Things you MUST Do and See in Santiago

Things you MUST Do and See in Santiago

Must See

• Parque Metropolitano - This vast park is home to Cerro San Cristóbal. From the top there is a beautiful view over the city and, on a clear day, the Andes. The summit can be reached by funicular ($900 one way, $1600 return), cable car, or a long hike. In the park there is also a botanical garden, zoo and two swimming pools. Pope John Paul II visited its summit in 1987.

• Plaza De Armas - The capital's main plaza, also the site of the national cathedral and main post office. It's few blocks from the traditional Central Market and has its own Metro Station. During the last years, Plaza de Armas has been used as a meeting and recreation place for the community of Peruvian immigrants. This has lead to a lots of cheap international calling centers, traditional Peruvian restaurants and Peruvian spice and food stores, being an interesting place to walk during day hours.

• Santiago Centro - The Centro (Downtown) area is a nice place for a stroll down some of its major Paseos (streets turned pedestrian walkways), but be aware of pickpockets.

• La Chascona - One of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman, after his third wife) is in the artistic Bellavista neighborhood. The house is filled with lots of quirky artifacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends. Tours are given in English, French ($3500) and Spanish ($2500). Web

• La Moneda Palace - Presidential Palace, guided one-hour tours are free, unfortunately with a reservation of at least 7 days in advance. Web(Spanish only)

• Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda - An underground cultural center under the La Moneda Palace, with rotating art and cultural exhibitions all year. Local crafts and souvenirs are available at middle-high prices in the local gift shop. A café is also within the facilities. Note that most exhibitions are not free of charge, however, prices are very affordable.

• Parque Forestal - A long park that runs parallel to the Mapocho River, also site of the National Museum of Fine Arts and Modern Art Museum.

• Theatre & Dance - Santiago offers much in the performing arts, most takes place Friday & Saturday, check listings in El Mercurio. $500-5000 CLP, most offer discounts with student ID, even to foreigners, just ask.

• Centro Cultural Matucana 100 - Inaugurated in 2002, Matucana 100 is an excellent exhibition venue for a variety of arts. From Metro Quinta Normal, walk south on Matucana (towards Alameda), M100 is on the left hand side. Web

• Teatro Municipal - Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside. Web

• Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM) - An impressive-scale cultural center built on the former military Diego Portales building which was destroyed in a fire. The center has a art and film focused library with free WiFi, a theater, concert halls, a restaurant, a café, and public spaces for resting. Located on Universidad Católica metro station (Line 1). Web

• Jazz Clubs - Santiago is home to an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city. The Club de Jazz de Santiago is arguably the best. Located in the northern part of the Nunoa neighborhood, this small club routinely brings in some of the best local, national, and international artists specializing in everything from latin jazz to blues to bossa nova. Check music listings in El Mercurio.

• Festival de Jazz de Providencia - A very good jazz Festival takes place during summer (typically each February) in Providencia. The Festival de Jazz de Providenciatakes place each year in Mapocho's riverside and showcasts the best local bands and some international guests. Tickets are cheap (from about 3 USD in the 2007 edition), so it's a good alternative for summer nights.

• Cerro Santa Lucia, Junction of Santa Lucia and Bernando O'Higgins (Santa Lucia metro station). 
  A park with fountains and stairs leading up to a fort and viewpoint the top. The summit has a great view of all but the skyscraper-obscured city center. Charles Darwin visited this peak at one point in his travels; his words are immortalized in a plaque at the summit.Free; registration at entrance required.
• Iglesia y museo de San Francisco, Av. Lib. Bernardo O'Higgins 834, ☎ 6398737. Museo: M-F: 9h30-13h30 15h00-18h00, Sun: 10h00-14h00. The oldest church in the city. In the plaza, in front of the church, there is a Moaï from Easter Island. Museo: $1000. No pictures inside.
• Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art), Bandera 361, at junction with Españia (Plaza de Armas metro station), ☎ 56 2 9281522, Web. Closed until late 2013. The well put together Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art houses various artefacts from Mesoamerica and South America, featuring cultures such as the Olmec, Maya and Inca civilizations. Descriptions on the artefacts and the ancients' way of life are well-written and in both English and Spanish. Highlights include a Mayan stone stele and Andean mummies, which precede their Egyptian counterparts. Ch$3000; Ch$1000 for ISIC (International Student Identity Card) holders and children.
• Palacio Cousino, 438 calle dieciocho, Web. M-F: 9h30-13h30 14h30-17h00, Sa-Su: 9h30-13h30. Old palace owned by a wealthy spanish-portuguese family. The architecture is a mix of spanish and french style. $2100. Guided tour only. No pictures inside.
• Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue, vitacura. Parque Bicentenario, Bicentenario Avenue. Beautiful park, still in construction. Large extension of grass, children games, dog games, a very nice pond with black neck swans. There is also a restaurant, a cafe (Le fournil) and Vitacura's city hall. Trails for walking and bikes

Must Do

• Spicy Chile - Free Walking Tours, (Tour 1, the main tour meets form Monday to Saturday at 10AM and 2PM at Salvador Allende´s statue next to La Moneda Palace (Morandé w/Moneda street)), ☎ 9 - 3423307. 10:00, 14:00.Great way to experience all that Santiago has to offer from local markets, old neighbourhoods and the tourist spots. They have 3 different free walking tours that mixes tons of info with funny anecdotes. The guides are hillarious and knowleadgable, they are local and speak perfect english. Its all for free as they work for tips, you pay what you think the tour is worth! Can´t go wrong. Web
• Mountain climbs. Many mountains are found in and all around Chile that are great for climbing.
• Skiing. Santiago is not too far (around 1.30-2 hours from downtown depending on the centre) from some great skiing. Not too expensive and they hire out all the equipment you need at the resorts. Some of the tour companies offer the service.
• Wineries, at the end of line 4 (Las Mercedes and Puente Alto station)
• Alternative City-Tours Try local food/drinks, get to know the most typical Chilean places and be sustainable - City Trekking Guide just uses public transportation and it's own feet. Small groups accomponied with guides who speak Spanish, English, German & even Italian. Create your own personalized tour on their website: Web
• Free Tours Santiago, Plaza de Armas, Santiago de Chile (Meet in front of the cathedral), ☎ 9 - 236 87 89. 10:00, 14:00. Free (well...tips are karmically required) walking tour of Santiago. English speaking guides, with average information and advice on food, museums, etc. One thing - the restaurant they stop at for lunch allows you to eat your own food, but will charge a 10% service on anything you DO order. That said...an excellent and very powerful Pisco Sour to be had there... Free + tip.
• Paseos en Bicicleta, ☎ +56 2 7618339, Web. Off the beaten track bike tours around Santiago de Chile's hidden gems and typical neighborhoods!
• Foto Ruta Santiago (tours), Secret location, ☎ (+569) 87666844. 14:00-18:00. Foto Ruta is a city tour with a twist. Offering a new and creative way to see Chile's capital. A set of clues will lead you on a journey of discovery around a selected neighbourhood. Foto Ruta will give you a greater understanding of the city and teaching you how to take great photos along the way, its fun, sociable and a great way to see the city! $32USD.

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