Thing to do
Mercado Central de Santiago
Santiago's 1872 iron-roofed market hall, made in Glasgow, where fishmongers and seafood restaurants serve paila marina, mariscal and fried fish.
Teatro Municipal de Santiago
Chile's main opera house, opened in 1857, staging opera, ballet and concerts with its resident Ballet de Santiago, orchestra and chorus.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house and theatre
- Area
- Santiago Centro, Santiago, Chile
- Official site
- municipal.cl
Good to know
- Opera
- Ballet
- Concerts
- Guided tours
Why we recommend it
The Teatro Municipal is Santiago's opera house and a leading stage for ballet and classical music, and an evening here makes a memorable night out in the city centre. It was inaugurated on 17 September 1857 with Verdi's Ernani. The original architect, Claudio Brunet des Baines, died in 1855, and the building was completed under the supervision of Lucien Hénault and his assistant Manuel Aldunate.
The theatre has been rebuilt more than once. A fire after a performance by the soprano Carlotta Patti on 8 December 1870 practically destroyed it, and Hénault's reconstruction was completed on 16 July 1873. The 1906 earthquake wrecked most of the interior, and there was another serious fire in 1927. The main hall now seats 1,500, fewer than the original 1,800, and the building was declared a national monument in 1974.
Three resident companies were founded here: the Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra in 1955, the Ballet de Santiago in 1959 and the Teatro Municipal Chorus in 1962. The season includes opera, ballet, symphony concerts and recitals, family shows and themed cycles, and the 2026 programme also lists musical theatre. Subscriptions are sold for each season, and the theatre publishes a brochure with the full programme.
The main box office is at the theatre on Agustinas. It opens Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Friday from 10:00 to 17:00; at weekends it opens only on performance days, from an hour and a half before curtain up. There is a second box office at the Boulevard Parque Arauco shopping centre in Las Condes. At the time of checking, the theatre's landlines were temporarily out of service and customer service was on +56 9 4760 2906. Guided tours of the building are offered through the theatre's ticketing site, a good option if you cannot fit in a performance.
Smart casual is a safe choice for opera and ballet nights. Arrive in good time, as latecomers may have to wait for a suitable break. The theatre is in the historic centre at Agustinas 794, and the restaurants of Lastarria and the city centre are close by for dinner after the show.
Teatro Municipal de Santiago FAQs
When did the Teatro Municipal open?
It was inaugurated on 17 September 1857 with Verdi's Ernani.
What can I see there?
Opera, ballet, symphony concerts, recitals, family shows and musical theatre.
Which companies are based there?
The Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ballet de Santiago and the Teatro Municipal Chorus.
Where is the box office?
At Agustinas 794, with a second box office at Boulevard Parque Arauco in Las Condes.
What are the box office hours?
Monday to Thursday 10:00 to 18:00 and Friday 10:00 to 17:00; weekends only on performance days, from 90 minutes before the show.
Can I tour the building?
Yes, guided visits are offered through the theatre's ticketing site.
How many seats are there?
The main hall seats 1,500.
What should I wear?
Smart casual is a sensible choice, especially for opera and ballet.