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.
Metropolitana de Santiago has a Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons, reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. Summers (December-February) are hot and very dry with afternoon highs of 29-32 degrees C and almost no rain; winters (June-August) are cool and wet, with highs near 15 degrees C, overnight lows of 3-5 degrees C, and most of the year's 280-310 mm of rain. The Andes to the east bring snow to the ski centres from June to September, and Cajon del Maipo is noticeably cooler. A temperature inversion traps smog in the valley in winter. Spring (September-November) and autumn (March-May) are the most comfortable.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
22°C/72°F
Hot and dry, long evenings, city quieter as locals holiday; Santiago a Mil theatre festival
February
21°C/70°F
Still hot and dry; best for Andes day trips, rooftop bars and wine tastings; some businesses close mid-month
March
19°C/66°F
Warm days and cooler nights; grape harvest season and Lollapalooza Chile weekend
April
16°C/61°F
Pleasant autumn days with clear air, good hiking weather, and the Santiago marathon
May
12°C/54°F
Cool, first winter rains, golden autumn colors, Dia del Patrimonio on the last weekend
June
10°C/50°F
Cold and damp, smog risk, ski season opens; indoor sightseeing preferred
July
10°C/50°F
Coldest and wettest month in the city; peak ski season and winter school holidays
August
11°C/52°F
Cool with clearing days; excellent late-season skiing and fewer crowds on the slopes
September
13°C/55°F
Spring arrives; Fiestas Patrias on 18-19 September with parades, fondas and empanadas
October
16°C/61°F
Warm, dry and bright, blossoms in the parks, Andes still snow-capped; one of the best months
November
19°C/66°F
Warm, long days, little rain, pleasant for wineries and hiking; before summer heat
December
21°C/70°F
Summer begins hot and dry; Christmas lights and markets, but beaches and mountains fill up
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Sep-Nov
Mild days (19-26 degrees C) with cool nights, blossoming trees, and clear skies against snow-capped Andes. September has the Fiestas Patrias national holidays on 18-19 September, with fondas (festival stalls) in parks such as Parque O'Higgins; late October and November are dry and warm, with the best light for photography and winery visits.
Summer
Months: Dec-Feb
Hot and dry (28-32 degrees C, occasionally 35 or more), with cloudless skies and little rain. Many residents leave the city in January-February, so some city restaurants close for a few weeks while the Andes, the coast and the Cajon del Maipo are busy. Evenings are pleasant for rooftop terraces and outdoor concerts.
Fall
Months: Mar-May
March is still warm and the grape harvest (vendimia) fills the Maipo valley with festivals; April and May cool down to 18-23 degrees C with golden foliage in the parks and the first rains arriving in May. Smog can begin to build from May.
Winter
Months: Jun-Aug
Cool and damp with highs near 15 degrees C, lows of 3-5 degrees C, and regular rain from frontal systems; smog episodes are common. Snow falls in the Andes and the ski centres (Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado, Farellones) are open June to September, an hour or so from the city. Rare snow on the city's edge can occur once every several years.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Dec-Feb (summer holidays, domestic tourism to the Andes and coast); Jul (winter school holidays at the ski centres); 18-19 Sep (Fiestas Patrias)
- Shoulder Season
- Mar-May and Sep-Nov (ideal for sightseeing, wineries and hiking)
- Low Season
- Jun-Aug in the city (cold and wet), except ski centres on weekends and holidays
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Santiago a Mil
An international theatre, dance and street performance festival held across Santiago in January, with many free open-air shows in plazas and parks
Lollapalooza Chile
A three-day music festival at Parque Bicentenario de Cerrillos drawing international headliners and large crowds; book hotels and transport early
Fiesta de la Vendimia (Maipo Valley harvest festivals)
Wineries in Pirque, Buin and Isla de Maipo celebrate the grape harvest with tastings, grape stomping, and food stalls
Dia del Patrimonio
National Heritage Day when hundreds of historic buildings, government offices and private houses open free to the public
Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen
Chile's patron saint is celebrated with processions, a public holiday, and masses in churches across the region
Fiestas Patrias (Dieciocho)
Independence Day holidays with fondas and ramadas at Parque O'Higgins, cueca dancing, empanadas, chicha, kite flying and military parades in the Parque O'Higgins on 19 September
Ski season
Valle Nevado, La Parva, El Colorado and Farellones ski centres open for snow sports, about 1-1.5 hours from Santiago by road