What's a European-style city like Santiago doing in the center of this South American country? It's got the fashionable cafes, the green city parks, the distinguished monuments and museums along with the cramped old streets and traffic jams that sometimes makes getting around the city a little bit of work.

Despite the cramped conditions, Chile's capital city is a treat to visit, with the temperate, sunny weather and all the sights to see.  Most of the major museums, monuments and architectural sites to see are contained in the triangle defined by the Mapocho to the North, the Via Norte Sur to the West and the Avenida General Higgins (called the Alameda locally). Santiago's heart is the Plaza de Armas, the historic city square with beautifully-landscaped parks, surrounded by art museums.

Walk along the tree-lined avenues until you reach the Mercado Central to see the stands bursting with fresh exotic produce before you visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes, modeled on the Petit Palais in Paris. For a more sobering look at Santiago's history, especially an examination of the recent political upheavals in the country, the Museo de Santiago is also nearby, as is the Presidential Palace of La Moneda, bombed during the coup but subsequently rebuilt.

Downtown Santiago City Map, Chile

If you cross the river and visit the Bellavista neighborhood you'll see why it's known as the Paris Quarter. The upscale area is home to the best restaurants in the city, as well as cafes and a chic crafts fair on Friday and Saturday evenings. This is where Santiagan nightlife is hottest and hippest, and where the artists and writers hang out.

Chile's slenderness -- 150 miles at the widest -- gives Santiago another of its charms: close proximity to both sunny beaches and snow-covered mountains perfect for skiing. Beautiful Pacific beaches are less than an hour's drive to the northwest, while even closer are the ski complexes. The pristine, powdery Andean snow is a skier's paradise from May until October.

The majestic Andean Mountain Range can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Due to its geographic location, Santiago is one of the few capital cities in the world which has easy access both to ski slopes just 50 kms. away, and beaches, 100 kms. away. It is in fact possible to visit the modern ski resorts as well as the famous beach resort of Viña del Mar or picturesque Valparaiso, Chile's main port, in just one day. Numerous villages located in the countryside around Santiago invite the visitor to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of countrylife. Tourists may also visit the vineyards and try the delicious Chilean wines.

The Santa Lucia Hill in the city center is an important historic landmark. It was here, at the foot of this hill formerly known as the "Huelen", that the Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the city of Santiago on February 12th, 1541. He planned the city according to the traditional Spanish checkerboard layout which is still evident in the downtown area today. Today, the Plaza de Armas with its colorful gardens is very different to what it was many years ago but the buildings that surround it bring back many memories. The Metropolitan Cathedral, on the western side of the plaza, stands on the same spot where the first church in Santiago was once built; to the north are three important buildings: the Post Office, the National Museum of History and the Townhall of Santiago. In the days of the Republic, new central neighborhoods -now traditional ones- were added on to the colonial Santiago of the 16th century. By the 1930s, modern Santiago, with its green areas and architecture had come into being. The growth and development which have taken place during the past years are evident in the facilities which the city offers the visitor.

New and comfortable hotels Located both in the center and on the eastern side of the city, have significantly increased Santiago's capacity to accommodate visitors as well as providing special facilities for congresses and conventions. Together with the development of tourist infrastructure, gastronomy in Chile has also taken1on a new lease of life, both as regards the quality and the quantity of restaurants.

DOWNTOWN, includes churches dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and buildings that were once the seat of important colonial institutions, as well as other important historic landmarks.

• Santa Lucia Hill - National Library-Casa Colorada (Museum of Santiago)
• Stock Exchange
• Club de la Union Building La Moneda Palace (Government Headquarters) - Plaza de la Constitucion.
• Plaza de Armas - Townhall of Santiago Real Audiencia Building (National Museum of History) Central Post Office Building
• Royal Customs Building (Museum of pre-Colombian Art) - Former National Congress Building - Palace of Justice - Club de Septiembre, Diplomatic Academy
• Manso de Velasco`s House
• Santo Domingo Temple
• Central Market-Mapocho Station
• San Francisco Church- Paris-Londres Neighborhood-Catholic Univerty`s Main Campus-Vera Cruz Church

Traditional Neighborhoods includes a tour through streets dating from the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, mansion houses built by well-to-do families reveal the influence of European culture. Racetrack

• Diego de Almagro Plaza-Church of the Holy Sacrament- Cousin'o Palace-Racetrack
• Ejercito, Republica and Espan a Avenues and Dieciocho, Vergara and Cienfues Streets - Main Railway Station

A visit to the museums, art galleries, handcraft centers and neighborhoods with intense cultural and artistic activity will give the visitor an insight into the culture and traditions of the country and its people. A few suggestions:

Museums in Santiago:

• Colonial San Francisco
• of Contemporary Art
• of Decorative Art. A must.
• of Popular American Art
• of Pre-Colombian Art. A must.
• of Fine Arts
• of Santiago, "Casa Colorada"
• of National History
• "La Chascona", House of the poet Pablo Neruda
• of Natural History
• Municipal Theater - Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro with its art galleries and antique stores.
• Bellavista district - Park of Sculptures
• Providencia district (art galleries, cinemas and theater halls) - Cultural Institute of Providencia.
• Artisan Village of Los Graneros del Alba - Los Dominicos Church -
• Cultural Institute of Las Condes - Cultural Institute of La Reina.

Green areas located throughout the different sectors give the city a fresh and natural touch.

• Forestal Park, borders the south bank of the Mapocho River, west of Plaza Baquedano and has fine sculptures located throughout it
• Metropolitan Park in the San Cristobal Hill: includes a zoo, two swimming pools, picnic areas, restaurants and Enoteca. It can be visited by car, cable car or teleferique
• Santa Lucia Hill, in the heart of the city
• Balmaceda Park, in the Las Condes district
• Araucano Park, in the Las Condes district
• Intercomunal Park of La Reina
• O'Higgins Park, located in the district of Santiago. Amongst its attractions is "El Pueblito": which resembles a typical Chilean country village
• Quinta Normal Park: 40 acres located in west Santiago

National and imported goods at reasonable prices are available in Santiago in some of the following areas:

• Downtown, between Miraflores and Amunategui streets and Av. B. O'Higgins and Santo Domingo street.
• Providencia Avenue, including chic boutiques on Suecia, General Holley, Los Leones, Ricardo Lyon streets, amongst others.
• Shopping Centers: Panoramico, Apumanque and Parque Arauco, in the eastern area.
• Plaza Vespucio, in the southern area.

Santiago's restaurants offer local cuisine based on seafood, fish, vegetables, and meat, as well as a variety of international specialties. Areas where most restaurants are located are:

• Bellavista district.
• El Bosque - Isidora Goyenechea area.
• Providencia Suecia area
• General Holley, also has elegant bars.
• Paseo San Damián. Las Condes.

Nowadays it is vital to have somewhere special where you can do business, arrange meetings and meet up with contacts. Santiago, like other cities in Chile -Viña del Mar, Arica, La Serena and Concepcio- combines all the ideal characteristics: a pleasant climate, beautiful surroundings and first-class tourist facilities. Most major multinational companies, whether European, North American or Japanese, have offices and/or representatives in Santiago. They have chosen Chile as their South American operational base because of the efficient services offered here.

Downtown Santiago, Chile | Image Copyright © LukeTravels.com

A modern communications network via satellite -International Direct Dialing telephone system, fax and telex-offers permanent contact with other countries. A good highway system and a regular transport service connects Santiago with the rest of the country and the world. The International Airport receives over 100 regular flights a week from 20 different international and two national airlines. Chile's financial system is sophisticated and efficient, which explains why 22 foreign banks and 24 national banks operate in the country, supplying the corresponding facilities for financial operations. In Chile, those in charge of organizing conventions will find that the very best facilities and efficient backup systems are available to help them guarantee the success of every event.

Convention centers, numerous well-organized tourist facilities offering the efficient professional and friendly attention characteristic of the Chilean people, are determining factors when it comes to choosing the right meeting place. Due to its variety of tourist attractions, Chile is an ideal destination for incentive trips. As the main port of entry to the country, Santiago is the right place from which to start a visit, a fitting reward for hard work and professional achievement.

Valparaiso and Viña del Mar

An excellent highway about a hundred kilometers long leads to the coast through the valleys of Curacavi and Casablanca. The countryside is beautiful and there are several typical Chilean restaurants serving good local food along the way.

Viña del Mar, also known as the Garden City, has 300 thousand inhabitants and is the country's main beach resort. Located next to the Port of Valparaiso it has a good selection of hotels and a wide variety of restaurants, a Casino, cafes, discotheques and good shops. Visitors can go for a ride in a traditional horse-drawn "Victoria" and see the town with its well-kept gardens by the sea. The past and the present intermingle in this bustling tourist center.

Valparaiso, linked to Viña del Mar, is Chile's main port and also the site of the Chilean Congress.

The magnificent view from the numerous hills surrounding the bay of Valparaiso has long been a source of inspiration for both Chilean and foreign artists. It is undoubtedly worth going for a stroll around the picturesque fishing coves or taking one of the old-fashioned elevators up to the hills of Valparaiso with their multicolored houses and mansions dating from last century. "La Sebastiana", Pablo Neruda's museum-cum-house, recently opened to the public, is located on one of these hills. His most important house museum, which is filled with his collections, is in Isla Negra, Just an hour from Valparaiso, or an hour and a half from Santiago. As one of the most important ports in the Pacific Ocean, Valparaiso receives ships from all over the world. Here, they unload their cargo and load up again with Chilean goods destined for international markets.

Vineyards

In the Maipo Valley, near the city of Santiago, lies one of the country's most important wine growing areas. This region combines the three ideal conditions know internationally as the "trilogy" necessary to produce good wine: climate-soil- vinestock.

Several vineyards are located in this area: The Concha y Toro vineyard in Pirque offers guided tours of the winery and the nearby village of Pirque with its beautiful countryside and mountain air and old haciendas with their stately manor houses. Other vineyards in the area open to the public are: Santa Rita, Santa Carolina and Cousin o Macul.

Ski Resorts

The ski resorts, which can be reached by bus or car, are located less that an hour's drive from Santiago. Farellones-EI Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado are all situated on the slopes of the Andean mountains. From June to October these resorts, as well as others in Chile, are visited by both foreign and Chilean ski fanatics, because of the excellent slopes, good snow, nice weather and modern infrastructure.

Also near Santiago, but 145 kilometers northeast is Portillo with its traditional hotel of international fame, overlooking the beautiful Del Inca Lagoon.

Santiago is located at 543 meters above sea level, in Chile's central zone, 2,051 kms south of Arica, the country's northernmost city and 3,141 kms. north of Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world. The Pacific Ocean is located a hundred kilometers away and the Andean Mountain Range. 40 kms

Climate

• Warm with annual average temperature of 14.5oC (21oC in January, summer and 8.4oC in July. winter), with annual average rainfall of 346 mm.

Population

• Chile has a total population of about thirteen million inhabitants of whom 5 million live in the capital city, Santiago

Language

• The official language spoken is Spanish. In tourist companies and organizations the higher echelons speak English and/or French.

Time

• Winter : -4 hours GMT

• Summer : -3 hours GMT

Airport

• Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport The airport is located 17 kms. from downtown Santiago.

SHOPS

Shops are open Mondays to Fridays, from 10 am to 8 pm and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. Shopping Centers open Mondays to Sundays from 10 am to 9 pm.

COMMUNICATIONS

Area code for Chile (56) Area code for Santiago (2) Public telephone and fax services are located throughout the city Consult Entel-Chile.

TOURIST INFORMATION SERNATUR (National Tourism Board)

Offices in the Airport and in Nro. 1550 Providencia. Tel. 2360531 Open: Mondays to Fridays 8.30 am to 6 30 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm

HOLIDAYS

January 1st; Good Friday and Saturday (variable: March/April); May 1st; Corpus Christi (variable: May/ June3/June 29th/August 15 th/ September 18th-19th/October 12th/ November 1st/December 8th/ December 25th).

BANKING

Money exchange can be done in banks, money exchange houses and main hotels Most major credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels and travel agencies Banks Banks are open Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to 2pm Money Exchange Houses Money Exchange Houses have the same opening hours as shops.

OTHER INFO

International Airport Information

• Tel. 6019709/6019001/ 6019554 Ladeco, Tel 6019445, Lan Chile, Tel. 6019165

Main Railway Station

• Av L. Bernardo O'Higgins 3322 Reservations and information, Tel 68951 99/6895401 /68957 1 8 Tickets:

• Av. L Bernardo O'Higgins 853 L 21 Tel 398247

• Escuela Militar Subway Station, L 25 Tel 2282983 Monday to Fridays from 8 30 am to 1 pm. Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm

C.T.C.

• Chilean Telephone Company National and international calls Moneda 11 51

ENTEL

• National Telecommunications Company Huerfanos 1133 Tel. 6902612

Telex Chile

• National, international calls as well as Fax service Morande 147 Tel. 6968807

Immigration

• Loss of Tourist Card, International Police, Border Department. General Borgon o 1052, Tel 371292/6982211. Monday to Friday from 8 30 am to 12.15 noon and 3 to 6 30 pm -Renewal of Tourist Card Superintendence of Metropolitan Region. Moneda 1342, Tel 6725320 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Emergencies

• Ambulance: Tel. 2244422

• Public Assistance: Tel. 342291

• Fire Department: Tel. 132

• Police: Tel 133

There is a SUBWAY that runs from east to west and north to south in the city as well as buses and taxis. The city is connected to the rest of the country by mean of:

Airplanes & Airports

• Lan Chile, Ladeco*, and LanPeru* run regular daily flights from Chile. There are also companies that run air taxi services. *(Ladeco and LanPeru are part of Lan Chile). NOTE: Santiago airport code is: "SCL". 

On flights leaving Chile, there is an airport tax of USD $18, or the equivalent in CLP. On domestic flights airport tax is normally included in the airline ticket. As of 2013, US citizens pay a reciprocity tax of USD $160.00 in cash as they pass through customs. The receipt is valid for the life of your passport. Similar fee is charged to Canadian and Australian residents. This tax is applied to countries that charge Chilean nationals a fee to process visas.  If you feel like this section needs an update, please contact us here.

Facilities: The Santiago International Airport "Com. Arturo Merino Benitez" , and the following airports: Arica (Chacalluta), Antofagasta (Cerro Moreno), Iquique (Cavancha), Puerto Montt (Tepual), Punta Arenas (Pdte. Ibañez) and Temuco (Maquehue) have police and immigration services, customs and all other basic facilities. Every airport servicing domestic flights has equivalent facilities but the number and variety of these depend on the size and importance of the airport. 

Buses

• Buses run to any part of the country with on board services such as food, bar, video and telephone, etc. Bus terminals are located in: Buses Norte: Amunategui 920 (Tel. 6712141): Los Hroes: Roberto Pretot 21 (Tel 6969250); Santiago: Av. L. Bernardo O'Higgins 3800 (Tel. 7791385); Alameda: Av L Bernardo O'Higgins 3794 (Tel 7761 023)

Trains

• Trains run from Santiago to the south of the country with final destination Puento Montt The Main Railway Station is located in Av. L. Bernardo O'Higgins 3322 (Tel. 68951 99)

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