Santiago With Kids: Where to Take Them
Kids run out of patience for old churches fast, so Santiago’s family circuit leans hands-on: a science museum built for touching everything, a role-play city built for eight-year-olds to run, and a hilltop cable car that feels like a ride even though it’s really transit.
MIM (Museo Interactivo Mirador)
Chile’s biggest hands-on science museum spans 7,000 square meters in La Granja (Av. Punta Arenas 6711, Metro Mirador Line 5, then a 10-minute walk through Parque Brasil), with physics exhibits, earthquake simulators and the Túnel Universo astronomy pavilion built for kids to climb through rather than just look at. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:30-18:30. General admission runs CLP 6,000-7,000, free under 2, and tickets need booking online at mim.cl before you arrive.
Cerro San Cristóbal: the funicular and teleférico combo
This is the reliable family afternoon: ride the open-window heritage Funicular up from Estación Pío Nono in Bellavista to the summit at Cumbre, grab a mote con huesillo (sweet peach nectar with wheat, about CLP 2,000-3,000) at the top, then glide back down by Teleférico cable car to Tupahue, past the pool and the Japanese Garden. Under-2s ride free on both systems; child tickets for ages 2-11 run roughly CLP 2,250-2,950 on the funicular and CLP 2,800-3,600 on the teleférico, with the exact tier depending on weekday, weekend or residency, so check funicularonline.cl and telefericosantiago.cl before you go. The funicular is closed the first Monday of every month.
KidZania Santiago
A 4,000-square-meter indoor city in Parque Araucano (Av. Presidente Riesco 5330, Las Condes, Metro Manquehue Line 1) where kids aged 4-14 role-play more than 60 professions, from firefighter to pilot to baker. Open Wednesday to Sunday in morning and afternoon sessions. 2026 admission runs about CLP 18,950-21,950 for children, CLP 11,950-13,950 for adults, and CLP 6,950 for toddlers aged 2-3; infants under 1 are free. Book ahead at santiago.kidzania.com , since sessions sell out on weekends.
Browse family activity options in Santiago for combined tickets and transport if you’re juggling more than one stop in a day.
Museo Artequin
Housed in the polychrome iron-and-glass Paris Pavilion, built for the 1889 Paris Exposition and later reassembled in Parque Quinta Normal (Av. Portales 3530, Metro Quinta Normal), this small museum runs painting and sculpture workshops for ages 3-12. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-17:00 (11:00-18:00 weekends). Admission is CLP 3,000 for adults and CLP 1,000 for children and students, with Sundays pay-what-you-wish.
Buin Zoo
South America’s largest private zoo, 32 km south of the city (Panamericana Sur km 32, reachable by Tren Nos to Estación Buin Zoo, about 30 minutes from Estación Central). Over 2,000 animals across bio-geographical zones, plus a Chilean native wildlife rescue center. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:30-17:30. Admission is roughly CLP 12,500-14,500 for adults, CLP 10,500-12,500 for children up to 14, and free under 90cm in height. Reserve at buinzoo.cl .
Practical notes
There’s no bundled discount pass covering these stops, so budget each admission separately and book the ones that sell out (KidZania, MIM) a day or two ahead. Santiago’s climate swings between strong midday sun and cooler mornings year-round, so pack hats and sunscreen along with a light layer for the funicular ride, which can be breezy at the summit even on a warm day. If the kids need a full day off their feet before more sightseeing, this site’s Santiago day trips guide has calmer countryside options nearby.