Santiago Photo: Jose L Stephens/Shutterstock.com In the heart of Chile, right in between Argentina and the South Pacific Ocean, lies the country's capital Santiago. Over a quarter of Chile's population call 'The City of the Island Hills' their home. Located in a valley consisting of broad and fertile lands, surrounded by vineyards and mountains, Santiago offers a cosmopolitan and energetic city life that is inseparably attached to its beautiful natural setting. Immerse yourself in the city's cultural and musical energy that is reflected in colorful neighborhoods and a reinvigorated art scene. NOTE: This Guide has been limited to 20 points of interest per section. For the full guide, Larisa Blinova/Shutterstock.com please visit ArrivalGuides.com Top 5 Cajon del Maipo Cajon del Maipo is a beautiful gorge about 25km outside of the city that off... Cerro San Cristóbal The view from Cerro San Cristóbal is stunning and gives you the most scenic ... Barrio Bellavista f11photo/Shutterstock.com The bohemian quarter of Santiago, Barrio Bellavista, between the Mapocho Riv... Cementerio General de Santiago While it might seem a bit macabre to include a cemetery Museointo your de travel la Memoria sch... y los ... The Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human R... Ruslana Iurchenko/Shutterstock.com Updated 31 October 2019 Destination: Santiago Publishing date: 2019-10-31 THE CITY between the Andes and the ocean will give you endless opportunities to explore the surrounding nature, while Santiago itself will enchant you with a unique mix of ancient tradition and modern inuences. These are some of the things you should not miss when visiting Santiago. Cajon del Maipo Cajon del Maipo is a beautiful gorge about Maciej Bledowski/Shutterstock.com 25km outside of the city Santiago, capital and largest city of Chile, is that oers outdoor located in a valley between snow-capped Andes adventures to residents and the Chilean coastal Cordillera. However, and visitors of Santiago. Santiago is not at all the typical Latin American Here you will also nd El Morado Natural city, tainted with clichés of chaotic metropolises Monument, a mountain reserve with hiking and honking taxis. Rather, the capital of Chile is trails, glaciers, a rich birdlife and thermal a mixture of old and new, modern mirror glass springs, Baños Morales, nearby. towers next to neoclassical cathedrals. Apart Photo: Anky/Shutterstock.com from the incredible hospitality of the Chileans, Address: Cajon del Maipo you will be looking for extremes here in vain. Even on your rst visit to Santiago the city will Cerro San Cristóbal seem familiar to you which will make you want to The view from Cerro San return again and again. Cristóbal is stunning and gives you the most scenic DO & SEE panorama of Santiago imaginable. There are several ways to reach the top of Cerro San Cristóbal to take in this unparalleled view. You can take the funicular that leaves from Bellavista or, if you are a hiking enthusiast, you can hike up Cerro San Cristóbal in about 45 minutes. Either way, try to catch the sunset or sunrise while you are up there and Jose L. Stephens/Shutterstock.com watch the city change from day to night. As a travel destination, Santiago is often Photo: Pakawat Thongcharo/Shutterstock.com overlooked and misjudged as a layover on the Address: Cerro San Cristóbal journey to another city in Chile, another country in South America or another international destination. However, its perfect location Destination: Santiago Publishing date: 2019-10-31 Barrio Bellavista Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos The bohemian quarter of The Museo de la Memoria Santiago, Barrio y los Derechos Humanos Bellavista, between the (Museum of Memory and Mapocho River and San Human Rights) illustrates Cristóbal Hill, is bursting General Augusto with secret oddities, Pinochet's 17-year colourful graiti and hidden stalls and boutiques. dictatorship over Chile that resulted in the During the day, you can enjoy the sun, take a murder of thousands of Chileans. The museum stroll and buy all sorts of handcrafted and unique contributes to the reworking of the period works of art. The weekly art market typically between 1973 and 1990 and at the same time, features jewellery made from Lapis Lazuli, a honors the many victims of the Pinochet rule. It stone that, thanks to its deep blue colour, seems stands as a landmark for the creation of cultural to t the vibrant surroundings perfectly. At awareness and educates about the terrors of night, Bellavista transforms into a dazzling dictatorship. nightlife hub with a great selection of unique bars and restaurants. Photo: Jorge Barrios/Wikimedia Commons (image cropped) Address: Matucana 501, Santiago Opening hours: Tue - Sun 10am - 7pm Photo: Daboost/Shutterstock.com Phone: +56 2 2597 9600 Address: Barrio Bellavista, Santiago Internet: www.museodelamemoria.cl Email: [email protected] Cementerio General de Santiago While it might seem a bit Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes macabre to include a The permanent exhibition cemetery into your travel of this museum features schedule, the history of works of art from the this one is magnicent colonial era to the and the cemetery itself present day. You can see well worth the visit. It is the largest in Latin art work by famous America and dates back to 1821. If you want to Chilean artists such as Roberto Matta and Luis learn more about this resting place, named one Vargas Rosas. Although the permanent the World's Most Scenic Cemetries by the CNN, exhibition is rather small, it is aesthetically you should join one of the two hour night tours pleasing and informative. Rotating feature that will take you through the entire cemetery. exhibitions will give you further insights into You have to be at least 18 years old to join. Chilean art and history. Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock.com Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock.com Address: Profesor Zañartu 951, Santiago Address: José Miguel de La Barra 650, Santiago Opening hours: Every day 9am - 5.30pm Opening hours: Tue - Sun 10am - 6.45pm Phone: +56 2 2637 7800 Phone: +56 2 2499 1600 Internet: www.mnba.gob.cl Email: [email protected] Destination: Santiago Publishing date: 2019-10-31 Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino El Biógrafo Museo Chileno de Arte El Biógrafo is an art Precolombino is located cinema in the heart of in the city center of Santiago that will give Santiago and features you access to the city's exhibits of pre-Columbian art scene in a relaxed and artwork and artifacts cozy atmosphere. The from Central and South America. This is the selection of lms in this old school cinema is perfect opportunity to learn more about the denitely anything but mainstream and will cultures of South America, with a collection surprise you with some unique picks. covering about 10,000 years. Photo: Fer Gregory/Shutterstock.com Address: José Victorino Lastarria 181, Santiago Photo: Deborah McCague/Shutterstock.com Phone: +56 2 2633 4435 Address: Bandera 361, Santiago Internet: www.elbiografo.cl/wordpress Opening hours: Tue - Sun 10am - 6pm Email: [email protected] Phone: +56 2 2928 1500 Internet: www.precolombino.cl/en La Chascona House Email: [email protected] La Chascona House was Teatro Municipal de Santiago one of the residences of The Teatro Municipal de Chilean poet Pablo Santiago opened its doors Neruda. Tours will guide for the rst time in you through the September 1857 and has collection of colored since been considered the glass, shells, furniture and artwork. The unique most important stage style of the building reects Neruda's personal theater and opera house in Chile. The building aesthetic and love of the sea. constructed in the style of neoclassical Photo: Lucas Kais/Shutterstock.com architecture was inaugurated with the Verdi Address: Fernando Márquez de La Plata, Santiago opera 'Ernani' and has since suered several Opening hours: Tue - Sun 10am - 6pm strokes of fate, including multiple res and an Phone: +56 2 2777 8741 earthquake but was reconstructed every time. In Internet: www.fundacionneruda.org/en/museums-houses/la-c 1974, the Teatro Municipal de Santiago was hascona-museum-house declared a National Monument. Parque Forestal Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock.com Parque Forestal is a Address: Agustinas 794, Santiago narrow, spacious park Phone: +56 24631000 that is peppered with art Internet: www.municipal.cl and museums in the Email: [email protected] immediate vicinity. The Mapocho River ows at its borders and Mercado Central, La Vega, and Destination: Santiago Publishing date: 2019-10-31 the Bellas Artes museum are located within Photo: f11photo/Shutterstock.com walking distance. Parque Forestal is ideal for Address: Plaza de Armas, Santiago daytime joggers, a walk and for a picnic Casablanca Valley Wine Tasting outdoors. The Casablanca wine Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock.com valley is one of the area's Address: Parque Forestal, Santiago newest wine regions, Internet: www.santiagochile.com/parque-forestal located about an hour outside of Santiago. Parque O'Higgins Because of the ocean Santiago's Parque breezes from the Pacic, Casablanca became the O'Higgins is Chile's rst cool-climate wine producing region of second-largest public Chile. Since the 1990s, the wines of this region park and the venue for have been distinguished by wine connoisseurs on several festivals and merit of their aroma and avor. Various wine concerts throughout the tasting tours will acquaint you with the wines of year, featuring world renowned artists. In late the Casablanca region and, in addition to wine March, the annual Lollapalooza Festival takes tasting, will give you insight into the production place here, attracting tourists as well as locals. process. Depending on the organizer, tours cover The park is also a popular leisure destination for anywhere between several hours and the entire families, sports enthusiasts and those who want day and include a wine tasting, lunch or dinner to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and transportation.