Santiago, the capital of the Andean nation of Chile, is a great place to stop for a few days while on your way to great Chile attractions such as Easter Island (Rapa Nui) or the breathtaking scenery of Torres del Paine National Park or Patagonia. Here are a few things not to miss while you’re in town.
The Funicular
Cerro San Cristóbal, or St. Christopher’s Hill, stands like a sentinel over Santiago’s hip Bellavista district. In 1925, the city constructed a cable car, or funicular, to take visitors to the top, and it’s still running. The slow ride to the top of the hill only costs a couple of bucks, and it’s worth every penny. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view of Chile, some souvenir stands, and a statue of the virgin. Halfway up the cable car is the Santiago Zoo, always popular with kids of all ages. Look for the plaque indicating which cable car Pope John Paul II took to the top of the hill in 1987.
The National Museum of History
Easily located on the Plaza de Armas – Santiago’s main square in the historic district – the Museum of National History covers everything from Columbus to Pinochet. Look for the original portraits of national liberator Bernardo O’Higgins, Ferdinand Magellan and other historic figures. A must-see for any history buff, you may want to pass if you have small kids, as the museum is not very interactive. The exhibits abruptly stop in 1973, with the coup that ousted socialist president Salvador Allende and brought General Augusto Pinochet to power: Pinochet’s legacy is still far too controversial for the museum to cover without seriously offending someone.
Shopping
What’s a vacation without some shopping? Head over to the swank Bellavista area, where jewelry shops specializing in lapis lazuli line the streets (Chile is one of the world’s leading producers of lapis lazuli, a striking blue gemstone). Inside the small outside mall Patio Bellavista (near the corner of Constitución and Pio Nono), you can get everything from fine leather goods to organic coffee to Chile t-shirts for friends and family back home. Need to change cash? There are many places to do so downtown or along Providencia Avenue.
Nightlife
Ready to go out? Stick around in Bellavista after shopping at the Patio Bellavista, as the area has Santiago’s best bars and clubs. They don’t get rocking until at least 11 pm, and some don’t even open until the wee hours of the morning. Chileans love to dance and drink, and you’ll have all sorts of choices in hip Bellavista. Be sure to try a Pisco sour: it’s Chile’s national drink.
Dining
Santiago has so many good restaurants that it’s impossible to list them all. Just know this: all of Chile is essentially one long shoreline. Think the seafood is good? You bet. Try the salmon: Chile has a huge salmon farming industry. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, along Avenida Providencia is a good place to start. There you’ll find a good variety. If you’re hungry but low on cash, get an empanada, which is a pastry that is filled with meat and vegetables and either baked or deep-fried. They’re inexpensive, delicious and can be found almost anywhere.
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