From January to August 2026, 291,375 European tourists arrived in Chile, 7.5% more than in the same period of 2025 (270,970). Spain is the top European country, with 47,948 visitors, followed by France (41,779) and Germany (41,491), according to the foreign tourist arrivals published by Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, based on records from the Investigations Police (PDI). While total arrivals are down 19.1% this year because of the drop in Argentine visitors, Europe is growing and now accounts for 8.8% of arrivals.
*Updated on November 1, 2026, with the October 2026 release (data through August 2026).* Figures count tourists by nationality and exclude arrivals by sea, such as cruise passengers. Figures from 2020 onward are preliminary. The United Kingdom appears in the official spreadsheet as "England".
Ranking of European tourists in Chile by country in 2026
| # | Country | Jan-Aug 2026 | Jan-Aug 2025 | Change | Full year 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 47,948 | 46,225 | +3.7% | 80,821 |
| 2 | France | 41,779 | 39,305 | +6.3% | 65,691 |
| 3 | Germany | 41,491 | 39,734 | +4.4% | 68,405 |
| 4 | England (United Kingdom) | 37,847 | 34,781 | +8.8% | 56,748 |
| 5 | Italy | 28,633 | 27,607 | +3.7% | 45,307 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 12,920 | 11,825 | +9.3% | 20,853 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 10,040 | 9,454 | +6.2% | 16,797 |
| 8 | Poland | 8,446 | 6,482 | +30.3% | 11,252 |
| 9 | Russia | 7,450 | 6,816 | +9.3% | 10,722 |
| 10 | Belgium | 6,559 | 5,921 | +10.8% | 11,066 |
| 11 | Portugal | 5,926 | 5,027 | +17.9% | 8,570 |
| 12 | Sweden | 5,367 | 4,870 | +10.2% | 9,303 |
| 13 | Austria | 4,297 | 3,962 | +8.5% | 6,981 |
| 14 | Ireland | 4,029 | 3,920 | +2.8% | 6,413 |
| Total Europe | 291,375 | 270,970 | +7.5% | 460,678 |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Cuadro por Nacionalidad" sheet. Changes calculated by Viajando Chile. The top five countries (Spain, France, Germany, the UK and Italy) total 197,698 tourists, two out of every three Europeans who visit Chile. All fourteen countries in the table are up on 2025; the biggest rise is Poland's (+30.3%).
In the ranking of all countries, Spain is Chile's seventh-largest market in 2026, behind Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, the United States and Colombia. France is tenth and Germany eleventh. The full list is in foreign tourists in Chile by country.
European tourists in Chile by year: 2019 is still the record
| Year | European tourists | % of all tourists |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 385,422 | 14.2% |
| 2012 | 367,981 | 10.4% |
| 2015 | 413,003 | 9.2% |
| 2016 | 449,677 | 8.0% |
| 2017 | 477,911 | 7.4% |
| 2018 | 498,937 | 8.7% |
| 2019 | 515,145 | 11.4% |
| 2020 | 139,232 | 12.4% |
| 2021 | 27,110 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 215,117 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 382,182 | 10.2% |
| 2024 | 440,380 | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 460,678 | 7.7% |
| 2026 (January to August) | 291,375 | 8.8% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Percentages calculated by Viajando Chile. The annual record for European tourists is 2019, with 515,145. In 2025, 460,678 arrived, 10.6% below that peak. If the rest of 2026 follows last year's pattern, when 189,708 Europeans arrived between September and December, the year would close at around 480,000, still below the record. That projection is our own calculation, not an official figure.
The order of countries has also changed. In 2019 France came first, with 87,085, almost tied with Spain (86,681) and Germany (82,541). In 2025 Spain stood alone in first place, with 80,821, while France (65,691) and Germany (68,405) remain below their pre-pandemic numbers.
When European tourists come to Chile: month by month
| Month | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % of the month's tourists (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64,379 | 60,107 | +7.1% | 9.1% |
| February | 55,547 | 52,323 | +6.2% | 10.9% |
| March | 55,547 | 43,962 | +26.4% | 12.4% |
| April | 31,386 | 33,078 | -5.1% | 9.1% |
| May | 22,234 | 20,358 | +9.2% | 8.0% |
| June | 16,420 | 15,081 | +8.9% | 6.2% |
| July | 21,265 | 21,023 | +1.2% | 5.2% |
| August | 24,597 | 25,038 | -1.8% | 7.1% |
| January to August | 291,375 | 270,970 | +7.5% | 8.8% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Changes and shares calculated by Viajando Chile. Europeans travel during the southern summer, from November to March, when Patagonia is open for trekking: in 2025, November (61,157), December (63,162) and January (60,107) were their busiest months. January 2026, with 64,379, is the fourth-busiest month for Europeans in the whole series, behind November 2018 (68,252), December 2018 (66,796) and January 2019 (66,438). Seasonality for every market is in the months with the most foreign tourists.
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| Point of entry | 2026 (January to August) | % 2026 | 2025 | % 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (Santiago) | 193,606 | 66.4% | 308,952 | 67.1% |
| Río Don Guillermo (Cerro Castillo, Magallanes) | 16,814 | 5.8% | 28,260 | 6.1% |
| Hito Cajón (San Pedro de Atacama) | 15,234 | 5.2% | 27,434 | 6.0% |
| Laurita Casas Viejas (Puerto Natales) | 9,859 | 3.4% | 12,207 | 2.6% |
| San Sebastián (Tierra del Fuego) | 8,310 | 2.9% | 13,064 | 2.8% |
| Cristo Redentor System (Los Libertadores) | 7,813 | 2.7% | 13,973 | 3.0% |
Source: Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur, "Consulta desagregada" sheet (Europe region). Calculated by Viajando Chile. About 30% of Europeans enter overland from Argentina, mainly through the Magallanes crossings that link El Calafate and Ushuaia with Torres del Paine, and through Hito Cajón, the entry from Bolivia and the Uyuni salt flat to San Pedro de Atacama. Details for each crossing are in Chile's busiest border crossings for tourists.
How much European tourists spend in Chile
| Country (2023) | Total spend per tourist | Daily spend | Average nights | Total foreign exchange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | US$1,360 | US$87.3 | 15.6 | US$77.2 million |
| Italy | US$1,309 | US$59.5 | 22.0 | — |
| Spain | US$1,303 | US$56.6 | 23.0 | US$100.9 million |
| Germany | US$1,276 | US$51.5 | 24.8 | US$91.9 million |
| France | US$1,211 | US$50.5 | 24.0 | US$83.7 million |
| Average of all tourists | US$637 | US$47.2 | 13.5 | US$2,374.8 million |
Source: Sernatur, inbound tourism tables, 2023 (Italy is not among the top ten countries by foreign exchange). A European tourist spends twice the average because they stay three to four weeks. Spain, Germany, France and the UK together left US$353.7 million in 2023, 14.9% of tourism foreign exchange. More detail in how much foreign tourists spend in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
How many European tourists visit Chile each year?
In 2025, 460,678 arrived, 7.7% of all foreign tourists. From January to August 2026, 291,375 arrived, 7.5% more than a year earlier.
Which European country sends the most tourists to Chile?
Spain: 47,948 from January to August 2026 and 80,821 in all of 2025. France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy follow.
What was the record year for Europeans in Chile?
2019, with 515,145 European tourists.
When do Europeans travel to Chile?
Between November and March, during the southern hemisphere summer. The quietest month is June.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *European tourists in Chile 2026: 291,375 arrivals through August, up 7.5%, led by Spain*. Based on data from Chile's Undersecretariat of Tourism and Sernatur. Available at: https://viajandochile.com/en/news/european-tourists-in-chile-statistics-by-country
