Holiday in Valparaíso

What makes Valparaíso special as a destination?

Valparaíso, affectionately called "Valpo", is Chile's most colorful, wildest, and bohemian city. The UNESCO World Heritage port city climbs over 42 hills (Cerros), each with its own character, color palette, and story. It is a city that cannot be fathomed but must be experienced — step by step, elevator by elevator, mural by mural. The street art of Valparaíso has turned the city into an open-air museum. Every wall, every staircase, every facade is a potential canvas, and the quality of the art ranges from spontaneous graffiti to museum-worthy murals. The Cerros Alegre and Concepción are the tourist hotspots with the densest collections of murals, design shops, and cafés in converted colonial houses. The Ascensores, historic funiculars from the 19th century, connect the lower city with the hills. Of the originally 30 elevators, a few are still operational, and a ride in the creaky Ascensor Reina Victoria or El Peral is one of the most authentic experiences in the city. Each ride costs only a few cents and offers a panoramic view that is worth every centavo. Pablo Neruda's house "La Sebastiana", high on a hill overlooking the bay, is now a museum and provides insight into the creative chaos of the Nobel laureate. The rooms remain as Neruda left them — full of curiosities, ship models, and poetry. The harbor area (El Plan) with the old market building, Mercado Puerto, offers fresh fish and seafood straight from the boat. The Empanadas de Mariscos (seafood pastries) at the small stands by the harbor are legendary. Valparaíso is also the secret music capital of Chile. Live music in the bars of the Cerros, from Cüca to jazz to cumbia, is as much a part of the evenings in Valpo as the fog that rolls in from the Pacific in the afternoons.