Season guide · Santiago · Chile
Santiago in summer
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Apincheira, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Hot, dry and sunny, with afternoons often above 30°C; locals head to the coast in January and February and some restaurants close. Expect highs up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 0 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 12°C (54°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 0
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C (86°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 0 | 14.1 h | 3/5 |
| February | 30°C (86°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 0 | 13.3 h | 2/5 |
| December | 29°C (84°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 0 | 14.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 0 of the year's roughly 30 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Santiago a Mil — international theatre festival (usually January)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks at the Costanera Center tower (31 December)
Make the most of the weather
Park · Bellavista
Cerro San Cristóbal and Parque Metropolitano
Santiago's largest park covers Cerro San Cristóbal, a hill rising about 300 metres above the city and topped by a white statue of the Virgin Mary.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Active
Park · Lastarria
Cerro Santa Lucía
Enter by the grand stairway on the Alameda and leave by the Lastarria side for coffee afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
.jpg){kind=link}
Viewpoint · Providencia
Sky Costanera
The observation deck at the top of the 300-metre Gran Torre Santiago, above the Costanera Center mall, gives a 360-degree view of the city, the Andes and the coastal range.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Rainy day
Museum · Quinta Normal
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
Combine it with the Museum of Memory, across the road from the park's north side.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Nature
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
Day trips in summer
- Valparaíso (About 1 hour 45 minutes by bus) — Chile's historic port climbs a ring of hills covered in brightly painted houses, street murals and old funicular lifts.
- Viña del Mar (About 1 hour 45 minutes by bus) — Valparaíso's neighbour is a beach resort with wide boulevards, the flower clock, the Wulff Castle on the rocks and sandy beaches; the Pacific here is cold for swimming.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Santiago?
It is a trade-off: Hot, dry and sunny, with afternoons often above 30°C; locals head to the coast in January and February and some restaurants close. The best months overall are March–April and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Santiago in summer?
Highs of up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 0 rainy days over the season.