Where To See The Best Street Art In Santiago

Street art fans in Chile will know that Santiago’s rival and neighbouring city, Valparaíso, often steals the limelight when it comes to colourful creations. Yet Santiago has some wonderful murals, created both during the dictatorship as a weapon of resistance, and after the fall when the street art scene flourished. Here’s our pick of the best to see, and how to see them.

Bellavista

Santiago’s buzzing Barrio Bellavista is a splash of colour in the heart of the city, with endless murals depicting a number of different scenes, some of which are painted by professionals and others by budding artists. As you cross the river from Bellas Artes, you’ll spot artworks on Calle Loreto, Dardignac and Antonia López de Bello. Why the street art? Many shop owners will pay artists so that passersby will inadvertently gaze at the work, and maybe come in to check out the wares, attracted by the colourful creations.

As you progress further among the old buildings of Bellavista, you’ll spot the ones that have had a face lift with paint – be sure to check out some of the fabulous murals on Bombero Núñez and Santa Filomena, awash with colour. Even some of the river banks on the way to Bellavista have been taken over, making what was originally a rather grotty wall something spectacular to look at.

Museo A Cielo Abierto, San Miguel

A little further out of the city centre are the humongous murals of San Miguel, initiated by the Chilean government in 2010. The idea of this open-air gallery was to add some colour and life to the less affluent neighbourhood to make it a happier, vibrant place. Of course, the works had to be approved by the residents, and it now features over 40 murals, accessible to all. It is advisable not to go here alone as a tourist, so if you are travelling solo, join a tour – you’ll also find out more about the history that way too.

Barrio Brasil

This quirky neighbourhood doesn’t seem to be a place normally visited by tourists as it has no key attractions. In the mid-1800s this area was home to the aristocracy, and has now fallen into disrepair, providing the perfect canvas for artists. If you’re a wanderer, then you’re bound to spot some quirky places and fabulous art – start at Plaza Brasil and meander your way around.

Downtown

Although it’s not particularly renowned for street art, the charm in this area of town lies in spotting the odd Instagram-worthy artwork here, such as this cute elephant! You never know when you’ll spot a great piece, which makes strolling around and finding one all the more enjoyable.

Street Art Tours

The best way to discover the meaning and history behind the murals dotted around Santiago is to go on a tour with local experts. The most popular are run by Stgo Street Art as they really know what they’re talking about – you can even choose to do the tour on foot or by bike. Some tours include an immersive experience, such as sharing tea time with a local family in San Miguel.

Try it yourself!

If you’re feeling inspired and want to express yourself, look no further! Stgo Street Art offer workshops with Santiaguino street artists, where they’ll teach you how to paint and leave your mark on the walls of Santiago. Start by sketching your design, then test it out on a plastic wall and by then, you’ll be ready for the real deal.

More?

If you love what you’ve seen, you can follow stencil street artist and photographer, Lord K2, whose book Street Art Santiago, Chile documents the underground art scene. Having travelled extensively through South America, Lord K2 has been a part of urban art scenes in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bogotá.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.