Santiago

Urban

Population: 7 million

Best Season to Visit:

Best Off-Peak Month to Visit: June–July

Famous For: Plaza de Armas, La Moneda Palace, Cerro San Cristóbal, Mapocho Market, Bellas Artes Museum, Lastarria neighborhood, Andean mountain views, Chilean wine, Street art and murals, Vibrant food scene

Train Access: Yes (Metro de Santiago)

Bus Access: Yes (Transantiago (integrated public bus system))

Santiago sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains to the east and the Coastal Range to the west, creating a dramatic urban landscape. The historic center clusters around Plaza de Armas, where the Metropolitan Cathedral and Central Post Office anchor colonial architecture alongside modern glass towers. Neighborhoods like Lastarria feature bohemian galleries, vintage bookstores, and cafés along tree-lined streets, while Providencia and Las Condes contain upscale shopping on Avenida Apoquindo and Avenida Costanera. Parque Metropolitano dominates the skyline—a 722-hectare urban park with hiking trails, the San Cristóbal Hill viewpoint, and the Enrique Aninat Botanical Garden. The Mapocho River runs through the city, with the Mapocho Station Museum housed in a restored 1913 railway building showcasing contemporary art. Street food culture thrives at Mercado Central, where vendors sell fresh seafood and empanadas, while the Barrio Italia district concentrates independent restaurants and design shops. The Cerro Santa Lucía offers another central hilltop escape with 360-degree city views and a small fortress structure.

VRBO Vacation Rentals
Learn More

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, Vrbo connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The Vrbo community offers families an array of rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, and more. Discover properties in destinations that everyone dreams of visiting.

VRBO Vacation Rentals

Keep reading. It is free.