How to Get from Santiago de Chile Airport to the City Center on a Budget

Bell | 8th September 2024

Whether you are starting your South America adventure or just exploring the wonders that Chile has to offer, the airport in Santiago de Chile will usually be your starting point. The airport, Aeropuerto Nuevo Pudahuel SCL, is one of the biggest in South America with around 10 million passengers each year.

I arrived in Chile after flying 13 hours from Madrid and landed at this airport. I was super tired and hadn’t done much research regarding how to get into the city centre, so my journey felt a little chaotic. For anyone who is in the same position or just looking for the best way to get from Santiago airport to the city centre, this is the guide for you so you have an easier trip to your accommodation and can rest after the long flight.

From exactly where to go after leaving arrivals to the best transport options to how much it costs as well as any tips and tricks to keep in mind. This is how you can get from Santiago Airport to the city centre on a budget:

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How to get from Santiago Airport to city center using public transport?

The cheapest way to get to the city centre from Santiago de Chile Airport is by using public transport, specifically by bus and then the metro. It is extremely affordable and surprisingly quick and easy if you know where to go and what to take (which I didn’t, but even I figured it out).

Here is exactly how to do it:

Once you have gone through immigration and are in the arrivals hall of the airport, look for the sign for Transporte Publico. You can also just leave the arrivals hall using the nearest exit and then look when you are outside. You will probably look slightly to your right, depending on which exit you took. Be prepared to be inundated by taxi drivers asking if you need help or a ride. I would ignore them as taxi scams have become very common at this airport, according to locals.

When you are outside, head to the second row of the taxi/bus area and look for the Centropuerto bus sign. You will probably already see one of their buses too, they come every few minutes.

Buy a ticket to one of the three stations in the city: Pajaritos, Estacion Central or Los Heroes. Check in advance which is closest to your accommodation (or use the airport WiFi if you don’t have a SIM). From each of those stations, you will be able to get further transport on the Metro to your accommodation.

I have found Google Maps really reliable in telling me the best transport routes in central Santiago – it does get confused if you are looking from the airport, so it is best to search up the three main stations and see which is fastest to your accommodation.

The bus staff speaks a little English and is able to point you to the correct bus. Tickets cost CLP $2.000 (about 1.60GBP) and you can pay cash or card. The bus itself is a normal bus and was very efficient in driving to the city centre.

BEFORE you get on that bus, make sure you have exchanged some money for Chilean Pesos, at least 10,000 (~8GBP). There are a couple of exchange places inside and outside arrivals. You can only buy a public transport card with cash, and you will need it unless the Centropuerto bus goes very close to your accommodation. I didn’t do this and had to pay 8,000 in ATM fees, which defeated the purpose of saving money by taking public transport.

Once you have reached the bus stop, it’s time to take the metro to your accommodation. That means you need to buy a bip! card at the station, which is the public transport card in Santiago. All major stations have ticket machines, they only take CASH! The bip! card costs CLP$1,550 (1.25GBP) and you can load it with a certain amount of credit for rides. A ride on the metro or bus costs between CLP$680 – 840 (Less than 1GBP). I personally asked for a card with a total cost of CLP$5000, which gave me around 4 rides. You can fill the card up at any station too.

How much is a taxi from Santiago Airport to the City?

I wouldn’t recommend getting a taxi from Santiago airport to the city centre. There have been an increasing number of scams and you don’t know what you’ll pay in advance.

You could get an Uber instead, which will cost about CLP$20,000 (~16GBP). They pick you up at the elevator exit in front of Door 5. Some sources say uber isn’t allowed to pick up at the airport, however, I saw plenty when I was there and my AirBnB host also recommended it. I think they aren’t allowed in the normal taxi pickup area, so your driver will let you know where to go for pick-up.

Another great alternative is getting a Transvip transfer that you can pre-book. Prices start at just CLP $9.400 (~7.50GBP) for a shared van which aims to take around 45 minutes to the city. This company is known for not always being super punctual, so I wouldn’t rely on it to get to the airport but for getting to the city centre, it’s fine.

How long does it take to get from Santiago Airport to the City Center by public transport?

It takes about 30-40 minutes on the Centro Puerto bus to one of the metro stations and then another 10-20 minutes on the metro, depending on where your accommodation is.

An Uber usually takes around 20-30 minutes depending on traffic and the Transvip around 45 minutes, though I would be prepared for delays with this one.

Where to stay in Santiago, Chile?

In Santiago, it is good to know which areas are safer to stay in and which aren’t. That way, you can walk home safely at night and not worry too much about your belongings immediately when leaving your accommodation.

Some of the areas that are safe, as recommended by my local friends, are Providencia, Las Condes and Barrio Italia.