Santiago, Chile Destination Guide
Section 1: Intro to the Destination
Tucked in a valley between the towering Andes Mountains, Santiago offers both a buzzing metropolis and hotspot for adventure seekers. With its growing economy, the city is flourishing with culinary options, world renowned wine, and its own artistic renaissance.
Which of the Following Phrases Best Describes this Destination?
Energetic, Active, Outdoors
What’s the Destination Known For?
Santiago is nestled between both the beach and the Andes Mountains. Therefore, visitors can enjoy lounging by the water, exploring a great metropolis, and hiking/skiing in the mountains, all in the same trip.
Due to its growing economy, Santiago has a thriving arts scene. It is home to several world-renowned museums and offers great access to theater, music, and dancing.
Santiago is full of expansive, green parks. It is an ideal city for biking and long walks. Many of these parks are nestled into the hills around the outskirts of the city.
40% of Chile’s population lives in Santiago
Due to its world-renowned vineyards, Santiago has a selection of top wine bars.
Each neighborhood in Santiago has its own unique character and flair.
Getting There
SCL Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez (Santiago International Airport)
Location: Aviador David Fuentes, Pudahuel, Región Metropolitana
Located 20 km west of the city center
Visa: US citizens receive a 90 day tourist visa upon arrival
Bus: There are two cheap bus services—Buses Centropuerto and Turbus Aeropuerto. Both leave from outside the arrivals hall. Tickets are purchased on board. The busses drop you in the city center, 40 minutes away.
Car: Depending on traffic, the drive takes around 30 minutes. Rental cars are available at the airport.
Taxi: A taxi ride costs around CH$18,000. Visit one of the taxi company counters after exiting customs to book.
Shuttle Bus: Shared shuttles can be organized from the Transvip desk in the arrivals hall. The price is generally around CH$7000.
Main Central Station: Estación Central
Location: Avenida Barnardo O’Higgins 3170
Local Etiquette
Tipping: Because hospitality workers make a low wage, at least 10% tip at restaurants is customary. Often, this is included in the bill already. If so, it’s normal to tip at least 5% more. It’s also customary to tip hotel and spa workers.
Greeting: An air kiss on the cheek.
Gestures: Chileans stand closer than North Americans do. They are very warm and care less about personal space. Beckoning someone with your index finger or clicking your fingers at someone is considered rude.
Words/Phrases to know:
Hello – Hola
Please – Por favor
Thank you – Gracias
Yes – Sí
No – No
Goodbye – Chao
Do you speak English? – Hablas Inglés?
I don’t understand – No entiendo
Everything is good! – Todo bien!
Cheers! – Salud!
One espresso, please – Un espresso, por favor
What time do you open? – A qué hora abres?
Weather
Temperatures:
Spring:
High: 72F / 22C
Low: 45F / 7C
Summer:
High: 86F / 30C
Low: 52F / 11C
Fall:
High: 73F / 23C
Low: 45F / 7C
Winter:
High: 59F / 15C
Low: 37F / 3C
Elevation: 1,870ft / 570m
The best month for swimming is January, the average sea temperature is 61F. The wettest month of the year is July.
The weather is best between December and February with the sunshine lasting between 13-14 hours. Fantastic months for warm weather and not so many crowds would include April and October. In winter, it will be chillier overall but still quite sunny throughout 9.5 hours of the day.
How to dress: Depends on the time of year. Summers are dry and warm while winters stay fairly mild but still chilly. There are also often big temperature changes throughout the day. Therefore, it is advisable to pack layers.
Getting Around
In-city transportation:
Tram/Buses: Busses are a reliable and relatively safe way to get around the city. Green and white busses operate in the city center, while the suburbs each have their own colored busses. Bus stations are generally close to metro stations, making the two systems convenient to use together. Bip! cards are used to pay the fare. Busses are a good choice after the metro closes at night.
Santiago also has a system called Transantiago. These are sleek extra-long buses run by the government that are quick and cheap. Users pay with their Bip! cards.
Metro: The metro is another clean and safe way to get around the city. Payment is also made using the Bip! card or travelers can purchase a one-way fare at any of the stations.
Uber/Lyft: Taxis are known to be a reliable way to get around the city and drivers are honest and courteous. Uber operates around all the city. Lyft is not yet available.
Bikes: Biking around Santiago is growing in popularity. Because of this, the network of ciclovías (bike lanes) is expanding. The city is relatively flat and the climate is optimal for cycling. The city also has a bike-share program called Bike Santiago. There are five hubs where users can rent bikes.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: 13 stops along the city route between 9:30-18:00
Price: USD$38
Walking: Santiago is a very walkable city since the weather is mild, the city is flat, and there are many parks. You will also find a number of walking paths along the main roads.
Section 2: What to See, Do, and Eat
Breakfast
Café
$$
Location: Av. Ricardo Cumming 54
Times: Monday to Friday 8:00-21:00; Saturday & Sunday 9:30-21:00
Casual dress
Specialty coffee from baristas who understand their beans. Visitors can do a pairing and tasting session.
Best dish: Nitro cold brew, breakfast special (latte, juice, eggs on a bagel, brownie)
Café, vegetarian
$$
Location: Avenida Luis Pasteur 5393 | Vitacura
Times: Monday to Friday 8:00-23:00; Saturday 9:00-17:00
Casual dress
A vegetarian café that could still please the likes of your meat loving friends. A small shop in the café sells specialty organic products.
Best dish: ‘Brunch Quinoa’—granola, fruit and natural yogurt, avocado toast, muffin/ burrito/ omelet or poached eggs
Café
$
Location: Roger de Flor 2969
Monday to Friday 7:30-19:30
Casual dress
A bit off the beaten track, this local’s favorite is the perfect spot to get specialty coffee from Santiago’s top educated baristas.
Best dish: Media luna, chai latte
Brunch
Mediterranean
$$$
Location: Avenida Presidente Kennedy 4601
Times: Monday to Friday 6:30-10:30, 12:30-16:00; Saturday & Sunday 6:00-11:00, 13:00-16:00 , 15:00-23:00
Semi casual
Large and varied brunch menu in a light filled, contemporary interior. On Sundays, diners enjoy a family-friendly brunch will bilingual babysitters and wines for the adults.
Best dish: Huge selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, breads, and classic breakfast favorites
Café
$$
Location: Rosal 361
Times: daily 8:30-22:00
Casual dress
Brunch is served English style, with the likes of eggs Benedict to homemade granola, in a cozy, homey café where the staff speak great English.
Best dish: Eggs Benedict with salmon on English muffins
French
$$
Location: Avenida Cardenal Jose Maria Caro 390
Times: Monday to Thursday 10:00-23:00; Friday & Saturday 10:00-24:00; Sunday 10:00-20:00
Semi casual
An old castle situated on the edge of Park Forestal with authentic French food and a cozy vibe.
Best dish: ‘Brunch Tour Eiffel’—Eggs Benedict, pancakes or daily tart, yoghurt or fruit salad, coffee, tea, juice
Lunch
Café
$$
Location: Avenida Providencia 1467
Times: Monday to Friday 8:30-21:00; Saturday & Sunday 11:00-21:00
Casual dress
Health focused café with a delightful balance of fresh pressed juices, salads and ice cream to round it out.
Best dish: Dairy free sorbet
American fast food
$
Location: Merced 461
Times: Monday to Friday 13:00-16:30, 17:30-22:00; Saturday 14:00-22:00
Casual dress
Fast and casual hamburgers served American style with equally delicious vegetarian options.
Best dish: Bacon cheese burger
Dinner
Indian
$$
Location: Vitacura 5461 | Vitacura
Times: Sunday & Saturday 12:30-15:30, 19:00-23:30; Monday to Thursday 19:00-23:00
Semi casual
Beautiful Indian ambiance with colorful walls, mosaics, and authentic light fixtures, complimented by flavorful dishes.
Best dish: Kulfi, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala
Japanese, sushi
$$$
Location: Avenida Vitacura 3875
Times: Sunday to Saturday 13:00-15:30, 20:00-23:30
Business casual
A mix of Japanese-Chilean fusion with authentic Japanese. Sit by the sushi prep area to marvel at the chefs at work.
Best dish: Sushi, sashimi, sake (let the chef choose your courses)
Italian, Mediterranean
$$
Location: Avda. Ossa 123, Nunoa | Mall Plaza Egaña
Times: Sunday to Thursday 12:30-24:00; Saturday 12:30-1:00 am
Semi casual
The building that houses this Italian restaurant was constructed in 1920 by an Italian architect and later transformed into part restaurant, part jazz bar (Club de Jazz de Santiago).
Best dish: Authentic Italian pizzas—as good as the quality in Italy
Other
Ice cream
$
Location: Merced 291
Times: daily 8:30-21:00
Casual dress
Chile is the biggest consumer of ice cream in Latin America, and Emporio La Rosa is ranked one of the top 25 ice cream shops in the world.
Best dish: Miel de Ulmo (Chilean honey), Chocolate Araucano (chocolate with herbs), Naranja Jenibre (orange and ginger)
Wine bar
$$
Location: Avenue José Victorino Lastarria 276
Times: Monday to Saturday 12:30-24:00; Sunday 19:00-23:00
Business casual
The international wine magazine, Wine Spectator, has ranked BocaNáriz’s wine list as one of the best in the world for the past three years. Located in artsy Lastarria neighborhood.
Best dish: Choose from over 400 national wines
Craft brewery
$$
Location: Compania de Jesus 2858
Times: Monday to Thursday 18:00-24:00; Friday & Saturday 18:00-1:00 am
Casual dress
The lively bar brews its own beers as well as pours more than 70 national microbrewers. It is considered the unofficial tasting room for many breweries without their own formal facilities.
Best dish: Leon pizza (shredded beef & caramelized onion) paired with a pint
Top things to See and Do
This museum is known for its outstanding collection of pottery from a range of pre-Columbian cultures, including tribes from the Amazon, Andes, and Caribbean. Visitors will also find anthropomorphic vessels, Maya stone steles, Mapuche totems and Andean textiles. The museum was created from Sergio Larraín García-Moreno’s collection and opened to the public in 1981.
The building that houses the museum was constructed in 1805, demonstrated through its neoclassical style. It originally belonged to the colonial government’s Royal Customs House.
Location: Bandera 361 | Centro
Times: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00, Monday closed
Price: CH$6000
Many consider this to be Santiago’s best museum.
While this huge market specializes in seafood, visitors can also find vendors selling meat, liquor, produce, baked goods, empanadas, jewelry, and other local products. There are both restaurants and market stands.
Mercado Central is a great way for visitors to get a taste of Chilean local products in a vibrant and buzzing atmosphere.
Location: San Pablo 967 | Centro
Times: Monday to Thursday 6:00-17:00; Friday 6:00-20:00; Saturday 6:00-18:00; Sunday 6:00-17:00
Price: Free
This expansive park is the biggest green space in Santiago. It offers the best views of the city from its peak where a 14m statue of Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción was erected.
To reach the peak of Cerro San Cristobal visitors can hike a steep trail, take the funicular, or take the teleférico. The park is also home to Zoológico Nacional, the Jardín Botánico Mapulema, Plaza de Juegos Infantiles Gabriela Mistral, Jardín Japonés and two swimming pools. At the top, visitors can enjoy treats from a few food vendors.
Location: Pedro Bannen, Providencia | Recoleta
Time Open: Winter Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-19:00; Summer Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-20:00
Price: el teleférico: Tues-Fri CH$2510, Sat-Sun CH$3010
This huge fruit and vegetable market sells all local Chilean products at cheap prices. If it grows in Chile, you’ll find it here. Vendors also sell spices, nuts, fish, cheeses, meats, tools, gadgets, and household supplies.
An afternoon spent at La Vega Central is considered one of the most Chilean experiences one can have in Santiago. Outside of buying local products, visitors can sample authentic South American cuisine like sopaipillas (fried pumpkin dough) or mote con huesillo (drink made from wheat and peaches).
Location: Corner of Nueva Rengifo & Antonia López de Bello | Recoleta
Times: Monday to Saturday 6:00-18:00; Sunday 7:00-14:00
Price: Free
This neoclassical building is home to Chile’s presidential offices. The building was designed in the late 18th century by Italian architect Joaquín Toesca. Visitors can still see the damage inflicted on the north face from the air-force missile attack during the 1973 military coupe.
Tourists can schedule an official tour of Palacio de la Moneda between Monday and Friday. It must be scheduled through the Government’s official site: https://visitasguiadas.presidencia.cl/
Location:Corner of Morandé & Moneda | Centro
Times: Monday to Friday 9:00-17:00
Price: Free
This is no ordinary graveyard. The tombs of Cementerio General are grandiose and detailed, many adorned with work by local sculptors. It takes on the feel of an open-air museum.
Some of the most well-known tombs belong to Salvador Allende, Andrés Bello, and Violeta Parra. Visitors can also see the Memorial de los Detenidos in honor of the political victims from the Pinochet dictatorship.
Location: Av. Profesor Alberto Zañartu 951 | Recoleta
Times: Monday to Sunday 8:30-17:30
Price: Free
This quaint neighborhood is marked by the intersection of París and Londres streets. It is brimming with cute cafes, art galleries and shops. Far from the city center, the cobblestone streets are more than a tranquil oasis; the historical richness of the neighborhood can be seen in its 1920s European-style town homes and buildings that hosted the Headquarters of the Socialist Party and the Corporación Londres 38.
People gather to stroll, take photographs, shop, eat, and enjoy the historical significance. The quarter was declared a National Monument in 1982.
Location: Intersection of Calle Londres and Paris
Time Open: 24/7
Price: Free
This cultural and performing-arts center hosts a number of concerts and performances. The schedule is always rotating, but includes the likes of art exhibits, theater, opera, and dance shows.
The building was built in 1972 to host the conference of UNCTAD III but soon after transformed into a social meeting place. It was named after Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature.
Location: Av O’Higgins 227 | Barrio Lastarria
Times: Plazas: daily 8:00-22:00, exhibitions Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-21:00; Sunday 11:00-21:00
Price: Free entrance, tickets to shows range in price
Festivals/Parades
This is the celebration of Chile’s Independence Day, falling on September 18th.
Typically, festivities will happen over a couple days and across the entire country. People celebrate with parades, festivals, patriotic decorations and indigenous foods.
In Santiago, it is common to see events organized in the main common spaces. Families will typically host asados (barbeques) followed by drinking and dancing.
Around the city; popular locations: Parque O’Higgins, Parque Padre Hurtado, Estadio Nacional
Date: September
Time: depends on event
Price: depends on event
How to best experience it: Because Fiesta Patrias happens all around the city, research what events are happening near you to choose the best celebrations. Many restaurants organize asados, so you can try authentic Chilean food while celebrating.
This is Santiago’s largest festival, lasting three weeks throughout January. It celebrates theater in the city through a number of both indoor and open-air performances.
After the dictatorship of Pinochet, Santiago A Mil was organized to give theater a space to thrive again. Since its founding, the festival has organized 1,386 shows.
Located in numerous theaters around Santiago
Date: January
Times vary based on show
A number of shows have free entrance, ticket prices vary for the rest
How to best experience it: Download the full schedule of performances prior to the start of the festival and pick which shows most interest you. You can also read articles on which shows are anticipated to be the best, or pertain to a particular topic of interest.
Nightlife
This is considered one of the most famous bars in the world. It got its name after the Chilean president Alessandri called the space a ‘piojera’.
The establishment was opened in 1896 and has consistently been a local favorite for its inviting atmosphere and authentic Chilean drinks/ food.
Locatin: Aillavillu 1030
Times: Monday to Saturday 12:00-24:00
Price: $
Try the terremoto, Chile’s national drink (pineapple ice cream, pipeño, fernet)
Santiago’s most famous pisco bar
Chile has a longstanding rivalry with Peru over pisco. This establishment is the self-proclaimed ‘Independent Republic of Pisco’. Patrons can try pisco in all its forms from bartenders who know the ins and outs of this form of brandy.
Chipe Libre has a beautiful back terrace, with string lights and green foliage.
Location: Jose Victorino Lastarria 282
Times: Monday to Saturday 12:30-1:00 am
Price: $$
Asian speakeasy
An unassuming, graffiti filled wall opens to reveal an eclectic and posh Asian speakeasy. Set in a refurbished house, the space is filled with knick knacks from flea markets, plush sofas, and funky light features.
Location: Avenida Peru 631 | Recoleta
Times: Tuesday to Saturday 20:00-2:00 am
Price: $$$
Try the fusion martinis (Rozameltini: pisco, kaffir lime, blueberry juice; Mirotini: Grand Marnier, pisco, passion fruit, raspberry juice)
Hidden Gems
An abandoned green house in the middle of a beautiful park
Sounds ominous, but this attraction is actually surrounded by museums, ponds, walking trails, and fountains for children to play in.
Visitors come to rent paddleboats, stroll, take photographs of the deserted greenhouse, and eat food from street vendors.
Location: Avenida Matacuna 520
Times: Tuesday to Sunday 7:00-20:30
Price: Free
Museum of Memory and Human Rights
This museum is dedicated to the human rights abuses that occurred under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
The museum follows the period from the military coup on September 11, 1973 when Pinochet rose to power through to contemporary relevance.
The space includes video footage, media excerpts, interactive photography and audio exhibits.
Location: Matucana 501
Times: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00
Price: Free
This is not a museum for everyone, as the material is very heavy.
Bookstore and gallery
While small in stature, one could spend hours meandering through this eccentric bookstore and gallery. It was founded by a group of local journalists, illustrators, and designers to bring art and storytelling together.
There are frequently events or workshops being held, so check their Facebook page to find events during your trip.
Location: Merced 439
Times: daily 11:00-20:00
Price: Free
