TRAVEL TIPS
SANTIAGO
OVERVIEW TRANSPORTATION VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES
WHERE TO STAYONDE WHERE TO EAT SHOPPING COMPRAS FICAR ONDE COMER
OVERVIEW Santiago de Chile is the capital and economic
The climate is cold and rainy in the winter, with
centre of Chile. Its metropolitan area has
snow only up in the Andes. It almost never
more than six million inhabitants. With its
snows in Santiago. Temperatures at night
many museums, events, theatres, restaurants,
could fall to around 0ºC (32ºF). It has gotten
bars, and other entertainment and cultural
progressively hot in the summer when the
opportunities, it is also the political and
temperature can reach as high as 35ºC (95ºF).
cultural centre of the country. Santiago is a
It is usually fairly dry.
fast growing city located in the central valley of Chile between the Andes mountain range to the east and the coast to the west. It is possible to ski in the nearby Andes and later spend the afternoon on the beach, all in the same day. Santiago’s central location in the country also makes it a great base for visiting other parts of Chile.
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TRANSPORT Santiago has some of Latin America’s most modern transportation infrastructure.
BUS AND METRO Transantiago is the name for the city’s public transport system. It works by combining local (feeder) bus lines, main bus lines and the Metro network. It includes an integrated fare system, which allows passengers to make bus-to-bus or bus-to-metro transfers for the price of one ticket.
TAXI Taxis in Santiago are painted black with yellow roofs. Unmarked taxis may be called up by telephone and Colectivos are shared taxicabs that carry passengers along a specific route, for a fixed fee.
ATTRACTIONS Santiago is dotted with fine museums, a flourishing arts scene, and a number of exotic suburban parks.
CERRO SANTA LUCIA From the top of Santa Lucia Hill, located in the heart of the city, you get a magnificent view of the entire city of Santiago. The hill’s garden paths offer several scenic spots where you can stop to appreciate the view. On top of the hill, there is an art museum, fountains, statues and a chapel.
PLAZA DE ARMAS This is the city’s main square and is located right in middle of the historical centre. The park was named after the weapons that were kept here at the time of Pedro de Valdivia, the first royal governor of Chile. Later the Plaza was the meeting point for public events, for troop parades, religious processions and even executions. Nowadays, you can see parades on Sunday afternoons imitating colonial times.
LA MONEDA PALACE Originally the National Mint, this is the nation’s Presidential palace. It was restored and renovated in 2001-2002, and is now open to the public on most weekdays. There is an excellent cultural centre located here, which is worth visiting.
CATEDRAL METROPOLITANA Overseen by the same architect who designed La Moneda, this neoclassical cathedral has stood firm where other structures have crumbled. The lavishly decorated altar is particularly striking. It is the fifth church that was built on this site. North of the Plaza are three other historic buildings: The Post Office, earlier palace of the governor, the Museo Histórico Nacional located in the former royal audience hall and the city hall on a site, where a prison used to be.
TEATRO MUNICIPAL Another landmark is the Teatro Municipal, a baroque ensemble with classic French colonnades. The theatre is the centre of artistic activity of the city.
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CERRO SAN CRISTOBAL A statue of almost 15 meters of the Virgin Mary on top of the St. Christopher’s hill can be seen from almost all sides of Santiago, especially at night, when it is perfectly illuminated. The hill is a part of Parque Metropolitano, a huge municipal park which is considered as a green lung of Santiago. You can get to the top of the hill on foot or by car, but the most spectacular way, is to take either the cable car or funicular. From the top of the city hill San Cristobal you have an impressive view onto the city and the Cordillera.
LA CHASCONA One of three homes of the famous poet Pablo Neruda, La Chascona (meaning tangle-haired woman) is located in the artistic Bellavista neighbourhood. The house is filled with lots of unusual artefacts collected by Neruda throughout his life, as well as artwork by some of his famous friends.
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.
MUSEO DE LA SOLIDARIDAD SALVADOR ALLENDE Housed in an old mansion with a pretty central courtyard, this museum is a 70s art time capsule. The exhibits were gifts from artists who supported the socialist Allende government. The mainattractions are works by Matta, Miró, Tapies, Calder and Yoko Ono, though there’s also fabulous geometric art by lesser known, 70s artists.
BASÍLICA DEL SALVADOR A landmark in Barrio Brasil is the quakedamaged, neo-Gothic Basílica del Salvador dating from 1892.
WHERE TO STAY Chile’s capital city offers an extensive selection of delightful locales for the tourist, backpacker, family, leisure or business traveller. The first thing to do is decide which neighbourhood to stay in. There are the more upscale Las Condes and Providencia, the crazy Centro, and various other barrios, such as Bellavista, a bohemian little neighbourhood in the heart of the city and within walking distance to most of the tourist sites. Santiago has recently seen an upswing in luxury hotel brands, especially in the wealthier neighbourhoods northeast of the city centre.
DINING OUT
com ají, parrillada (Chilean BBQ served on the table), asado al palo (Chilean country style BBQ) plateada (tender meat prepared with vegetables and onion), empanada (baked or fried pastry filled with pino, a mix of onion, beef, olives, boiled egg and raisins) pastel de choclo (tart made from ground corn filled with a mix of onion, beef ,chicken), pastel de papa (tart made with mashed potatoes filled with a mix of onion, beef, chicken), and porotos granados with mazamorra (a stew made with fresh beans, local sausage, onion, ground corn). Seafood in Santiago is also excellent. The real delicacies of Chilean mariscos (shellfish) are centolla (king crab) from Patagonia and langosta (lobster) from the Juan Fernández
There are thriving culinary enclaves in
islands. Ordinary dishes include paila marina (a
Santiago. Restaurants serve a wide variety
thin broth loaded with fresh seafood and fish),
of cuisines and there is a restaurant for every
mariscal (a similar mix but served raw and
budget and around every corner. Gourmets
chilled), and ceviche (fish or shellfish marinated
feast on world-class cuisine in Bellavista and
overnight in lemon juice, served chilled).
Providencia, bohemians gather in the charming old district of Barrio Brasil.
Restaurants serve lunch between 1:00 p.m.
Some of the typical dishes are the arrollado
menus have more options at this time of day.
huaso (pork steak rolled with red chili), pernil
Dinner menus tend to offer lighter items.
and 3:00 p.m. Lunch is Chile’s principal meal, so
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SHOPPING
fashion and luxury stores and local designers. In this area you will also find great restaurants and art galleries.
The low prices make Santiago a shopping
Traditional Chilean handicrafts made with
wonderland, and the city is teeming with
precious stones, leather, wool, wood or
places to go shopping. For specific things,
ceramics and can be found at the Precolombian
though, you have to know where to look.
Art Museum, the Patio Bellavista (Pío Nono 55),
There are malls and department stores just like
the Lapislázuli stores on Av. Bellavista, in malls,
in any other modern city, but there are also
and at the ferias de artesanía (artisans fairs).
hidden places in the city that offer you the chance to purchase unique cultural items.
Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious stone found in only two countries in the world: Afghanistan and Chile.
The pedestrian zones in the centre of Santiago
Craftsmen use the stone to make ornaments and
are full of life and you can stroll down its
figures. Jewellers set lapis lazuli stones into silver
streets, while checking out the offers of many
to make necklaces, rings and earrings.
stores or street vendors. Alonso de Córdoba Street and Nueva Costanera Avenue are very
For other local handicrafts, check out the
exclusive streets where you can find high
works of Chile’s indigenous Aymara and
Mapuche Indians, who make handcrafted musical instruments like the pan flute and
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
10-string guitars. In all of Santiago’s districts large malls have been built. They are open until late at night and also on Saturday and Sunday. The principal malls are in Vitacura and Las Condes. Larger malls have Chile’s major department stores Falabella, Ripleys and Almacenes Paris.
STREET MARKETS Friends of Antiques and flea markets will also enjoy their time in Santiago
56 02 092 080
COUNTRY CODE CITY CODE POLICE FIRE STATION
EMERGENCY
112 634-1650
Persa Bio-Bio — The largest flea market in Chile is the Persa Bio-Bio, set up all around the street Bio-Bio. Partly roofed and partly on the street the market is only open on Saturdays
TOURIST INFORMATION
(+34) 981 555 129
and Sundays. Here you can find precious antiques, furniture, private copies of music and
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
software, etc.
(+34) 981 54 75 00
Feria de Domingo — A large variety of
(+34) 981 54 75 01
low-priced used books and all kinds of antiques can be found every Sunday at the Feria de Domingo on Paseo Estado, between Alameda and Plaza de Armas.
CURRENCY The official currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso which is divided into 100 centavos. There are several paper bills which come in various colours. Coins also come in different colours and sizes. The symbol for Chilean Peso can be written Ch$.