Santiago is one of the best cities in South America, surrounded by the snow-capped Andes mountains and rich with colonial history!
These are just some of the reasons why you should visit Chile’s capital city.
I spent one day in Santiago exploring some of the best sites in the city and have put together this complete guide to the 3 best things to do in Santiago Chile.
QUICK ANSWERS: THINGS TO DO IN SANTIAGO CHILE
Let’s start this guide with some quick answers to the most frequently asked questions from first-time visitors.
WHERE IS SANTIAGO CHILE?
Santiago is located in the middle of Chile and it’s the country’s capital city with an estimated population of 5.6 million people.
Click here to see the location on Google maps.
HOW TO GET TO SANTIAGO CHILE?
The best and easiest way of reaching Santiago is by plane. Daily flights operate in and out of Santiago Chile Airport, connecting domestic and international travelers from around the world.
Santiago City is a short twenty-minute drive from the airport.
Search All: Flights to Santiago Chile
3 BEST THINGS TO DO IN SANTIAGO CHILE
SANTA LUCIA HILL
Santa Lucia Hill, also known as Cerro Santa Lucia, was the first awesome location that I visited upon arriving in Santiago de Chile, and in my opinion, it’s the perfect place to start your one-day Santiago tour.
Santa Lucia Hill is the remnant of a volcano from 15 million years ago, located in the center of Santiago City.
Santa Lucia Park has many features including ornate facades, water fountains, stone staircases, a small castle, and a panoramic viewpoint at the top of the 70m tall hill.
It’s approximately a ten-minute walk to reach the top of Santa Lucia Hill and marveling at the city from the topmost viewpoint is one of the best things to do in Santiago Chile.
Search All: Hostels & Hotels in Santiago
PLAZA DE ARMAS
The Plaza de Armas is the main square in Santiago City and a must-see on everyone’s one day in Santiago itinerary.
Surrounded by large palm trees and historic buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, the Central Post Office building, and Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago.
Take a rest on one of the bench seats, feed the birds circulating the central fountain, and take a happy snap sitting in one of the letters at the ‘Santiago’ sign.
SAN CRISTOBAL HILL
San Cristobal Hill, also known as Cerro San Cristobal, is my favorite location in Santiago City.
At 850m above sea level, the summit of Cerro San Cristobal boasts the most amazing 360° views of Santiago City and surrounding regions.
Atop San Cristobal Hill is a 22m statue of the Virgin Mary, along with a chapel and an amphitheater.
It is free to visit San Cristobal Hill if you decide to hike up to the top, which takes around forty-five minutes, or alternatively, you can take the easy option and ride the funicular to the summit which costs 1500 Pesos one way or 2000 Pesos return trip.
I decided to hike up San Cristobal Hill as the queue of people lining up for the funicular was ridiculously long and time was of the essence to make it to the top in time for sunset.
If your legs aren’t painted on and you are keen to hike, just follow the sidewalk to the left once you enter the park for about five to ten minutes until you see the trailhead on the right-hand side of the road.
The trail is not steep at all and there are several park benches to take a rest along the way if you wish. The trail will lead you right to the top, emerging at Terraza Bellavista roughly forty minutes later.
Watching the sunset at San Cristobal Hill is a perfect way to end the day exploring this magnificent city!
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTIAGO CHILE
Santiago has thousands of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay in Santiago to fit the needs of budget backpackers and luxury travelers.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend.
Luxury: The Ritz Carlton Santiago
Get treated like a celebrity at The Ritz Carlton, a 5-star hotel that features a rooftop spa, heated pools, a fitness center, and 3 restaurants.
The rooms are stylish and spacious with incredible views of Santiago City. Wifi is free and breakfast is included!
Mid Range: Hotel Regal Pacific Santiago
Great location in the center of Santiago, this hotel features a whirlpool spa, gym, sauna, racquetball court, and 2 restaurants.
The spacious rooms come equipped with cable TV, a music player, a work desk, and free wifi.
Perfect for couples looking to stretch their budget a bit.
Budget: Atacama Hostel Backpackers
A unique feature about the Atacama Hostel is that it’s an old 1930s house converted into a backpacker’s and is centrally located to bars and restaurants.
The Atacama has shared dorm rooms and private rooms available which are perfect for solo backpackers or travelers on a budget.
FOR MORE OPTIONS, SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
WHAT TO PACK FOR SANTIAGO DE CHILE
When visiting Chile, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:
Must-Have Travel Essentials
Hidden Money Wallet
Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!
Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!
Travel Backpack
The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!
Quick-Dry Travel Towel
The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!
Portable PowerBank
Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!
MORE CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA TRAVEL GUIDES
If you are planning a trip to Central and South America, be sure to check out my other travel guides below that you might find useful while crafting together your itinerary.
- Mexico: 4 Week Mexico Itinerary
- Guatemala: 2 Week Guatemala Itinerary
- Cuba: 10 Day Cuba Itinerary
- Peru: Backpacking Peru – 3 Week Itinerary
- Bolivia: Things To Do In Bolivia
- Brazil: 2 Day Rio De Janeiro Itinerary
- Argentina: Things To Do In Argentina
- Chile: Things To Do In Chile
FINAL THOUGHTS – WHAT TO SEE IN SANTIAGO CHILE
If you have any questions at all about what to do in Santiago Chile, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.
TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!
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Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.
Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.
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THANKS FOR READING
Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!
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