Intrigued by the sound of a culturally rich and enthralling journey to one of the most awe-striking locations in the world? The sprawling city of Santiago de Chile combines all the tastes, sounds and beauty of South American culture in one city, making it an astonishing place to visit. Unsure as to where to begin looking for places to eat, sleep, or explore? In this guide, you’ll find some information about where the most acclaimed places are to stay and go during your visit to Santiago.
Where to stay in Santiago
Hotels
If you find yourself drawn to the Central District of Santiago, you’ve found the place with the largest wealth of opportunities and varieties of places to stay while on your visit to Chile. While the Centro isn’t the best option for short-staying backpackers or for those on a particularly tight budget, you’ll probably find a greater number of boutique hotels or even some furnished apartments which are ready for renting. Both here, as well as the neighborhoods around the Santiago Metropolitan Park, offer the greatest variety of hotels in Santiago, Chile.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for the more bohemian side of Santiago’s appeal, you might be intrigued by the sound of the art-ridden neighborhood of Recoleta, Bellavista. This location is a district which is universally hard to categorise, as it is such a unique district filled with historically-charged and hand-painted murals, as well as lively bars, restaurants and galleries. If you’re up for a bit of exploring, then you can find even more selections in the surrounding communities in Recoleta.
Hostels
In Providencia, you will inevitably find luxury options yet, surprisingly, a few hostels due to their largely residential nature. Within a commercially charged place like Providencia, you’re more likely to find better deals through apps such as Airbnb. However, in the neighborhood of Barrio Bellavista, you’ll have lots of options for extremely affordable hostels as well as a variety of mid-priced lodgings depending on your holiday budget. It is also one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city and it’s where most of the city’s nightlife is taking place.
Things to do in Santiago
Palacio de La Moneda
Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda is a cultural facility located in the heart of Santiago, displaying the cultural richness of Chile which spans a history which still informs and influences the present-day state of the nation and its people. It was designed by Chilean architect Cristian Undurraga, and it is an incredible destination for the artsy type of traveller. With space for cars to park, you can make a day of visiting this stunning archive of art and monuments, booking a free guided tour if you plan ahead of time.
Catedral Metropolitana
This is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Chile. Its interior is stunningly beautiful and has a semblance of Italian architecture due to its baroque features and columns. It is advised that you arrive earlier in the day as the church can get quite crowded as the day goes on. You’ll find helpful and interesting information about the cathedral which will help you understand and appreciate its ornate details and features even more.
Cerro San Cristobel
Although there are quite some options when it comes to nice viewpoints in Santiago, the view from the top of Cerro San Cristobal is the most popular one in town due to its sweeping views across the entire Santiago. There is an option of taking a funicular to the summit and back, so many nice camera-worthy moments are guaranteed.
