s alright.There are some interesting older buildings around the square to look at, and it’s near the Metropolitan Theatre. Otherwise, it’s pretty touristy and grungy. You could probably skip it if you have other bucket-list items. The mall is nearby to walk around if you have time to kill.Visited January 2024Traveled with familyWritten January 7, 2024
- Ali921Edinburgh, United Kingdom1,508 contributionsWorth a quick visitIt's not open and attractive like a lot of old colonial Spanish constructed plazas in South America. There has been too much recent developments around it. However, still worth a walkabout. It's busy. The metro stop exists right in the plaza.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 24, 2024
- Christian MCopenhagen, Denmark6,156 contributionsGood vibes in the squareIn addition to being a beautiful and diverse square, Santiago Plaza de Armas is full of life. Young and old, locals and tourists. At one end of the square, a large orchestra played popular songs, at the other end, an excited man shouted slogans into a microphone - and the square is so large that there is room for it all. A must-see in Santiago de Chile.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 21, 2024
- Giuseppe CincindellaRosyth, United Kingdom2,120 contributionsMust see placeAmazing square in the city centre, full of beautiful buildings, churches, monuments, historical museum, a park. Crowded place on a Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed the walk, the museum, taking some pictures. A must place to see in SantiagoVisited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 23, 2024
- VickiLondon, United Kingdom672 contributionsHistorical Square!Visited this historical square and was amazed by the size of it! It is a meeting place for people, tour groups, people watching etc. It is surrounded by iconic and beautiful buildings like the beautiful Cathedral, Central Post Office, Museum of Arts, Royal Palace, government offices etc and is the heart of the city as well. There are restaurants around and also shops. Interesting to hear the history of the place so stop by if you are in Santiago!Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 4, 2024
- Michael BBellflower, California24,501 contributionsThe heart and soul of Santiago.Santiago’s Plaza de Armas is considered to be the heart of Chile’s capital and sets the landmark point known as Kilometre Zero, from which distances are measured between the different towns in the country. The square was designed by master builder Pedro de Gamboa, and is surrounded by many historic buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, Central Post Office Building, Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, and the building that serves as the seat of local government for Santiago, which was formerly occupied by the Cabildo of the city before being remodelled. TIP: There is a metro station located under the square.Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten April 18, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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BillPNo1
Friendswood, TX669 contributions
Feb 2019
Plaza de Armas, the main square in Santiago, is a peaceful, nicely landscaped and park-like square with wide, winding paths among the shrubs and trees. Shady and peaceful, it is an obvious haven for locals taking a break during the day and/or tourists admiring the plaza and the impressive, stately buildings - mostly government and diplomatic, , but with the Cathedral on one side. There is an impressive bronze equestrian statue of Don Pedro de Valdivia anchoring one corner of the Plaza and a modernistic artsy approach to an Easter Island "Head" statue at the other end of the Plaza de Armas.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GoGo2SlowGo
Denton, TX1,468 contributions
Mar 2019
This is in the center of town. It is a beautiful town square. Here you will see an imposing cathedral. While strolling around the square you might try a ‘mote con huesillo’ from a street vendor. It’s a traditional, very sweet, non-alcoholic drink made from wheat and peaches. There are also plenty of street performers both in the daytime and at night.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
1 contribution
Jan 2020
The Cajon del Maipo has one natural beauty filled with hot springs and ice caps on the mountains that surround the place.
The Cerro Santa Luzia Is Mountain in downtown Santiago. You can go up in three ways; walking on the trail, take the cable car or funicular (it is a type of old train). On the top of the mountain you can get see a beautiful view of the city.
The Plaza de Armas is in the heart of Santiago! Its architecture is stunning and the square also houses the Post Office building, the Metropolitan Cathedral and then you can watch guard change in Santiago, or Cambio de Guardia, is one of the most traditional ceremonies in Chile and takes place every other day.
The famous tradition has been going on since 1851 at the Palacio de la Moneda and has become a tourist attraction in the Chilean capital, visitors and citizens. I highly recommend it!
The Cerro Santa Luzia Is Mountain in downtown Santiago. You can go up in three ways; walking on the trail, take the cable car or funicular (it is a type of old train). On the top of the mountain you can get see a beautiful view of the city.
The Plaza de Armas is in the heart of Santiago! Its architecture is stunning and the square also houses the Post Office building, the Metropolitan Cathedral and then you can watch guard change in Santiago, or Cambio de Guardia, is one of the most traditional ceremonies in Chile and takes place every other day.
The famous tradition has been going on since 1851 at the Palacio de la Moneda and has become a tourist attraction in the Chilean capital, visitors and citizens. I highly recommend it!
Written November 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,556 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Plaza de Armas is the main square of Santiago. It is the centerpiece of the initial layout of Santiago, which has a square grid pattern. This urban design was accomplished by Pedro de Gamboa, which was appointed by Pedro de Valdivia in 1541. Surrounding the square are some historic buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, Central Post Office Building, Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, and the building that serves as the seat of local government for Santiago. There are several interesting statues and signs in lutne STGO sign. Certainly would very highly recommend visiting this main square in Santiago to any tourist. Not visiting this Square will leave a feeling of incompleteness.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deborahk3
Maidstone, UK1,822 contributions
Aug 2019
We wandered around here on a Sunny Sunday afternoon, and although not packed with people, it was still quite busy with families and couples taking a stroll. This is the center piece of the initial layout of the city, which forms a grid pattern. Surrounding the square, are some very historic buildings and its well worth wandering around and taking in the architecture.
Written July 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
browncondo2102
Kitchener, Canada1,770 contributions
Jan 2020
This is the main square in Santiago. There is a statue here of Don Pedro de Valdivia who was a Spanish Conquistador who was the first Governor of Chile. He founded Santiago in 1541. He was later captured and killed by the Mapuche indigenous people.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian M
Copenhagen, Denmark6,156 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
In addition to being a beautiful and diverse square, Santiago Plaza de Armas is full of life. Young and old, locals and tourists.
At one end of the square, a large orchestra played popular songs, at the other end, an excited man shouted slogans into a microphone - and the square is so large that there is room for it all.
A must-see in Santiago de Chile.
At one end of the square, a large orchestra played popular songs, at the other end, an excited man shouted slogans into a microphone - and the square is so large that there is room for it all.
A must-see in Santiago de Chile.
Written March 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DoBeAdventure
Peachland, Canada148 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We took a City tour with Lucero Travel, Plaza de Armas being one of our stops. Our guide, Hector, was very informative about the history of Chile as well as present day. There is a lot of interesting architecture to explore.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Faboarg
Buenos Aires, Argentina653 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
The main square is an almost inevitable visit if you want to see a city, more in Latin America where usually much of the historical heritage is located near it. Santiago’s is a pretty well-kept square, we don’t feel unsafe in it and less so with the Carabinieri checkpoint it has and its poster to take a photo.
It was worth the walk.
It was worth the walk.
Automatically translated
Written August 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
W S
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
This area is not safe for tourists. We walked through here and felt very vulnerable and nervous. We were later robbed nearby. If you're tourist, the safety risk makes this not worth visiting. Stay in safer areas of the city.
Written December 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alguém tem o calendário das trocas de 2020????
Written January 5, 2020
Olá! Não sei sobre esta informação. Mas acredito que através do google poderás encontrar...ou até mesmo em algum site ligado diretamente ao Chile: prefeitura, site do governo chileno,...
Written January 5, 2020
Alguém saberia me informar o horário da troca de guarda? E se tem todo dia
Written July 22, 2019
Olá flaviaog.
A troca da guarda ou Cambio de Guardia,  é uma cerimônia muito bonita, e emocionante, que marca o reversamento da guarda palaciana.
Lembra os desfiles cÃvicos brasileiros nos nossos 7 de setembro.
A apresentação consiste na execução do hino nacional chileno, e de outras músicas, rituais da guarda na frente do palácio e desfile.
A solenidade acontece a cada dois dias, alternados pares ou Ãmpares de acordo com o mês.
Em 2019, durante os meses de Julho, Setembro e Outubro a troca da guarda ocorrerá em dias Ãmpares;
Nos meses de Agosto, Novembro e Dezembro, a troca acontecerá em dias pares.
Cada cerimônia tem duração de aproximadamente 30 minutos, com inÃcio à s 10:00 em dias úteis e à s 11:00 durante feriados e fins de semana
Divirta-se!!
Written July 23, 2019
bom dia! sabem me informar se a troca de armas sera hoje? Amanha temos eleiçoes creio que dever ser hoje ne;?
obrigado
Written December 16, 2017
Olá , a troca da guarda acontece em frente ao Palacio de La Moneda, na Plaza de La Constituicion, a cada 2 dias, dependendo do mês, acontece em dias pares ou Ãmpares. Exise sites onde constam as informações, espero ter ajudado!
Written December 17, 2017
Olá! Dá p ir à pé da Plaza de Armas para o Mercado Central? Qual a distância? Obrigada!
Written April 2, 2017
Sim, os dois locais são bem perto. Não mais do que dois ou três quarteirões. E, no mercado, vale um almoço de frutos do mar. Mesmo um pouco mais caro, um caranguejo é uma excelente refeição. Perde, apenas, para a lagosta.
Written April 2, 2017
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