Overview
Take a trip to Santiago on your Chile Vacation
When on a Chile vacation, the cultural, political and financial centre of the country as well as its capital, Santiago is located in the country’s central valley, dominated by the Andes to the east and a smaller coastal mountain range in the west.
Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in February 1541. By the end of the century, the town was still quite small with infrastructure only beginning to expand in the 18th century. As a result of the California gold rush in the middle of the 19th century which triggered a great deal of exports, Santiago’s population began to grow.
After a coup d’état in 1973 which saw liberal president Salvador Allende removed by the military regime of General Pinochet, Santiago witnessed a great deal of violence and atrocities aimed at those who were believed to be anti-Pinochet. In 1990, a democratically elected leader was put in power and the city, and the country gradually began to recover.
Today, Santiago is a modern city that appears more Western than many of its neighbours. A cultural hub, Santiago hosts many universities as well as a thriving arts and culinary scene. While there is much to do within the city itself, its stunning setting among the Andes ensures that there are opportunities for exciting activities like trekking, hiking, kayaking and more just beyond the city limits on Chile vacations.
Today, Santiago is a modern city that appears more Western than many of its neighbours. A cultural hub, Santiago hosts many universities as well as a thriving arts and culinary scene. While there is much to do within the city itself, its stunning setting among the Andes ensures that there are opportunities for exciting activities like trekking, hiking, kayaking and more just beyond the city limits on Chile vacations.
At a Glance
Languages
Chilean SpanishCurrency
Chilean Peso (CLP)What do the experts say?
Pastel de choclo, sweet corn baked over savoury meat, olives, and eggs, is a must-try. Pair it with a pisco sour or a glass of Carménère or Sauvignon Blanc.
Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, offers a profound spiritual connection to nature and culture. The night skies, volcanic landscapes, and iconic Moai statues make it one of the most isolated and romantic places on earth.
Chile’s diversity is unmatched. You can enjoy wine tasting in the Casablanca Valley, watch the sunset on the Pacific coast, stargaze in the Atacama Desert, trek the glaciers of Patagonia, and even escape to mystical Rapa Nui, all in one trip.
November through March is summer in Chile, ideal for exploring its diverse regions
Chile is stunningly beautiful. You can experience such dramatically different landscapes in one country.
Aerial view of the financial district
One of Santiage icon locations, Palacio de la M...
santiago chile tours
Plaza de Armas
The famous Statue of Virgin Mary in Santiago is...
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
SantiagoPartly Cloudy
22°C / 72°F
29mm / 1.1"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Chile
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,211 ReviewsWe enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow.
Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.INEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. ClaireGoway planned a custom 2 week safari trip for my wife and I which was beyond perfect. Extremely satisfied with the entire process from planning, booking and follow up. Special thanks to my Travel Specialists, Brooke Theron and Angela DonnellyNeil RWorking with Allan is absolutely a dream. He is one of the most responsive people I’ve had the pleasure of working with and his attention to detail is unmatched. I truly wish I could just use him for every single trip I need to book.Liz PooreKimberly Brown from Goway Travel made my trip to Australia & New Zealand a very memorable and remarkable experience. Every step and detail was fantastic and I will never forget the trip of a lifetime and it was because of the experience of Kimberly. If you are thinking about taking a trip to New Zealand and Australia, I highly recommend contacting Kimberly from Goway travel. David KleinWe had a blast and felt covered by GoAway throughout. This was our first time using a travel agent and Melissa and her team made it easy. I also appreciated the quick communication while on our trip. I only wish that we got our official itinerary and tickets sooner as we did not receive them until a week prior. But it is busy season so I understand. Courtney McCarthyElise created a fantastic trip to South Africa. Our experience could not have been better. Thank You so Much!!Dave McVayOur trip to Japan was great. All our Goway arrangements preformed like clockwork and the guides for the tours were wonderful. Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was in total fog but at least the lunch was very good and so was the drum solo, also our tour guide kept our spirits up ( she was the best).
Taryn picked hotels that were very convenient to the meeting point of our tours which was much appreciated and organized all aspects of our trip perfectly. So from our airport pickup to our last day in Tokyo everything ran very smoothly so we have used Goway before and will certainly use it again and reccommend Goway to others.JWWe had a great experience with Goaway travel our travel agent,FARNAZ. was very helpful and patient with us in planning our vacation to Greece. She was very thorough and professional and excellent with laying out our flights and our itinerary for our trip would highly recommend her very professional. Thank you again Franaz for your help and for me and my wife to have experienced a wonderful time in GreececustomerFarnaz booked Greece and Italy - she is fantastic! She listened to our needs and planned a beautiful itinerary that everyone enjoyed. All transfers went smoothly and I am looking to book more trips with her! Amy
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified