Comparison · Lima vs Santiago · Peru / Chile
Lima vs Santiago
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Felipe Ruiz Hoyos, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Lima for Ceviche, Pisco sour and beaches; choose Santiago for Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights. Lima is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,466 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,466 km
- Less expensive
- Lima
- Best time for Lima
- December–April
- Best time for Santiago
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Lima | Santiago | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Peru | Chile |
| Known for | Ceviche, Pisco sour and Malecón de Miraflores | Andes skyline, Chilean wine and Pisco sour |
| Best time to visit | December–April | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$180 | $110–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | February, 27°C (81°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | August, 18°C (64°F) | June, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Beaches | Costa Verde, Miraflores | — |
| Airports | LIM | SCL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Lima for…
Ceviche, Pisco sour and beaches. Peru's capital spreads along desert cliffs above the Pacific, and for many visitors it is the gateway to Cusco and Machu Picchu. It deserves more than a stopover: Lima is one of South America's great food cities, from cevicherías and chifa to world-ranked…
Choose Santiago for…
Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights. Santiago spreads across a basin with the snow-capped Andes on its eastern edge, and on clear days the peaks rise behind every avenue. The compact historic centre around the Plaza de Armas and La Moneda Palace sits beside the restaurant and gallery streets of…
Top sights compared
| # | Lima | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza Mayor | Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano |
| 2 | Cathedral of Lima | Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Monastery of San Francisco | La Moneda Palace |
| 4 | Larco Museum | Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino |
| 5 | Huaca Pucllana | Museum of Memory and Human Rights |
Food compared
| Lima | Santiago |
|---|---|
| Ceviche | Empanada de pino |
| Leche de tigre | Completo |
| Lomo saltado | Pastel de choclo |
| Ají de gallina | Cazuela |
Which is cheaper?
Lima is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$180 per person there, against $110–$200 in Santiago (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lima on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,466 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Lima or Santiago cheaper?
Lima is usually less expensive: about $100–$180 a day mid-range against $110–$200 (estimates).
+Is Lima or Santiago better for a first trip?
Pick Lima for Ceviche, Pisco sour and beaches, or Santiago for Andes skyline, Chilean wine and free sights.
+How far is Lima from Santiago?
About 2,466 km in a straight line.