Top places to visit in Santiago

• Palacio de La Moneda

  Presidential Palace · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Chile's presidential palace, one of Latin America's finest neoclassical buildings. Built as the royal mint in 1784–1805. Infamous worldwide for the 1973 coup. Free guided tours available inside on weekdays by prior booking.

• Cerro San Cristóbal

  Hill & City Park · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry $4,000 (≈ ₹390)

  An 880 m forested hill rising above Bellavista with Santiago's best city viewpoint. A 1925 funicular climbs to the summit Virgin Mary statue with 360° Andes views. On clear winter mornings, snow-capped 6,000 m peaks appear astonishingly…

• Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

  Pre-Columbian Art Museum · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry $5,000 (≈ ₹490)

  One of South America's finest pre-Columbian art museums in a restored colonial palace. Textiles, ceramics, gold, Andean mummies, and Rapa Nui culture from cultures spanning 10,000 years. The Andean textile room alone is worth the entry fee.

• Barrio Bellavista

  Bohemian District · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Santiago's bohemian neighbourhood at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal. Tree-lined Pío Nono avenue fills nightly with restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and live music. The city's highest concentration of good restaurants and the prime…

• Plaza de Armas

  Colonial Plaza · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Santiago's central square since 1541. Surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National History Museum, and the Correo Central. The civic heart of Chile where street performers, chess players, and pigeons coexist beneath towering…

• Mercado Central

  Seafood Market · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Santiago's ornate iron-and-glass market (1872) is the finest place in Chile for fresh seafood. Whole conga eels, king crabs, and sea urchins fill the stalls. The central restaurants serve caldillo de congrio — the eel soup Pablo Neruda…

• La Chascona — Pablo Neruda's House

  Poet's House Museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · entry $6,500 (≈ ₹630)

  Pablo Neruda's eccentric Santiago home, designed like a ship. Three interlocked houses tumble down a hillside packed with glass collections, figureheads, maps, and sea paraphernalia. A UNESCO world heritage candidacy site and shrine to the…

Things to do

• Cerro San Cristóbal Funicular & Teleférico Nature · 3 h · from CLP 4,200 per person
• Santiago Historic Centre Free Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h
• Pablo Neruda La Chascona House Museum Tour Cultural · 1.3 h · from CLP 4,500 per person
• Maipo Valley Wine & Vineyard Day Tour Food Drink · 8 h · from CLP 65,000 per person
• Santiago Street Food & Markets Tour Food Drink · 3 h · from CLP 18,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Maipo Valley Wine & Vineyard Full Day 9 h · from CLP 65,000
• Santiago Highlights Full Day — Markets, History & Cerro San Cristóbal 9 h · from CLP 35,000
• Pablo Neruda's La Chascona + Bellavista Street Art Walk 5 h · from CLP 22,000

Where to stay in Santiago

• Barrio Lastarria about CLP 95,000 per night

  Santiago's most sophisticated bohemian neighbourhood — tree-lined streets between the Bellas Artes Museum and Parque Forestal. A compact, walkable area with independent cafés, bookshops, theatres, and some of Santiago's…

• Barrio Bellavista about CLP 80,000 per night

  The historic bohemian quarter of Santiago, north of the Mapocho River at the base of Cerro San Cristóbal. Concentrated nightlife, restaurants, bars, and Pablo Neruda's La Chascona house. Excellent for younger travellers…

• Las Condes / Vitacura (El Golf) about CLP 280,000 per night

  Santiago's upscale financial and residential district, east of the city at the Andean foothills. Premium hotels (Hyatt, Marriott, W), Parque Arauco mall, excellent restaurants and spas. Quieter and more residential but…

Hotels

• The Singular Santiago, Lastarria 5-star · CLP 18,000 to CLP 45,000 per night
• Noi Vitacura 5-star · CLP 20,000 to CLP 55,000 per night
• Hotel Cumbres Lastarria 4-star · CLP 12,000 to CLP 28,000 per night
• Hotel Magnolia 4-star · CLP 10,000 to CLP 22,000 per night
• Hostal Forestal 2-star · CLP 2,500 to CLP 7,000 per night

Where to eat

• Mercado Central chilean, seafood · about CLP 18,000 per person
• Fuente Alemana chilean, sandwiches · about CLP 6,500 per person
• La Mar Cebichería peruvian, ceviche · about CLP 28,000 per person
• Galindo chilean, traditional · about CLP 8,500 per person
• Boragó chilean, modern, tasting-menu · about CLP 220,000 per person

Getting to Santiago

Airport: Santiago (SCL)

How visitors arrive in Santiago

• Flight into Santiago airport By air from Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) · common

  The main Chilean gateway for international flights, with links to most continents and a major Latin American hub. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus By road from Other Chilean cities · common

  Buses are the main way to travel between Chilean cities, arriving at terminals such as Terminal Santiago and Alameda; international buses come from Mendoza, Lima and elsewhere. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Regional train to Estacion Central By train from Rancagua / Chillan · possible

  Commuter and interregional trains from the south arrive at Estacion Central, though the wider passenger rail network has largely closed. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Drive via Ruta 5 By road from Southern Chile · possible

  The Pan-American Highway (Ruta 5) enters the city as the Autopista Central, which needs a toll transponder. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Centropuerto bus from the airport

  Airport buses leave from the terminal just outside arrivals and serve city stops including Metro Republica and the Pajaritos intermodal station. Source: centropuerto.cl

• Turbus airport service

  Turbus also runs airport buses from the bus area a short walk from arrivals. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shared or private transfer (Transvip, WeTransport)

  Both companies offer shared or private door-to-door transfers to hotels. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi outside the terminal

  Taxis are available at the airport for the ride into the city; confirm the fare before setting off. Source: chile.travel

Getting around

• Bus

  Buses in Santiago run under the Red Metropolitana de Movilidad, with feeder lines bringing riders to metro stations and main lines working with the metro.

• Metro

  Santiago's metro is a multi-line rapid transit network run by Metro S.A., and it is integrated with the city's buses so riders can transfer between them.

• Ride Hail

  Ride-hailing apps are available in the capital if you would rather book a car from your phone than flag a cab.

• Taxi

  Official taxis in Santiago are black and yellow and run on a meter, and radiotaxi services can also be booked by phone.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake Police (Touristo Scam)

  Plaza de Armas, Bellavista, Cerro Santa Lucía

  Two men posing as plainclothes police officers approach tourists claiming there are counterfeit banknotes in circulation and demand to inspect your wallet and passport. A third accomplice stands nearby. If you hand over your wallet, cash is quickly extracted before it is "returned".

  How to avoid it: Real Chilean Carabineros wear uniforms at all times. Plainclothes police rarely approach tourists on the street. Never hand your wallet or passport to a stranger. If approached, walk to the nearest uniformed officer or busy shop.

• Metro Pickpockets

  Santiago Metro Line 1 (Baquedano, Universidad de Chile, Santa Lucía stations)

  Crowded peak-hour (07:30–09:30 and 18:00–20:00) metro carriages create cover for skilled pickpockets working in teams of 2–3. One person creates a distraction (dropping something, bumping into you) while an accomplice removes your phone or wallet from your pocket or backpack.

  How to avoid it: Wear your backpack on your chest in crowded carriages. Keep phone in a zipped front pocket. Avoid placing your phone on the metro seat beside you. Be extra alert at turnstiles where bags are less monitored.

• Bird Poo / Liquid Drop Scam

  Near Cerro Santa Lucía, tourist buses, Plaza Italia

  A stranger (or a spray from an accomplice above) splashes liquid on your clothing and immediately offers to help clean it up. While cleaning, an accomplice steals your phone, wallet, or bag.

  How to avoid it: If anything splashes on you unexpectedly in public, move to a safe enclosed area (café, shop) before attempting to clean it. Decline all "helpful" offers from strangers approaching you immediately after the incident.

• Airport Taxi Overcharging

  Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) arrivals area

  Unlicensed taxi drivers at the SCL arrivals hall quote informal prices of 50,000–80,000 CLP to the city (official rate: 25,000–35,000 CLP). Some "premium" shuttle operators are also overpriced.

  How to avoid it: Use Uber or DiDi from the official rideshare pickup area (follow signs at arrivals). Or pre-book with the official transfer desks inside the terminal (TransVip, Centropuerto) which have fixed rates. Never accept informal offers from drivers in the arrivals hall.

• Friendship Bracelet / Street Vendor Trap

  Barrio Bellavista, Lastarria, Mercado Central area

  A vendor ties a bracelet onto your wrist "as a gift" without asking — then demands an inflated payment (5,000–15,000 CLP). If you refuse, the vendor becomes aggressive or persistent.

  How to avoid it: If someone approaches with an object moving towards your wrist, politely but firmly say "No, gracias" and keep walking. Never accept unsolicited items from street vendors.

Best time to visit Santiago

• Jan 30°C
• Feb 30°C
• Mar 28°C
• Apr 23°C
• May 19°C
• Jun 16°C
• Jul 16°C
• Aug 18°C
• Sep 20°C
• Oct 23°C
• Nov 27°C
• Dec 29°C

More in Chile

• San Pedro de Atacama
• Easter Island
• Valparaíso
• Torres del Paine
• Puerto Natales
• Viña del Mar

Frequently asked questions about Santiago

What are the top-rated places to visit in Santiago?

The highest-rated places in our Santiago guide are Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, Cerro San Cristóbal, La Chascona — Pablo Neruda's House, Plaza de Armas, Palacio de La Moneda.

Where should I stay in Santiago?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Santiago: Barrio Lastarria, Barrio Bellavista, Las Condes / Vitacura (El Golf).

How do I get around Santiago?

Ways to get around Santiago covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in Santiago?

Scams reported to us for Santiago include Fake Police (Touristo Scam); Metro Pickpockets; Bird Poo / Liquid Drop Scam. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Santiago?

Average daytime highs in Santiago run from 16°C in Jul to 30°C in Jan.

Which airport is nearest to Santiago?

The nearest airport to Santiago has the code SCL.