Experience Santiago

Overview

The versatile, metropolitan capital city of Santiago also known as Santiago de Chile sits in the heart of Chile, nestled between the magnificent Andes Mountains, and the arresting waters of the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most modern cities in the country possessing a striking skyline filled with soaring skyscrapers with the mountains as a backdrop. The capital buzzes with activity and creativity in colorful galleries, innovative design stores, captivating museums, sophisticated restaurants, and elegant wine bars. The city’s charming colonial architecture can be seen in the many pleasing plazas that dot the various barrios that are filled with universities, churches, malls, and entertainment. Climb to the top of Cerro San Cristobal for astonishing views over the city, or head to the top of the tallest building in South America. 

Santiago is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with a strategic location that allows for hiking or skiing on the majestic Andes mountains, sunbathing on the beaches, and soaking up a sunset on the Pacific Ocean. The city is home to almost half of the country’s population making it a hub for dining, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife in the country. Sip on a pisco sour the city’s signature cocktail, or try some hearty Casuela (seafood) soup. Santiago is the largest city in the country, and one of the largest cities in the Americas, it has a rich history with many historic and cultural sites spread throughout its many barrios.

Things to see and do

Check out the historic heart of Santiago which encircles the famous Plaza de Armas. This historic square was established in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, the founder of the city. The palm-covered square today is a hub of activity with many sights such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the former Governor’s Palace, and the Historical Museum surrounding it. 

Visit the Catedral Metropolitana featuring a baroque-fringed neoclassical facade and a richly decorated interior with stunning floor tiles, frescoed ceilings, and intricate stained glass windows. The altar is ornamented with marble and deep blue lapis lazuli. The cathedral has a history that goes back to 1541, the original building succumbed to numerous fires and earthquakes. The cathedral that stands today underwent construction in the 1750s and 1780s and is one of the finest pieces of religious architecture in South America.

Be sure to see La Moneda, the palace of the President of the Republic of Chile which covers an entire city block with a flag-filled plaza on both ends. A striking neoclassical building has been the site for many pivotal moments in Chilean history including the strikes during the 1973 coup, at which time the democratically elected president Salvador Allende died inside by suicide. The subterranean La Moneda Cultural Center is a colossal space below the building where six galleries, two cafes, and several shops are located. Be sure to see the changing of the guards ceremony which is held daily at 10 am.

Visit the La Chascona Museum, which roughly translates to `Messy Hair` or “Woman with the Tousled Hair”. The former residence of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda and his 3rd wife Matilde Urrutia (known for her unruly red curls). Visitors can learn about the life of the artist and the history of the home, see some of the artist's personal possessions including artwork, portraits, and furniture, and check out the dining room modeled after a ship`s cabin and living room modeled after a lighthouse. 

Head up to the summit of San Cristobal Hill and see the ornate statue of the Virgin Mary which stands 72 feet tall. The hill is a landmark in the city that stands almost 3,000 feet tall above Metropolitan Park, it can be reached via a hike or funicular ride. It provides some of the most spectacular views over Santiago. 

Head to the 62-story skyscraper Gran Torre Santiago. It is a landmark of the Santiago skyline and the tallest building in Latin America. ‘Sky Costanera’ is where the 360-degree observation deck that towers approximately 1,000 feet above the city below. There is a bar and a coffee shop located at the top. The Costanera Center is connected to the famous tower with shopping, hotels, and dining available.

Visit the Museo Historico or National History Museum which traces Chile’s history and growth from colonial times to independence, and modernity. There are larger-than-life portraits of Magellan and Jose de San Martin on display. And presentations on things like the liberator Bernardo O’Higgins and his dueling pistols; revolutionary poet Andres Bello and his carved writing desk; 20th-century labor leaders and their hectoring propaganda posters. The final exhibit is the museum’s most famous and most chilling with the set of pulverized glasses worn by President Salvador Allende right before he committed suicide in the 1973 bombing of Chile’s presidential palace. 

The Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino dates back to 1805 housing over 5,000 items that date back over 10,000 years. The museum houses the private collection of Chilean architect Sergio Larrain who was also an antique collector, he accumulated these items over 50 years and they include the Mapuche Silver Jewelry display and Masks from the Aconcagua Valley. There is also exquisite pottery, cave paintings from Patagonia, and indigenous art of the Americas on display.

Shopping

The capital city of Santiago boasts a bevy of shopping opportunities spread throughout the city and various neighborhoods. The large metropolis is a shopper's delight with large shopping malls, outlet malls, open-air shopping centers, department stores, duty-free shops, districts, streets, and neighborhoods to choose from.

Some of the chicest shopping areas in the city where shopaholics can find upscale shopping include the Vitacura Barrio which is home to the wide avenues of Avenida Alonso de Cordova and Nueva Costanera Santiago’s equivalent to New York’s Fifth Avenue. Both of these famed avenues are lined with luxury design stores, and designer boutiques with famous local and international designers such as Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes. Avenida Providencia is another popular shopping district that runs through the popular neighborhood of the same name. The avenue here features smaller unique, local boutiques, the avenue changes to Avenida Apoquindo in the Las Condes neighborhood where the Las Condes mall is located.

The sleek open-air Casa Costanera Center is the tallest building in South America and the biggest shopping mall in South America. It's a must-visit for any serious shopper visiting the city, it has everything from supermarkets to restaurants, a movie theater, clothing stores, beauty stores, and a gym. The mall features over 300 stores that include international brands and local boutiques, it boasts an observation deck on the 62nd floor offering breathtaking views over the city. The upscale Parque Arauco is popular for high-end fashion and fine dining opportunities. It's home to over 350 stores and an excellent variety of gourmet restaurants and cafes as well as a cinema and theater which hosts live music and cultural events. The Easton Outlet Mall and La Florida Patio Outlet are two popular places to shop for local and international items and designer labels with huge discounts.

Dining

The streets of Santiago are filled with a diverse culinary scene, the capital city offers food lovers a wide variety of both traditional and local cuisine. The country’s varied, unique geography as well as its climate lead to significant differences in unique, regional cuisines. Santiago is considered a foodies paradise, home to talented chefs at excellent restaurants dishing up mouthwatering delicacies. The cuisine in the capital city is as eclectic as its many barrios (neighborhoods), with many of them mixing local Chilean classics along with Peruvian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Japanese, and Haitian influences. Many restaurants across the city are dishing up tasty meals packed with delicious Peruvian flavors, especially in the bohemian barrio of Bellavista. Diners will find some excellent upmarket meal options in the Providencia and Vitacura barrios where restaurants are serving authentic dishes like caldillo de congrio(fish stew with tomatoes and potatoes), and ceviche using fresh bass and scallops. Locally sourced fresh ingredients are used to make Chilean specialties such as machas a la parmesan (razor clams layered with cheese, white wine, and lemon juice), along with seafood stews using freshly caught fish from the Pacific. Other classic popular dishes include Empanadas typically filled with meat, cheese, or seafood and then baked or fried. Completo is a Chilean-style hot dog loaded with toppings like sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, pebre (spicy salsa), and generously adorned with mayonnaise. Pastel de Choclo is a traditional hearty casserole dish made with ground corn, seasoned meat, onions, and olives, then topped with a golden crust made from cornmeal. Alfajores is a sweet dessert of soft, delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche.

Nightlife

The Chilean capital of Santiago boasts an attractive, lively nightlife scene reflecting the country’s vibrant drinking culture. A great variety of evening entertainment and experiences can be found in Santiago’s colorful barrios at restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs. There are options to spend an evening at the theatre, comedy clubs, jazz bars, blues bars, cigar bars, and gay bars. The city’s exciting nightlife does not get started until later with most bar's prime drinking time being 9-10 pm, and clubs that are just getting started at 1 am.

Bellavista is one of the most popular nightlife districts in the city, a hip and happening epicenter filled with shops, cafes, art galleries, hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs. This trendy, colorful neighborhood is nestled between the Mapocho River and Mount San Cristobal, it was originally home to the city’s wealthy population. Vitacura is a more upscale neighborhood loaded with fancy restaurants, sophisticated lounges, bars, and exclusive clubs. The Brasil neighborhood boasts a multicultural atmosphere, with a vibrant, energetic nightlife with live music, dancing, and a wide variety of bars and clubs. Lastarria offers a sophisticated nightlife scene with elegant restaurants, and upscale bars amid gorgeous architecture and cobblestone streets. The Italia neighborhood has a vintage charm home to intimate bars and pubs, live music venues, and craft breweries. The Nunoa neighborhood is filled with many charming cafes and rock ‘n’ roll bars where Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock once played at Club de Jazz de Santiago established in 1943.