Photogenic cities are kind of my thing and no doubt Valparaiso is top on the list. Colourful, vibrant, poetic and wonderfully crooked, Valparaiso is home to exquisite graffiti and street art splattered across town. With a bustling cultural scene, rich in art, cute cafes, artists and beautiful views overlooking the Chilean coastline, be sure to add this little gem onto your itinerary before you head north to Atacama or south to Patagonia.

If you're limited on time, Valparaiso can be easily reached from Santiago in a day with buses leaving every 10 minutes from Terminal de Buses Alameda. Leave early to give yourself enough time in this crazy and wonderful city.

Here are a few of my favourite things to do whilst visiting Valparaiso:

Street art

Head to one of the many Cerros in the city

With over 40 Cerros, it's easy to get lost and discover the city. If you're visiting for a short amount of time, head to Cerro Alegro and Cerro Concepcion where you'll find most of the action taking place.

Cobbled streets lined with murals used as canvases by street artists can leave you wandering this part of town for hours. Not to mention the art galleries, restaurants and bars that are sure to keep you surprised as you wander down narrow alleyways and around sharp corners.

Stroll up to Plaza Bismark for a stunning view of the city

There are many viewpoints across the Cerros. Plaza Bismark looks out onto the city and on a clear day, you can even see the sand dunes along Concón.

Ask your hostel or locals where else would be worth visiting for a great view of the city. There'll be no shortage of options!

Views over Valparaiso

Get your camera out

This is probably my number thing for most destinations I travel to but Valparaiso is high on the list of photogenic gems.

Getting aimlessly lost through the narrow streets and alleys, every corner is abundant in street art. Local businesses celebrate this creativity and the best artists can be paid for their work.

Check out Viña del Mar

If you're wanting some downtime, head to Viña del Mar only a short bus ride from Valparaiso. The city itself is a sharp contrast to Valparaiso with casinos, bars and boulevards lined with palm trees. The perfect place to be a beach bum for a day before heading back to Valparaiso.

Beaches of Viña del Mar

Spend New Years Eve

If you're in Chile for new years, Valaparaiso is the place to be.

Dorm rooms in hostels can easily fetch up to $40 a night for a bed. But with incredible displays of fireworks and parties, over 1 million people head to this city for the night of New Years.

I didn't go myself as heading to Valparaiso for New Year's would have been a fairly large detour. But if you're around the area, no doubt the synchronised fireworks over the harbour will be spectacular.

Planning a trip or fancy a freebie? These are some websites and services I love:

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World Nomads: Travel insurance on the go 🌎

Airbnb: For the best apartment deals!🏡

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