One-Bag Packing List for Santiago, Chile: A Layering System + Local Add-Ons (Carry-On Friendly)
Santiago has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate that almost leans desert: dry, hot summers with (sometimes intense) heat during the day, cool winters with overcast skies and occasional rainfall, and pleasant shoulder seasons with mild temperatures and little rain (no snow). If you’ve spent time in inland California or Los Angeles, the weather feels familiar.
Instead of building a totally different packing list for every season, I use the same core one-bag layering system for almost every trip and adjust (if needed) for the destination. For Santiago, there are three key things to consider when packing: temperature swings from day to night + cold indoors (layers), strong sun + UV index (sun protection), and walking-first city culture (comfortable shoes).
If you want the full breakdown of everything I carry, check out my complete One-Bag (30L) Packing List for Full-Time Four-Season Travel (2025). Below, I’ll show you how that same system works and can be adapted specifically for Santiago.
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Table of Contents
More Santiago planning help:
Santiago 1-day itinerary → Ultimate full-day walking route to hit the city’s highlights
Where to stay in Santiago → Best neighborhoods, safety, and centrality (from lived experience)
SCL airport to the city → All transport options, costs, convenience, and local tips
Getting around Santiago → How to use the metro like a local (bip! card, best lines, safety, rush hour)
Santiago “start here” → Running list of itineraries and guides, updated regularly
Santiago Packing Add-Ons: What’s Different Here
Although Santiago is technically a Mediterranean climate, there are certain aspects that make its weather and city experience unique. This means keeping a few Santiago-specific factors in mind when you pack can make a big difference in your comfort day to day.
Prioritize a mid-layer you can wear outdoors and indoors
Temperatures can swing between daytime and nighttime – when the sun sets, temperature could drop by 30 °F / 20 °C. For example, daytime highs in the summer average 85 °F / 29 °C, but nighttime lows average only 55 °F / 11 °C. This means that even in the summer, you will likely need a warm layer at night.
Since many apartments (especially older ones) lack insulation and central heating, winter in Santiago could feel colder inside than the temperature suggests (and this is certainly true from my personal experience). If you’re staying in an Airbnb, with a limited packing space of a one-bag set-up, a warm mid-layer (such as a fleece or sweater) that is comfortable enough for you to wear indoors is much more versatile than a heavy outdoor coat.
Plan for sun protection even outside of summer
Due to Santiago’s moderate altitude and complex geographic topography, Santiago’s UV levels are relatively high year round. This is especially true in the summer, when the UV index often reaches extreme levels that could get you a sunburn within 10 minutes. Even locals hide in the shade mid-day in summer.
Sun protection is a must – a hat, sunscreen, and, if you don’t mind the added warmth, a lightweight UV-resistant long sleeve.
Treat walking shoes as a core item
Santiago is a very walkable city – you’ll likely naturally rack up steps getting from place to place. Plus, some of the must-dos involve climbing hills to see panoramic views of the city or walking uneven cobblestone streets to see historic architecture.
For your primary shoes, prioritize walking shoes that are comfortable, supportive, and that you would happily wear for 15-20k steps.
If you’re sensitive to air quality, pack for it
Santiago has an air pollution problem – the city is located in a valley surrounded by the Andes mountains, which trap air and prevent pollutants from dissipating. This is especially true in the winter, when colder air traps pollutants closer to the ground.
If air quality tends to affect you, bring a mask, nasal rinse, or any respiratory essentials you rely on at home.
The “3 Santiago anchors”: mid-layer (fleece/sweater), sunscreen or hat, and walking shoes
Core Capsule Priorities for Santiago (What Matters Most)
If you already follow my 30L one-bag packing list for full-time, four-season travel, you don’t need a completely different wardrobe for Santiago. Instead, you can adapt that core list and make sure it covers the Santiago priorities we just talked about: layers, sun protection, and walkable shoes.
So, rather than re-listing my entire packing list here, these are the pieces that matter most in Santiago and how they function in real life. One note about style: I find Santiago to be pretty chill in regards to fashion; function and comfort matter more than dressing up.
2-3 base tanks / tees for temperature control
For Santiago, lightweight, breathable tanks / tees are what you’ll wear most, alone during the summer sun and layered under warmer pieces in cooler temperatures. For colder seasons, you can swap one of these tanks / tees for a lightweight long sleeve.
I recommend merino wool or lightweight technical fabrics because they regulate temperature, resist odor (so you can pack fewer), and dry quickly after (sink) laundry. I personally prefer merino for city travel since it performs well but still looks polished. My go-to brand is Unbound Merino (*) for their modern, urban, logo-free styling. Here are my favorite merino tank (*), merino T-shirt (*), and synthetic tank (from Vuori).
1 sun-protecting long sleeve
A lightweight, sun-protecting long sleeve earns its place here more than in many other cities. It protects against intense UV during the day and acts as a light warmth layer when temperatures drop.
Again, merino wool works well for this because of its natural UV resistance, but synthetic sun shirts are great too. Here is my favorite merino long sleeve (*) and a synthetic sun shirt (*) to consider.
2 bottoms focused on comfort + versatility
Prioritize bottoms that you can walk in and rewear often (sweat-wicking, quick-dry). I recommend packing two pairs – a lightweight pant and a second bottom depending on season and style.
First pair: A lightweight, breathable pant works across seasons and settings, especially in a neutral color. I find that low-profile running pants (like the Janji Transit Tech Pant) work well since they’re quick-dry, stretchy and comfortable for walking, and still look fine in restaurants.
Second pair: For the summer, I prefer shorts. For cooler seasons, leggings or slightly thicker pants.
1 comfortable mid-layer for warmth
This is a real MVP for Santiago – it’ll be your outer layer for Santiago’s chilly summer nights, your mid-layer under a jacket in the winter, and your cozy layer indoors.
A fleece or sweater that’s comfortable enough to lounge in is more useful than a heavy coat you only wear outside. I personally love a lightweight fleece or merino quarter-zip (*).
1 outer layer for weather
Your outer layer in Santiago is mainly for wind, chill, and occasional rain, not extreme cold (it does not snow nor get freezing cold).
For the summer, a lightweight windbreaker helps protect against chill. For shoulder seasons and even the winter, a packable puffer or insulated jacket layered over your mid-layer is usually enough. My personal favorites are the Patagonia Houdini Jacket (*) and the Patagonia Nanopuff Hoody (*) for their amazing performance and packability.
Underwear & basics
Keep this simple and pack enough for a maximum of one week:
7-9 underwear
3-4 bras or preferred base layers
3-4 pairs supportive walking socks
Merino socks are great for odor resistance and fewer washes.
Optional: 1 elevated outfit or 1 active outfit
If you’re planning dinners out, dates, or wine tastings, add one outfit that feels a little more put-together. Santiago fashion is relaxed, so you really don’t need anything too fancy – for me, my little merino black dress (*) works well.
If you’re planning to hike (the glorious Andes mountains are only 1-2 hours away) or do more outdoor activities, add one outfit that performs. For me, this usually means running tops and bottoms in a neutral color that I can still wear out and about casually in the city.
My core clothing items for Santiago: Base layers (2 tanks, 1 tee), long sleeve, mid-layer (quarter zip), outer layers (pictured: puffer for colder weather, not pictured: windbreaker for summer nights), bottoms (1 running pants, 1 shorts for summer, not pictured: 1 leggings for colder weather).
Outfit Formulas by Season (What I Actually Wear)
To show you how the above clothing items get mixed and matched to accommodate Santiago weather across all four seasons, here are outfit formulas that I tend to wear repeatedly.
Core outfit: Summer
Hot summer days
The heat is real, but nights still cool down — I keep a light layer handy.
Tank / tee
Shorts
Sun protection (hat)
Lightweight windbreaker (packed in my bag if I know I’ll be staying out until nightfall).
Core outfit: Shoulder seasons
Most days in spring/fall (and many summer evenings)
Works for sunny afternoons and cool nights with one easy layer change.
Tee
Lightweight pants / leggings
Mid-layer (fleece or quarter-zip)
Core outfit: Winter
Winter days (especially indoors)
If it’s not too cold:
Lightweight long sleeve
Lightweight pants / leggings
Outer layer (lightweight puffer)
If it’s colder:
Tank
Mid-layer (fleece or quarter-zip)
Lightweight pants / leggings
Outer layer (lightweight puffer)
Shoes for Santiago: The Two-Pair Strategy
This is adapted from My Two-Pair Shoe Strategy for One-Bag (Carry-On Only) Travel – check that post for the exact shoes and gear I use! But the same rule applies here – you really only need two pairs:
Primary Walking Shoes (Wear on Plane)
The priority is for these shoes to be comfortable for 15–20k steps.
Sneakers work year-round (but in the winter, you could opt for light boots instead if your feet get cold easily or for the occasional rain). As I wrote about in my two-pair shoe strategy post, I opt for trail runners like the Nike Pegasus Trail (*) for maximum flexibility.
Secondary / Situational Shoe
Choose ONE:
Flip flops: If you’re staying in hostels with shared showers / if you planning to go to the beach
Hiking shoes: If you’re planning to go on hikes in the surrounding mountains (although, you could wear trail runners as your primary shoes and leave this space open).
Flats: If you’re only planning to be in the city and want a pair of shoes for “nicer” settings.
Socks
3-4 pairs cushioned walking socks (in merino to pack fewer pairs)
Laundry + Fabric Strategy (Santiago-Friendly)
For fear of repeating myself (or maybe you’re already sick of it??), merino wool is great for Santiago, and one of the reasons is that it’s quick-dry, which allows you to take advantage of Santiago’s
Why quick-dry fabrics matter in Santiago
Many apartments don’t have washers, and those that do, some don’t have dryers (or have washer/dryer combos with bad dryers). This means you might need to do hand laundry in a pinch (or on the regular) and rely on air-drying.
However, Santiago’s air is dry and its sun is strong, which means clothes do dry fast. This is especially true for quick-dry fabrics like merino and synthetics, which often dry overnight.
Tips
Roll in a towel first to remove extra water
Hang clothes near a sunny, open window (prioritize airflow)
Rely on merino + synthetics for clothes to dry overnight (cotton fabrics will dry slower)
Optional Gear
Portable wash bag (my ride-or-die: Scrubba Untouched Wash Bag (*)): This is my hand-washing solution when I don't have access to laundry machines. This waterproof bag has plastic bumps on one side for you to scrub your clothes again, making it much more efficient and thorough than sink washing.
Portable clothesline (Sea-to-Summit Lite Line (*)): This one is really optional though, since many apartments have drying racks for clothes (but double check for that in the listing).
Items in quick-dry fabrics: merino and lightweight synthetic.
Essentials for Santiago: Toiletries, Health + Tech
Refer to my One-Bag (30L) Packing List for Full-Time Four-Season Travel (2025) for a complete list, but I want to call out specific items and add-ons that are especially necessary for Santiago.
Skin & Sun
Sunscreen: You will need this year-round – the UV index is extreme in the summer, but the sun is strong even in the winter.
Sunglasses: To protect your eyes from the bright sun.
Moisturizer (for face and body): The air in Santiago is dry, and your skin will feel it (especially if you’re coming from more humid places). Speaking from personal experience, my skin always needs some time to adapt to the dry air whenever I come back to Santiago (and my skin is generally pretty resistant), and moisturizer makes me so much more comfortable.
Health
Allergy medicine: This is especially true for the spring pollen season – especially if you’re coming from, the new pollen. I’ve been
Mask and/or nasal rinse: For the smog and pollutants if you’re sensitive.
Tech
Charging adaptor (my ride-or-die: Epicka Universal Charging Adaptor (*)): Chile uses the Type C (European) plugs. I recommend a universal travel adaptor like my recommended Epicka one – you can buy one and use it practically anywhere.
Essentials for skin and sun care (face and body moisturizer, sunscreen), health (nasal rinse and allergy meds), and tech (charging adaptor)
