Santiago de Chile

Introduction

Santiago del Nuevo Extremo, Chile's capital city, was founded on February 14th by Pedro de Valdivia on the valley next to Mapocho River. Located 543 meters above sea level, this territory presents a slight incliniation from East to West and, placed on it, two important heights overlooking the city, namely San Cristóbal and Santa Lucía hills.  From both you can gaze at an amazing panoramic view of Santiago.

The capital extends over an area of 140 thosand square meters and boasts a population of more than 4 million inhabitants, being the largest and most populated city within Chile. These lands are blessed with a mediterranean climate, with scarce rainfalls concentrated mostly during Autumm and Winter. The average annual temperature is 62.6°F (17°C), going above 86°F (30°C) during summer.

As in most major metropolitan city, Santiago  has historically gathered the major commerical, political, cultural and industrial activity of the country. Thus, here you can find all the necessary means to ensure an enjoyable and pleasant stay: high-quality hotels, restaurants, guided tours, shopping malls, services from governmental organisations as well as diplomatic representatives from most foreign countries.

If you want to know more of Santiago's history, there are several places of great historical importance you can visit: La Casa Colorada (1769), Calicanto Bridge, (1780), La Moneda Palace (1805), Alameda de las Delicias (1820), General Cementery, Santa Lucía Hill (1872) and the National Congress building (1875). However, there are, as well, many other interesting places for you to explore like neighbourhoods, art galleries, entertainment parks, cultural centers. All of them represent the powerful of a city always staring into the future.

As in any other major city, the possibilities for you to enjoy during your time in Santiago are endless and not only restricted to  activities in broad daylight. Santiago has a very exciting nightlife where it's posible to have a great time until late hours on neighbourhoods like Barrio Bellavista (Downtown), Suecia street (Providencia District), Paseo San Damián (Las Condes) and Plaza Ñuñoa (Ñuñoa District). All these places have a wide variety of pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and discos to offer for all kinds of people and tastes.

 

Tourist Information

Check our Foursquare list: A local's guide: 48 hours in Santiago, Chile

Sernatur  (National Tourism Service)

Sernatur provides tourist information about all destinations in Chile, and they can help you with any questions you may have. The main headquarters are located at 1550, Providencia Avenue,  Manuel Montt metro station. It operates from Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 9:00 to 14:00. Customer service phone numbers: 7318336 and 7318337. You can also ask at Sernatur's regional offices.

There is also an information desk at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, in Santiago, opening every day from 8:15 to 20:00. Phone number: 6019320.

For more information, please visit Sernatur's website.

Also, there is a tourist information office at Plaza de Armas. Phone numbers: 7136745 - 7136746.

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