Metropolitana de Santiago is the central Chilean region built around the capital, Santiago, a city of about seven million set in a valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range. Beyond the capital it holds the Cajon del Maipo canyon, the pottery town of Pomaire, the Maipo Valley vineyards and the Andean ski centres of Farellones, La Parva, El Colorado and Valle Nevado.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Chileans are formal at first meetings and warm afterwards; greet with a handshake and then a single cheek kiss once on friendly terms
Use usted (formal you) with older people, officials and service staff until invited to use tu
Plan to be punctual for appointments and tours, but expect social gatherings to start 30-60 minutes late
Tea time (once) is a light evening meal around 6:00-8:00PM, and often replaces dinner for locals
Dress is smart casual in the city centre; shorts and sandals are fine in parks and on hot days, but are less common in upscale restaurants
Sensitive topics include the 1973-1990 dictatorship; let locals raise it and listen respectfully
Do not compare Chile unfavourably with Argentina, Peru or Bolivia; regional rivalries are a touchy subject
Earthquake preparedness is part of daily life; follow the Metro and hotel evacuation signs and stay calm during tremors
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Greet with 'Buenos dias' when entering shops, taxis and restaurants
- Say 'por favor' and 'gracias' consistently; politeness is expected
- Carry small change (CLP 500-1,000 coins) for tips, public toilets and street vendors
- Try the national drink, pisco sour, but sip slowly; it is stronger than it tastes
- Offer the traditional 10% tip (propina) at restaurants; it is expected and often added to the bill as a suggestion
- Stand on the right on Metro escalators and let passengers off before boarding
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially at markets and indigenous craft stalls
- Use the Tarjeta Bip! card on Metro and buses, as cash is not accepted
Don't
- Don't bring up Pinochet or politics casually in conversation with strangers
- Don't hail unmarked taxis at the airport; use official counters or rideshare apps
- Don't flash phones or cameras at night on Metro platforms and crowded streets
- Don't expect restaurants to open for dinner before 8:00PM
- Don't take photos inside the Cathedral during services
- Don't use the informal 'tu' with older strangers or officials without being invited
- Don't litter in Cerro San Cristobal or Santa Lucia; fines apply and locals take it seriously
- Don't assume everyone speaks English; outside tourist areas, basic Spanish helps a great deal
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- Handshake for first meetings; a single kiss on the right cheek between woman-woman and man-woman once acquainted; men often shake hands or embrace with a pat on the back
- Dining
- Wait for the host to say 'buen provecho' before eating; keep hands visible on the table; ask for the bill ('la cuenta, por favor') as waiters will not bring it unprompted
- Dress
- Smart casual in the city; Santiago business wear is conservative, and beachwear is for the coast only
- Gifts
- Bring a bottle of wine, chocolates or flowers when invited to a home; avoid giving yellow flowers, which can be associated with funerals
- Business
- Business is relationship-based; meetings start on time but can overrun; exchange cards and use titles such as Senor or Doctor
- Tipping
- A 10% tip (propina) is customary in restaurants; CLP 500-1,000 (~USD 1) for taxi rounding up is common; no tipping at cafes with counter service
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Hola / Buenos dias
Hello / Good morning
OH-lah / BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs
Por favor
Please
por fah-VOR
Gracias
Thank you
GRAH-see-ahs
Con permiso / Perdon
Excuse me
kohn per-MEE-so / per-DOHN
Cuanto cuesta?
How much is it?
KWAN-toh KWEH-stah
La cuenta, por favor
The bill, please
lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR
Donde esta el Metro?
Where is the Metro?
DOHN-deh es-TAH el MEH-troh
Habla ingles?
Do you speak English?
AH-blah een-GLEHS
No entiendo
I don't understand
noh en-tee-EN-doh
Salud!
Cheers!
sah-LOOD
Un pisco sour, por favor
A pisco sour, please
oon PEE-skoh SOW-er por fah-VOR
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Metropolitana de Santiago.
Main: Roman Catholic (approx 55-60% of the population), with a growing Evangelical Protestant community and a large secular population
Sites: Catedral Metropolitana (Plaza de Armas), Iglesia de San Francisco (Alameda), Santuario de la Inmaculada Concepcion on Cerro San Cristobal, and the Basilica de los Sacramentinos
Holy Days: Semana Santa (Holy Week), Corpus Christi, Virgen del Carmen (16 July) and Christmas (25 December); Fiestas Patrias (18-19 September) are secular but widely celebrated
Conversations: Religion is respected but rarely discussed with strangers; keep voices low in churches and avoid photography during services