"Santiago" Santiago by realde14

I have been to Santiago several times, and there are plenty of things to do in Santiago. My favorite thing is actually to get out of the city into the mountains. The main ski areas, Valle Nevado, Colorado, and Farellones are around 60 to 90 minutes away from Santiago by car. The drive to the resorts is very scenic. The road is very steep, and you will need chains, which can be rented on the roadside for a couple of bucks.

Old and new in Santiago

Santiago is a big metropolis with more than 5 mio inhabitants. It consists of different parts. There is the old historic center with colonial buildings mixed in with modern highrises. You have bohemian and artistic Bellavista, there is Providencia with its choice of bars and restaurants, Las Condes, the new modern business center, and residential Vitacura.

There are plenty of great excursions around Santiago:
- the Andean mountains as mentioned
- Scenic Valparaiso and Vina del Mar
- The wineries: Chilean wine is excellent and the value is probably the best you can get. For the reds, there are excellent Cabernets, Merlots, Sirahs, and the 'local' Carmenere

See travelogues for more info