Viña del Mar trades on its parks, its beaches, and a string of early twentieth-century mansions left from the city's heyday as a summer retreat for Santiago's wealthy. The historic core is small enough to walk: from the Reloj de Flores at the south end of the seafront, along the coast past the Castillo Wulff and Sausalito, up through the Quinta Vergara gardens, and back through the centre.
For a half-day trip, combine the museums of the Quinta Vergara with the beaches and a meal at a seafront restaurant. The cliffside palaces above the bay are best seen on foot from the coast road.