Chile holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Chile holiday in South America
Chile stretches over 4,300 km from the driest desert in the world to the glaciers of Patagonia. The Atacama Desert offers the clearest starry sky on Earth, Torres del Paine is a hiking paradise, and Easter Island is one of the most mysterious places in the world. Additionally, there are excellent wines and Santiago as a cosmopolitan capital.
Capital
Santiago de Chile
Language
Spanish
Currency
Chilean Peso (CLP)
Time zone
UTC-3
Flight time from DE
approx. 14–16 hours
Entry requirements
Passport, 90 days visa-free
Top 5 highlights in Chile
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Torres del Paine
Patagonia's crown jewel: granite towers, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and the legendary W-Trek.
Atacama Desert
Geysers, salt flats, flamingos, and the clearest starry sky in the world for stargazing.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Mysterious Moai statues on the most remote inhabited island in the world.
Valparaíso
Colorful port city with street art, funiculars, and a bohemian atmosphere (UNESCO).
Santiago
Modern capital against the backdrop of the Andes: Mercado Central, Cerro San Cristóbal, and wine-growing regions.
Hotels in Chile
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Chile
Prepaid-SIM mit Datenvolumen für Chile. Einfach einlegen und sofort lossurfen – keine Roaming-Gebühren.
* Weiterleitung zu travSIM.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to visit Chile
Recommended travel time
October–March (Southern Hemisphere summer)
Summer
18–30°C
Winter
5–15°C
How much does a holiday in Chile cost?
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
40–60€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
60–120€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
120–300€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
5 travel tips for Chile
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Torres del Paine: Book campsites and refuges months in advance
Atacama: Drink plenty of water – the altitude (2,400m) and dryness can dehydrate quickly
Easter Island flights only with LATAM – book early
Chilean wine is excellent and cheaper than in Europe
Patagonia: Never underestimate wind and cold – even in summer, bring a winter jacket
Food & drink in Chile
These dishes you must try!
Discover Chile
10 regions, cities and highlights in Chile
Areas
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the driest place on Earth — an extraterrestrial landscape of salt flats, geysers, moon valleys, and lagoons inhabited by flamingos at over 2,400 meters high. San Pedro de Atacama, the base camp for all adventures, is a charming oasis village of adobe houses. The clearest sky in the world makes the Atacama the best place for stargazing on the planet.
Salar de Atacama
The Salar de Atacama is Chile's largest salt flat and one of the most surreal natural phenomena in South America: A 3,000 square kilometer crust of salt and minerals stretches at an altitude of 2,300 meters, punctuated by turquoise and emerald lagoons where three species of flamingos stand on one leg filtering for brine shrimp. The Laguna Chaxa, accessible via a wooden walkway, offers the closest contact with the flamingos: Chilean, Andean, and James flamingos wade through the shallow, mineral-rich water, their pink feathers glowing against the dazzling white salt crust and the snow-capped volcanoes in the background. At sunset, the Andean peaks reflect in the still water, and the entire scene takes on colors that no photo filter could ever reproduce. The salt crust itself is a geological artwork: Cracked salt plates form bizarre patterns reminiscent of the surface of an alien planet. At the edges of the salt flat, freshwater springs emerge, creating tiny oases in the desert, and the combination of extreme dryness, altitude, and mineral richness produces landscapes that serve as an analogy for Mars researchers. From San Pedro de Atacama, the nearby oasis that serves as a base for exploring the region, the high-altitude lakes Miscanti and Miñiques are also accessible — located over 4,000 meters high, surrounded by volcanoes and in an unnaturally intense blue created by the dry air and minerals in the water. The entire Salar de Atacama region is a place that pushes the boundaries of the imaginable and showcases the beauty that nature is capable of in its most extreme forms.
Cities
Pucón
Pucón is Chile's adventure capital — a picturesque town on the shores of Lake Villarrica, dominated by the perfectly conical Villarrica Volcano, which glows red at night. In summer, Pucón offers volcano climbing, rafting, canopy tours, and hot springs; in winter, it is a ski resort. The combination of volcano, lake, Araucaria forests, and Chilean hospitality makes Pucón the outdoor mecca of South America.
Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales on the Última Esperanza Fjord is the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park and the southernmost tourist town in Chile before Antarctica. The small harbor town with its colorful corrugated iron houses exudes rugged Patagonian romance. From here, the legendary W-Trek and O-Circuit through the Torres del Paine massif begin. Between glaciers, turquoise lakes, and endless pampas, the region offers one of the last true wilderness experiences in South America.
Santiago de Chile
Santiago de Chile is a vibrant metropolis framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes — a city where cosmopolitan urban life meets one of the most dramatic mountain backdrops in the world. With over seven million inhabitants, Santiago is the political, economic, and cultural heart of Chile and also South America's most underrated capital. Cerro San Cristobal rises 880 meters above the city and offers a breathtaking 360-degree panorama from its summit, featuring a 22-meter-high statue of the Virgin Mary: to the east, the majestic Andes mountain range, with peaks soaring over 6,000 meters, and to the west, the endless expanse of the urban sea stretching to the coastal cordillera. The cable car (Teleférico) and the historic funicular railway (Funicular) take visitors through botanical gardens and wine terraces to the summit. Barrio Lastarria and Barrio Bellavista are the creative soul of Santiago: In Lastarria, independent bookstores, author cafes, and galleries line up in neoclassical buildings, while Bellavista enchants with colorful house facades, street art, bars, and Pablo Neruda's house La Chascona — a whimsical home that the poet and Nobel laureate had built like a ship. The Mercado Central, opened in 1872 in a magnificent iron structure, is considered one of the ten best markets in the world: under the wrought-iron roof, fresh seafood from the Pacific is transformed into Ceviche, Caldillo de Congrio (conger eel stew), and Paila Marina. National Geographic has named this market the best fish market in South America. Santiago's wine tradition is world-famous: The Maipo Valley begins just 30 minutes south of the city and is home to wineries like Concha y Toro and Santa Rita, which produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. Wine tastings with a view of the Andes are among the most unforgettable experiences in the capital.
Santiago de Chile
Santiago de Chile is located in a basin, framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes — a panorama that is breathtaking on clear days. Chile's capital is a cosmopolitan metropolis with vibrant neighborhoods, world-class wine regions at its doorstep, and a gateway to the wonders of Chile: Atacama Desert, Patagonia, and Easter Island. The Lastarria district enchants with cafés, bookstores, and street art, while Bellavista, with Neruda's house "La Chascona" and Patio Bellavista, is the bohemian heart of the city. Cerro San Cristóbal offers the best overview of the city and the Andes with its funicular. The Chilean wine culture, with the Maipo and Casablanca valleys just an hour away, makes Santiago one of the best wine travel destinations in the world.
Valdivia
Valdivia is Chile's most charming river city — a university town with German roots, located at the confluence of two rivers and known for its beer culture, sea lion colonies, and the famous fish market. The German immigration in the 19th century left behind breweries (Kunstmann), cake culture, and half-timbered houses. At the riverside of the Mercado Fluvial, sea lions jostle for fish scraps — a unique urban natural spectacle.
Valparaíso
Valparaíso, affectionately called "Valpo", is Chile's most colorful, wildest, and bohemian city. The UNESCO World Heritage port city climbs over 42 hills (Cerros), each with its own character, color palette, and story. It is a city that cannot be fathomed but must be experienced — step by step, elevator by elevator, mural by mural. The street art of Valparaíso has turned the city into an open-air museum. Every wall, every staircase, every facade is a potential canvas, and the quality of the art ranges from spontaneous graffiti to museum-worthy murals. The Cerros Alegre and Concepción are the tourist hotspots with the densest collections of murals, design shops, and cafés in converted colonial houses. The Ascensores, historic funiculars from the 19th century, connect the lower city with the hills. Of the originally 30 elevators, a few are still operational, and a ride in the creaky Ascensor Reina Victoria or El Peral is one of the most authentic experiences in the city. Each ride costs only a few cents and offers a panoramic view that is worth every centavo. Pablo Neruda's house "La Sebastiana", high on a hill overlooking the bay, is now a museum and provides insight into the creative chaos of the Nobel laureate. The rooms remain as Neruda left them — full of curiosities, ship models, and poetry. The harbor area (El Plan) with the old market building, Mercado Puerto, offers fresh fish and seafood straight from the boat. The Empanadas de Mariscos (seafood pastries) at the small stands by the harbor are legendary. Valparaíso is also the secret music capital of Chile. Live music in the bars of the Cerros, from Cüca to jazz to cumbia, is as much a part of the evenings in Valpo as the fog that rolls in from the Pacific in the afternoons.
Complete guide for Chile
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
Open guidePlan a holiday in Chile
Chile is one of the most popular travel destinations in South America, offering Nature, Hiking, Desert and much more. The best time to visit Chile is October–March (Southern Hemisphere summer), when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 40–60€ (Budget) to 120–300€ (Luxury), Chile is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Santiago de Chile, Chile can be excellently explored. The official language is Spanish, and the currency is Chilean Peso (CLP). From Germany, you can reach Chile in approx. 14–16 hours. Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Empanadas de Pino, Pastel de Choclo, Curanto, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Chile has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Chile holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Chile is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
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