Santiago Chile has one of the largest and most efficient metro systems in the world, and it’s an easy an inexpensive way to explore the city. Even with our limited Spanish, Buck and I used the metro system extensively during a 6-week visit. Check out all the info below to discover how to use Santiago’s public transportation system successfully. We also made this video that shows you step-by-step how to buy and use a Santiago transit BIP Card and how to navigate the Santiago subway system.
How to Buy and Use a BIP Card
To use the Santiago public transportation system you will need to purchase a BIP card and then load it with money for fares. The system includes the metro, many buses and some trains. If you have visited the city before, be aware that you can no longer buy individual metro tickets, you will need to buy a BIP card.
You will have to use cash when buying a BIP card, unless you happen to have a Chilean credit card. Credit cards from foreign banks cannot be used for BIP purchases. You can purchase the BIP cards at a manned kiosk within any of the metro stations. For our January 2019 trip, each BIP card cost $1550 CLP.
The BIP fares differ slightly depending on when you ride. The following pic provides the fare categories. During our trip, the fares went up. Before your trip, you can always check the fares. If you place $1600 CLP on your card, that will cover two rides during peak hours.
Paying the price of a single BIP ride covers you for 2 metro or bus transfers, but the transfers must occur within 120 minutes of your initial BIP swipe.
Outside of the metro stations, there are also self-serve BIP machines at select locations around the city.
Besides using the self-serve machines within each metro station, you can check your BIP card balance and transactions on-line, without establishing an account. You just need your card number.
How to Use The BIP Card On The Metro
Your loaded BIP card will work on all the metro lines.
This is the metro map found in each of the metro stations and trains. As you can see from the map, the metro will take you to many parts of the city, but it does not go as far as the airport.
If you don’t have the metro map with you, Google Maps includes a clearly marked “M” for each of the metro stops. As you are exploring the city on foot, you can identify a metro station by the three red diamonds outside the entrance, as demonstrated by our lovely hand model in this pic.
How to Use The BIP Card On The Bus
Besides all the metro stops, your BIP card will work on the Transantiago bus system. At the time of our visit, Transantiago is a network of 8 different bus systems. On the BIP-friendly buses, there are yellow boxes in the front of the bus. Just place your card over it until you hear a BIP (beep) sound. Check here to familiarize yourself with the BIP-related bus system.
None of the Transantiago buses go to the airport. We used the separate Centropuerto bus line to get from the airport to the city’s bus and metro lines.
Are Pickpockets A Problem On The Santiago Metro?
Unfortunately while using Santiago’s metro system, just as in other large cities around the globe, you need to be aware of your belongings at all times, and make sure that they are secure. We dress pretty casual, maybe even frumpily, and wear no jewelry or bling, nevertheless, we can’t help but look like tourists, and being a tourist makes one a potentially desirable target for crinminals.
We know of at least 2 instances where pickpockets attempted to steal from us during our 6-week visit to Chile. In both occurrences, on a crowded metro train, the thief used a strategically-placed bag and coat to covertly reach for our belongings. In at least 1 instance, there were 3 or more pickpockets working together, so it is key that you be aware of your surroundings at all times, but especially on a very crowded metro.
That being said, the metro was our transport of choice, and is one of our favorite things about the city.
Traveling To Santiago?
We were fortunate enough to land a great house sit for most of the time we visited Santiago. House sitting is a super affordable and exciting way to travel, especially if you love animals, because house sitting almost always involves pet sitting. We absolutely love our house sitting experiences, and highly recommend you check it out as a possible tool in your travel toolkit.
You can find a variety of affordable lodging options online, especially if you are booking accommodations for an extended period of time. We often use AirBnB, Booking.com, or Tripadvisor when researching the cost of lodging options. You can check here for current apartment rental options in Santiago, Chile on Tripadvisor Rentals.
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