I’ll be in Santiago, Chile this month and most of next. Anyone that’s been there or lives there care to chime in on what there is to do? I’ll be free on weekends so will have time for the 2-3 day excursion.
I’ve been to Rio and Quito; similar?
I’m interested/up for anything: music, food, bars, physical or mental activities.
Thanks!
Well, just off the top of my head, I’d put Cerro Santa Lucia as a must-see. I vaguely recall some cool flea markets in the area as well, across the street from the metro station. If I get any more ideas on what to do, I’ll post 'em here.
That place looks wonderful! I’m staying in the Providencia area. Close?
Appreciate the response and look forward to more ideas.
I remember some sort of trolley that goes up Cerro Santa Lucia, as well as the ferria Nicolas Bourbaki mentioned. Any “Chile” tourist trinket you want, it’ll be there! I lived in a suburb of Santiago for a year, but that was 12 years ago and I remember very little. La Moneda is another tourist destination in Santiago, but I have no idea where anything is anymore.
You could take a day trip to Valparaiso/Vina del Mar by bus and see the ocean, or go the other direction and see the Andes. If it were summer, I would recommend going to the south, but I’m not sure about the weather this time of year. I went to the Llanquihue region in January or February and it was gorgeous. Volcan Osorno is very picturesque, and it looks like there are direct flights from Santiago to Puerto Montt.
You definately have to check out the Amigo Tower. It’s down the street from Estadio Olympico. It’s sort of nouveau deco…with a big vestibule. [/q] Healy
Seconding Lago Llanquihue bigtime. It’s probably too far for a weekend thing, but if you have a week to yourself, then definitely. It’s like God decided, ‘Hey, Mt. Fuji is bitchin’, Lake Tahoe’s pretty cool . . . what if I put them right next to each other?’
I went in 1994, and don’t recall many must-see places. But I would say that the Bellavista neighborhood was pleasant to walk around.
Oh, and the wine regions of the Maipo and Aconcagua Valleys.
ha, i fell for this. I swear. I’m ashamed. To my credit, I only read amigo tower, cut n pasted, and didn’t read the rest.
That last sentence was a lie, I read the whole thing. I was even waiting for the opportunity to say “twice last year” when I wrote this thread in case the situation arose.
anyways, thanks for the tips guys…appreciate them.
Actually the tram goes up Cerro San Cristobal; Santa Lucia is way too small and already has a lot of weird shit built on it.
I second a visit to Vina - it’s a beautiful area.
If you like skiing, they have some wonderful slopes in the area, too - we went to Portillos and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
I would also make an effort to visit some of the areas in the south - Lago Todos Los Santos is gorgeous and you can go canyoning and rafting in the area.
When I lived there, Santiago was kind of like a dirtier version of Geneva with a hint of Latin America thrown in. In other words, like visiting Europe with a Latin twist. I thoroughly enjoyed living there. I was in Tomas Moro, close to Providencia, I think.
If you have time and they’re still playing, you should see the community theater performances in Nunoa.
hey,
so i’ve been living in santiago for the last 9 months, almost 10 now. so i’ve got lots of insider info for you.
food:
typical chilean food is quite greasy and unhealthy, but still a need to try nonetheless. my favorites…empanadas (the best i’ve been able to find are on huerfanos right in plaza brazil on right after you pass “El Cafe” (big pink building) going away from the plaza, the second best are right across the street from the Bellas Artes metro stop, the shop has a red overhang). Another thing you have to try are chorillanas, the best are at La Chorillana in Providencia. There are TONS of good restaurants though, great pizza for some reason. Best places to eat are…Plaza Brazil (“El Cafe” has some good food and english menus), Bellavista (street Merced right near Baquedano metro).
going out:
PIO NONO!!! that is by far the best place to go for a beer. It is right near Cerro San Cristobal and the metro Baquedano. It’s just a huge street of lots of bars and salsa clubs and all sorts of other bizarre and good clubs. Other places (more clubs) to go are Maipu and La Florida, but they are a bit rougher areas, not to say in the slightest don’t go there. That is where you are going to see real Chileans and not just rich Chileans and ‘gringos.’
touristy things to do:
Cerro San Cristobal (a HUGE mother of a hill with tons of gardens, yoga classes every saturday morning outside on the hill, pools that are open in the summer, museums, churches, art galleries, and of course the massive virgin on top of the hill).
La Moneda (the goverment building where the president of Chile works). Rumor has it you can take tours inside too)
Museums: there are millions of museums that are all free to go to on Sundays
Parque por la Paz: something not many tourists know about or get to go to, but it’s the monument/museum to commemorate the victims of Pinochet’s reign. super super interesting.
Plaza de Armas: just go to the metro stop and pick a random exit (there are about 2000). Just a good place to people watch, lots of artists, restaurants and pedestrian streets to explore.
Cerro Santa Lucia: name of the metro too, but another hill, free to get in, nice to wander around, have a picnic and get a great view of all the Santiago smog!
Hope all that helps. Don’t hesistate to let me know if you want more info about Santiago or Chile in general. Just out of curiosity, when are you going?
Didn’t see this post until today. I’ve been here since May 23rd. Staying until June 20th.
It’s been great here so far. I have about 5 days off starting tomorrow, so I’ll have some free time. Have you visited any wineries? Other day trips? (I’ll be going to Vina Del Mar in a week or so). I wanted to go horseback riding in the Andes, but not sure if that can be planned with such short notice.
Anyways, thanks for the advice. I’ve already done some of the stuff you mentioned, but will be sure to do the rest.