Month guide · Santiago · Chile
Santiago in January
What January is really like in Santiago: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dario Alpern, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 0 rainy days and roughly 14.1 hours of daylight. Hot, dry and sunny; many Santiaguinos leave for the coast, so the city is quieter and traffic lighter.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 0
- Daylight
- About 14.1 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the warmest month in Santiago: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 0 of its 31 days. Compared with December (29°C (84°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:48
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 20:55
- Daylight
- About 14.1 hours
Autumn (March–May). Grape harvest and autumn colours in the vineyards, comfortable days and the first rains by May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is September at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Santiago a Mil — international theatre festival (usually January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Park · Bellavista
Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano
Go up in the morning after rain or wind, when the smog has cleared and the Andes are sharpest; walk down through the woodland to Pedro de Valdivia.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Active
Park · Lastarria
Cerro Santa Lucía
The rocky hill where Santiago was founded was turned into an ornamental park in the 1870s, with the Neptune Fountain terraces, stone stairways and the small Castillo Hidalgo.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
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Viewpoint · Providencia
Sky Costanera
Time your visit for late afternoon so you see the city by day and the lights after sunset.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Rainy day
Park · Vitacura
Parque Bicentenario
A modern riverside park in Vitacura with lagoons where flamingos and black-necked swans live, wide lawns and Andes views.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 30°C, lows near 13°C and 0 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Santiago?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Santiago in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Santiago?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot, dry and sunny; many Santiaguinos leave for the coast, so the city is quieter and traffic lighter.
+How warm is Santiago in January?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Santiago in January?
Expect rain on about 0 days of the month, so it is usually dry.