Family Activities in Santiago
An earthquake simulator, a role-play city for kids, and a zoo big enough to need a plan: Santiago’s family days work best booked before you leave the hotel.
MIM, the interactive science museum
Museo Interactivo Mirador spans 7,000 square meters across 12 hectares of parkland in La Granja, reachable via Metro Mirador (Line 5) and a 10-minute walk through Parque Brasil. Hands-on physics exhibits, an earthquake simulator, robotics, and the Túnel Universo astronomy pavilion fill a half day easily. Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:30 to 18:30, general admission runs CLP 6,000 to 7,000, with free entry for children under 2, teachers, and seniors over 60. Book tickets ahead at mim.cl , since the museum caps daily entries, or combine MIM with a family city tour on Viator if you want transport handled too.
Up the hill by funicular and teleférico
Parque Metropolitano’s two mechanical rides make a natural family outing: the open-window funicular from Bellavista up to Cumbre, an ice cream or a mote con huesillo (sweet peach nectar with cooked husked wheat, about CLP 2,000 to 3,000) at the summit, then the teleférico gliding down toward Tupahue. Children under 2 ride free on both; fares for everyone else are tiered by day and by residency rather than fixed, so confirm the current child rate at funicularonline.cl and telefericosantiago.cl before you go.
KidZania Santiago
In Parque Araucano (Av. Presidente Riesco 5330, Las Condes, Metro Manquehue on Line 1), KidZania is a 4,000 square meter replica city where kids aged 4 to 14 role-play more than 60 adult professions, from firefighting to broadcasting. Open Wednesday to Sunday in morning and afternoon sessions. 2026 admission runs roughly CLP 18,950 to 21,950 for children, CLP 11,950 to 13,950 for adults, and free for infants under 2. Book KidZania tickets in advance; weekend sessions sell out.
Museo Artequin, in Quinta Normal
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), Artequin runs hands-on painting and sculpture workshops for children aged 3 to 12. Open Tuesday to Sunday, admission is CLP 3,000 for adults and CLP 1,000 for children and students, and Sundays run pay-what-you-wish. Details at artequin.cl .
Buin Zoo
South America’s largest private zoo and conservation park sits 32 km south of Santiago in Buin, reachable by Tren Nos or the Tren Rancagua service to Estación Buin Zoo, about 30 minutes from Estación Central. It holds over 2,000 animals across bio-geographical zones, including a marine nocturnal house and a native Chilean wildlife rescue center. Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:30 to 17:30; adult admission runs roughly CLP 12,500 to 14,500, children up to age 14 CLP 10,500 to 12,500. Reserve at buinzoo.cl . Buin Zoo transport-and-entry combos are bookable on GetYourGuide if you would rather not manage the train connection.
Verdict
MIM and Artequin both work as half-day museum stops that pair with a hill climb; KidZania and Buin Zoo each want a full morning or afternoon on their own. For a version of the same day built around teenagers instead of small children, see the Santiago activities guide .
Before you go
Book MIM and KidZania online rather than at the door; both cap daily numbers and weekend afternoons fill first.