What is the cheapest way from Santiago Airport to the city centre?

The free airport shuttle to the Intermodal Aeropuerto – RED Movilidad stop, then bus 555 to Metro Pajaritos and Metro Line 1 into town, tapping a Bip! card — about CLP 795–895 total, roughly 75–90 minutes.

Where do I get a Bip! card at the airport?

At the self-service totems in the National or International terminal arrivals area (debit/credit card), at the Intermodal Aeropuerto stop, or for cash inside Pajaritos metro station.

Is the Centropuerto or Turbus airport bus cheaper than the public bus?

No — both cost about CLP 1,900–2,400 one-way to Pajaritos/Los Héroes, roughly two to three times the bus-555-plus-Metro fare, though they board right at the terminal kerb and skip the free-shuttle transfer.

How much is a taxi from Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport to the city?

A fixed roughly CLP 22,000 from the marked official taxi stands — many times the CLP 795–895 bus-and-Metro fare. Never ride with touts who approach you inside the terminal.

Does the Santiago Metro go directly to the airport?

Not yet — no metro line reaches the terminal building; the closest connection is Metro Line 1's Pajaritos station, reached via the free shuttle and bus 555.

What is the best way from SCL to downtown Santiago?

For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest: the free airport shuttle to the Intermodal stop, bus 555 to Metro Pajaritos, then Metro Line 1 into town with a Bip! card — about CLP 795–895 total and roughly 75–90 minutes.

How do you get from Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) to downtown Santiago — the cheapest way?

The cheapest way from Santiago Airport (SCL) into central Santiago is the free internal shuttle to the Intermodal Aeropuerto – RED Movilidad stop, then the public route 555 bus to Metro Pajaritos and onward on Metro Line 1, tapping a Bip! card the whole way: about CLP 795–895 total and roughly 75–90 minutes door to door. Load or buy the Bip! card at the terminal's self-service totems before you leave arrivals, or take the curbside Centropuerto/Turbus bus for about CLP 1,900–2,400 to the same Pajaritos/Los Héroes stop if you'd rather skip the transfer. Skip the unofficial taxi touts who offer unmetered rides at the kerb — an official taxi is a fixed roughly CLP 22,000 to the centre.

How to find it

AIRPORTSantiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
01From arrivals at either the National (T1) or International (T2) terminal, follow signs for 'Buses de Acercamiento / RED Movilidad' to the free internal shuttle stop and ride it to the Intermodal Aeropuerto – RED Movilidad station next to the Pehuén parking lot (about a 5–10 minute ride).
02At the Intermodal station, load your Bip! card at the self-service totem if needed, then tap in and board the route 555 bus toward Pajaritos — departures every 10 minutes, roughly 06:00–22:30.
03Ride about 26–30 minutes on the 555 to the 'Pajaritos' stop, the western terminus of Metro Line 1.
04Walk into Pajaritos metro station and tap your Bip! card again to transfer onto Metro Line 1 heading toward Los Dominicos.
05Ride Line 1 about 30–35 minutes to 'Universidad de Chile' station for Plaza de Armas (about a 400 m walk), or continue further east to Manuel Montt, Pedro de Valdivia or Los Leones for Providencia.
CITY CENTRESantiago

Ticket

Bip! card fare — RED bus 555 (airport–Pajaritos) + Metro Line 1

Where to buy: Load or buy a Bip! card at the self-service totems in the National or International terminal arrivals area (debit/credit card), or at the Intermodal Aeropuerto – RED Movilidad stop by the Pehuén parking lot; cash top-ups are also available at the ticket office inside Pajaritos metro station.

How to pay: Tap the Bip! card on the reader boarding the 555 bus — CLP 795 flat, any time of day — then tap again transferring to the Metro at Pajaritos: free within the 2-hour window off-peak, or +CLP 100 during peak hours (07:00–08:59 and 18:00–19:59).

Local's trick: Load your Bip! card at the self-service totems in the arrivals area before you leave the terminal — debit or credit card, no cash needed — then follow the 'RED Movilidad' shuttle signs: the cheap public bus leaves from the Intermodal stop by Pehuén parking, not from the terminal kerb.

Trap to avoid: Ignore anyone inside or outside the terminal offering an unmetered taxi ride — these unofficial touts charge whatever they like. Use only the marked official taxi stands (a fixed roughly CLP 22,000 to the centre) if you want a taxi instead.

All ways to downtown, compared

Option	Price	Time	Ticket
CombinationCheapest route	CLP 795	1 h 20 min	Bip! card fare — RED bus 555 (airport–Pajaritos) + Metro Line 1
Bus	CLP 2,400	50 min	Centropuerto one-way airport bus ticket (to Los Héroes / Pajaritos)

Frequently asked

What is the cheapest way from Santiago Airport to the city centre?: The free airport shuttle to the Intermodal Aeropuerto – RED Movilidad stop, then bus 555 to Metro Pajaritos and Metro Line 1 into town, tapping a Bip! card — about CLP 795–895 total, roughly 75–90 minutes.
Where do I get a Bip! card at the airport?: At the self-service totems in the National or International terminal arrivals area (debit/credit card), at the Intermodal Aeropuerto stop, or for cash inside Pajaritos metro station.
Is the Centropuerto or Turbus airport bus cheaper than the public bus?: No — both cost about CLP 1,900–2,400 one-way to Pajaritos/Los Héroes, roughly two to three times the bus-555-plus-Metro fare, though they board right at the terminal kerb and skip the free-shuttle transfer.
How much is a taxi from Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport to the city?: A fixed roughly CLP 22,000 from the marked official taxi stands — many times the CLP 795–895 bus-and-Metro fare. Never ride with touts who approach you inside the terminal.
Does the Santiago Metro go directly to the airport?: Not yet — no metro line reaches the terminal building; the closest connection is Metro Line 1's Pajaritos station, reached via the free shuttle and bus 555.
What is the best way from SCL to downtown Santiago?: For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest: the free airport shuttle to the Intermodal stop, bus 555 to Metro Pajaritos, then Metro Line 1 into town with a Bip! card — about CLP 795–895 total and roughly 75–90 minutes.

Last verified: Jul 2, 2026. Prices and timetables change — confirm at the official transport source.