Plaza de Armas
The historic main square of the capital, framed by palm trees, the cathedral and the old post office. Chess players, artists and street performers keep it busy through the day.
Santiago
At the foot of the Andes, the capital and main gateway has wineries within easy reach as well as museums and hilltop viewpoints.
Attractive locations
Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral
Neoclassical cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, the main Catholic church of the country. Its grand interior holds altars and statues and is open to quiet visitors.
Cerro San Cristóbal
Large hill park north of the centre, reached by a funicular, cable car or walking trails. A white statue of the Virgin Mary stands at the summit, with wide views of the city and the Andes.
Santa Lucía Hill
Small rocky hill park near the centre with winding stairways, fountains and terraces. A short climb leads to lookout points over the city's rooftops and the mountains.
Museum of Memory and Human Rights
Museum that documents the human rights abuses of the 1973-1990 military dictatorship through photographs, letters, film and personal belongings. It is a serious, moving visit.
Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Museum in the old Royal Customs House, showing ceramics, textiles and sculpture from the ancient peoples of the Americas, with an emphasis on those of present-day Chile.
La Moneda Palace
The presidential palace, a neoclassical building completed in the early 1800s, facing a large plaza. A cultural centre beneath the plaza holds exhibitions, and the palace is a key site in Chile's modern history.
Airports
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport SCL
It is about 14 km in a straight line from Santiago.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan22.1 °C8 mm
- Feb21.2 °C8 mm
- Mar19.6 °C10 mm
- Apr16.1 °C12 mm
- May12.5 °C44 mm
- Jun9.2 °C63 mm
- Jul8.4 °C47 mm
- Aug9.7 °C40 mm
- Sep11.9 °C15 mm
- Oct14.6 °C12 mm
- Nov18.0 °C9 mm
- Dec20.5 °C7 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: May, Jun, Jul.
Costs
Prices here are about 48% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
Fiestas Patrias (18-19 September)
National holidays in Chile include fondas, which are fair tents.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 133. Ambulance 131. Fire 132.
local government
Carabineros de Chile emergency line 133
Helps with: Chile's national police emergency line, for crimes, robberies, assaults, traffic accidents and other incidents that need immediate police action. The page says it is open every hour of every day.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Chile reporting an emergency that threatens people's safety. The page calls the service free and confidential.
Phone: 133
local government
TurismoAtiende (Sernatur, National Tourism Service)
Helps with: Help line of Chile's national tourism service for travellers. It gives advice by phone, WhatsApp or email. The tourism site says to also tell your embassy if you lose your passport.
Who qualifies: Visitors travelling in Chile, including foreign tourists.
Phone: +56 2 2731 8337
Email: [email protected]
ngo
Cruz Roja Chilena (Chilean Red Cross)
Helps with: Chile's national Red Cross society. Its website lists local branches, volunteering, blood donation and a training centre. The page shows only head office contact details.
Who qualifies: People in Chile who need the Red Cross; contact the head office or a local branch listed on its site.
Phone: +56(2) 2783 4100
Email: [email protected]
Address: Avda. Santa María 0150, Providencia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chile
Helps with: The UN migration agency, working in Chile since 1954. It supports migration management and crisis response, including help for people displaced by wildfires.
Who qualifies: Migrants and displaced people in Chile, and government partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +56 2 296 33 710
Address: Matilde Salamanca 736, Providencia, Santiago de Chile
embassy
Foreign consulates in Chile (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. The Chilean foreign ministry's online consulate site links to a list of foreign consulates in Chile by country flag.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED)
Helps with: Chile's national disaster agency, responsible for earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and volcanic eruptions. The number listed is its citizen service office, not an emergency line.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Chile wanting information about disaster risks or alerts. For urgent danger call the police on 133.
Phone: 600 586 7700
Address: Av. Beauchef 1671, Santiago