Santiago is the capital of Chile and home to about a third of the country's population. Founded in 1541, it spreads across a valley floor with the Andes rising like a wall to the east, and on clear days the snow topped peaks appear at the end of the city's avenues. The historic core sits around the Plaza de Armas, government is seated in La Moneda Palace, and the city's two hills, San Cristóbal and Santa Lucía, give views from above. The Maipo and Casablanca valleys, where Chilean wine is made, are about an hour outside the city.
Looking for cheap flights or monthly payment flight packages to Santiago?
Suso is a travel-planning platform that turns your Santiago trip from Turkey into a buy now, pay later flight package: the ticket is issued by travel agencies, booking sites or airlines, and the payment plan runs on consumer credit from partner finance institutions. One click in the basket completes the purchase and the financing together; you pay over 3 to 24 months. No credit card limit needed.
See flights to Santiago →When to visit Santiago
The seasons are the reverse of Türkiye's. September to November in spring and March to May in autumn are the best periods, with temperatures around 20C and generally clear skies. December to February is a dry summer with temperatures above 30C. June to August is winter, wet in the city, but this is when the ski resorts in the Andes are open.
Things to do in Santiago
Cerro San Cristóbal
The hill 300 metres above the city stands inside the Metropolitan Park, and a 22 metre statue of the Virgin Mary raised in 1908 crowns it. A funicular running since 1925 climbs to the top, from where the valley and the Andes range behind it are seen together.
Plaza de Armas
Laid out with the founding of the city in 1541, the square is the core of the historic centre. Around it stand colonial era buildings including the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, the old central post office and the National History Museum of Chile.
La Moneda Palace
Built at the end of the 18th century as a mint, the neoclassical building has been the seat of the Chilean presidency since 1845. Its courtyards open to visitors at set hours, and the Centro Cultural La Moneda beneath the square hosts exhibitions.
Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Housed in the old customs building, the museum holds some three thousand objects from the pre-Columbian cultures of Central and South America. The Chinchorro mummies from northern Chile and the Andean textiles are the best known parts of the collection.
La Chascona
The house of the poet Pablo Neruda in the Bellavista quarter is open as a museum, with rooms designed like parts of a ship and his personal collections inside. Neruda made this one of his three houses, and it stands on the slope of a quarter known for its bars and restaurants.
Cerro Santa Lucía
The 69 metre rocky outcrop in the middle of the centre is where the city was founded, and in the 1870s it was turned into a park of stone terraces, staircases and fountains. The terrace at the top looks over the rooftops of the centre and the mountains to the east.
Flights from Turkey to Santiago
Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul to Santiago on a single ticket with a stop in São Paulo, a journey of about 18 hours 30 minutes, and this is the first direct link between Chile and Türkiye. The route operates between four and six times a week.
Santiago FAQ
How many days do you need in Santiago?
Three days cover the centre, the hills and the museums. Adding the port of Valparaíso, the Maipo wine valley or, in winter, the Andean ski resorts brings it to five or six days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Arturo Merino Benítez Airport is about 15 kilometres north west of the centre. A taxi or the airport bus takes between 30 and 50 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a visa for Chile?
No visa is required for a Turkish passport for tourism, and stays of up to 90 days are allowed. A return ticket and accommodation details may be asked for on arrival, and bringing in fresh food, seeds or animal products is prohibited, with an agricultural declaration form completed on entry.
Buy now, pay later flights to Santiago
Fly now, pay later. Plan your trip, pay over up to 24 months. One click at checkout sets up the plan, no credit card limit needed.
Search flights to Santiago →