How to Spend One Day in Santiago, Chile

As the site of Chile’s major airport, it’s most likely that you’ll be flying in or out of Santiago at some point during your Chile itinerary, whether it’s as the gateway to the Atacama region or even onward to somewhere else in South America like Colombia or Brazil.

Although you may be tempted to make it a quick layover, there’s a lot to do in Santiago, and I genuinely really enjoyed my time there. 

This guide outlines all the tips you’ll need before visiting, and everything to do if you just have one day in Santiago.

The suggested itinerary is also super budget-friendly, as most included places are low-cost or free! (There are also some recommendations for more higher-budget activities like full-day tours, if that’s more your speed.)

Morning

Cerro San Cristobal

→ Suggested time: 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

One of the best things to do in Santiago is to visit Cerro San Cristobal, also known as Parque Metropolitano. This is Santiago’s largest green space that also happens to also be on a hill overlooking the city. 

By visiting in the morning, you’re more likely to beat the crowds and avoid the heat, but this would also be a great sunset spot.

The most popular ways to get to the top are by a cable car (a teleférico) or a historic funicular. 

The cable car is open every day except Monday, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m, and prices start at 2,100 Chilean pesos one way ($2.16 U.S. dollars at the time of writing).

The funicular is open every day except for the first Monday of each month, and its hours are 10 a.m to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and 1 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Mondays. Tickets start at $1,600 Chilean pesos ($1.65 USD), but vary by day and by route. 

If you’re up for some exercise, you can hike instead, and it would take an hour or so. 

From the top, you can get great views of the city. 

There’s also a bunch to see up here, including some trails, a couple public swimming pools, a cafe, a botanical garden, a Japanese garden (both gardens have free admission), an observation deck, and even a church, complete with Santuario Inmaculada Concepción, a large white statue of the Virgin Mary built in the early 20th century.

Aim to spend half an hour to an hour or so relaxing and exploring the area. 

Have a quick lunch (grab some street food like empanadas, a completo — a giant hot dog decked out in things like garlic mayonnaise, tomato, and avocado — or anticuchos, a skewered barbecued meat), either in this area or closer to the next destination, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, which is about a 20-minute drive away from Cerro San Cristobal.

Afternoon

The Museum of Memory and Human Rights

→ Suggested time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Museum of Memory and Human Rights, or Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, in my opinion, is a must-visit in Santiago. It covers the military dictatorship that Chile experienced from 1973 until 1990, and the human rights violations that occurred as a result. 

It was a really impactful museum, and highlights an important piece of recent Chilean history that shouldn’t be overlooked or forgotten.

There’s not much information in English, however, so if you don’t speak Spanish, I recommend getting an audio guide for $5.

One of my favorite travel tips is also using the Google Translate app to automatically translate a lot of the signage, but I’m sure the audio guide is a better experience.

The Museum of Memory and Human Rights is open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is free. (Av. Matucana 501, Santiago)

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes 

→ Suggested time: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

About 15 minutes away from the The Museum of Memory and Human Rights by Uber is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.

I absolutely loved this art museum.

The building overall is stunning, and it has a really impressive collection that was first established in 1880 with just 140 pieces. Over the years, it’s grown to include over 5,000 pieces. While a lot of the art is Chilean, you’ll also see some international work.

Plus, admission is free! 

It’s open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.(José Miguel de la Barra 650, 8320356 Santiago)

Walking Tour

→ 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Especially since you have limited time in Santiago, I highly suggest taking a walking tour. 

Even when I have more time in a destination, I always find them to be a great way to get the lay of the land, see the highlights, and learn about local history and culture.

An added bonus is that if you’re traveling solo, they can be a great way to meet other travelers, and you can get recommendations from your local guide.

It’s also one of the best budget-friendly activities, as some cities — like Santiago — have free walking tours! 

I went on a tour with Guru Walk. Their tours are about two-and-a-half hours, and they meet right in front of Plaza de Armas, which is right around the corner from Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, so you’ll be right in the perfect spot. 

Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

The walking tour will take you through a number of highlights in Santiago, including Plaza de Armas, an area which was first established in 1541 by Spanish conquistadors.

It includes important sites (and amazing architecture) like the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, or the Royal Palace, which is where you can find the National History Museum (Plaza De Armas 951 KM0), which is open every day except Monday until 6 p.m. Admission is $600 Chilean pesos.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago is also here. (Plaza de Armas 498).

If you end up foregoing the tour, be sure to check this area out for yourself! 

Evening

SkyCostanera

→ Suggested time: sunset

I didn’t get to do this myself, but it really looks like such a memorable way to close out your time in Santiago. SkyCostanera is the tallest building in South America, and is known for offering towering panoramic views of Santiago from nearly 1,000 feet above.

It’s open daily from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., with the last ride going up at 9 p.m. It seems like an amazing spot for sunset! Tickets are $18,000 Chilean pesos, which at the time of writing, is $18.36 U.S. dollars.

Dinner + nightlife

For dinner as well as nightlife, there are a number of great neighborhoods to explore in Santiago.

Barrio Italia and Barrio Bellavista are two colorful and artistic neighborhoods that are fun to walk around. Both are full of options for eating, drinking, shopping, and live music. 

Pio Nono Street in Bellavista is a great starting point, and Patio Bellavista, a former textile factory, also has a number of places to check out. Bar Constitución is a really popular bar in the Bellavista neighborhood, as well.

Lastarria is another popular neighborhood close to Barrio Bellavista that’s known for being more upscale. There are lots of nice bars and restaurants in this area too.

More best things to do in Santiago

If you’re looking for an alternate activity to the suggested itinerary, or you just end up having extra time in Santiago, here are some additional great places to visit.

Wine tastings

Santiago is actually right in the heart of Chile’s wine region. 

Since most wineries are outside of Santiago, taking a tour is probably the easiest way to visit some spots, so you don’t have to worry about booking an Uber or taxi or ensuring you can get information in English if needed. 

If you do want to go on your own, the easiest choice is Concha y Toro, a popular winery just one mile outside of Santiago. 

Casablanca Valley, which is Chile’s top white wine region, and is also known for pinot noir, is about an hour or so away from Santiago.

If you’re a fan of red wine specifically, Colchagua is a couple hours away from Santiago.

Last but not least, the Maipo Valley is one of Chile’s most important wine regions, and while known for both red and white, its speciality is Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s about an hour from Santiago. 

This highly-rated tour includes visits and tastings at three different family-owned wineries in Maipo Valley, plus transportation from your hotel in Santiago. It’s about ten hours total, and looks like an amazing way to experience Chile’s wine country. Find out more here.

Valparaiso

This is a colorful city just an hour-and-a-half away from Santiago by bus that’s a must for art lovers.

It’s absolutely decked out in street art, and has interesting sites like Pablo Neruda’s former home. There are also beautiful ocean views. While I’d suggest spending at least a couple days here, which is what I did, it’s definitely doable as a day trip. 

Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar is about 10 minutes from Valparaiso, and is a popular beach destination. It’s known as a “garden city,” and while I didn’t get to visit during my trip, I wish I did!

If you’re interested in visiting both Valparaiso and Viña del Mar in the easiest possible way, this day tour handles everything. They’ll pick you up from Santiago, and over the course of 10 hours, it will take you through the highlights of both cities. It even includes a wine tasting! Book it here.

La Chascona

La Chascona is Chilean poet Pablo Neruda’s former home. It was actually built in the ‘50s, for his mistress, Matilde Urrutia — the name “La Chascona” was supposedly inspired by her messy hair.

You can see a lot of artifacts, plus art, including a mural by Diego Rivera. I went to his house in Valparaiso, and would’ve loved to see his Santiago home as well, if I’d had time!

La Chascona is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or until 7 p.m. in January and February. Admission is $9,500 Chilean pesos, or $9.80 U.S. dollars at the time of writing.

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, or Chilean Museum of Precolombian art, is a must for anyone interested in Latin American artifacts and art.Admission is $10,000 Chilean pesos, which is around $10 USD at the time of writing. 

Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM)

Named after the first Latin American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, the poet Gabriela Mistral, Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM) is a contemporary cultural center that hosts a lot of concerts and performances. It’s in the Lastarria neighborhood.

Best Places to Stay in Santiago, Chile

When it comes to choosing a place to stay in Santiago, Providencia and Barrio Lastarria are two of the best choices for neighborhoods. They’re both walkable, close to public transportation, and close to things to do and places to eat.

Las Condes, Vitacura, and Barrio Italia, are also great options. Barrio Bellavista is also a popular choice, but as it’s a popular hub for nightlife, keep in mind it may be loud at night. 

$ = Under $50 a night

$$ = $50 to $100 a night

$$$ = $100 to $150ish a night

→ What I recommend: I only suggest places that are well-rated (yes, I read through reviews!), have a decent number of ratings, and are all-in-all a place I would consider booking myself. 

$ – LA CHIMBA HOSTEL – This hostel has tons of high ratings, and is a great place if you’re looking for a social atmosphere. It’s in Barrio Bellavista, and there are private rooms as well as dorm options. Bathrooms are shared. Book it here.

$ – LA CASA ROJA – This is where I stayed, and honestly really liked it. It seems like some of the recent reviews aren’t great, and its overall rating has definitely gone down since my stay (I rarely choose places below an 8/10 on HostelWorld). Because I really enjoyed my experience — the building is beautiful (it’s in a former colonial mansion), and its location was walkable in my opinion — I’m still including it here as a budget-friendly option! There are private rooms and shared dorms available. Bathrooms are shared. Find out more here.

$$ – BHB HOTEL BOUTIQUE – This well-rated option is located in Barrio Lastarria. You get a private bathroom, AC, and breakfast included. Past visitors really like the location, the staff, and the breakfast! Book BHB Hotel Boutique here.

$$ – HOSTAL FORESTAL – This hostel in Barrio Lastarria has a 9.3 rating on HostelWorld, with nearly 3,000 reviews. There are a bunch of private room options, some of which have a private bathroom, while others are shared. There’s also a shared dorm option. There’s free breakfast, along with 24-hour reception and security. Learn more here.

$$$ – HOTEL ISMAEL – Located in Lastarria, close to plenty of attractions like the Museum of Fine Arts, this beautiful hotel includes amenities like private bathrooms, balconies, an outdoor pool, AC, and breakfast. Its cheapest option starts at $151 per night. Find out more here.

$$$ – MR HOTEL PROVIDENCIA – This gorgeous four-star hotel formerly known as Hotel Neruda is in the Providencia neighborhood. There’s a pool, a fitness room, an onsite restaurant, breakfast included, free parking, 24-hour security, and more. The staff and location are particularly well-rated. Get more information here.

Visiting Santiago Q&A

Is Santiago safe?

While Chile as a whole is relatively safe, Santiago has unfortunately had some increased safety risks over the past few years.

Be sure to refer to the U.S. State Department for any potential risks before your trip, or your specific country’s department, depending on where you’re from.

At the time of writing, the U.S. categorizes Chile as a Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution.”

Ultimately, it is a big city, so like in other big cities, you’ll want to be on guard, and keep an eye on your belongings. I tried to avoid walking around with my phone in my hand, and always walked like I knew where I was going.

With that said, I didn’t feel unsafe at all, although I was only there for a couple days, and I also know that feeling safe is subjective.

Can you drink the water in Santiago?

While the water isn’t safe to drink in areas of Chile like the Atacama Desert, in Santiago, it is perfectly safe to drink.

How to get around Santiago

I mostly walked around Santiago, and like I said, I found that it was really walkable and easy to make my way around.

You can also easily Uber in Santiago — when I visited, it wasn’t technically legal, but Uber was still operating, which did cause a bit of an issue for me at one point when an Uber refused to pick me up because there was a police car nearby.

Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, and you shouldn’t have any problems.

As for public transportation, the Metro is reliable. There’s a trip planner you can use online, or you can download an app instead. You’ll need a bip! Card to use the Metro, which can be purchased at a number of locations across the city.

If you’re hoping to get to Valparaiso and/or Viña del Mar from Santiago, you can take the bus. 

Is Santiago worth visiting?

It’s a city that’s frequently overlooked, and while I really liked Santiago, I also kind of understand why.

It doesn’t have the same allure for tourists as other big South American cities like Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro, or the same magic as other Chilean destinations like the Atacama region. 

Although it was just a quick stop during my time in Chile, it was a great part of my trip, and I’m glad I visited, and I think it’s well worth a stop for you too, even if it is just one day.

But I love museums, seeing street art, and just exploring big cities. I honestly could’ve stayed longer!

And although it’s a huge city, I found it super easy to navigate (and that means a lot coming from me, someone with a complete lack of direction).

How many days should you spend in Santiago, Chile? 

Santiago is truly filled with museums, street art, restaurants and lots more.

I spent just a couple full days here, and could’ve easily spent longer, and I’d definitely encourage you to do the same.

But if you only have one day in Santiago, you’ll be able to see the highlights and get a feel for the city. 

I hope that you have the best time in Santiago! It really is such a great city with so much to do. If you have any questions, as always, leave a comment or send me a message on Instagram.

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