Cable Car, Funicular and Sightseeing Bus in Santiago two days

Santiago can feel big and spread out, so I like tours that stack the best views and neighborhoods into one simple plan. This 2-day pass strings together panoramic rides up San Cristóbal Hill and a practical hop-on hop-off route through Santiago’s landmarks, with cable car and funicular tickets included. I also like that you get two consecutive days so you can repeat what you love, not just rush through once. One drawback: the bus stops are not always clearly signed, so you will want the app or map ready early.

The highlight is the ride up to San Cristóbal for those wide city views, then the classic funicular connection that makes the whole hill feel like a living postcard. In the city center, you also get a clean loop through the historic core, the government area, and quick access to places like Cerro Santa Lucía and Plaza de Armas. My only caution is schedule timing. The cable car and funicular do not operate on Mondays, and you will want to plan around those hours so the big rides actually fit your days.

Quick takeaways

• San Cristóbal 360° views are built in, thanks to the cable car ticket included for two days
• Funicular is a real historical monument stop with a scenic ride between Bellavista and the hilltop
• Two full days of hop-on hop-off helps you avoid rushing, especially with Santiago traffic
• Park lagoons and wildlife at Bicentennial Park make one stop feel like a break from city streets
• Stops can be hard to spot unless you use the provided map/app, so prep before you head out

The real value: what you get for $69 in Santiago time

At $69 per person, this pass works best when you look past the word sightseeing and focus on the math. You are not just buying a bus ride. You are getting a two-day hop-on hop-off ticket plus two-day access to the cable car and the funicular. In a city where viewpoints and transport add up fast, those included rides do most of the heavy lifting.

The other value is time flexibility. The loop is long enough to cover a lot, yet you can still hop off to linger at places like Plaza de Armas or Cerro Santa Lucía terraces, then continue later. One review even called out that the loop is about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and traffic can stretch it. That is exactly why I like a two-day format. It lets you catch things at your pace.

How the day-to-day rhythm works (and why it matters)

The experience starts at 9:30 am. From there, you follow the route with hop-on hop-off freedom, then use included tickets for the San Cristóbal attractions. You can also use buses connected to Metropolitan Park areas for the second layer of sightseeing.

A practical tip based on real-world feedback: don’t treat this like a set-it-and-forget-it tour. Buses run often, but not on a tight minute-by-minute schedule. One comment mentioned buses averaging around every 40 minutes, and another noted there can be delays. So you should plan for waiting time, especially if you jump off and return later.

Also, these rides do not operate on Mondays. So if your travel dates include Monday, this is one of those cases where you either pick a different day or accept that the big hill rides will not happen that day.

Stop 1 at Mall Parque Arauco: good for orientation, not a must-see

Your first stop is at Av. Pdte. Kennedy Lateral 5059, Mall Parque Arauco. I see this as a practical warm-up more than a destination. The mall is one of Chile’s important shopping centers, with international brand stores and an outdoor dining boulevard where you can stretch your legs.

Why it helps: if you need coffee, snacks, water, or a bathroom break before the city hills and center, this is a smart place to get it done early. It also can help you line up your next movement, since you start your day with a major, easy-to-find location.

If you’re the kind of traveler who hates shopping malls, you can keep it brief. Grab supplies, take a quick walk, then move on.

Bicentennial Park: your “green lung” break in the middle of the action

Next you head to Isabel Montt & Avenida Bicentenario, for Bicentennial Park. This is a 27 hectare green break from streets, and it comes with lagoons where swans, flamingos, and herons live. I love a stop like this for one simple reason: it gives your eyes a rest from traffic and concrete, and it gives you easy, calm photo angles without needing to climb anything.

The park is also great for lounging. Bring a light layer because it can get breezy outdoors. And because you’re already in hop-on hop-off mode, you can take as long as you want here, then continue to the big San Cristóbal connection later.

San Cristóbal Hill by cable car: the 360° pay-off

From Los Conquistadores & Pedro de Valdivia Norte, it is only about a 5 minute walk to the Santiago Cable Car. This is the heart of the experience. The ticket included with your pass lets you climb San Cristóbal Hill and take in Santiago from above with a 360° viewpoint.

This is where the pass earns its reputation. If you do nothing else on your days besides reach the hill, you still feel like you invested wisely. You get a proper skyline view rather than just looking at buildings from street level.

Real-world timing note: cable car hours matter. Even if your bus stops are perfectly timed, the hill ride still has its own operating hours. So if you want the best chance at clear views, aim for earlier in the day when possible.

Pío Nono funicular at top of hill: classic Santiago in motion

After that, you switch to Pío Nono 445 for the Funicular Santiago. This ride is declared a Historical Monument and connects Bellavista with the top of San Cristóbal Hill. The Gothic entrance is part of what makes it feel like a classic Santiago experience, not just a transport link.

Why this works with the cable car: you’re not repeating the same angle twice. Instead, you get two different ways of experiencing the hill and its surroundings. One review called the cable car and funicular combination a master stroke, and I agree with the logic. It turns “getting up the hill” into a mini experience of its own.

A small practical point: plan your return direction. Once you’re up, you may want to continue sightseeing by foot. Having a plan saves time later.

Plaza de Armas: start here if you like the city’s original center

Now you drop into Plaza de Armas 2, the historic heart of Santiago. This is where you get the colonial-era feeling and the big landmarks clustered close together, including the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Central Mail area.

I like Plaza de Armas because it’s a natural anchor for walking. You can spend 30 minutes or 2 hours, depending on your energy. With hop-on hop-off, you can choose a shorter stop if your day is packed.

If you enjoy architecture details, take a slow loop around the square. If you’re more about photos, focus on the cathedral area and the open plaza views, then move on.

La Moneda: the institutional side of Chile’s capital

The next stop is Teatinos 254, for Palacio de la Moneda. This is the headquarters of the Government of Chile. Even if you’re not going inside, seeing Moneda from the outside helps you understand Santiago beyond its shopping and viewpoints.

I find this stop balances the day. Earlier you’ve been with parks and rides. Here you get the “capital city” feeling, where politics, history, and national identity are physically present.

Cerro Santa Lucía and Barrio Lastarria: terraces, fountains, and an easy night plan

Heading to Av. Alameda Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 390, you get Cerro Santa Lucía, an urban park full of history since the founding of Santiago. The park has terraces, fountains, and viewpoints that deliver one of Santiago’s traditional postcard scenes.

Nearby is Barrio Lastarria, with cafes and restaurants plus cultural energy. I think this pairing is smart because Cerro Santa Lucía can be a full stop on its own, yet Lastarria gives you a smooth transition if you’re hungry or want a relaxed evening.

My advice: don’t rush Cerro Santa Lucía just to check it off. If you arrive when light is good, viewpoints look better, and the terraces feel less like a quick photo stop and more like a walk with payoff.

Plaza la Aviación and the Mapocho: a calmer corner with nearby food

At Av. Providencia 969, you reach Plaza la Aviación. It’s famous for its monumental fountain, and it also benefits from green areas near the Mapocho River. This is a good stop when you want a “hang out” moment without the intensity of the big tourist core.

Around Providencia, you’ll also find cafes and bars, so this can become your casual break point. In a two-day plan, I like having at least one spot where you are not sprinting from view to view.

Costanera Center and Sky Costanera: for shopping people and view people

Next is Av. Vitacura 2653, with Mall Costanera Center. This mall is described as the largest in South America, and it sits next to the region’s tallest tower, Sky Costanera, which offers 360° views of Santiago.

Two cautions here, so you don’t get surprised: this pass includes certain tickets, but it does not say it includes entry to Sky Costanera itself. So if that tower-view is on your list, you might need additional tickets depending on what you want to do inside.

Still, even from outside, Costanera Center is a useful anchor for meeting up, taking photos, and keeping your day moving in a modern part of the city.

Las Condes Interactive Museum: a family-friendly add-on stop

The final listed stop is Isidora Goyenechea 3365, for Las Condes Interactive Museum in the El Golf neighborhood. This stop is a nice option if you’re traveling with kids, because the museum has interactive activities and audiovisual experiences.

One of the best ways to use this stop: treat it as a flexible “time filler.” If you’ve already done the hill rides and the center walk, an indoor interactive stop can balance the outdoor portions of the day, especially if weather turns.

The bus experience: staff help, but stop-finding can be the annoying part

Here’s the honest mix. On the positive side, I like that the staff tends to communicate clearly and shows up with help. One review mentioned a host named Jorge, and praised how he communicated what points of interest were tied to each stop. Another mentioned the company was communicative and sent QR code tickets, maps, and information through WhatsApp. That kind of advance info makes a big difference when your day is moving.

Now the drawback: multiple comments pointed out that bus stops are not consistently well marked. You may need the map and app to confirm where the stop is, and some riders said they had to search around for a long time. There was also a note that the government may restrict signage, which explains why places on Google Maps can look outdated.

My practical suggestion: before you rely on the route, get the app and your QR or ticket setup ready, then use it to track the stop location in real time. If you plan to travel with someone who has mobility issues, be extra careful about wandering time, because a long stop search can turn into a problem fast.

What I’d do with two days: a simple plan that avoids rushing

If you want a smooth rhythm, I’d aim for this pattern.

Day 1:

• Do the center stops (Plaza de Armas, Moneda) when your energy is highest.
• Add Cerro Santa Lucía if you want a photo-heavy afternoon.
• Save one “modern Santiago” neighborhood stop for later if you feel good, like Providencia.

Day 2:

• Prioritize San Cristóbal rides so you are not stuck waiting on cable car or funicular hours.
• Use Bicentennial Park for a slower break or a good-lunch reset.
• Add Costanera or the interactive museum depending on your mood.

Because you have two full days and unlimited hop-on hop-off, you can also adjust on the fly. That’s one of the real benefits here, compared to fixed-time tours.

Who this is for (and who might want a different approach)

This pass is ideal if you want:

• Big viewpoints without planning separate ticket purchases
• A simple way to cover major areas of Santiago in two days
• Flexibility to linger at parks and squares instead of sprinting

It may be less ideal if:

• You hate app-based navigation and prefer clearly signed street stops
• You only have one day and want the hill rides without any waiting or schedule juggling
• You get stressed by delays or roughness reported on some rides, since a slow or broken bus can happen and affect timing

If you are the type who wants a guided narrative in depth, you might find that the bus information can be basic between stops, and audio quality can vary. I’d still call the overall value strong because the included cable car and funicular tickets are doing so much of the work.

Should you book this Santiago cable car, funicular, and bus pass?

I’d book it if your dates include Tuesday through Sunday and you want an efficient two-day plan with major highlights built in. The pricing makes sense because you are paying for more than bus transport, and the San Cristóbal viewpoints are genuinely a top Santiago experience.

I’d hesitate only if you strongly need easy-to-find stops without using a phone, or if Monday is your only travel day. In that case, the hill rides can’t be counted on.

If you do book, set yourself up for success: get the map and QR setup ready before you go searching, plan around cable car and funicular hours, and give yourself extra time for early stops. Do that, and you’ll get a lot of Santiago for your money, with big skyline rewards and classic hill rides included.

FAQ

What is included in the two-day ticket?

You get an unlimited hop-on hop-off ticket for two consecutive days, plus a Santiago cable car ticket for two consecutive days and a Santiago funicular ticket for two consecutive days. You also get unlimited scenic buses in Metropolitan Park for two consecutive days (Tuesday through Sunday).

How long is the experience?

The duration is listed as about 2 hours.

Where does it start?

The start time is 9:30 am, with the first stop at Av. Pdte. Kennedy Lateral 5059, Mall Parque Arauco.

Do the cable car, funicular, and buses operate on Mondays?

No. Cable car, funicular, and panoramic buses in Metropolitan Park do not operate on Mondays.

Do I need to buy extra tickets?

Other tickets are not included, so if you want anything beyond what is listed, you may need to purchase additional tickets.

What happens if weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.