Santiago is the capital of Chile and the largest city in the country. It’s located in the Central Valley and it features an amazing mixture of art deco and neo-gothic architecture with fantastic views of the Andes Mountain Range. It was founded in 1541 by the Spanish crown, and today is a must stop-over if you’re planning to visit Chile. Art collections of pre-Columbian and contemporary art, local markets, beautiful parks like Cerro Santa Lucía and the Mapocho River that flows through the city, are some of the attractions of Santiago. Located just one hour away from vineyards and the Pacific Ocean, there are other attractions you can visit near the city like Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, where most locals prefer to spend their summer vacation.
Surprising, cosmopolitan, dynamic and sophisticated, Santiago de Chile is home to many attractions. Plaza de Armas, its historical center, Casa de la Moneda, the presidential palace and the Central Market are among the highlights travellers can’t miss.
Check out our most recommended attractions in Santiago de Chile!
La Moneda is the Presidential palace and with its white walls and european-style architecture. You can see the guard change-over, an impressive spectacle of military conduct, at 10am on alternate days. La Moneda was witness of the 1973 e bombing of the palace and the suicide of the President, Salvador Allende in the Military cou . Visiting is free, but you run the risk of it being closed for government events. Taking a tour, although informative, can be expensive and requires pre-booking, but may be worth the effort for those particularly interested in the country’s political history.
Address: La Moneda, Moneda S/N, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
Considered the historical centre of Santiago, the Plaza de Armas is an important square to modern day Chile.Surrounded by many historic buildings, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the Royal Court Palace and lined palm trees.
Within the square, is a locals meeting point and local artists expose their work, but in general it is a highly multicultural area. You will also find some monuments like the one dedicated to Pedro de Valdivia, the founder of the city. This is a good place to get a taste of Santiago and its city culture.
Its official name is Parque Metropolitano, Cerro San Cristobal lies in the middle of Santiago. It’s got a 300 meter summit: hike (approx 45 minutes up), cycle or take a funicular which stops at different levels of the hill. Amongst various other activities and attractions, you will find the National Zoo, a Japanese-style garden and two outdoor swimming pools open during the summer. At the summit is an impressive snow white 22 meter statue of the Virgin Mary looking out onto a spectacular panoramic view of the city; this view is a must see in Santiago.
Address: Pio Nono 445, Recoleta Parque Metropolitano de Santiago
In the heart of Santiago is located the Historical Santa Lucía Hill, founded with the city itself by the Conquerors. Lushfull vegetation, great views of the mountains and the city and an interesting place to visit: It has access stairs, and in the side, an elevator that facilitates its ascent.
Among the main attractions of the Santa Lucía Hill are the great Monumental Access by the Alameda Avenue, the Terrace and Fountain of Neptune, the Caupolicán Terrace with its statue of this indigenous leader and the Pedro de Valdivia Terrace, as well as the tower-viewpoint of the summit that allows to dominate the whole city from there.
Address:Avenida Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins y Avenida Santa Lucía (Metro Santa Lucía – Línea 1)
From Mon to Sun: 09:00 a 20:00 hrs
The Central Market of Santiago or simply Mercado Central is a market for the sale of food, mainly fish and seafood, located in the Chilean capital. It is located in the commune of Santiago, considered the historical center of the city. 1 The building was started in 1869 and was inaugurated in 1872. .It was declared a Historic Monument and is part of the “Santiago Patrimonial”. You also enjoy a fresh and delicious fish and seafood lunch in one of the many restaurants located inside.
Address: Calle San Pablo 967 – Santiago Metro Puente Cal y Canto – Línea 2
Fri: 06:00- 20 hrs
Sat: 06:-18:00 hrs
Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Sun: 18:00-17:00 hrs
The Vega Central Market is a collage of colors, flavors and smells from the fertile lands of Chile, which changes with each season. The history of this market is long, farmers and merchants have come to La Vega since colonial times and was founded in 1912 as a formal market, but most of the structures you see today are from later, its not the cleanest, its chaotic and crowded, but if you want to experience local , its a must!
Dirección Antonia López de Bello 760, Recoleta
From Mon to Sun 08:00 – 18:00 hrs
The Casa Museo La Chascona was one of the three houses that belonged to the poet Pablo Neruda and where he lived until the end of his days. The name of the house is due to Matilde Urrutia, who was Neruda’s last wife, and who the poet affectionately called “La Chascona” (Chilean expression meaning disheveled) because of her great red hair.
Pablo Neruda was a sea lover, and designed his houses resembling a ship. As well the “La Chascona” is located on the slopes of the San Cristobal hill, so one of the things that stands out is the abundance of stairs. The house itself is a labyrinth of rooms many of which are not connected to each other, a house surrounded by gardens and invites discovery.
Monday: Closed, Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00 hrs (Jan and Feb until 19:00 hrs)
Address: Fernando Marqués de la Plata 0192, Barrio Bellavista, Providencia.
This museum hosts an invaluable collection of Pre-Columbian art including pottery, sculptures, monuments and other artifacts. The museum represents all the people and cultures from Chilean territory before it was occupied and conquered by the Spanish. This is a truly incredible museum and the ticket price contributes to the museum’s maintenance. However, if you’d rather not pay, it is free every Sunday.
Address: Bandera 361, Santiago de Chile
The Museum of Fine Arts, also referred to as the Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the Parque Forestal. Here you can view an extensive collection of Chilean art as well as a broader collection of South American pieces,from the 19th century until today.. first established in 1880 and later moved to its current building, it’s the oldest galley in the continent. Entry was made free in March 2015, opening its gates to allow everyone to enjoy its sample of Chilean culture.
Address:Parque Forestal S/N, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 10:00 – 18:45 hrs
The Bellavista neighborhood features graffiti-lined streets with cafes, art galleries and boutique shops. Here, you’ll find hip cocktail bars and eclectic eateries next to antique homes and colonial mansions. Full of trendy cool artsy crowds,creative energy, with laid-back vibes, Bellavista is a popular hangout spot among travelers and locals alike. Though Bellavista is one of Santiago’s most frequented neighborhoods, thievery is not uncommon at night, so stay alert and avoid exploring the neighborhood alone in the evening.
Valparaíso is an important touristic and historical port at 116 km from santiago ( 1 hr drive) with a particular geography where the hills mix with the coast, and has got several viewpoints with splendid ocean views.
Walk along the oldest hills of the city (Cerro Alegre and Concepción) and admire the colonial English architecture, contemporary museums, gardens and small squares, hidden viewpoints between houses and balconies. Valparaíso also has “La Sebastiana”, one of the houses of the poet Pablo Neruda with its unique style and charm.
If you are an outdoor activities lover and you have some time in Santiago, this is a popular getaway for locals in search of contact with nature. The Maipo Canyon “Cajón del Maipo” offers a range of activities to enjoy a day out. In winter (June to August), snow falls and covers the mountains, allowing ski sessions.If you want to spend more than a day in these surroundings, there are accommodations and camping places.
There’s a direct shuttle bus leaving from outside the metro stations Bellavista de la Florida, Las Mercedes, and Plaza de Puente Alto. By car, it’s a bit more than 1 hour to the closest hamlet called El Melocotón; You can also book a day tour from a professional agency. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a wind jacket, as it can be quite hot in the sun and turn very cold in the shade.
What you can do there:
Wine lovers! Attention:
The Maipo Valley with small wine producers — renowned for their reds, especially cabernet sauvignon — can be found within an hour’s drive of central Santiago.
The Casablanca Valley (about 50 miles northwest of Santiago). This region teems with wineries that produce top-tier Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs.
Tour costs and hours vary by winery.
Check out our most recommended Restaurants & Bars in Santiago de Chile!
Restaurant & wine bar with an extensive wine list and expert sommeliers. They have been focused on being the Chilean Wine Showcase, with one of the most extensive and awarded wine lists in Chile.
Jose Victorino Lastarria 276, Lastarria
Phone +56 2 2638 9893
Design menu with organic and small producers and ingredients. very expensive.
Av. San José María Escrivá de Balaguer 5970, Región Metropolitana, Chile.
Phone: +56 2 2953 8893
Chilean fusion with tasting menus and salads, soups, fish and meat, always inspired by the native people.
Constitución 136, Providencia. Metropolitan region
They truly applies hospitality to customer service. Privileged place with bartenders and mixologists who really know what they are doing. They have a super long menu of Chilean and Peruvian Piscos.
Jose Victorino Lastarria 282. Santiago Metropolitan Region
Phone: +56 2 2664 0584
A cuisine based on the traditional flavors of Chile, with a touch of signature cuisine from the chef Cristián Correa.
José Victorino Lastarria 307, Barrio Lastarria, Región Metropolitana Santiago de Chile
Phone: +56 2 2638 4931
Since 1935, El Galeón offers seafood restaurant, locos, lobster, spider crab, clams, southern hake, conger eel, crab, cebiche, octopus, sea urchins
Address: San Pablo 943, Mercado Central, Loc 26, 81-82, Región Metropolitana, Chile
Phone: +56 2 2696 4258
If you feel like having a good steak the Eladio is specialized in beef and grill.
Address: Pío Nono 251, Providencia
Phone: +54 2 2231 4224
Trendy and artsy atmosphere in this bar restaurant to try some of the delicacies of the pacific seafood.
Address: Constitución 111, Bellavista
Phone: +56 2 2738 0288
Revolving restaurant with views of the city and international menu, including steaks, seafood and pasta.
Address: Av. Nueva Providencia 2250, P 16, Providencia, Región Metropolitana
Phone: +56 2 2232 1827
Since 1939 starting as a “picada place” today it serves typical Chilean food, famous barbecues while you enjoy a show of Chilean folklore music.
Address: Av. Ricardo Cumming 1031
Phone: +56 2 2566 4660
We recommend at least 3 nights to get to know the city, some vineyards and Valparaiso.
Santiago is a city that offers Spring in September to November and Fall from March to May. The city experiences a moderate climate with mild temperatures year-round, but spring and fall are especially attractive with plenty of sunshine. From December to February (summertime in the Southern Hemisphere),the locals leave town, and it is also a pleasant time to head to Chile’s capital city.
Santiago has a semi-arid climate with mild winter and dry summers. Throughout the year, the temperatures can slide through a big range which is typical to the region.
Summer: December to March with an average temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius or cooler. However, the temperature can touch as high as around 36 degrees Celsius! The night is usually much colder.
Autumn: April to May (sometimes autumn can pre-set in March) with an average temperature of around 20-22 degrees Celsius and it can get cooler- touching to around 10 degrees Celsius.
Winter: June to August with temperatures that can go well below 10 degrees Celsius. However, winters do give rise to a lot of smog effect due to temperature inversion.
Spring: September to November is the spring season with pleasant weather which can range from a slow as 6 to as high as 23 degrees Celsius.
Rain: Rainy season intermingles partly with autumn and partly with winter with a peak season during June-July.
Flight: Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, commonly called Santiago International Airport and Pudahuel Airport is Chile’s main airport, located northwest of the city of Santiago. International flights arrive there and to the most important cities in the country.
Bus: Buses from different parts of the country arrive in the city. It is very common to connect by bus from Santiago de Chile to the city of Mendoza in Argentina.
Self-drive: Santiago is a capital city, with a lot of vehicular traffic and good public transport service. We recommend you to visit it with public transport, walking or by bicycle. If you want to visit the surroundings you can rent a car, but if you want to visit a winery we recommend you to do it with a tour, so you can taste all the wines you want.
In Chile, there is a wide network of ATMs, divided into three sub-networks: Redf, Redbanc and BancoEstado. The last two are now connected.
Typically, the maximum withdrawal at a Chilean ATM will be around 200,000 Chilean Pesos. If you need to withdraw more than that in one day, you may need to visit multiple ATMs and take out a few different withdrawals.
In restaurants, it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Note that tips can’t be added to credit-card bills, so carry cash for this purpose.
For tour guides , estimate around USD 10/15 per person, for a full day tour and half of it for the driver. In hotels, you should tip porters for handling bags:USD1.00 for every two bags.
Same amount is calculated for drivers if they help you with your suitcases, the housekeeping (between USD0.50 – 1.00 per night), and the concierge staff if the have helped you to arrange dinner reservations, transportation or leisure activities. In Chile we don’t regularly tip taxi drivers.
Around USD 50/100 per day, per person for daily expenses like eating, shopping and transportation, depending on how much money you want to spend on these.
The most popular international credit cards are widely accepted in Chile, especially in cities, but ask when travelling into remote areas (like Torres del Paine for example or other National parks).
For money exchange, Santiago is probably the best place for it. Exchange shops are everywhere and sometimes one next to each other, often offering better rates than banks. AFEX is a good option. They exchange any currency, although a registration is required the first time for exchanging cheques and cash amounts higher than US$3,000. For smaller amounts, an ID card or passport will be required.
Pick up at airports will be upon arrival of your flight, that’s why it is so important to have the most accurate and updated flight information and inform your contact numbers if there is a last minute change of schedule or flight. If you booked a transfer, your guide or driver will be waiting for you with a sign and your name , outside baggage claim area. If you want to take a taxi on your own, we strongly recommend to use the official counters in the airport. Please take care if people posing as airport workers offer to help you when you can’t find your appointed driver and of taking just any taxi in the airport, several scams have been reported.
Any foreign consulate can provide a list of area doctors who speak English. If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local doctor — even his or her own. Get in contact with your travel / medical insurance.
We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance. Travel insurance helps protect against unforeseen emergencies which can occur at any time. It also helps protect you against other circumstances like travel delay, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections and so much more.
Everything will depend on the time of year in which you visit the city.
If you come in the fall or spring, the ideal is to pack fresh clothes and the multiuse jacket Besides that, packing comfortable shoes is vital, since Santiago is a city where you walk a lot.
If you visit in the winter months, remember to bring a warmer coat, some scarves and gloves. Finally, if you choose the summer months, it will be very important that you bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
A daily pack to wander the city will be really useful during your trip!
Eco Mercado Yungay:
Ecological and organic alternatives in the heart of Santiago
The first Sunday of each month you will be able to find organic fruits and vegetables, products for vegans, coeliacs, diabetics, healthy pastries, cosmetics and natural medicine, recycling, home-grown plants and much more, in addition to different talks and workshops related to sustainability.
Libertad 455-499, Santiago de Chile.
Organic Market – Plaza Perú
Wednesdays and Saturdays
Food, cosmetics, toys and many more natural products.
Isidora Goyenechea 3051, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile.
Ecological Market of Santiago 1
A space for small producers and food health.
Santo Domingo 1240-1300, Santiago de Chile.
Ecological Market of Santiago 2
Healthy food, mainly organic and natural products, in bulk. They do not use plastic and we reuse the containers. – cereals – grains – legumes – spices foods – candies – chocolates – pastries – bakery – juices.
Green Fair in Chile
Itinerant dates.
It dedicates the exhibition to ecological products for the house and a wide variety in natural biocosmetics, special to make a different, alternative and more natural gift to the mothers in their day. Organic seaweed creams, aloe vera, donkey milk, cannabis sativa, snail slime, nettle, rosemary, grapes, honey, bath salts and virgin milks. In addition to finding aromatherapy, natural wools, portable vegetable gardens for apartments, reusable diapers and biodegradable cleaning products.
You can also find organic wines, artisan beers, goat cheeses, chutneys, honeys, infusions, candies, chocolates, organic Colombian coffee, quiches and vegetarian empanadas.
The Sustainable Chile Program is an initiative of environmental organizations, activists, academics, professionals and citizens committed to changing the current development paradigm in Chile. It was created in 1997 with the aim of promoting the development of a citizen proposal for the social, political and economic transformation of Chile from the current model towards a development based on sustainability criteria.
We love Cities
Santiago has an energy strategy that aims to reduce GHG emissions 30% by 2030. To meet it, the city is focusing on integrated waste management and carefully monitoring municipal and communal carbon footprints.
Santiago is also making citizen participation a top priority. By 2030, the city plans to involve its citizens in local energy management – and will invite them, as well as all relevant parties, to participate in shaping energy projects, plans and programs. All together now!
HuellaChile is an initiative that seeks to promote the quantification, reporting and management of corporate GHG emissions in the public and private sectors.
This initiative has its origin in the Ministry of the Environment and has the support and funding of the European Commission, the Government of Germany and the Government of Australia. This program gives recognition to the participating organizations, which are divided into 4 levels, ranging from the quantification of carbon footprint to the declaration of excellence.
Green Solutions delivers all its experience to organizations so that they can successfully participate in the Chile Footprint Program
Let's keep together & connected through our social media channels: