14 cheap activities in Santiago, Chile

14 cheap activities in Santiago, Chile

After two months of uninterrupted trip, we decided to take a few days off in Santiago. We hadn't spent more than two nights in one place when we raced to Patagonia before winter, and therefore felt quite fried and urgently needed some consolation - especially according to the challenges in Bolivia. Against this background, we decided to rent a super-modern self-catering apartment in the center of Santiago for a few days.

When we settled in, we noticed how expensive Chile could be. As one of the wealthier countries of the continent, prices were much higher than in Bolivia. Fortunately, there are many cheap (or free!) Things in Santiago. We spent four days to explore the modern capital, a true metropolis after our visit to the Atacama desert. It was a breath (rather dirty) fresh air that had a lot to offer to the modern traveler - even for those with a rapidly dwindling budget.

1. Cerro Santa Lucia

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Get the location of the country and use your first morning to hike to the top of the Santa Lucía hill. The hill has a 69 m (220 ft) high fountain over the surrounding area and gives you a good idea of ​​the structure of Santiago. On the summit there is a popular viewpoint for tourists where you can see a cross -section through Santiagos modern and colonial architecture.

2. Plaza de Armas

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The Plaza de Armas has been the colonial heart of the city since its foundation in 1541. The heart is a fountain that celebrates the Libertador Simón Bolívar, the much -loved military and political leader, who played an important role in the founding of Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru as sovereign states, regardless of Spanish rule.

3. Estación Mapocho

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earthquake damage and decay have required the once flowering train station, but in recent years it has been converted into a cultural center in which art exhibitions and concerts take place. The impressive cast iron construction of the main hall was created in France and then assembled in Santiago.

4. Cementerio General

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All presidents Chile to one are buried in the public cemetery in Santiago, one is the tyrannical military dictator Augusto Pinochet. The cemetery is one of the largest in Latin America with an estimated two million graves and monuments. A remarkable monument is President Allende (Latin America's first democratically elected Marxist leader) and another is devoted to people who were “disappeared” during the subsequent Pinochet regime.

5. Mercado Central

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The cast iron roof and the load -bearing structure House Santiagos traditional fish market in the Mercado Central. Built in 1872, it is a great place to enjoy lunch with seafood or fish stew - apparently a great cure for a hangover. However, I am not sure if I want to visit a fish market with a hangover!

6. Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago

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The neoclassical cathedral built between 1748 and 1800 and located in the historic center of the city looks at the Plaza de Armas near the Palacio Arzobispal de Santiago, the administrative center of the Archdiocese. The impressive structure is perhaps the greatest and most beautiful.

7. Forestal-Park

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A city park that is squeezed between the busy and busy streets of Río Mapocho and Merced offers a perfect (if not short) refuge in front of the Santiago smog. Go from Estación Mapocho at one end to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes on the other. They will accompany jogger and Powerwalker to most morning.

8. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

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At the end of the Parque Forestal, the Chilean National Museum of the Fine Arts, which was built in 1910. The museum houses two locations with constant collections of Chilean and European art, modern photography, design, sculpture and web art exhibitions. A small fee must be paid for entry to every sight (600 Chilean pesos or 1 USD).

9. Museo Nacional de História Natural de Chile

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We loved the natural history museum, in which the fascinating story of Chile is explained in a number of appealing exhibitions. The clear structure leads the visitor from natural and original history, the European discovery and colonial period to independence and modern times.

10. La moneda presidential palace

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11. Cerro San Cristóbal

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The best view of the city is from the Hill San Cristóbal, which is enthroned over the city. The largest park in the capital, Parque Metropolitano, is located on the hill with two swimming pools, botanical gardens and a zoo. There is a funicular that runs from the Plaza Caupolicán at the northern end of the Pío Nono in Bellavista if you don't feel like a hike.

12. Cultural center Gabriela Mistral

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named after Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American Nobel Prize winner, is the center of one of Santiago's latest creative rooms. The center known as a GAM comprises two large exhibition rooms and squares, a delightful bookstore, a café and an antique fair outdoors.

13. Central La Vega

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If it is grown in Chile, you will find it on this delightful, if not chaotic fruit and vegetable market. Here the locals buy fruit and vegetables and restaurateurs get their fresh supplies here. When you come by early in the morning, hear the roaring sellers in full swing.

14. The Barrios of Santiago

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which is right for you, you have to decide for yourself. We loved the Lastarria and Bellas Artes district, where Santiagos Café culture can be seen on every trendy street corner. We lived in the Andes apartments, so we were in the middle of the action and had simple access to the sights. You will find the nightlife in the colorful streets and paved squares of Bellavista. A little further away are the greener and sleepy Barrios Brasil and Yungay. In the middle of the sparkling skyscrapers you will find the Barrios Las Condes, El Golf and Vitacura. For busy street life, visit the Barrio Recoleta, where Korean Restaurants fill the streets.

The essentials

what: spent three days and four nights to explore Chile's capital Santiago. From Santiago you can take fantastic day trips and excursions outdoors as well as excellent transport links to the rest of the district. While there are more charismatic cities in South America, Santiago offers a lot to employ them for several days. The port city of Valparaíso is also only two hours away and is ideal for a day trip.

Where: We stayed in the Andes apartments (from 90 USD p/night), a luxurious offer of the Andes Hostel (from $ 18 p/night) in the pulsating quarter of Bella Artes. The apartment block was safe and protected with access to numerous restaurants, cafes, shops and transport options (the Bella Artes metro station is only two minutes away). There is a swimming pool on site, breakfast is included (is provided in the hostel) and on Wednesdays there are free pasta and wine evenings for guests! It was an urgently needed piece of peace and comfort and is highly recommended. Send an email to Rachael Ellis at info@andesapart.com for bookings and inquiries.

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When: The best travel time for Santiago is from late September to November or from March to May. These months are the spring and autumn new season in Chile. The area has a moderate temperature all year round, but when we were there at the beginning of May, it was noticed that it started to get a little cool.

like: Santiago is very well connected by the rest of Chiles, but the distances can be very large. Usual trips are: Valparaíso 2 hours, Puerto Montt, 12 hours, Antofagasta 19 hours, San Pedro de Atacama 23 hours, arica 30 hours, Buenos Aires (Argentina) 22 hours and Mendoza (Argentina) 8 hours.

When you travel by plane, the Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez is located in Pudahuel, 20 km northwest of downtown Santiago (book flights via skyscanner.net). There are several ways to get to the airport, including shuttle buses, collective transfers and taxis. You can find more information here.

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