The city of Santiago is the capital of Chile, along with being the most important cultural, administrative and financial centre of the country. Santiago is located in the maipo Valley, between the middle of the coastal mountain range, the cordillera of the Andes, the cords of Chacabuco and Angostura. Within the city you can find different cultural, Bohemian neighborhoods, even places to be with nature.
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.
Gastronomy
Gastronomy in the central zone of Chile, there is a wide choice of dishes throughout the year, you can't go in chile without having tasted the traditional Chilean empanadas or without having tasted a good vinochileno. The charquicán, casserole or the sopaipillas with pebre to spend the cold winter or preparations made from corn such as pastel de choclo and the tamales that are characteristic of summer. Also you can refresh with a good motto with huesillo peach and mote.
You can also find a variety of fish and shellfish that are located along the Chilean coast. Stew of conger eel, clams with Parmesan cheese, shrimp empanadas and oysters PIL pil are just some of the dishes more characteristic and favourite of the country.
Recommendations
The weather in the Metropolitan Region is temperate with rains in winter and very dry summers. The average annual temperature is around 20 ° C. In winter is around 8 ° C and in summer temperatures easily surpass 30 ° C. It’s important to be well hydrated and apply sunscreen
Business in this place open from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Some of the stores close during lunch time. Malls and shopping centers open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Museums have their own schedules.
The Metro in Santiago operates through a BIP card that can be purchased at any metro station. The card is loaded with money and can be used for in the metro and in any TranSantiago bus.
Do not litter on parks or streets. Taking care of our environment is everyone's responsibility. Avoid fines by following the rules.