How many days · Santiago · Chile
How many days do you need in Santiago?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carlos yo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Santiago, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the centre, Lastarria, Bellavista and the view from San Cristóbal. Four days adds a winery visit and a day in Valparaíso; a week leaves time for the Cajón del Maipo or, in winter, a day on the slopes.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 9.9 h (Jun) to 14.4 h (Dec)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano, Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral, La Moneda Palace and Mercado Central |
| 2 days | Good | Mercado Central, Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino and Museum of Memory and Human Rights |
| 3 days | Good | La Chascona, Cerro Santa Lucía and La Vega Central |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Valparaíso |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Valparaíso and Viña del Mar |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Santiago add up to roughly 17–20 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano (Half a day), Barrio Lastarria and GAM (2–3 hours) and Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (1.5–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano | Half a day | Bellavista |
| Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| La Moneda Palace | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Mercado Central | 1 hour | Centro Histórico |
| Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino | 1.5–2 hours | Centro Histórico |
| Museum of Memory and Human Rights | 2 hours | Quinta Normal |
| La Chascona | 1 hour | Bellavista |
| Cerro Santa Lucía | 1 hour | Lastarria |
| La Vega Central | 1 hour | Recoleta |
| Sky Costanera | 1 hour | Providencia |
| Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes | 1.5 hours | Parque Forestal |
| Barrio Lastarria and GAM | 2–3 hours | Lastarria |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano and Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Cathedral |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Valparaíso and Viña del Mar |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in June (about 9.9 hours of daylight) than in December (about 14.4 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Santiago with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires | About 1,139 km | 5 days |
| Montevideo | About 1,343 km | 3 days |
| Cusco | About 2,219 km | 6 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Santiago?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the centre, Lastarria, Bellavista and the view from San Cristóbal. Four days adds a winery visit and a day in Valparaíso; a week leaves time for the Cajón del Maipo or, in winter, a day on the slopes.
+Is a week too long in Santiago?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.