Santiago features a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wetter winters. The city enjoys abundant sunshine, dramatic seasonal contrasts, and minimal rainfall in summer. Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures and vibrant scenery, while winter brings rain and occasional fog, making Santiago a dynamic destination for year-round travel and outdoor activities.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Santiago’s climate is shaped by its central Chilean location, surrounded by the Andes and coastal mountains. Summers (December–February) are hot, dry, and sunny, with average highs of 29–32°C and lows around 12–14°C. Rainfall is virtually absent in summer, and the city enjoys up to 12 hours of sunshine daily. Evenings cool off, and humidity remains low, making the heat more comfortable. Winds from the southwest can bring relief during the hottest days, but UV radiation is high, so sun protection is essential.
Winters (June–August) are cool and wetter, with average highs of 13–16°C and lows near 2–4°C. Rainfall is concentrated in winter, with June and July being the wettest months (up to 70–80 mm/month), though rain is still relatively scarce compared to many cities. Snow is extremely rare in the city itself but common in the nearby Andes, making Santiago a gateway for ski trips. Winter days are shorter, with 4–5 hours of sunshine, and fog or smog can occur due to temperature inversions. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are transitional, with mild temperatures (10–25°C), low rainfall, and blooming or colourful foliage. These seasons offer clear skies, comfortable weather, and fewer crowds, ideal for exploring the city and wine regions. Annual precipitation averages 275–300 mm, and Santiago enjoys about 2,700–2,800 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light to moderate (10–20 km/h), but can be brisk during storms or in the afternoons.
| Average climate data for Santiago, Chile | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 26 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 26 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 68 | 36 | 25 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 191 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 45 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 43 | 39 | 36 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 46 | 43 | 41 | 45 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 15 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
The best time to visit Santiago is during spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May), when temperatures are mild (15–25°C), rainfall is low, and the city is vibrant with festivals, clear skies, and blooming or colourful foliage. These shoulder seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and exploring nearby wine regions with fewer crowds and comfortable weather.
The least favourable time to visit is in winter (June–August), when Santiago is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and rain, fog, and occasional smog are most frequent. While winter is ideal for nearby skiing, outdoor city activities can be limited by chilly, damp, and unpredictable weather. Summer (December–February) can also be uncomfortably hot for some travellers.
Santiago has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, cool, wetter winters, and mild, pleasant spring and autumn seasons. Rainfall is concentrated in winter, while summer is sunny and almost rain-free.
Summer temperatures in Santiago typically reach 29–32°C, with occasional peaks above 35°C. Nights cool to 12–14°C, and humidity is low, making the heat more comfortable. Sun protection is essential due to high UV.
Snow is extremely rare in Santiago itself, but common in the nearby Andes mountains. The city may see occasional flurries, but significant snow accumulation is very unusual.
Rain falls mostly from May to August, with June and July being the wettest months (up to 70–80 mm/month). Summer is almost completely dry, with little to no rainfall.
Santiago enjoys about 2,700–2,800 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months have up to 12 hours of sun per day, while winter averages 4–5 hours daily. Spring and autumn are also bright and clear.
Pack light, breathable clothes and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, bring layers and a light jacket. For winter, pack warm, waterproof layers and sturdy shoes for rain and chilly evenings.
Santiago is generally dry, with low humidity in summer and moderate humidity in winter. Winds are usually light to moderate, but can be brisk in the afternoons or during storms.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is January (25.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (11.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 19.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is January (12.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (2.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (67.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (1 mm). Over the whole year there are 190.8 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (7.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (0.6 days). Over the whole year there are 45.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is June (5.9 mm). The months with the least snowfall are January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 7.9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is July (0.3 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are January, August and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (54.4 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (36 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 44.8 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is June (9.3 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is March (7.2 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 8.1 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is June (25.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is January (3.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 14.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 9.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is May (Average sunshine: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 8.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.
