Santiago Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Santiago tours, day trips to the colourful port of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, wine tours through the Maipo and Casablanca valleys, the Andes adventures of the Cajón del Maipo with its hot springs, city tours up San Cristóbal Hill by funicular, and seasonal skiing and stargazing. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Santiago itinerary.
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Explore Santiago by interest
Whatever brings you to Santiago — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Valparaíso & Viña
Colourful coast.
ExploreWine tours
Maipo and Casablanca.
ExploreCajón del Maipo
Andes and hot springs.
ExploreCity tours
San Cristóbal and centre.
ExploreAndes & ski
Valle Nevado and peaks.
ExploreStargazing
Clear Andean skies.
ExploreAndes adventures
Hikes and horse rides.
ExploreDay trips
Coast, wine and more.
ExploreTop attractions in Santiago
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Valparaíso
Colourful UNESCO port.
Maipo Valley
Chile’s wine country.
Cajón del Maipo
Andes canyon and springs.
San Cristóbal Hill
City views by funicular.
The Andes
Peaks and lagoons.
Historic Centre
Plaza de Armas and La Moneda.
Cable Car
Up San Cristóbal.
Embalse del Yeso
Turquoise Andean reservoir.
Santiago in 2 days
- 1Day 1: City & wine
- 2Day 2: Valparaíso
- 3Viña del Mar
- 4Casablanca tasting
Santiago in 3 days
- 1Day 1: City & wine
- 2Day 2: Valparaíso
- 3Day 3: Cajón del Maipo
- 4City, coast & Andes
1.5 hrs awayValparaíso
Colourful UNESCO port.
1 hr awayMaipo Valley
Chile’s wine country.
1.5 hrs awayCajón del Maipo
Andes canyon and springs.
1.5 hrs awayValle Nevado
Andes ski resort.
In the city awaySan Cristóbal Hill
City views by funicular.
1.5 hrs awayIsla Negra
Neruda’s coastal house.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Santiago visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) bring mild, pleasant weather ideal for the city, coast and wine valleys — the prime times to visit Santiago.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Warm to hot and dry, perfect for the coast and outdoors; the city can be busy and locals head to the beach.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Mild and golden, with the grape harvest in the wine valleys — a beautiful time to visit.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Cool and sometimes grey in the city, but it’s ski season in the nearby Andes; smog can build on still days.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Fresh, blooming and clear, excellent for sightseeing and day trips with comfortable temperatures.
Ski season
June to September brings snow to Valle Nevado and Farellones, just over an hour from the city.
One day
Enough for a city tour and San Cristóbal Hill.
Two days
Add Valparaíso or a wine valley.
Three days
The sweet spot: city, coast and the Cajón del Maipo.
Four to five days
Add Colchagua wine, skiing or more of the coast.
A week or more
Use Santiago as a base to explore central Chile.
Travelling with kids
Mix funiculars, mountains and coast gently.
The metro
Santiago’s clean, efficient metro is the fastest way around the city; pay with a Bip! card.
Ride apps
Uber, Cabify and Didi are affordable and convenient across the city.
On foot
The centre, Bellavista and Lastarria are walkable and pleasant to explore.
Tour transfers
Most Valparaíso, wine and Andes tours include hotel pickup.
Funicular & cable car
A historic funicular and cable car climb San Cristóbal Hill for the city’s best views.
From the airport
Santiago Airport is about 30–45 minutes from the centre by transfer, ride app or airport bus.
Chilean peso
Chile uses the peso; cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for markets, small vendors and tips.
Pair wine with food
Combine a wine tour with Chilean cuisine — try pastel de choclo, empanadas and fresh seafood on the coast.
Get a Bip! card
A Bip! card covers the metro and buses cheaply — handy for getting around the city.
Stay aware
Santiago is generally safe but take normal city precautions, especially with valuables in crowded and tourist areas.
Mind the season
Remember the seasons are reversed; pack for summer in December–February and winter (and ski) in June–August.
Check for smog
On still winter days smog can build; clearer days give the best Andes views from San Cristóbal.
Valparaíso tours
Popular coast day trips fill up — book ahead.
Wine tours
Maipo and Casablanca wine tours sell out — reserve early.
Cajón del Maipo
Andes day trips are busy — pre-book.
Ski tours
Valle Nevado ski trips fill up in season — book ahead.
Stargazing
Small-group astronomy tours are limited — reserve early.
Summer & ski season
December–March and the ski months are busy — plan ahead.
Valparaíso tours
Around €50–90 for a Valparaíso and Viña del Mar day trip.
Wine tours
About €60–120 for a Maipo or Casablanca wine tour with tastings.
Cajón del Maipo
Roughly €55–100 for an Andes day trip with the reservoir and BBQ.
City tours
Around €30–60 for a half-day city tour.
Ski & Andes
About €90–160 for a Valle Nevado ski day with transport.
How to save
Use the metro and a Bip! card, walk the central neighbourhoods, and join group day tours.
Santiago through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Coast and outdoors.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Warm and dry; book ahead.
- Best for
- Wine harvest and mild days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Golden and pleasant.
- Best for
- Andes skiing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool; ski season.
- Best for
- Sightseeing and blooms.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Fresh and clear; ideal.