Valparaíso Region · Chile
Where to stay in Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city in Valparaíso Region, Chile, home to about 297,000 people.
- Best months
- November to April
- Nearest airport
- SCL87 km · Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
- Currency
- CLPChilean peso
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Language
- Spanish
About
About Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a major city, commune, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castile-La Mancha, Spain.
Valparaiso is an important port town, and has been for hundreds of years, resulting in its being made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Its location on the shipping routes before the completion of the Panama Canal, has left a legacy that still can be seen in various features of the old port town. Its location in the earthquake zone, and the disastrous earthquake of 1906, is another legacy. There have been more recent earthquakes as well.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Valparaíso
See
- Museo Naval y Maritimo
- Plaza Sotomayor
- La Sebastiana
- Baburizza Palace
- National Congress of Chile
- National History Museum
- Mercado El Cardonal
Do
- Funiculars
- Ascensor Cordillera
- Ascensor Florida
- Ascensor San Agustín
- Ascensor Concepcion
- Ascensor Espíritu Santo
- Ascensor El Peral
- Avenida Alemana
- Carnival
- The German Pirate
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Valparaíso
38 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Reina Victoria, Valparaíso | 1.2 km | |
| Palacio Astoreca, Valparaíso | 1923 | 1.0 km |
| Sutherland House | 1.2 km | |
| Augusta Hotel | 0.9 km | |
| Cabañas, Departamentos & SPA Carilafquen | 9.5 km | |
| Casa Galos Hotel & Lofts | 1.0 km | |
| Casa Lastra | 0.5 km | |
| Casa Puente Hotel Boutique | 1.1 km | |
| Casa Violeta Limon | 0.7 km | |
| Comarca Valparaíso | 0.8 km | |
| Escalera al Puerto Guest House | 0.9 km | |
| Fauna Hotel | 0.7 km | |
| Hostal Casa de Barrio | 0.7 km | |
| Hostal Casa Verde Limón | 0.7 km | |
| Hostal Dinamarca | 0.6 km | |
| Hostal El Rincon Marino | 0.8 km | |
| Hostal Odeón | 1.9 km | |
| Hostal Recuerdos de Familia | 2.0 km | |
| Hostel Quimey de Carilafquen | 8.9 km | |
| Hotel Boutique Acontraluz | 1.0 km | |
| Hotel Boutique Casa Vander | 0.7 km | |
| Hotel Brighton | 0.6 km | |
| Hotel Casa Higueras | 1.2 km | |
| Hotel Diego de Almagro Valparaíso | 0.3 km | |
| Hotel Ecomusic | 0.8 km | |
| Hotel Manoir Atkinson | 0.6 km | |
| Ibis Valparaiso | 1.0 km | |
| La Casa del Puerto | 0.7 km | |
| La Galería | 0.9 km | |
| La Galería B&B | 0.9 km | |
| La Nona B&B | 1.0 km | |
| Maki Suites ex Hotel Da Vinci | 1.0 km | |
| Pasta e Vino B&B | 0.8 km | |
| Pontoval B&B | 2.9 km | |
| Puerto Natura Hotel & Spa | 0.8 km | |
| The Travelling Chile | 0.3 km | |
| Wood Residence Hotel Boutique | 1.1 km | |
| Zero Hotel | 1.1 km |
All 38 hotels in Valparaíso, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Valparaíso
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Valparaíso are November to April. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; June is the wettest, with about 118 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Valparaíso: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), about 87 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Valparaiso does not have its own airport. The closest airport with commercial service is Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, some 1½ hr away, which offers extensive domestic and international service. To get to Valparaíso from Santiago's airport, requires catching a bus heading to Pajaritos from outside of the airport terminal. This will drop you off at the north side of "Pajaritos" a bus/subway station on the outskirts of Santiago, cross to the south side of the subway station to get to the bus platform.
Getting around
The city micros are run by Transporte Metropolitano Valparaíso. Exact routes and fares can be found under "Empresas" on the website, and single journeys cost about 250 pesos for local routes and 300 pesos for routes running between El Plan and the hills. Colectivos are taxis painted in black with yellow roofs that run fixed routes, and are a very common mode of transport between (and within) Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, and other surrounding areas. The cost of the trip, while more expensive than the bus or metro, depends upon the distance being traveled following a system of zones.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
SCL · Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Valparaíso
Eat
The most traditional food for tourists in Valparaiso is the Chorrillana, a heaping mound of french fries topped with steak, onion, and eggs. You can eat this in the traditional restaurant J Cruz. Fresh seafood is readily available in many restaurants around the city, especially around the muelle (wharf) areas, and is considered a must for any seafood lover. Bakeries are located on nearly every block, and produce quite delicious breads that can be had warm and right out of the oven at almost any time throughout the day.
Drink
On weekends, the time to go out for a drink (Chilean people call it "salir de carrete") starts no earlier than midnight, though somewhat earlier during the week. The pubs and clubs close at 05:00 on weekends, and 04:00 on weekdays. Drinking alcohol in the streets is not allowed and 18 years is the minimum age for drinking alcohol, though enforcement of these rules is somewhat lax. If you are under 18, you may not be allowed entry into some pubs. Chile is a major wine-producing country, and bottles of fairly tasty wines can be had for slightly more than US$1.
Stay safe
In the context of Chile being a relatively safe country, Valparaiso is among its more dangerous locales, like many harbour cities around the world. Mainly, watch out for pickpockets, for instance avoid hanging your purse or bag in the back of your chair when seated, because it may get stolen. Violent crime is very uncommon, but normal precautionary measures should be taken; while in the street, do not display expensive jewelry. The port area (called "Puerto") is generally considered to be dangerous even during the day. Watch for thieves who will intentionally cause you to have a flat tire, then attempt to "help" you repair or change the tire.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Valparaíso: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Valparaíso?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Valparaíso are November to April. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C; June is the wettest, with about 118 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Valparaíso?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), about 87 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Valparaíso?
Chilean peso (CLP).
Nearby
Destinations near Valparaíso
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.