Top Underrated Travel Destinations: Why You Need to Go to Santiago, Chile

In this series I feature some of my favorite places on earth that I feel are underrated travel destinations. Here we explore Santiago, Chile. This capital city and booming metropolis is a must-visit for your next international trip.

Santiago, the capital city of Chile, was one of those places that took me by complete surprise. The first time I ended up in Chile was for five weeks in June, which is the start of their winter.  The cold, dry and sometimes rainy climate did not prevent me from falling in love with this city. It was one of the liveliest months I had during my time on Remote Year.  Santiago is an underrated travel destination and should be prioritized as more than just a pitstop to fly in and out of the country.

Chile has received attention for its booming economy, solidifying itself as one of the richest countries in Latin America. It’s known for its academics with very popular international university programs frequented by U.S. citizens. 

Most recently, Chile, particularly Santiago, gained huge international attention for the explosive riots in November. A hike in metro prices served as a catalyst for a class war; exposing frustrations over years of economic divide and political distrust. I was actually there during these riots and will write more about that later.

News headlines aside, Santiago is one of my favorite places. While exploring the entire country of Chile should be at the top of your list, be sure to start with Santiago.

Here are some of my favorite things about the underrated travel destination that is Santiago, Chile:

1. San Cristobal Hill 

The nature surrounding Santiago is unbelievable. There are so many accessible hikes you can do in a day, but my favorite is San Cristobal Hill. This is primarily because it’s so darn accessible. Smack dab in the middle of the city, San Cristobal is an easy hike that can be made as long or short as you want, since there are a plethora of trails in the park. There is also a cable car that goes down from the top, so you can spend an hour climbing up and then save your knees and some time by taking the cable car down. 

2. Drink All the Pisco 

By far one of my favorite things about Chile is their local liquor: Pisco. Pisco is like the best parts of tequila with the best parts of a nice dark rum. Trust me- it’s delicious. It’s not just good thought, it is also so strong. The signature drink is a Pisco Sour, which is essentially the same thing as a whiskey sour, but with Pisco instead of Whiskey. It’s absolutely delicious- citrusy and satisfying.

The club drink of choice is a Piscola- Pisco and Coca Cola. Simple, effective, and surprisingly delightful. Whenever you go out or to a party, this is all anybody is drinking. I think about Pisco with longing still- a year later. There are strict import laws for Pisco and the U.S. so it’s not something you’ll find outside of Latin America, typically. 

3. Rooftop Hop

While the drinking and eating scene in Santiago is an event on its own, the best place to enjoy a cocktail or happy hour is on a roof, at sunset, overlooking the city. There are so many venues to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. My absolute favorite roof top in the city is Azotea Maltide. The ambiance, the cocktails, the views- 10/10. Not to mention, the sesame crusted seared ahi tuna is the best I’ve ever had.

4. Enjoy the Wineries

That gorgeous landscape you see surrounding you as you walk around the city, or sip your Pisco on rooftops, is also home to many wineries. The wine in Chile is the real superstar of this country, and because it’s so plentiful, the prices are very reasonable. Chile is surprisingly expensive, so the extremely low cost ($3-6 USD) of a decent bottle of wine was a great surprise.

While you can enjoy wine locally, you should absolutely explore the nearby wineries. You can easily do this in just half a day. You can either hire a driver to take you around, or book a full wine tour.  

5. Day trip to the Andes Mountains

As stated before, hiking here is a real treat. Nothing is more beautiful than the Andes mountains though. Since they are right in your backyard, you can easily take the day to go hiking.

If it’s winter, you can do an amazing snow trek and bathe in the hot springs. If it’s the summer, you can do the same trek but at night and lounge in the springs while looking at the stars.

As you can imagine, this vast mountain range has many options for exploration. Climbing, hiking, biking, driving- you can find something for any interest. It’s super easy to find a great tour through Airbnb Experiences or Get Your Guide.

6. Dance to Reggaeton 

Santiago was my first city in South America and with it came an introduction to Reggaeton and true nightlife- something unlike anything I’d experienced before. Boy, can people dance in this part of the world and with music like Reggaeton, it’s impossible not to.

Going out in Santiago was one of my favorite things, and there was never a week that went by without at least one night spent at the club. Chileans are lively, welcoming and game to show you a good time. Make sure to plan a night out, and if you can, choose a venue with live music of DJ’s.

7. Learn About the Local History 

Chile has gone through a lot to get to where they are now, and the battle is not over. The diverse country has seen struggle and triumph. Santiago has some incredible historical tours and as someone who is not a huge history buff, I actually found them quite fascinating. I found the tours here more interesting than many of the ones I’d previously had. We took a feminist tour and an LGBTQ tour through Tours with Meaning and I cannot recommend them enough. 

8. Dabble in the Fine Dining Food Scene

Santiago is not a cheap city. The food is relatively basic on a day to day basis. The typical dishes being empanadas, hot dogs or hamburgers and lomo saltado (eggs, steak, french fries). What is spectacular however, is their fine dining scene.

With numerous acclaimed restaurants and a city that knows how to do ambiance, I had several incredibly impressive meals. It’s absolutely worth spending the money to try out some nicer places and get a taste for the potential of Chilean food. Street food and your day to day lunch spots are not going to give you that same flavor profile.

9. Play with the Local Dogs

There is a ridiculous amount of street dogs throughout the city. The community actually makes sure these strays are taken care of. They bathe and feed them, so they are clean, friendly and always down to be petted.

Whenever we would hike up San Cristobal, we would sure enough end up with a pet dog for the morning, happily trotting alongside us. What’s even crazier, is that those who actually own dogs, leave them in the park during the day to play and they’ll actually be waiting there for them when their owners get off work.

Where to Stay in Santiago:

Just like any metropolitan, this city is massive and each neighborhood holds a very different vibe and feel. Because of this, it’s essential that you spend some time exploring the different areas of the city. Here is a basic overview of my favorite neighborhoods and what places I love the most in them:

Lastarria

I lived in this cute up and coming neighborhood, just adjacent to the main centro. While the Centro needs to be explored, it is a bit dodgier than Lastarria. This beautiful, modern and whimsical area is a breath of fresh air and culture within the hustle and bustle of the city.

Everything you need can be found along the main street of Jose Victorino Lastarria, with fine dining, casual fare, my favorite spa in the city, health food stores, working cafes, street performers and little markets. I highly enjoyed this neighborhood, but due to it’s proximity to the main Centro and the sketchiness that brings after dark, it’s not for everyone. 

Must Try: The Singular Spa, Wonderland Cafe, Bocanariz, Domestico, Colmado Coffee, Castillo Hidalgo, Hotel Luciano K roof top.

Barrio Italia

It took me a minute to explore this neighborhood, just across the parque from where I was living. Mainly because it’s surrounded by a residential and quiet area. You would never guess that there was a bustling, hipster and cultural mecca hidden inside. Barrio Italia has so many trendy, hipster restaurants and bars, as well as the cutest shops and ‘gram worthy outdoor scenery you can find in the city.

Vegetarian and gluten free food was pretty hard to come by in Santiago, so I was beyond excited to discover not one, but six vegetarian and vegan restaurants on one little street. Not to mention, it’s home to my favorite gluten free Italian place yet.

Must Try: Bar Italia, Ruca Bar, Verde Sazon, Sapiens, Barracuda.

Providencia

The ritzy neighbor to downtown Santiago, Providencia is where the money is and the glam. It kind of reminds me of  Beverly Hills, with lots of big name coffee houses, shopping, newly polished streets and fine dining restaurants abound. You can also find several great clubs and cocktail spots here. While removed from the rest of the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a great area to stay for a certain type of traveler, or when traveling with your parents.  

Must Try: Holm, Santo Remedio, El Huerto, Costanera Center

Bella Artes

The bohemian heart of the city, this color coated, lively, muraled pocket of santiago is my favorite. Here is the heart of the night life but also some of the coolest cultural spots, variety of people and things to do. Walking distance to the Centro, but much nicer, this would be my top choice to stay. It is extremely loud at night though, so if you’re looking to get some rest, maybe go to Providencia.

You’ll find outdoor markets, outdoor breweries, rooftops and patios galore. There’s numerous nearby museums and San Cristobal Hill. Most of the clubs for dancing are in this area, and right next door in Patronato.

If there’s a Futbol game happening, you’ll hear and see people all throughout the neighborhood. Walking around Bella Artes at night makes you feel alive. 

Must Try: Azotea Matilde, Vega Central (closeby), San Cristobal, Jardin Mallinkrodt, Onaciu

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