One week in Santiago, Chile: Things To Do

by Rolling Coconut · Updated on December 2, 2023

In this post we provide information on how to get from Santa Cruz to Santiago, find out about the different neighborhoods in Santiago, where to stay in Santiago and things to do in Santiago, Chile.

From Santa Cruz to Santiago

A short, direct bus, for once! After a day in the Chilean wineries, we finally make our way towards the capital. There is an hourly shuttle from Santa Cruz to Santiago. The ride takes a bit less than 3hrs. A bus ticket costs around USD $9 per person.

Santiago Chile Train Station Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Barrio Brasil, Estacion Central – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Santiago Chile Music Streets Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Live music in the streets of Santiago – Photo OOAworld Rolling Coconut*

How to get Around Santiago

Photo Ooaworld — *Statue in Plaza de Armas – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

The metro is very well served and takes you to most main areas of the city.

See post from The Wild Life about the subway in Santiago, Chile.

It is the best way to get around. The capital is also very walk-able. Plaza de Armas to Bellavista takes about 30 minutes by foot.

Santiago Subway Metro OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Santiago Subway Metro – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Where to stay in Santiago- Hotels in Santiago

We first stayed in Barrio Brasil, which was closest to the bus station. It is a colorful and trendy neighborhood. The first hostel we found was an overpriced youth hostel, Traveller’s Place Hostel, paying 80 000 CHP (USD $120) for a room but we needed it. It was our first night in a bed after 5 days in a car and bus.

We enjoyed a deliciously cold beer with other locals for happy hour and snack on appetizers, on a little street terrace. Barrio Brasil is lively, bars overflow on the sidestreet but people are mindful of one another. We get a good laid back feel from Santiago, reminiscent of Paris during the summer days.

Traveller's Place Hostel, Kitchen in room - Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Traveller’s Place Hostel, Kitchen in room – Photo OOAworld Rolling Coconut*

Another option on where to stay in Santiago, is this well-located apartment in Bellavista, close to Lastarria. The whole apartment is for yourself and can accommodate up to 4 people. Price per night is approximately USD $40. There are restaurants, shopping areas, live music and bars in this area.

Plaza de Armas Hostel, right on the Plaza de Armas square, offers great views of Santiago and of Plaza de Armas from the top. It is a well-located, clean and youthful hostel.

Plaza de Armas View form the Top Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Plaza de Armas: View from the Top – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

What To Do in Santiago

Santiago Chile Barrio Brasil Walls Art Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Colorful Walls in Santiago – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

There’s enough to keep you busy in this city! From monuments, to museums to markets and restaurants, there’s no shortage of activities when visiting Santiago.

Each neighborhood has its own identity, find out a bit more about the different neighborhoods and activities in Santiago, Chile:

Cerro San Cristobal

Ride the Teleferico and get a view of Santiago to reach Cerro San Cristobal

Santiago Chile Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Academia de Bellas Artes Building in Santiago* *– OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Barrio Brazil:

M100 Museum Arts - Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *M100 Museum in Barrio Brasil – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Chorrillana Santiago Chile OOAworld Rolling Coconut — *Chorrillana in Santiago Chile, a local staple consisting of fries covered in various toppings, usually meat, onions and sometimes fried eggs – OOAworld Rolling Coconut*

Bellavista

A trendy neighborhood with restaurants, bars, colorful streets. It is quite empty during the day but fills up early evening with locals and live music.

Plaza de Armas

La Moneda: The seat of the president of Chile, a white imposing building in downtown Santiago. It is located by Plaza de Armas. Unfortunately, La Moneda is not open to visitors.

Santiago La Moneda OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *La Moneda – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Plaza de Armas: Located in downtown Santiago, a big square where you can see locals going about their daily activities, painters, artists, musicians, locals playing chess. A neat stop when wandering the city.

Plaza de Armas Santiago Chile OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Plaza de Armas, Santiago Chile – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Santiago Plaza de Armas Chess Players OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Chess Players, a daily sight in Plaza de Armas – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Bellas Artes, Lastarria & Paris-Londres

GAM: The Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, named after Chilean poet-diplomat, educator and humanist Gabriela Mistral, is located in Bellas Artes, close to the Cerro Santa Lucia.

Santiago GAM Museum Fish Art OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *GAM Museum – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Cerro Santa Lucia: A great park walking distance from Plaza de Armas and when you reach the top of the park you have a great view of Santiago. Perfect for sunsets in the summertime.

Santiago Gates Santa Lucia OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Santa Lucia Gates – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Santiago Views from the Top of Santa Lucia - Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Santiago Views from the Top of Santa Lucia – Photo OOAworld Rolling Coconut*

The Red, Santa Lucia, Santiago - Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *The Red Gates, Santa Lucia, Santiago – Photo OOAworld Rolling Coconut*

The Top of Santa Lucia, Santiago - Photo Ooaworld Rolling Coconut — *Santa Lucia Views, Santiago – Photo OOAworld Rolling Coconut*

Lastarria: a trendy neighborhood, perfect for afternoon strolls and coffee stop. Popular with tourists.

Santiago Lastarria Architecture Green OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Lastarria buildings- OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Cafe Terrasse Lastarria Santiago Chile OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Cafe Terrace in Lastarria, Santiago – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

La Vega Central

A huge market offering everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats and seafood with food stands, it can be crowded and chaotic but always colorful.

Santiago Vega Central Fruit Stand OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Santiago: Vega Central, Fruit Stand – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Santiago Vega Central Entrance Outside OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *La Vega Central Entrance Outside – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Santiago Inside Mercado De La Vega OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel — *Inside Mercado La Vega Central – OOAworld Rolling Coconut Travel*

Other Activities in Santiago, Chile

There are also lots of food tours and day trips if you’re staying in Santiago for a few days.

From Santiago to Valparaiso by bus

From Santiago, our next stop in Valparaiso for a day trip (two-days, one night).

Valparaiso is a port city on the coast of Chile, 1h30 away from Santiago by bus. The city Pablo Neruda called its muse.

Buses leave every 30 mins from different companies from the La Paz Terminal Bus station, Independencia – close to La Vega Market, a very easy and straightforward process.

What else did you do in Santiago? Share your experiences with us! We love to hear from you!

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See our previous post to go from Puerto Montt to Santiago.

Two days in Valparaiso, Chile - OOAworld
March 8, 2020
[…] The best way to get to Valparaiso from Santiago is by car or bus. It takes about 1h30-2hr to get to Valparaiso from Santiago by bus. There are frequent buses daily from the various bus stations in Santiago. Cost per person should be roughly USD $8. Read our previous post about Santiago. […]