What currency is used in Santiago?

Santiago uses the Chilean peso (CLP).

What is the emergency number in Santiago?

In Santiago, call 133 for police, 131 for an ambulance, 132 for the fire service.

How much does a day in Santiago cost?

Roughly $40-60 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $90-160 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Santiago?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Santiago without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Santiago travel guide

Chile

Chile's capital sits in a valley with the Andes rising right behind it. Santiago is easy-going and well connected, with hill parks, lively food markets and vineyards a short trip away.

Essentials

Language: Spanish, spoken fast and full of local slang; English is limited outside hotels and tourist businesses
Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)
Plugs: Types C and L, 220 V
Emergency number: 133 for police, 131 for an ambulance, 132 for the fire service
Tipping: A 10% tip is customary in restaurants, and the bill or card machine will usually suggest it.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $40-60, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $90-160, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Santiago

Lastarria: a compact, walkable area of cafés, small museums and cultural centres.
Bellavista: colourful streets, bars and Neruda's house at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal.
Providencia: a calmer, leafy base with good metro links and plenty of restaurants.

Getting around Santiago

The metro is clean and efficient; load a Bip! card for the metro and city buses. Expect it to be very crowded at rush hour.

Best time to visit Santiago

September to November and March to May, warm days without the summer heat.

Top things to do in Santiago

Climb Cerro Santa Lucía, a small hill park of terraces and stairways in the centre
Visit La Chascona, Pablo Neruda's quirky house in Bellavista
Spend a few hours at the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, on the years of the dictatorship
Eat seafood at the Mercado Central, then browse the fruit stalls of La Vega across the river
Explore the cafés, furniture workshops and bars of Barrio Italia

What to eat in Santiago

Pastel de choclo: a bake of minced beef, chicken and olives under a sweet corn topping
Completo: a hot dog piled with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise
Empanada de pino: a baked pastry of beef, onion, olive and hard-boiled egg
Mote con huesillo: a cold summer drink of dried peaches in syrup with husked wheat

Day trips from Santiago

Valparaíso: the colourful port city on the hills, about an hour and a half to two hours by bus
Maipo Valley wineries: vineyards at the foot of the Andes, around an hour from the city
Cajón del Maipo: a mountain canyon for hiking and hot springs, roughly one and a half to two hours by road

Local etiquette

A single kiss on the cheek is the usual greeting, and a handshake for more formal meetings. Many families have once, a light evening meal of bread and tea, rather than a big dinner.

Staying connected

Prepaid SIMs from Entel, Movistar and WOM are sold in shops and kiosks, eSIMs work well, and Wi-Fi is widely available in cafés and accommodation.

Staying safe

Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common around the Plaza de Armas, the busier metro stations and the markets, so keep valuables close. Chile is earthquake country; take a moment to note the exits wherever you stay.

A local tip

Ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal for a view of the city and the Andes, clearest after rain.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Santiago on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Santiago for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Santiago, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Santiago

What currency is used in Santiago?: Santiago uses the Chilean peso (CLP).
What is the emergency number in Santiago?: In Santiago, call 133 for police, 131 for an ambulance, 132 for the fire service.
When is the best time to visit Santiago?: September to November and March to May, warm days without the summer heat.
How much does a day in Santiago cost?: Roughly $40-60 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $90-160 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Santiago?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Santiago without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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