Where to stay in Santiago de Chile?
If you are trying to decide where to book your accommodation in Santiago de Chile, the city has several neighborhoods from where you can enjoy an amazing vacation. These include the Centro, which is home to many of the city’s major historical landmarks, Las Condes, if you’d like to enjoy upscale restaurants and shopping options, Recoleta, which features a bustling nightlife, Vitacura, a business area with plenty of leisure options, and Providencia, a more relaxing area home to many tourist attractions.
Our hotels in Santiago de Chile all boast of having great locations. The 4-star NH Ciudad de Santiago is located in the Providencia area, close to main tourist attractions such as the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art and the Red House. In addition, on the Avenida de la Providencia you can access the Manuel Montt station that connects to various parts of the city. At the end of this Avenue, you will find the Costanera Centre whose central building, the Gran Torre de Santiago, is the tallest skyscraper in South America. The hotel offers convenient access to the city center, both on foot and by public transport, in just a few minutes. In addition, it is in an area with many bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the finest Chilean cuisine.
Meanwhile, the modern 5-star hotel NH Collection Plaza Santiago, situated in the municipality of Las Condes, is near the metro station, helping you reach different spots in the city. It is in the financial heart of the city and offers one of the best access points to all the tourist areas and places of interest in Santiago de Chile.
The last of our hotels in Santiago de Chile is the 4-star NH Collection Santiago Casacostanera hotel in the Vitacura area. It’s the perfect place where to stay in Santiago de Chile if you’re travelling on business since it’s located 25 minutes from the airport and close to the city’s financial district. In addition, it is also the closest hotel in the city to the main ski resorts in the country.
How’s the weather in Santiago de Chile?
Santiago de Chile is a great city to visit year-round as it offers pleasant weather through most of the year. It enjoys warm summers with almost no rainfall as well as mild winters.
The warmest months of the year in the city are January and February, which have average daily maximum temperatures of around 30ºC. On the other hand, the coldest month in Santiago de Chile is July, with average daily high temperatures of 15ºC.
What to see in Santiago de Chile?
Without a doubt, one of the must-see attractions when you travel to Santiago de Chile is the Cerro San Cristobal (St. Cristopher Hill), the second highest spot in the city, offering spectacular panoramic views. At its feet is the Bellavista neighborhood, which was built during the colonial era.
Literature lovers visiting Santiago de Chile will make sure to visit the La Chascona Museum House, one of beloved poet Pablo Neruda’s former residences. You’ll learn about the former Nobel Prize-winner’s life and get an up-close look at some of his personal possessions.
If you want to enjoy the city’s cultural life, we recommend visiting the Barrio Lastarria (Lastarria Quarter) where you will find museums, cinemas, theaters, and unique restaurants where you can enjoy delicious Chilean dishes.
Don’t neglect to visit the Plaza de Armas, one of the most important squares in the entire country. The popular square is covered in palm trees, features many historic buildings (like the Metropolitan Cathedral), and often becomes filled with artists and performers.
While its subject matter is dark, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights is an important and enlightening museum about General Augusto Pinochet’s 17-year dictatorship of Chile. It pays tribute to the regime’s many victims and sheds light on a critical part of the country’s history.
Climb to the top of the Cerro Santa Lucía (Santa Lucía Hill) for excellent views over the city, with the Andes Mountains as the background. The hill also features two historical fortresses, beautiful gardens, and the Fountain of Neptune, a neo-Classical monumental fountain.
What to eat in Santiago de Chile?
Santiago is a great place where to try some popular Chilean dishes. These include, of course, the typical empanadas, the baked savory pastries. The most traditional filling for empanadas in Santiago de Chile is the pino filling, which consists of minced meat, finely chopped onion, hard-boiled eggs, and raisins.
A dish we can’t recommend enough is the chorillana, which consists of a delicious combination of strips of beef, fried eggs, caramelized onions, and a bed of French fries. Also be sure to try pebre, the country’s main condiment, which typically includes peppers, cilantro, onions, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Some of the best restaurants where to try traditional dishes in the city include Ana María Restaurante and the family owned El Hoyo Restaurant. While empanadas are widely available in Santiago de Chile, we recommend paying a visit to Emporio Zunino to try their amazing empanadas de pino.
How to arrive in Santiago de Chile?
Santiago de Chile is served Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), also known as the Santiago International Airport, which is Chile’s busiest international airport. It handles flights from many major international destinations, including some in Europe.
The airport is located around 15 kilometers northwest of downtown Santiago. Right at the airport you’ll find several bus companies offering service into the city as well as taxis and car rental agencies.
Santiago de Chile is also connected to the rest of Chile and nearby international destinations (like Argentina) by rail, inter-urban buses, and its network of highways.
How to get around in Santiago de Chile?
Santiago de Chile has a public transport system that will help you explore the city and reach its many attractions. It includes the six lines of the Santiago Metro, bus lines, and the commuter rail (Metrotren), offering suburban rail service.
Along with the Santiago Metro, walking is one of the best ways of getting around the city. The city’s streets are easy to navigate, and the weather is often pleasant. You’ll also find taxis throughout Santiago, another convenient mode of transport.
Driving during your stay in Santiago de Chile could prove to be challenging. The city’s known to have heavy traffic and street parking could be hard to come by. However, if you do decide to use a car while in Santiago de Chile, you’ll find several car rental agencies at your disposal (including outside the airport) and plenty of underground parking lots.
Don't miss the opportunity to travel to one of the most incredible cities in South America and book one of our hotels in Santiago de Chile. You’ll be delighted in the country’s gorgeous sights and impressive cultural offerings.
