Santiago Travel Guide
Busy Santiago shows its best side of the upper air. Climb the hill and fall in love with the atmosphere of the Chilean capital.
SANTIAGO AS A DESTINATION
The hustle and bustle of the city center
The Chilean capital, Santiago, is located in the central part of a long country, about 130 kilometers from the Pacific coast. For many travelers, Santiago is just a stop along the way. On the other hand, the university town is a relatively popular exchange destination.
The downtown area Centro is lively during the day and suitable for shopping. There are a few pedestrian streets near Plaza de Armas Metro Station, with clothing stores, lunch cafés and fast food outlets. If you really want to shop, head to the malls southeast of the city center, Alto Las Condes or Parque Arauco.
There are hardly any restaurants in the Centro area. At dawn at the latest, it is worth looking at the outer edges of the map. The Providencia, Bellavista and Barrio Brazil Districts are known for their cafes, restaurants and nightlife.
Climate in Santiago
The warmest month of the year is January, when the temperature during the day can hurt more than +30 degrees.
The coldest and wettest month is July, when night temperatures may drop to frost. So in winter, a traveler should book warm clothes for cold nights.
In Santiago, it makes sense
Compared to many South American destinations, Santiago is a safe destination. Nevertheless, common sense should be maintained: leave valuable accessories at home and avoid walking alone in the dark.
FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN SANTIAGO
Flights to Santiago
There are no direct flights from Finland to Santiago. With one stopover, you can reach the capital of Chile from Helsinki in about 19 hours at best. There are exchange connections from Paris and Madrid, for example.
Round-trip flights from Helsinki cost about a thousand euros at their cheapest.
Cheap hotels in Santiago
There are plenty of good quality hotels in downtown Santiago. Like food, the price level of hotels is somewhat lower than in Finland. Even the budget traveler is sure to find what they are looking for in the Santiago hostel selection.
Getting around Santiago
Santiago’s public transport consists of metro and buses. The comprehensive metro network consists of five metro lines that run from morning to midnight. The price of a ticket depends on the time of day, but even during peak hours, a one-time ticket only costs about a euro.
However, many sources recommend traveling by taxi in the dark.
ATTRACTIONS OF SANTIAGO
Historic Cerro Santa Lucia
Located in the city center, Cerro Santa Lucía is a beautiful historic site. At the foot of this hill, the town was founded in the mid-16th century.
The beautiful park with its spectacular historic buildings is a great destination for an afternoon stroll or a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.
On the roof of the city: Cerro San Cristóbal
The best views over the city are from the top of Cerro San Cristóbal. The top can be reached by cable car, for which the ticket costs a few euros. At the top of the hill stands a statue of the Virgin Mary, at the foot of which is a beautiful amphitheater with its plantings. The atmosphere above the city is confusing in its serenity.
At the foot of the hill opens up the Parque Metropolitano area, the city’s largest open outdoor area with its museums, swimming pool and gardens. There is also a zoo in the area.
Museums for many tastes
For a culture lover, there is plenty to do in Santiago. The city’s museum offer in particular is gratifying for its breadth and versatility.
For example, the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino focuses on pre-Columbian history, the Muse de Artes Visuales pampers lovers of modern art and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo encloses photographic art and design.
