We spent one full day in Santiago, Chile following our Patagonia adventure before heading home to New York. (Full Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia Itinerary coming soon!)
Santiago, Chile’s capital, is the largest city in the country. Surrounding the metropolitan city are the vast Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coast Range. The panoramic views of the city were my favorite part of my day exploring the city. I loved to see the city from above, but more on that below!
The size of Santiago really blew me away. The population is about 7 million people and the size totals approximately 641 km² (248 sq mi). The city was truly massive and at first overwhelming – we were there for essentially a layover. There is so much to see and do. Since we were only there for a day, we explored the Central areas of the city.
- When We visited:
- Currency:
- Getting Around:
- Where We Stayed:
- Full Day Itinerary:
- If We Had More Time:
When We visited:
We visited Santiago in early November. We had a beautiful blue sky day and the temperature was in the 70s F (low 20s C) when exploring the city. November is considered the shoulder season, because it is after the popular skiing season in the Andes and before the hot and crowded summer season. Spring in the city was beautiful because the city was bright and in bloom! I would highly recommend visiting in November.
Tip: Be on the lookout for blooming Jacaranda trees! These beautiful violet-blue trees are native to South America and bloom in the spring.
Average Temperatures in November:
- 79°F (26°C) to 51°F (11°C)
Currency:
The currency is the Chilean Peso. At the time of writing this post $1USD=approximately 926 CLP. We used primarily cash which we exchanged at our bank prior to our trip and supplemented with a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Getting Around:
We used Uber to get around for longer distances and walked a decent amount. We didn’t realize that Uber is technically illegal in some areas of the city including to and from the airport since the cab companies have the rights.
We walked throughout the city through different neighborhoods when distances weren’t too long. Of course, public transport is also accessible in Santiago, we didn’t explore it on this trip though.
Where We Stayed:
AC Hotel Santiago Cenco Costanera
This was the highlight of our trip! (not kidding – this hotel was amazing!)
Upon arrival, we were upgraded to a penthouse suite with a huge private rooftop area overlooking the city, the Andes mountains, and the Sky Costanera. Our room was on the 25th floor. This upgrade was just one more reason to love Marriott Bonvoy and their rewards program.
Pictured is the view of Sky Costanera from our private balcony. You can visit their observatory on the 61st and 62nd floor!
The hotel borders the Providencia/Vitacura neighborhoods and many great restaurants/bars are near as it is a popular tourist area. AC Hotel also offers an amazing rooftop bar where we enjoyed cocktails overlooking the city skyline. More details below!
The hotel is attached to Cenco Costanera, the largest shopping mall in Chile which offers popular stores, restaurants, and things to do across 6 floors.
Full Day Itinerary:
San Cristobal Hill:
San Cristobal Hill or Cerro San Cristobal is located in the large Metropolitan Park which also houses a zoo, botanical gardens, bike/hiking trails, swimming pools, and more. The whole park is over 1800 acres and holds the record for the largest park in Latin America.
We began our day by taking an Uber to the park and got dropped off outside one of the park entrances near the street, “Camino Rafael Elizalde”. Many of the activities at San Cristobal including the cable car and funicular are operated by Turistik.
Cable Car:
We purchased tickets at the entrance and boarded the cable car at Oasis Station and rode it to the final stop at Cumbre station, on top of the hill.
There was a short line at the station, make sure to plan accordingly! Turstik offers one-way or roundtrip tickets which are about 3CLP for one way or 4CLP roundtrip.
Note: The Cable Car is closed on Mondays
Top of San Cristobal Hill:
The main attraction of San Cristobal is the statue of the Virgin Mary (also referred to as the statue of the Immaculate Conception) which can be reached by foot, cable car, or funicular. The top of the hill boasts beautiful panoramic views of the city. The summit is also home to the Church of the Immaculate Conception which you may visit. Crowds at the top were heavy, but worth the experience!
Funicular:
We took the funicular back down the hill to the Pío Nono station. The funicular opened in 1925! The trip is about 500 meters one way and costs about 2CLP for a one way ticket.
Santa Lucia Hill:
From the Pío Nono station, we made our way on foot to Santa Lucia, a beautiful park in the heart of the city. There are some light stairs and paths to reach the top and vendors where you can grab a snack.
From the Pío Nono station, we made our way on foot to Santa Lucia, a beautiful park in the heart of the city. There are some light stairs and paths to reach the top and vendors where you can grab a snack.
I enjoyed a flavored ice refreshment on top of the hill. They call it “Granizados”
Tip: Be on the lookout for a cannon that fires every day from the hilltop at noon, a tradition that dates back to 1824!
Plaza de Armas:
Plaza de Armas which translates to “square of weapons” serves as the city’s main square and dates back to 1541, the same year the city itself was founded. The square is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, Central Post Office, and National History Museum. You can also find several statues, fountains, and vendors.
Lunch at Plaza de Armas:
Finding a sit down restaurant for lunch near the Plaza was a small challenge. We ended up circling around and made our way back to the square to eat at Jalisco, a Mexican cantina which is part of a collection of restaurants through Mil Sabores group. It’s a unique dining experience because there are several restaurants with a variety of cuisines with one large menu and a shared kitchen.
Cenco Costanera Mall:
After lunch, we did some more walking around, grabbed a coffee and made our way back to our hotel.
Since our hotel was attached to the Cenco Costanera Mall, we decided to check it out and we spent some time browsing popular stores. The Censco Costanera Mall was popular with locals and tourists.
Drinks at Luna Bar:
Luna Bar is a breathtaking bar on the 17th floor of AC Hotel Costanera. They offer drinks and a selection of Tapas to accompany the panoramic views of the city. I loved the relaxing atmosphere for an evening cocktail.
Dinner at Giratorio:
This was a special dining experience! Giratorio offers an international cuisine and panoramic 360-degree views of the city, literally – the restaurant rotates! I actually did not realize this when I booked and as soon as we were seated at a table we did a double take. This was a cool dining experience!
Tip: Book a reservation in advance. I booked the morning of and was able to reserve a table.
If We Had More Time:
Spend more time exploring San Cristobal:
San Cristobal covers so much space and is a peaceful park that offers so much to do. I read nice reviews of the trails being more tranquil and farther away from the crowds.
Visit Museums:
Santiago is home to many museums. I heard good things about the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. The museum teaches visitors about the violations committed by the Chilean state between 1973 and 1990 during the military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet. This was too far for us on our one day visit, so we’ll put it on the list for next time!
Day Trips from Santiago:
There are many great full-day trips from Santiago. Consider trips to the coast, the Andes mountains, and a great selection of wine tours! If we had one more full day, I would probably select a full-day tour to explore wineries in the Maipo Valley.
Until next time Santiago! I hope you enjoyed reading my one day itinerary! Happy planning!
Getaways with Gabby 
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