What to do in Santiago de Chile: a different getaway
Surrounded by mountains and snow-capped peaks, the capital is an ideal destination for lovers of versatility. Unmissable places in Santiago de Chile.
If you are still thinking about where to go on vacation and you want to cross the border without a great economic effort, it is time to put a fantastic neighboring country on the agenda. We tell you what to do in Santiago de Chile and how to take advantage of every corner of a really beautiful place, with the most varied proposals.
Santiago, the capital and largest city of Chile, is located in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes and the Chilean Coastal Range.
The first thing you should know is that Santiago is not just a city for shopping and shopping; Quite the contrary, it has great alternatives to enjoy incredible vacations in Chile.
Santiago: the ideal destination for a different getaway
If urban life is your thing, do not hesitate to choose to visit Santiago, a city with a lot of street art and fun to see. It has many places to visit and a surprise for visitors... Did you know that you can visit it by public transport and even by bicycle? The Chilean capital has many parks, hills, museums and activities to do. We put together a list to travel without missing anything.
Santa Lucia Hill
It is an oasis in the middle of the city that you can reach from the Santa LucÃa metro station. It is a free walk, where you only have to register in the guest book, which can take you about 40 minutes of walking.
It is an ideal place to enjoy the fresh air and the flowers that adorn the path. Upon reaching the top, a viewpoint will be waiting for you to enjoy beautiful views of the city and the mountains. Remember that the Hill does not open on Mondays or if it rains.
Bellavista neighborhood
It is one of the most bohemian tourist places in Santiago de Chile. Among the most outstanding alternatives you can find the Casa Museo La Chascona (the house of Pablo Neruda), as well as a large number of bars and restaurants.
Being an area surrounded by universities, it is ideal to enjoy the nightlife, signature cuisine and cultural spaces. In addition, Bellavista is the best place to visit stores that sell jewelry and objects made with lapis lazuli.
La Chascona House Museum
Located in the Bellavista neighborhood and at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal, it is famous for being the house where the writer Pablo Neruda, winner of a Nobel Prize, spent the last years of his life with his wife Matilde Urrutia.
It is a super interesting visit to carry out with the company of an audio guide that will explain each part of the home, as well as the author's history and his relationship with the country.
Forest park
On the banks of the Mapocho River, and occupying about 17 hectares, it is one of the most admirable green spaces in Santiago. You can cycle through it or simply enjoy walking through a beautiful place.
The park is a perfect place to enjoy nature without leaving the city. It has the famous German Fountain, donated by that community in 1910, as well as monuments and sculptures. Right there you can also find the Palace of Fine Arts.
National museum of fine arts
It is recognized for being one of the most important and varied museums in the country. It has more than 5,000 works, among which you will be able to find large sculptures, paintings, photographs and engravings, among others.
With free admission, the museum invites you to discover its permanent exhibition, together with different temporary exhibitions that pass by leaving their trademark.
City center
Like any visit, the Civic Center is an inevitable stop. In front of the Palacio de la Moneda, seat of the Chilean government, you will be able to find the Plaza de la CiudadanÃa, an ideal place to take the best photos of the building.
In addition, there you will also be able to visit the La Moneda Cultural Center, with international level exhibitions, temporary shows, film screenings, crafts and cafeterias. Behind the Palace you can enjoy the Plaza de la Constitución with a large green space to enjoy the outdoors, sit, rest and take pictures.
Bicentennial Park
Located in the Vitacura neighborhood, it is a space ideally designed to enjoy a beautiful moment for the whole family. It has a lagoon and a kind of mini zoo with flamingos and black-necked swans. In addition, it includes the Garden for the Blind, a space intended for the enjoyment of the blind public.
Costanera Sky Center Viewpoint
In addition to being one of the best-known malls for shopping, Costanera Sky Center has a viewpoint that allows you to enjoy a perfect panoramic view of the city. At 300 meters high, it is the tallest building.
Height of Santiago
Important fact to keep in mind: it is best to visit the viewpoint in summer, where the sky is usually clear, or after a rain to enjoy a landscape without smog. If you go in winter and you have clear days, you will be able to taste a sky with incredible red tones, without neglecting the immense mountains that adorn the city.
The ideal destination for wine lovers
Being in a fertile valley, Santiago has its own wine route. In a tour that no wine connoisseur would want to miss, we tell you which are the vineyards that you cannot miss.
Undurraga
Located on the outskirts of Santiago, the vineyard is one of the most famous and oldest in the country. The tour will allow you to get to know its gardens designed by the French landscaper George Dubois (the same one who designed the Forest Park), the sector proper for the vineyards, the modern plant and the old cellar, where the reserve wines are kept. .
Finally, the most awaited moment by all: the tasting of three Reserve wines.
shell and bull
It is one of the most important vineyards in Chile, Latin America and the entire world, one reason why missing it would be a serious mistake. Founded in 1883, the winery receives hundreds of visits to enjoy its parks, the mansion and learn about the legend behind the famous "Casillero del Diablo" wine.
Keep in mind that you can get to know their facilities and have a tasting according to your tastes and possibilities, since they have various options to make it an unparalleled experience.
Combining city and snow
Within the versatility of Santiago, the city allows you to enjoy a perfect stay near the snow at a very short distance. I discovered the best ski resorts in Santiago:
The Colorado. Following the Farellones road, you can reach the ski center just 40 kilometers from the city. It is one of the most frequented places because it has more than 100 slopes, bars and restaurants, which means that the whole family can enjoy a whole day in pure snow. If you are a beginner, we recommend that you visit it, you will not regret it.
The Parva. A few kilometers from El Colorado is La Parva, a much smaller center. In Villa La Parva you will be able to find restaurants, accommodation and even a nightclub so you don't need to leave this mountainous paradise for a moment.
Snowy valley. Following the Camino Valle Nevado from Farellones you will find this center with 900 hectares of space to enjoy an endless day of skiing and snowboarding. They are tracks intended for a more experienced audience, which is why it is the preferred site for professionals. In addition, you will be able to ski off-piste knowing the typical flora and fauna of the area, such as the famous Condor of the Andes, which is often crossed to be admired by all. Do not miss it!
Where to stay in Santiago de Chile?
There are many options for all tastes and budgets. One of the most
The chosen ones are the hotels in Las Condes, mainly if you prefer to travel to ski during the day and come back for dinner and rest in the city. In addition, there you will have shopping centers nearby to make all your purchases.
If you prefer to enjoy a nightlife rich in gourmet food and wines, Barrio Lastarria is the best option. Attached to Cerro Santa LucÃa and Parque Forestal, it has cultural centers and museums that you cannot miss on your visit to Santiago.
In all cases, you will be able to choose between luxurious, boutique or family hotels, as well as apartments for more or fewer people. There are many options, you just have to find the ideal one for you.
What to do in Chile? One destination, many options
There are also other options quite close (and others not so close) to the Chilean capital. They are perfect ideas for those who have more vacation days and want to take a trip beyond the city.
Tourist places of Chile
Although there are many beautiful places that you can visit in Chile, we select the must-sees:
Valparaiso
This is the famous port city on the shores of the Pacific Sea. To get there, you must first access it from the Santiago de Chile Airport and travel by car about 120 kilometers to the west.
Every corner of Valpo has its small open museum: street art in the city invites you to enjoy and even reflect on social issues
Another interesting issue are its funiculars to climb the hills, as well as the famous stairs painted in different colors and celebrating various drawings (one of the best known is the piano staircase on Beethoven Street). One of the fundamental visits is to visit "La Sebastiana", one of the three houses of Pablo Neruda with five floors and an extremely interesting eclectic decoration.
Atacama
Visited by tourists from all over the world, San Pedro de Atacama is known for having impressive landscapes. Some of the most popular in the Atacama Desert are the Valley of the Moon and the Valley of Mars, which can be accessed by bicycle or trekking from San Pedro de Atacama. They are also fantastic places to gaze at the stars.
You can also visit the altiplano lagoons, the Puritama Hot Springs, the Tara Salt Flat and the Tatio Geysers (impressive fumaroles that generate columns of steam, ensuring an unparalleled spectacle).
Pucón
Located in the southern part of the country, Pucón turns out to be an incredible destination at any time of the year. The Villarrica Volcano is its attraction par excellence, which you can climb and enjoy its 360° view. In winter, on the other hand, you can practice sports such as skiing or snowboarding while admiring the beautiful landscape that one of the best ski resorts in Chile could offer you.
The Huerquehue National Park and the Conguillio National Park are ideal options to enjoy nature, a mountainous landscape, forests and crystalline lagoons.
