Why visit
Santiago is the capital of Chile. A practical starting point for museums, food, and onward routes into the country.
Santiago at a glance
City population
6.3 million
Metro: 7.1 million
Elevation
570 m
1,870 ft
Time zone
UTC-4 (UTC-3 DST)
America/Santiago
Airport
SCL
Arturo Merino Benítez International
Founded
1541
Getting around
Metro (7 lines) + buses + MetroTren; Andes visible on clear days
Signature dish
Empanada de pino, pastel de choclo, completo, curanto (south), pisco sour
Neighborhoods for travelers
BellavistaLastarriaProvidenciaLas CondesBarrio ItaliaYungay
Chile at a glance
Country center
-30.0°, -71.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
756,102 km²
291,932 mi²
Country population
19.6 million
26/km²
Subregion
South America
Currency
Chilean peso ($)
CLP
Dial
+56
Language
Spanish
Demonym
Chilean
Internet
.cl
UN
Member state
ISO code
CL / CHL
Where in the world
-30.0° · -71.0°
Chile
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Did you know
- Santiago sits at the foot of the Andes: on clear days, snow-capped peaks rise 6,000m within view of the city.
- The city has the largest public bike network in Latin America.
- Cerro San Cristóbal, a 300m hill inside the city, has a statue of the Virgin Mary at the summit reachable by funicular.
- Chile is 4,300 km long but only ~180 km wide on average: the world's most elongated country.
- The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth: some weather stations have never recorded rain.
Bordering Chile
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Santiago
What currency is used in Santiago?
Santiago uses the Chilean peso ($), ISO code CLP.
What languages are spoken in Chile?
The primary language is Spanish.
What is the international calling code for Chile?
The calling code is +56.
What airport serves Santiago?
Arturo Merino Benítez International (IATA: SCL).
Other South America destinations
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Cusco
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