48 hours in Santiago – Weekend Edition
Santiago In Less Than 48 Words
In the last few decades, the phenomenal growth of Chile’s economy has turned Santiago into one of the most prosperous and modern cities of Latin America. Today, the city is a maze of splendid buildings and superb shopping complexes – all in a beautiful setting by the Andes Mountains.
Palacio de Bellas Artes (Photo by Mike Steber)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the modern city of Santiago via the Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, which is located just 15 minutes’ distance away from the city downtown. From there, you can catch a taxi which will cost you anywhere from $20 to $30 depending on your destination. You can also opt to ride a minivan transfer shuttle that will take you to downtown Santiago for $8. Alternatively, a cheaper option would be to take a bus to the Los Héroes Metro station, which is located on the main avenue Alameda.
Santiago is a bustling metropolis, and teems with more than a third of Chile’s entire population. It is surrounded by the Andes Mountains, with a city layout largely inspired by the big cities in Europe and the USA. Getting around the city is fairly easy, with its effective rail and bus system. You can collect valuable travel information from its tourist information office (Av. Providencia 1550, 600-SERNATUR, website), which is open during Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 5:45 pm, and on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Santiago’s hotels
You can arrange for a nice place to stay in during your 48 hour visit to Santiago at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Meridiano Sur Petit Hotel (Sta. Beatriz 256, Providencia, Santiago 7500515, +56 2 2353659, website). It is a B&B hotel located in the heart of Santiago, and offers nicely-decorated rooms, modern amenities, and excellent service.
Meridiano Sur Petit Hotel (Photo by andreschy)
A fine alternative is The Aubrey Santiago (Constitución 299-317, Bellavista, Santiago, (0)2 940 2800, website), a boutique hotel situated inside a restored old mansion, with swimming pools, sundecks, and a welcoming atmosphere. You can also try out Hotel Orly (Avenida Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago, (0)2 231 89 47, website). It is a boutique hotel with a nice location near restaurants, malls, and transport stations, plus comfortable rooms, excellent service, and delicious breakfast.
CALLE NUEVA YORK: Let’s take a hike
A popular tourist attraction in Santiago is taking a hike down the Calle Nueva York (located near Plaza de Armas and Moneda street), which is home to the city’s financial hub. The highlight of a visit there is the Bolsa de Comercio (2/399-3000, website), which is also known as the Stock Market.
Bolsa de Comercio (Photo by Marcos Antonio Olivares Maldonado)
The complex is considered as one of the most interesting architectural wonders in Santiago. It was built back in 1917, and is known for its French style and triangular structure. The site is open during Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm. The cobblestone street features a number of architectural delights too, including various shops and stalls.
PALACIO DE LA REAL AUDIENCIA: Have a historic experience
You are assured of a historic experience if you visit the Palacio de la Real Audiencia (Plaza de Armas 951, 2/411-7010). It is a former government building that once hosted the historic First Congress of Chile after the country achieved its independence. Today, it functions as a museum, and is certainly among the city’s most popular tourist sites.
Known as the Museo Histórico Nacional, it chronicles Chilean history dating back to prehistorical times. Inside, you’ll find various artifacts such as weapons, tools, costumes, household appliances and art works as well as a photo montage depicting Chile’s modern political turmoil. The only drawback is that there are no tours offered in the English language. The site is open during Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 5:30 pm, and admission will cost you around $1.25.
ESTACION MAPOCHO: Visit a piece of Santiago heritage
Another noteworthy tourist attraction in Santiago is the Estacion Mapocho (Bandera and Río Mapocho, 2/787-0000, website), a vital piece of the city’s heritage. It is a former train station of the Santiago-Valparaiso railway, and dates back to 1912, when it was built on reclaimed land from the Rio Mapocho (which was then just canalized). The building has a unique Beaux Arts style of architecture. Today it functions as a cultural center with a 40-ton glass, copper and marble roof, as well as Oregon pine seats. The site often hosts such events as concerts and book fairs, and has permanent exhibitions of local art. You can also find an arts and crafts shop and two cafes there. Estacion Mapocho is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and also at other hours according to current events.
Estacion Mapocho (Photo by Eduardo Zárate)
DINNER TIME: Discover Santiago’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is the Astrid y Gaston (Antonio Bellet 201, Santiago, (0)2 650 9125). It offers a delicious international cuisine and excellent service at reasonable prices. Must-tries include the lacquered three week old piglet and ceviche. A nice alternative is Akarana (Reyes Lavalle 3310, Santiago, 56-2-2319667), which serves an international cuisine and specializes in seafood dishes.
Akarana (Photo by Bill Bishoff)
Have a taste of Japan in Santiago at the Ichiban Japanese Bistro (Avenida Padre Hurtado Norte 1521, Santiago, (0)2 453 1793, website). It serves an authentic Japanese cuisine, including both traditional and contemporary dishes. You can also try out Tiramisu (Isidora Goyenechea 3141 Las Condes, Santiago, 519 4900, website). It is a restaurant known for pizza, and of course, tiramisu, that are served by an attentive and friendly staff.
Next 24 Hours
Catedral Metropolitana (Photo by Tim Hendrix)
You can discover Santiago’s other tourist attractions during your next 24 hours in the city. One of the most important of them is the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Parque Forestal, by way of Jose Miguel de la Barra, 2/633-4472, website). It is a neo-Classical building that dates back to 1910, which today serves as the city’s Fine Arts Museum. Inside, you’ll find numerous works by both Chilean and international artists. Behind it is the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo (2/977-1741, website), which hosts various exhibitions by Chilean and international artists. Both sites are open during Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm, and charge $1.25 for admission.
CATEDRAL METROPOLITANA: Let’s go to church
You can go to church at the Catedral Metropolitana (Paseo Ahumada, Plaza de Armas), which was built in 1748, and is noted for its Bavarian Jesuit designs. It covers an area of approximately one city block, and you can find its massive cypress door and silver ware, as well as the tombs of various Chilean figures, luminaries, and archbishops. It is also home to the Museo de Arte Sagrado, which contains Jesuit silver handiworks, furniture, religious paintings, and other artifacts. The site is open during Mondays to Saturdays from 9 am to 7 pm, and on Sundays from 9 am till noon.
MUSEO CHILENO: Appreciate art
Art lovers will surely enjoy a visit to the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Bandera 361, Plaza Armas, Santiago, 2/688-7348, website). It is considered to be one of the city’s foremost museums, and is situated inside the 1807 Royal Customs House. The museum contains more than 1,500 pre-Colombian artifacts such as jewelry, ceramic art, pottery, and Chinchorro mummies, to name a few. It also features a small textile museum where you can see various woven and feathered hats, as well as a bookstore that sells replicas of Indian jewelry, textiles, and art. Souvenirs and maps are available at the museum shop. The site is open during Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and admission will cost you $3.75.
MERCADO CENTRAL: Have a shopping adventure
One of the highlights of a visit to Santiago is the Mercado Central (Vergara and Av. 21 de Mayo), which is one of the city’s most important markets. There you come across shops and stalls hawking Chilean natural products such as seafood, vegetables, and fruits. Inside the market complex, you can watch fishmongers gut and fillet their catch, or try unique local delicacies such as caldillo de congrio (conger eel soup) and tangy ceviche.
Mercado Central (Photo by Adrian Shepherd)
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Santiago’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Santiago’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the city’s exciting nightlife. One of the most popular is the Etniko Bar (Constitución 172, Santiago, (0)2 732 0119, website). It is a Pan Asian restaurant/bar known for its sashimi, miso, and cocktails, and draws a hip young crowd including Chilean beauties. You can also try out the Resto Bar KY (Av Perú, 631, Santiago, (0)2 777 7245), a Santiago hotspot with a buzzing vibe, Southeast Asian menus, and creative drinks.
A nice alternative is the Lamu Lounge Bar (Borderio, Monsenor Escriva de Balaguer, Santiago). It is an African-Asian bar with earthy colors and exotic décor with an extensive wine and cocktail selection. It is good to remember that it is a favorite among the 20 to 40 year old crowd.
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