Is Santiago Worth Visiting?
Santiago, Chile is worth visiting for many more reasons than one.
The Chilean capital is a melting hotpot of culture, and is usually the first point of entry for many travelers heading to this South American nation.
Here we can explore the cultural highlights, visit many unique museums as well as get some awesome Andean mountain vistas.
In this article we’ll list the seven best reasons to visit Santiago, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Santiago worth visiting?
Quick Answer: We think that any visitor to the Southern Cone who will be traveling through Chile should make a stop within the capital, given there is tons to see and do.
Firstly we’ll find many scenic lookout points to enjoy, where we can see the towering Andes provide the perfect contrast against the cityscape. Cerro San Cristóbal is one of the most notorious miradores in the city, and you can easily take the gondola up.
Within the city we’ll find lots of edgy neighborhoods such as Lastarria and Bellavista which are great for a stay, which both have many restaurants and bars.
Throughout Santiago we’ll also find many worthwhile sites including the Plaza de Armas, Saint Lucia Hill as well as the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino – the most comprehensive museum of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
Finally, Santiago is also the perfect place to base yourself whilst you head out on several day trips around the nearby region.
Valparaíso is a really popular city just an hour north, which is known for its colorful streets and coastal location. Those who love skiing will also be in luck, where we can find many awesome slopes nearby such as the resort of El Colorado.
Where is Santiago?
Santiago is located roughly halfway down this extremely long nation, which makes it a great point to rest when traveling from Bolivia (further north) or Patagonia (further south).
The climate here is quite cool year-round, given the coast is just an hour away to the west, whilst the impressive Andes Mountains are found just to the east.
How to get to Santiago from Mendoza
There are two main ways to travel this route, which are by bus and plane.
Given how close these destinations are (well, close compared with anywhere else in Chile to be honest), taking the bus is a really popular option.
From the bus terminal in Mendoza you can take the 8 hour bus, which also includes time to stop at the border control where you leave Argentina and enter Chile.
There’s various companies that serve the route, and they all leave early in the morning. For this reason it’s best to head there the evening before to make sure you can get your ticket. The bus from Mendoza to Santiago will cost roughly $35-40.
The other option is to take the one hour flight, which is served by various airlines daily such as Sky and LATAM. The one-way flight isn’t actually that much (around $80 without baggage), so it’s worth considering this option if you have the budget and prefer a more comfortable ride into Santiago.
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7 Reasons to Visit Santiago
Are you still wondering if Santiago is really worth the visit? Here’s 7 awesome reasons why you should head to this diverse Chilean city.
1. Learn about Ancient Cultures
All over South America we can find many worthwhile museums that delve into the past, however the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino has to be one of the very best.
Here we can find a comprehensive collection with over 3000 artifacts, which date back as many as 10,000 years.
Throughout the different exhibition rooms we’ll get to learn about several different civilisations that once roamed these lands, including those of the Moche, Chavín and Capulí cultures.
Some of the best things you can see here include well-preserved mummified remains, ceramic pottery, ancient textiles and garments as well as human statues. The museum is located close to the Plaza de Armas so is an easy visit, however we recommend heading here early given the queues tend to get quite long later in the day.
2. Go Skiing in the Andes Mountains
Santiago is quite a unique city in many ways, and the surrounding mountains make it a great place to come for those who love winter sports.
Of course Patagonia has its special sites too, however if you don’t plan on heading as far south then you can really enjoy these snow-laden pistes. There’s several to choose from, however the Valle Nevado remains one of the most popular with all kinds of slopes (ranging from beginner to expert).
It’s important to remember that the major skiing season in Santiago runs from June until September.
If you’re up for some adventure, then we recommend booking this day tour from Santiago where you’ll visit both Valle Nevado and Farellones. You’ll have all transport to and from your hotel included, as well as plenty of time to enjoy everything else that these sites have to offer.
3. Try all kinds of Chilean Cuisine
In this era, foods from countries like Mexico and Argentina get a good rep internationally, with others in the continent often left behind. However this doesn’t mean the rest are necessarily bad, and actually you’ll find that various foods may catch you by surprise.
Such is the case with Chile, where we can try all kinds of plates that hail from the coast, Andes and desert regions. Those who like soups will want to try a Cazuela Nogada, whilst seafood-lovers will want to eat a Reineta or Corvina.
In the neighborhood of Lastarria you’ll find all kinds of restaurants which are great for different budgets, as well as some good joints near the Plaza de Armas too. Also don’t forget to try the infamous Completos (stuffed hotdogs) whilst here too!
4. Impressive Architecture and City Highlights
As with any South American capital city, we’ll find the historic center which is full of beautiful colonial architecture. Santiago is no exception, and here we’ll want our camera fully-charged before heading out to explore.
The Plaza de Armas is the best place to start, where we can first see the imposing Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago (which is over 200 years old and features a neoclassical facade). The Museo Histórico Nacional is just a few steps away too within the Plaza, which is known for its bright-yellow exterior.
Once done here, you can then walk the nearby streets to explore more architectural delights, including those of La Moneda Palace, the Former National Congress Building as well as the Castillo Hidalgo. We suggest heading out in the early morning when visiting these highlights, and also to avoid walking around the Plaza de Armas at night (it gets quite sketchy later on).
Even better is booking a customized walking tour around Santiago, where your English-speaking guide will take you around the very best spots. You’ll also be free to add in more gems, and choose how much time you want to spend at each.
5. Get some Awesome City Panoramas over Santiago
One of the very best things you can do is to head up to Cerro San Cristóbal during your time in Santiago. This mountain is actually quite close to the center, and you can easily take a couple of quick metro rides to get to the gondola.
Once at the top you’ll be able to see Santiago in all its glory, along with the massive Andean peaks lurking in the background. At the top you’ll find plenty of food stands for a quick bite, as well as a monastery and the giant statue of the Immaculate Conception.
Keep an eye out for the Gran Torre whilst here, which is a sleek silver building and is one of the tallest in all of Latin America! You can actually head to the top floor here too for some alternative sweeping city views. Regardless of which you choose, we highly recommend doing it a day after it rains here (if it does during your time in Santiago), given it will help clear up the smog and give even better views.
6. Head on a Day Trip to Valparaíso
One of the highlights of a trip through Chile, you simply cannot miss Valparaíso when in Santiago. Famed for its colorful streets and panoramic coastal views, it’s a great place to head from the capital for a day (or a few if you have the time).
Getting here is pretty simple, where you can take the 1 hour bus which leaves throughout the day from the main bus station (next to the Pajaritos Metro Stop). The best things to do here include joining a walking tour where you’ll visit the different hills such as Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, whilst also seeing some really striking graffiti art.
We suggest going with this full day tour from Santiago, where you’ll also visit the gems of Viña del Mar and the Casablanca Valley. As well as having convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off, you’ll also have a wine tour and tastings included too.
You can also do it independently too, and if so we recommend either in the early morning (around 7:00am) or in the late afternoon to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. There’s also some interesting museums to visit here too including those of La Sebastiana as well as the Museo a Cielo Abierto.
7. Go Wine Tasting in One of the World’s Best Wine Destinations
Argentinian wine tends to steal all of the thunder, however Chile also has some really tasty blends too. Given the Andes runs all the way between both nations, this means we’ll find perfect wine-growing conditions all over the country.
Santiago in particular is great as it’s close to the mountains, and also as it’s where all of the regional wines are imported to from the rest of Chile.
If you want a more hands-on experience then you can head on a bike tour around these wineries, where you can try different blends whilst enjoying the seriously impressive landscapes (snow-capped peaks as far as the eye can see).
If you’re after a more relaxed time, then you’ll find many of these wines on offer in nice bars and joints throughout the city. Once again Lastarria is the place to go, with venues like Le Bistrot Viet and Bocanaríz some great options.
Is Santiago worth visiting?
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Santiago.
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Andes Mountains, Santiago is a great stop to make when heading through this more southern region of South America.
Here you can enjoy typical Chilean cuisine, visit ancient museums, head to nearby Valparaíso and even go skiing if you fancy it!
You’ll also find that getting to Santiago is really easy, given its international airport is so well-connected, and those in nearby Argentina can be here in just a few hours too.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Chile Itinerary for more ideas on where to go in this long and diverse country.
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