Santiago

Santiago sits in a flat valley in central Chile, with the Andes on one side and the Coastal Range on the other. The city has more than six million inhabitants, an extensive metro system and neighborhoods with very different personalities.

The historic center revolves around the Plaza de Armas, with the Catedral Metropolitana, and the Palacio de La Moneda, the seat of government. A few blocks away are the Mercado Central, with its seafood restaurants, and La Vega Central, the large fruit and vegetable market. The main museums are the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Parque Forestal, and the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, about the years of the dictatorship.

Two hills serve as viewpoints: Cerro Santa Lucía, in the heart of the center, and Cerro San Cristóbal in Parque Metropolitano, with a funicular and cable cars. At its foot, Barrio Bellavista houses La Chascona, Pablo Neruda’s home. Lastarria and Barrio Italia bring together cafés, bookstores and design shops. Cementerio General tells the country’s history in mausoleums, and the Sky Costanera observation deck shows everything from above.

Outside the urban area, the metropolitan region offers wineries in the Maipo valley, such as Concha y Toro and Cousiño Macul, the Cajón del Maipo and the Embalse El Yeso high in the mountains. In winter, Farellones and Valle Nevado receive skiers less than two hours from the center.

This destination brings together 1 city: Santiago.