Fri 25th Jul 2008
- Santiago Travel Guide & City Information
Santiago de Chile was founded in 1547. The location of the Chilean capital is quite spectacular: the snowcapped mountains of the Andes provide the backdrop for the city.
Santiago is very much the center of the world as far as Chileans are concerned. For nightlife, eating out, or anything at all this is the place to be. Some of the best places to experience these things are the Barrio Suecia and Bellavista neighborhoods. The young, colorful Barrio Brasil neighborhood is undergoing a renaissance and also offers many excellent opportunities for people watching and eating, including the famed Las Vacas Gordas steakhouse on Cienfuegos.
For a good view of the city, take the funicular to Cerro San Cristobal. Santiago offers some great possibilities for daytrips as well. Valparaiso and Vina del mar are not far away, the mountains have great hiking opportunities, and the ocean is nearby. And, of course, wine lovers have easy access to the Concha y Toro vineyards as well as other producers in the Maipo valley. There are several winter resorts in the nearby mountains. The Ski season opens in june and last past august.