Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral Church
Main Catholic cathedral in Santiago, national religious landmark
Facing Santiago's Plaza de Armas, the Metropolitan Cathedral houses Catholic services, neoclassical interiors and historical artifacts; tourists visit for guided tours, colonial architecture and the cathedral's civic role.
Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral at a Glance#
Address: Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile
Website: https://www.catedraldesantiago.cl/
Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am-7:00pm, Sun 9:00am-1:00pm, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Admission: Free (entry to cathedral is free; guided tours or special exhibitions may charge)
About Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral#
The Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral is the principal Catholic cathedral in Santiago and the seat of the Archbishop of Santiago, located on the city’s central Plaza de Armas.
The site has been occupied by successive cathedrals since colonial times; the present structure reflects major reconstruction and rebuilding carried out across the 18th and 19th centuries after damage from earthquakes and other events.
The cathedral stands in the Plaza de Armas, the historic core of Santiago de Chile, in the Santiago Metropolitan Region.
- Location and ecclesiastical role: The cathedral occupies a principal position on Santiago’s Plaza de Armas and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Santiago.
- Building phases: The building visible today largely reflects construction and rebuilding phases during the 18th and 19th centuries following earlier colonial-era churches on the site.
How to Get to Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral#
The cathedral is in central Santiago’s Plaza de Armas. It is easily reached on foot from many downtown points, and by metro to the nearby Plaza de Armas station (Line 5) or by bus. Taxis and rideshare services also serve the area.
Tips for Visiting Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral#
- Attend a weekday morning mass to see the cathedral used by Santiago's faithful rather than simply as a tourist stop.
- Look for the 18th‑century altar and the painted choir stalls-local artists and craftsmen left strong marks here.
- Combine with a walk through the Plaza de Armas to watch street life and the city's colonial layering.
Best Time to Visit Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral#
Spring to autumn offers the best weather for city sightseeing; winter brings rain but fewer crowds in central Santiago.
Weather & Climate near Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral#
Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in January) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 3°C to 30°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 14° - 30° | 22° | 1 mm | mostly sunny | 31% | 2.5 m/s | 3.4 extreme | 13.9h |
| February | Ideal | 13° - 29° | 21° | 3 mm | clear | 33% | 2.3 m/s | 3.0 extreme | 13.2h |
| March | Ideal | 11° - 26° | 19° | 5 mm | mostly sunny | 31% | 2.0 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.2h |
| April | Excellent | 8° - 22° | 15° | 18 mm | some cloud | 33% | 1.6 m/s | 1.2 high | 11.1h |
| May | Good | 6° - 18° | 12° | 67 mm | partly cloudy | 40% | 1.4 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.3h |
| June | Acceptable | 4° - 14° | 9° | 98 mm | overcast | 49% | 1.5 m/s | 0.4 low | 9.8h |
| July | Acceptable | 3° - 14° | 8° | 96 mm | overcast | 52% | 1.5 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.0h |
| August | Good | 4° - 16° | 10° | 64 mm | partly cloudy | 52% | 1.7 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.8h |
| September | Very Good | 6° - 19° | 12° | 30 mm | partly cloudy | 49% | 2.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 11.8h |
| October | Very Good | 8° - 22° | 15° | 17 mm | partly cloudy | 42% | 2.3 m/s | 1.9 very high | 12.8h |
| November | Ideal | 11° - 26° | 18° | 8 mm | some cloud | 34% | 2.5 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 13.7h |
| December | Ideal | 13° - 29° | 21° | 3 mm | mostly sunny | 30% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 extreme | 14.2h |
