Santiago offers an extensive transportation system to navigate large distances in the city. Public transportation in the city includes buses and the subway/metro system. The city center features an extensive network of streets and avenues that crisscross the city and facilitate travel between different neighborhoods that make up the metropolitan area.

The main comprehensive public transportation system is Red (formerly known as Transantiago). It features integrating local feeder bus lines, main bus lines, EFE commuter trains, and the metro network. This system has an integrated fare system allowing passengers to transfer between bus, metro, and train services using a single, contactless smartcard known as “Bip”. Visitors can obtain a “Bip” card at kiosks inside the subway stations with cash. The initial cost is CLP1,550, which is valid for the first two hours of travel.

The subway/metro is a fast, efficient, inexpensive, and reliable way to travel between barrios in Santiago. The metro system is clean, convenient, and easily accessible with lines that service the top attractions in the city. There are six lines that cover over 93 miles connecting 143 stations from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm Monday through Friday, 6:30 am until 11:00 pm on Saturdays, and 8:00 am until 11:00 pm on Sundays and holidays. Single tickets (which include bus fare for interconnected stations) cost around 700-800 Chilean pesos and can cost more during rush hour (7-9 am and 6-8 pm).

There is a large network of modern green and white buses in Santiago. Feeder buses are different colors and operate in different areas of the city, connecting with the green and white buses on major routes and at metro stations. There are several bus stops and bus terminals spread throughout the city. Bus stops are indicated by a bench or overhang. Bus numbers are displayed on the top of the bus. Fares are paid for with a “Bip” card. Buses can be unreliable and rarely arrive at the same time as advertised and do not stop at every station as they should.

There are certain places in the city where you can get around to different things on foot. The city is large and you can walk around the city center to reach different places like shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and sightseeing attractions. The downtown city’s extensive network of streets is laid out in a grid-like formation. You can walk around tourist and commercial neighborhoods on foot.

Taxis are very prevalent in the city of Santiago, taxi cabs feature black exteriors and yellow roofs with orange license plates. Taxis are convenient and affordable to get around the city, you can hail a cab from the street, or call to order one over the phone. Taxis are metered and start around CLP400 increasing by CLP150 per 1/10 of a mile.

Cabiy, Uber, and DiDiare available ride-sharing companies/apps in Santiago. This is sometimes an easier, and more reliable way to travel via taxi.

There have been a growing number of bicycle paths implemented in the city of Santiago since the turn of the millennium. There has been over USD 398 million put into installing over 434 miles of bike paths throughout the city by 2032. Many of these bicycle paths will be concentrated in and around Estacion Central, Santiago Centro, and Providencia. The recent boom in bike paths across the city currently runs from Las Condes to Maipu making it significantly easier to get to most places in the city via a bike path and some side streets. A few popular locations to ride a bike in Santiago are San Cristobal Hill and Bike Park El Duranzno.

Trains in Santiago are operated by Chile’s national railway company, Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE). Trains connect the city of Santiago to Chillan and several other cities along the way (10 stops). The Estacion Central railway station (Alameda) is the main station in the city. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Almeda office and the cost is around CLP7,000-24,000 depending on the season, length of journey, and type of carriage.

It is not necessary to rent a car when staying in Santiago due to the abundance of public transportation options. The traffic in the city can be hectic and heavy and parking is very limited and can be expensive. There are rental car companies available at the airport and locations around the city, but renting a car is only necessary if you plan to venture beyond the city.