The month in detail
What to expect in December
Summer in Santiago brings pleasant temperatures (29°C) and long sunny days (11.2h of sunshine). Rain is virtually absent (1% of days) — ideal for planning without a backup. This is one of the best times of year to visit Santiago.
December ranks 2 out of 12 months in Santiago. Compared to November: +2°C daytime, +0.9h of sun per day.
This month's conditions
What it's like in December
UV index
10 · very high
protection essential
Feels like
dry air
9°
Daylight
14.2h of daylight
Air quality
fair
AQI 45
Compare
Is December the right month?
The best month in Santiago is January (9.8/10), 0.1 pt higher than December.
Book
Plan your trip
Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.
Stay
Hotels & rentals · Santiago
Expedia →
Activities
Tours, tickets, experiences
See ↓
Flights
Multi-airline comparator
Kiwi →
🎟️ Activities & tours · Santiago
GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation
Practical info
What you need to know before you go
Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a beach holiday.
Country · Chile
🗣️LanguageSpanish
💶CurrencyChilean Peso ($)
🚗DrivingRight-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5
💰Cost of living ⓘCheap · 2/5
🌡️ Climate
🌍Climate typeTemperate oceanic
📈Climate trend ⓘStable
🔥Hottest monthJanuary · 30°C
❄️Coolest monthJune · 15°C
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘJune · 17%
🏖️ Beach holiday
📅Peak seasonJuin → Sept
🏖️Swell (Sept–Mar) ⓘModérée
Explore
Other destinations in December
If December doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.
Location
Where is Santiago ?
Global position + regional geographic context.
🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
ChileTemperate oceanic climate with a 9.8 → 4.4 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
33.45°S · 70.67°W
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Santiago?
January is the best month with 30.0°C highs, 16.0°C lows, 11.8h of sunshine and 0.0% rainy days. The months of January & December offer comparable conditions.
How many hours of sunshine does Santiago get in January?
Santiago averages 11.8 sunshine hours per day in January. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 9.6/10.
What is the rainiest month in Santiago?
June is the most unfavourable month with June has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.
What are the temperatures at night in Santiago in January?
In January, overnight lows reach 16.0°C, while afternoon highs average 30.0°C.
Is Santiago good in winter?
In winter (December-February), Santiago scores 9.5/10 on average — Decent period conditions for cultural visits.. The best month overall remains January with a score of 9.6/10.
When should you avoid Santiago?
June is the most difficult month to visit Santiago, with June has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.
Do you need sun protection in Santiago in December?
The average UV index reaches 10 in December in Santiago (very high), with about 14.2h of daylight. Protection essential.