Planning a trip to Santiago in Chile and wondering which is the best location to stay in? I have you covered!
I spent 12 amazing days in Santiago and visited several neighborhoods, so in this article I will share with you the best and safest places to stay in Santiago.
In this article, I will cover:
Providencia
Barrio Italia
Lasterria
Downtown
And also some areas you should avoid!
Providencia
When it comes to safety, Providencia is the ultimate winner. Providencia is one of the most modern and affluent areas in the city. The area itself is quite big and has several different parts. The main part is the business district, and around it you will find several well-known hotels. The area also offers many lovely restaurants and is close to Sky Costanera, which is a must visit in Santiago, and also next to the San Cristobal Hill, which just a short cable car ride away, allows you to enjoy a calmer part of the city.
I think Providencia is great for those staying in Santiago long term because you are in a central safe location with several great options around you for walking and relaxing, like San Cristobal hill and an amazing park - Bicentenario. So an ideal location for remote workers that want all the benefits a city offers, but also has space for running and walks after work.
The only downside is that with all these great benefits, the value is also much higher than the rest of the city.
Safety: 9/10
Price: 5/10
Convenience: 8/10
Barrio Italia
Another fantastic neighbourhood that is fairly safe is Barrio Italia. What makes it different from Providencia is that you won't see skyscrapers there or office buildings. The neighborhood has managed to preserve its original charm. I would mark it as a foodie paradise. Barrio Italia offers some of the best rated restaurants in Santiago. So foodie travelers, Barrio Italia will be a great option for you. In general, I think Barrio Italia is a very convenient location as it is a short taxi drive away from all the main parts of the city. Barrio Italia also offers more affordable accommodations.
Safety: 9/10
Price: 8/10
Convenience: 9/10
Lastarria
For the ultimate convenience, Lastarria will be your best choice. Extremely well located, it is within walking distance to all the main sites in the city. The only place you will need to take a taxi to is Sky Costanera in Providencia. So Lasterria will be ideal for all those who like to walk everywhere and be located in a very central location.
What is even more ideal, the neighbourhood is absolutely lovely itself - full of many great restaurants and bars. Very bubbly area with street market and live performances. It also features the Santa Lucía Hill, which is a fantastic oasis in the middle of the city. Definitely a must see when in Santiago.
In this area you will find all sorts of accommodations, from affordable hostels to boutique hotels.
Safety: 7/10
Price: 7/10
Convenience: 10/10
Downtown
Now, unfortunately, like in many South American capitals, the Downtown, aka the Historic Center, is not the safest area to stay at. Said that, it is of course an extremely convenient location as all the main historic sites are centered around the Historic Center. So I think if you only have a day or 2 in Santiago, the Downtown could be an option. It is fairly safe during the day. You just need to watch out for pickpockets and some sketchy people, but overall, while walking around and sightseeing during the day, there should be no problems. I would be extra cautious when walking around the late hours. Stick with crowded places where people concentrate and don't be the only person on the street! In the late hours, I would avoid the area in Downtown around the Central Market.
The Downtown also comes with great affordable accommodations. Probably from all the areas I have mentioned, Downtown is the cheapest.
Safety: 5/10
Price: 9/10
Convenience: 9/10
This leads me to the next section of this blog article:
Areas to Avoid in Santiago
Now, this is purely for staying! Not visiting.
Recoleta
In the last few years, unfortunately, Recoleta is no longer a safe area. Due to a new immigrant influx, there has been some new gang activity in the area, and it is no longer safe during the late hours. Even during the day you should be cautious. Literally in front of me, around lunch time, a guy sold drugs to another guy, like openly just there on the corner of the street next to the supermarket I was going to. Said that, Recoleta historically is also known as the Korean neighbourhood and some amazing Asian restaurants are there. My absolute favorite food place, Wokaholic is there - the best sushi in South America! But unfortunately, locals now are shutting down all the restaurants by 6 PM due to increased danger. So great place to go for lunch, but get out of there by 6 PM.
Bella Vista
Next to Recoleta you will find Bella Vista. Very colourful neighbourhood with beautiful street murals, but also known for the nightlife, so not ideal during the late hours. You will probably visit Bella Vista while going to the historic tram, and during the day it is fine to explore, but I think it is not a great area to stay in, not just because of safety but because the nightclubs are really loud at night. So if you don't have strong sleep, it will be an inconvenience. But if you are after a party in Santiago, then it will be an ideal location as it is also quite affordable.
Central Market & Vega Central
Vega Central specifically around the Vega Market area gets really busy in a bad way and a lot of dodgy stuff is going around there, so from all the mentioned locations this is one where I would definitely NOT stay.
So I have put together a little summary of
the best and worst places to stay in Santiago:
I truly hope this article will help you plan your visit in Santiago better, and if you are looking for some ideas for your trip, make sure to check out my 'Best Things to See and Do in Santiago' guide: