Flights to Santiago

From the airport

Official taxis and transfer vans run from the arrivals hall, and app-based rides also operate. Airport buses link the terminal with central Santiago and connect with the metro, which is clean, quick and covers most of the city. A rechargeable bip! card works on both the metro and buses. Providencia and Las Condes are popular bases, as is the historic centre around Lastarria.

Plazas and palaces

The Plaza de Armas is the city's historic heart, lined by the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National History Museum. A short walk south, the white neoclassical La Moneda Palace is the president's office, and the changing of the guard takes place outside on alternate days. The Museum of Pre-Columbian Art displays textiles, ceramics and carvings from across the Americas, and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights covers the years of military rule.

Hills and neighbourhoods

A funicular and cable car climb Cerro San Cristóbal, where a statue of the Virgin Mary overlooks the city and the Andes. Closer to the centre, Cerro Santa Lucía has terraces, fountains and a small fort. Lastarria has cafés, bookshops and arts venues, while Bellavista is known for nightlife, street art and La Chascona, a house once owned by the poet Pablo Neruda. The Mercado Central serves seafood stews and fresh fish.

Day trips and timing

Vineyards in the Maipo and Casablanca valleys offer tastings within an hour or two, and Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are around 90 minutes away on the coast. In winter, ski resorts such as Valle Nevado are about two hours up into the Andes. Santiago is most pleasant in spring, from September to November, and autumn, from March to May, while summer can be hot and dry. Keep valuables secure in busy areas.

Planning a Santiago trip? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll look at flights with you.