Where to stay in Santiago, Chile? The 8 best areas 🇨🇱

Wondering where to stay in Santiago, Chile? We can help you figure out which neighborhood is best for you! Some of the best areas to stay in Santiago de Chile are Centro, Las Condes, Lastarria, Recoleta and Bellavista.

There are so many great cities to visit in South America that many fantastic vacation destinations are overlooked. While Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro with its non-stop party life and the vibrant Argentinian metropolis of Buenos Aires are at the top of the travel guides, Chile often plays second fiddle to some of its neighbors.

But this narrow strip of a country is not to be overlooked, and the capital Santiago in particular deserves more attention from travelers. It’s also often a self-fulfilling cycle. This lack of attention means that it can often be difficult for visitors to find the best accommodation in Santiago de Chile.

That’s a shame, because Santiago de Chile is a diverse metropolis with lots to experience. The Andes are barely more than an hour away and offer some of the best ski resorts on the continent.

And for those who prefer to sit back and relax, it is one of the most important centers of wine production in North and South America.

Santiago is something of a cross-section of Chile’s fascinating but torn history. It is a city in which the La Moneda Palace – a living embodiment of Pinochet’s bloody coup d’état in 1973 – stands next to the house of the famous Nobel Prize winner, activist and poet Pablo Neruda.

Museums and landmarks that pay tribute to pre-Colombian civilizations stand alongside historic buildings that commemorate the Spanish invasion.

But even when political circumstances changed the shape of this vibrant city, life went on as before and continues to do so today. There are first-class restaurants and takeaways that draw their tradition from generations of culinary history.

Pisco and wine vie for the spot as the city’s official drink, and bicycles and cars populate the streets. Life must go on, and regardless of where you choose to live in Santiago de Chile, getting around doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it may seem at first glance.

Where to stay in Santiago de Chile: The best areas

The temperate climate makes the city ideal for getting around by bike, and the roads are surprisingly bicycle-friendly despite the apparent traffic chaos. Santiago has an accessible bike rental program and one of the cheapest and most convenient bus services on the continent.

The Transantiago bus servicee offers more convenient ways to get around the city center, while the metro bus system is constantly being expanded.

The result is a city that is remarkably friendly to travelers. Even if you have a language barrier, there’s no need to worry about finding your way around the city, and it’s a great starting point for the other attractions Chile has to offer.

This means that you are largely free to decide where you want to stay in Santiago de Chile without having to worry about being pigeonholed. Below we present the best accommodation in Santiago de Chile.

1. Centro, where you can stay overnight in Santiago de Chile to see the sights

The Centro districts that are so prominent in Central and South American cities often have two characteristics: their historic landmarks and architecture and their reputation as crime hotspots. Fortunately, Centro Santiago only has the first characteristic.

If you’re looking for history lessons, this is one of the best places to stay in Santiago de Chile.

The city center is home to some of the most important sights, including the Teatro Municipal, the Cathedral of Santiago, the National Historical Museum, the Presidential Palace La Moneda and the Plaza de Armas.

The Plaza de Armas has been the center of public life since the city’s beginnings, and it is still a place of social and commercial activity for many residents today. It is also a great place to sit back and relax after a long day of sightseeing.

The central location makes the Centro District one of the best areas in Santiago de Chile if you want to stay in the city for a longer period of time.

Whether you want to rent a car, ride a bike or take the metro, you are always in the middle of the action, and there is no other neighborhood in Santiago that is better located. And for daily activities, you have access to a variety of restaurants and shopping options.

Its close proximity to the artists’ quarter Bellas Artes makes it a particularly promising prospect for visitors who want to immerse themselves in the local culture and art scene.

If you want to live in the Centro District, you should look for a place south of Alameda Avenue. This is where the best residential complexes are located.

The Centro District is probably not the best place for backpackers or people on a particularly tight budget. While there are some hostels, most of the accommodation in this neighborhood is boutique hotels and furnished apartments for rent.

BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE CENTER OF SANTIAGO DE CHILE

• Hotel Plaza San Francisco 👈
• Almacruz Hotel y Centro de Convenciones (Ex Galerías) 👈
• Novapark 👈

2. Bellas Artes, the best accommodation in Santiago de Chile for culture and art

Bellas Artes is widely regarded as Lastarria’s twin sister, but it is undoubtedly not an identical twin. This neighborhood once had a somewhat unsavoury reputation, but in recent years it has become one of the most important bastions of art and culture in Santiago.

In this respect, it has some similarities with Bellavista, but it also has a style all of its own. The neighborhood’s namesake is the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Palace of Fine Arts, and you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t spend at least an afternoon within its walls.

The museum is over a century old, and although it was badly damaged during the 2010 earthquake, the architecture itself is still of astonishing beauty.

While Lastarria is more upper-middle class, Bellas Artes is much more bohemian. For many, it is the cultural heart of the city.

The Parque Forestal has long been the meeting place for Chilean artists and intellectuals, and in the evenings numerous exhibitions, poetry readings and live music take place here.

There is always something to do, but if you want to spend your afternoons in a more relaxed way, take a hike up the nearby Santa Lucia Hill.

Thanks to its proximity to Lastarria, you can stay in Bellas Artes and still have easy access to everything the neighborhood has to offer. This is a particularly nice bonus, as Bellas Artes is generally cheaper.

You’ll find a wide range of nice mid-range accommodation and extremely affordable hostels. And the fact that one of the most accessible metro lines runs right past the museum means that practically the whole city is open to you.

BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN BELLAS ARTES

• Hotel Magnolia 👈
• Hotel Altiplanico Bellas Artes 👈
• Hotel Foresta 👈

3. Lastarria, great area for boutique shopping and restaurants

Lastarria is something of a twin sister to the more artistic and free-spirited Bella Artes neighborhood, but the two districts merge so much, both geographically and culturally, that it’s sometimes hard to tell them apart.

Located near the Centro district, Lastarria is an upmarket neighbourhood characterized above all by its distinctive cobblestone streets. This touch of authenticity has made Barrio Lastarria one of the city’s most popular tourist centers, but it is also a popular cultural meeting place for locals.

If you want to treat yourself to sophisticated food on a regular basis, you should definitely stay here in Santiago de Chile.

Boutiques and small cafés combine with regal architecture to create a very European atmosphere. It is certainly a strong counterpoint to the modern glass and steel towers that make up much of Santiago.

The pedestrian-friendly Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro hosts a used book and antiques market every Thursday to Sunday, while the Centro Gabriela Mistral, which was recently badly damaged after a fire, is a hotspot for art, live theater and music.

Lastarria has been a listed building since 1997, but despite its charming old-world style, it is rich in modern amenities. This has led to an increase in restoration work. The buildings here are classic without being worn or unsafe.

As tourism has grown, some of the older buildings have become home to mid-range and luxury boutique hotels. While they have retained their stately and classic charm, many of them are equipped with modern features such as rooftop pools.

In Lastarria you will have to spend a little more money than in other parts of the city, but you will also be able to enjoy the cultural renaissance that the district has recently experienced.

BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN SANTIAGO DE CHILE IN LASTARRIA

• Hotel Cumbres Lastarria 👈
• Hotel Ismael 👈
• Hostal Forestal 👈

4. Recoleta – Bellavista, where to stay in Santiago de Chile for the nightlife

The municipality of Recoleta is one of the most extensive districts of Santiago and is difficult to categorize.

We’ve already covered the city center, which falls under its purview, but those looking for a hipper and less touristy neighborhoodl will find Bellavista one of the best areas to stay in Santiago de Chile.

There is a vibrancy in this district that you won’t find anywhere else (the nearest competitor is Bella Artes).

The buildings of Bellavista are covered in colorful and expressive murals that paint a dramatic picture of the city’s past and present, and there are some of the most lively bars and nightclubs in the entire city.

But Bellavista is not just a party district. The only real attraction is the house of former poet and national hero Pablo Neruda, but the real attraction of Bellavista during the day is people-watching.

This is one of the most famous art districts in the city, and you will find galleries, boutiques and cafés galore here. Then there is the market in Pio Nono, which specializes in handmade goods and in particular the famous lapis lazuli, which is extracted from the mines in northern Chile.

But even here, not everything that is beautiful is man-made. The Parque Metropolitano is the largest park in the city, but it is not the only place where you can enjoy nature in this district.

The Chilean National Zoo is also located in Bellavista. It lies between the lazy, picturesque Mapocho River and the Cerro San Cristobal. From this hill, you have one of the most beautiful views of the city and it is high enough to even see the Andes on a clear day.

Bellavista is one of the best areas to stay in Santiago de Chile, regardless of your budget. There is a wide selection of hotels in every price range.

Whether you’re looking for a boutique hotel with luxurious amenities, a cozy mid-range bed and breakfast or a sleek hostel, you’ll find something to suit your needs in Bellavista or the surrounding communities in Recoleta.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN BELLAVISTA

• The Aubrey Boutique Hotel 👈
• Hotel Boutique Castillo Rojo 👈
• The Fox Hostel 👈

5. Providencia, accommodation in Santiago de Chile for families

As the capital of Chile, Santiago is undoubtedly a lively city. Travelers looking for accommodation in Santiago de Chile that is a little more relaxed should consider Providencia. It is a quiet and largely uneventful residential area that is inhabited by the middle class and is extremely family-friendly.

There may not be many museums, galleries or historical sights here, but that also has an advantage. You don’t have to worry about tourists flocking here in droves.

And although most of Providencia is dominated by houses, apartments and green spaces, there is still a sense of community here.

Avenida Providencia is a popular business center with numerous restaurants and shopping opportunities and leads to one of the largest shopping centers in the country, the Costanera Center.

If you turn off this main street, you will find countless side streets where you will find even more unusual and authentic shopping opportunities and restaurants.

There’s plenty to do in Providencia during the day and at night, but if you walk just a few blocks in any direction, you’ll almost always find a quieter and more laid-back stretch of residential neighborhoods. In this respect, the city really does offer the best of both worlds.

Despite the rather quiet atmosphere of Providencia, there are a few things you should definitely see in this district. The Sky Costanera observatory is the tallest building in the city and offers one of the most breathtaking views of Santiago.

However, the real highlight of the city is the architecture itself. The classical architecture is beautifully interspersed with lots of greenery, and the district is generously equipped with parks and squares.

The residential nature of Providencia means that there are slightly fewer traditional hotels, but there are a few larger, more luxurious options and some hostels with reasonable prices if you know where to look.

If you’re having trouble finding suitable accommodation, you can get creative with apps like Airbnb.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN PROVIDENCIA

• Solace Hotel Santiago 👈
• AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago Costanera Center 👈
• Hostal del Cerro 👈

6. Las Condes, business district with great restaurants and first-class shopping opportunities

Las Condes has earned the nickname “Sanhattan”, a reference to the famous New York borough of Manhattan. In recent decades, Santiago’s economy has experienced a significant boom, which can be felt in this financial district more than anywhere else in the city.

The skyline is dominated by gorgeous glass and steel skyscrapers, and the picturesque colonial architecture that dominates much of the city is hard to find in these busy streets.

This makes the city an obvious and practical choice for business travelers, but others will likely find the value of a stay here to be very situational.

However, Las Condes is not just a place for business travelers. As a center of commerce, it attracts the attention of residents who like to work hard and play hard.

This neighborhood is forward-thinking, and that means it’s bursting at the seams with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking restaurants in South America and some top-notch, high-end shopping.

If you want to pull out all the stops and enjoy the most exclusive experiences that Chile’s capital has to offer, Las Condes is definitely one of the best places to stay in Santiago de Chile.

The main streets Alonso de Córdova and Nueva Costanera are littered with first-class shopping opportunities.

You should also bear in mind that without a rental car you will be more dependent on the metro buses and cabs. Las Condes is less suitable for bicycles than many other parts of the city.

Las Condes has a reputation as an affluent district, which means that you won’t find any youth hostels or budget hotels here. However, the luxury hotels in this district are among the most modern and best-equipped hotels in the city.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN LAS CONDES

• The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago 👈
• Courtyard by Marriott Santiago Las Condes 👈
• Best Western Premier Marina Las Condes 👈

7. Vitacura, where you can live in an exclusive neighborhood in Santiago de Chile

Another part of the district of Santiago known as “Sanhattan” is Vitacura. If Las Condes is the place where the rich and wealthy of Santiago work and play, Vitacura is the place where they live. Consequently, there is a fairly high concentration of American business people and travelers here.

The architecture here consists of towering modernist monuments, and the relative proximity to the Andes means that there are great views of the mountains from here.

If you have the wherewithal, you will find a variety of luxury hotels and high-end boutiques. If not, you should at least stop by one of the bars to enjoy a glass of white wine or a first-class pisco while you’re in town.

And the district itself is not all high-rise buildings either. If you venture out of the center, you will find quiet and perfectly maintained residential streets with magnificent trees and imposing houses.

In these quieter and more affluent areas, you are unlikely to find a hotel or hostel, but if you have the time and patience to plan ahead, you can rent a house or apartment.

BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN VITACURA

• Mandarin Oriental, Santiago 👈
• DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago Kennedy, Chile 👈
• Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa 👈

8. Barrio Brasil, where you can stay cheaply in Santiago de Chile

Barrio Brasil owes its name to the fact that all its streets are named after places in Brazil. But this neighborhood is as Chilean as it gets. This neighborhood is authentic: lower class, a little more run-down, but surprisingly safe.

If you want to experience real working-class Chileans going about their daily lives, Barrio Brasil is the place to be. With the reputation that Barrio Brasil enjoys on the street comes some of the hippest bars in the whole city, and there are also a considerable number of parks.

One highlight is the Plaza Brazil, which is known for attracting musicians and street artists. As it is located right next to the largest cathedral in the district, it is hard to miss.

If you want to bring a little more culture into your life, you should definitely visit the Parque Quinta Normal. This huge park is home to no less than five different museums.

These include a botanical garden (Jardín Botánico), a museum of contemporary art (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo) and a natural history museum (Historia Natural) as well as a museum about the history of the railroad (Museo Ferroviario) and a cultural center with numerous interactive attractions (Artequin).

Barrio Brasil is also one of the cheapest places to stay in Santiago de Chile. Money goes a long way in the budget hotels and hostels in this area, and furnished apartments are generally not hard to find.

BEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN SANTIAGO DE CHILE IN BARRIO BRASIL

• Hotel Brasilia 👈
• Santa Mónica 👈
• Hotel Barrio Yungay 👈

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