Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Chile

A photograph of Chile
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Chile is a narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific, the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica. Its 756,102 km² are arranged almost entirely along one north–south line, with Peru and Bolivia at the top and the Drake Passage at the bottom, so nearly every journey here is a journey up or down. The 2024 census counted 18.5 million people. Santiago is the capital and largest city. Chile also administers Pacific islands far offshore, among them Juan Fernández and Easter Island, which means two places under the same flag can sit an ocean apart.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Spanish
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+56
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Chilean peso (CLP)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
133 police · 131 ambulance · 132 fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and L · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers all regions and remote areas

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Aston Land
    06 2 hours

    Aston Land

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  2. Cine Mayo
    10 2 hours

    Cine Mayo

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  3. Cineplanet
    11 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  4. Cineplanet
    12 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  5. Cineplanet
    13 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  6. Cineplanet
    14 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  7. Cineplanet
    15 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  8. Cineplanet
    16 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  9. Cineplanet
    17 2 hours

    Cineplanet

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  10. Cinépolis
    18 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  11. Cinépolis
    19 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  12. Cinépolis
    20 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  13. Cinépolis
    21 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  14. Cinépolis
    22 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  15. Cinépolis
    23 2 hours

    Cinépolis

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  16. Cinesol
    24 2 hours

    Cinesol

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  17. Cineteca PUCV
    25 2 hours

    Cineteca PUCV

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  18. Cine UC
    26 2 hours

    Cine UC

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  19. Coney
    27 2 hours

    Coney

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  20. Costa Park
    28 2 hours

    Costa Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  21. El Biógrafo
    30 2 hours

    El Biógrafo

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  22. Flipperin
    34 2 hours

    Flipperin

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  23. Funtopia Park
    35 2 hours

    Funtopia Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  24. Gold House
    36 2 hours

    Gold House

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  25. Gold House
    37 2 hours

    Gold House

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  26. Happyland
    38 2 hours

    Happyland

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  27. Happyland
    39 2 hours

    Happyland

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  28. Happyland
    40 2 hours

    Happyland

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  29. HappyLand
    41 2 hours

    HappyLand

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  30. Happy Time
    43 2 hours

    Happy Time

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  31. Hobby
    44 2 hours

    Hobby

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  32. Inspira Kids
    45 2 hours

    Inspira Kids

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  33. Juegos Arvi
    46 2 hours

    Juegos Arvi

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  34. Juegos Diana
    47 2 hours

    Juegos Diana

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  35. Mampato
    50 2 hours

    Mampato

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  36. Mampato
    51 2 hours

    Mampato

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  37. MUVIX Cinema
    55 2 hours

    MUVIX Cinema

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  38. Pharaoh
    58 2 hours

    Pharaoh

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  39. Royal Club
    59 2 hours

    Royal Club

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  40. Sandor
    60 2 hours

    Sandor

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  41. Star Game
    61 2 hours

    Star Game

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  42. Terrazas
    62 2 hours

    Terrazas

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  43. Tobi
    63 2 hours

    Tobi

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  44. Vertigo Park
    64 2 hours

    Vertigo Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  45. Wonder Park
    65 2 hours

    Wonder Park

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  46. Yupi Jump
    66 2 hours

    Yupi Jump

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  47. Zhuzhu
    67 2 hours

    Zhuzhu

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago
  48. ZooCine
    68 2 hours

    ZooCine

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Santiago

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Chile be?

A 10–16 day visit should pair Santiago with one major region, such as the Atacama, the Lake District or a Patagonian gateway. Chile’s length makes combining north and far south in a short itinerary transfer-heavy.

What entry documents are needed for Chile?

Chile’s consular service publishes the visa rules used for entry. Nationality, travel purpose and length of stay determine the requirement, and any application should be made through the official consular channel.

What is the best way to travel around Chile?

Santiago is the central international and domestic hub. Flights connect the desert, lake and Patagonian gateways, while long-distance buses cover mainland corridors and remote parks require a confirmed final transfer.

When is a practical time to visit Chile?

October through April is the broad operating window for many central and southern journeys. Atacama conditions, central-valley heat and Patagonian wind are distinct, so the least flexible regional leg should set the calendar.

What money and payment basics apply in Chile?

Chile uses the Chilean peso (CLP). Current withdrawal costs and merchant acceptance are Not recorded; review the amount in pesos and any conversion offered before completing payment.

What practical safety details should I save for Chile?

Chile uses 133 for police, 131 for ambulance and 132 for fire. Power is 220 V with Type C and L plugs, while nationwide tap-water guidance remains Not recorded.