Almost everyone reaches Viña del Mar from Santiago, Chile’s capital, around 120 km inland. International flights land at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez airport (SCL); from there — or from the city — you reach the coast along Route 68, a modern toll motorway through the Casablanca Valley, in about 1.5 to 2 hours.
There is no passenger train between Santiago and the coast, so the choice is between bus, private transfer, driving, or a tour. Here is how they compare.
The options, compared
| How | Time | Cost (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus from Santiago | 1.5–2 h | a few thousand pesos (≈US$5–10) | Almost everyone — frequent and easy |
| Airport bus + coast bus | 2.5–3 h | roughly US$10–15 in total | Budget arrivals with light luggage |
| Private transfer | ≈2 h | from ≈€95 per car | Arrivals with luggage, families, late flights |
| Rental car | 1.5–2 h | rental + fuel + tolls | Exploring the coast and wineries |
| Day tour from Santiago | 10 h round trip | from ≈€29 per person | Seeing the coast in one day |
1. Bus from Santiago — the classic way
Buses run all day, every few minutes at peak times, mainly from Terminal Alameda (next to Universidad de Santiago metro station) and Terminal Pajaritos (on metro Line 1, west of the centre). The big companies are Tur Bus and Pullman Bus; tickets are sold at the terminal and online. Buses are comfortable, with reclining seats, and the trip takes about 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic.
Most coast buses stop first in Viña del Mar’s bus terminal on Avenida Valparaíso, in the city centre, and then continue to Valparaíso. Fares are low — expect a few thousand Chilean pesos one way, more on Fridays, Sundays and holiday weekends, when you should buy in advance.
2. From Santiago airport (SCL)
Airport buses (Centropuerto and Turbus) run frequently to the city and stop at Pajaritos, where you can change straight onto a coast bus without going into central Santiago. Some companies also offer direct airport–coast services; check current schedules. With heavy luggage or after a long-haul flight, a pre-booked private transfer is far easier: your driver meets you in arrivals and drives you to your hotel door in about two hours.
3. Driving
Route 68 is an excellent toll motorway (several toll plazas, payable by card or cash) and the drive takes about 1.5 hours. A car is useful for wineries, the Concón dunes and the coast north to Zapallar — but parking in Viña del Mar and especially Valparaíso can be difficult. Chile has zero tolerance for drink-driving, so don’t drive after a wine tasting.
4. A day tour
If you only have one day, a guided tour from Santiago is the most efficient option: pickup from your hotel, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and usually a Casablanca Valley winery, back in the evening.
Getting around Viña del Mar and to Valparaíso
- Metro Valparaíso (Merval): the suburban train runs along the coast from Puerto station in Valparaíso through Viña del Mar (Miramar, Viña del Mar, Hospital, Chorrillos and El Salto stations) and inland to Limache. Viña to Valparaíso takes about 15–20 minutes. You pay with a rechargeable card bought at stations.
- Buses (micros) and colectivos: constant along Avenida España between Viña and Valparaíso, and along the coast road to Reñaca and Concón. Colectivos are shared taxis on fixed routes.
- Taxis and ride-hailing apps: widely available and inexpensive for short trips; use them at night, especially in Valparaíso.
- On foot: central Viña is flat and walkable — the Flower Clock, the beaches, the casino and the museums are all within 30 minutes of each other.
Arriving by cruise ship
Cruise ships call at the Valparaíso cruise terminal and at San Antonio, further south, mainly between about October and April. From Valparaíso, Viña del Mar is a 15–20-minute taxi or train ride. Many voyages start or end here, with passengers transferring to or from Santiago airport — a pre-booked port transfer or a port-to-Santiago tour with sightseeing on the way are the easiest options.
