Santiago is the capital city of Chile and the largest city within the whole country. It uniquely sits in a valley between the Andes mountains and the Chilean Coastal Range. If you visit this city in the winter when pollution levels are low, you will see the beauty of the mountains surrounding the city with snow on them. Unfortunately for us, we visited the city in the summer and had a more challenging time seeing the red mountains around the city. That being said, we were still able to get wonderful views and we can only imagine what it is like during other seasons.
When to Visit Santiago, Chile
Now weather is always a question when it comes to visiting a new location but Santiago, Chile is surprisingly not one that you have to think about too much. Being a rather arid climate, the city sees very little rain throughout the year. In the summer (December – March), the days are around 85°F (30°C) and evenings fall to 50°F (10°C). In the winter (June – September), the days are around 63°F (17°C) and evenings fall to 37°F (3°C).
Santiago is in an area rich with vineyards. If this is one of your main reasons for visiting the region, it is recommended to visit between March and May, which is the grape harvesting season in the Southern Hemisphere. As you can see, there really is no right or wrong time to visit the city and no matter when you come, you will find a plethora of things to do.
Geography and History to Know About Santiago, Chile
Santiago is located in the center of a flat valley with a large rock and volcano in the center. Near the rock has always been the commercial center of the area, starting as the trading center for the Mapuche indigenous population of the area. Aided by the Incas, Spanish colonizers attempted to take over the area but had many challenges, including resistance from the indigenous population (they are the only indigenous group that was never conquered by the Spaniards!), a challenging dry climate, disease, and earthquakes. Eventually, the Spaniards were able to create a settlement here, attracting more people despite the hardships and developing an economic center for their civilization in Chile.
The geography of the location was incredibly useful for the Mapuche people and their ability to resist invasion from both the Incas and the Spaniards. Being surrounded by mountains created a natural barrier. In addition, the rock in the center of the valley (Cerro Santa Lucia) gave them visibility into potential invasions from all sides of the valley. Finally, a river flows through the center of the valley, providing fresh water and allowing for farming in a fertile soil environment.
Today, the center continues to be an important commercial area of the city and the rock and volcano are peak viewpoints to visit within the city.
Where To Stay when Visiting Santiago, Chile (and the Safety of the City)
First, let’s talk about safety. Many people and websites say that Santiago is dangerous. This is incredibly relative. (We are from Chicago and San Francisco and safety has always been a conversation in our lives). Crime in Santiago tends to be crimes of opportunity, like walking with your cell phone out of your pocket and flaunting it around. If you are aware, stay in tourist and commercial neighborhoods, and don’t walk alone through areas that seem abandoned, you will be okay in the city! Talk to locals about where you can and cannot walk and take extra precautions in the evenings after dark. The city has Uber and it is quite affordable. You can read more about alternative transportation methods through Santiago here.
Lastarria – If you are a first-time visitor to Santiago and are only here for a few days, this is the neighborhood for you. It is walking distance to many of the attractions in the city center, right next to the famous rock, Cerro Santa Lucia, and in a vibrant neighborhood, both during the day and at night. The neighborhood is small and incredibly walkable, having art fairs displayed every day, restaurants and bars, and talented street performers. This is where we stayed for our first half of our time in Santiago and we found that it was great for our first exploration of the city. One thing to note is that young people often lay out different clothing to sell on the sidewalks of the streets but they are just street vendors – this was just a particularity that we noticed in Santiago, especially in this area.
Bellavista – This neighborhood is another good one for first-time visitors to Santiago and is right by Lastarria, although I would not recommend walking between the two neighborhoods late at night. The area has a number of great restaurants and bars and has a strong nightlife. It is a bohemian colorful neighborhood with a lot of street art and the Pablo Neruda museum/home.
Barrio Italia – This neighborhood is a little further from the historic center than Lastarria and Bellavista. It is a great restaurant district within Santiago with, you guessed it, Italian food and pizza joints along with different bars. If you are looking for more of a local flare, this is the neighborhood for you. You can read more about getting around Santiago here. Being further from the center should not deter you!
Barrio Providencia (along Avenida Providencia) – This neighborhood is large but the area near Avenida Providencia is full of restaurants and shopping areas. It is near the modern business district of Santiago and includes the tallest building in South America. The short-term rentals in this area tend to be modern and newer than some of the other neighborhoods in Santiago. We stayed here in the second half of our trip to Santiago and it was a nice juxtaposition to the historical Lastaria area. You can read more about getting around Santiago here. Being further from the center should not deter you!
Top Foods to Try when Visiting Santiago, Chile
Food is an important part of any culture and the food here is a blend of the mountains, sea, and international community that makes Chile so unique. Below are a few of the ones that we tried in Santiago, along with restaurants to try them at.
Completo – You will see this all over Chile, especially north of the Patagonia region. It is the Chilean version of a hot dog and includes various toppings on a hot dog and bun. One of the most famous is the completo italiano with avocado, tomatoes, and a lot of mayonnaise (mayo if a staple in Chile sandwiches). A great place to try this is this diner staple in the Providencia neighborhood at Fuente Alemana. It has all the charm you would expect from your local diner along with delicious food and generous portions. If you are interested in seeing where the original completo was made, you can find it here but you can truly find them anywhere you look in Santiago.
Fried Fish Sandwich – this is exactly as it sounds but at a great restaurant, it can truly be delicious. We got ours from Jose Ramon 277 and we absolutely loved it. (This restaurant also has a number of cocktails, local beers, and delicious sandwiches that modernize Chilean staples.)
Mechada – This is a Chilean-style pot roast, roasted with red wine, broth, and carrots. It is often in a sandwich, sometimes shredded or as a slice. Another popular way to eat it is “a la pobre” which is the meat over a bed of french fries. It is rich and juicy with flavor.
Mote con Huesillos – This is a refreshing drink that is sold in different stalls throughout the city. It is peach juice, a cooked peach, and barley. It’s truly refreshing in the Santiago heat.
