Santiago is the capital of Chile, the political and economic center. It is a great Latin American city with European character. Santiago offers elegant architecture, stylish coffee shops, chic restaurants, street artists and also a modern and extensive public transportation system. Rising to the east are the huge Andes Mountains, which especially catch the eye and give the city a unique attraction and charm.
Santiago de Chile – Chile has about 17 million inhabitants and almost one third of those (about 7 million) live in the great city of Santiago. The real estate market here has been booming for about ten years, and modern glass buildings or comfortable and luxurious apartment buildings proliferated everywhere. All of these buildings grow around old mansions and colonial houses which are forced to give way to the new state-of-the-art structures. The Costanera Center includes the tallest skyscraper in South America, with 70 floors, some 300 meters high.
Santiago is also a city of contrasts and it is divided into 34 residential and industrial districts (called comunas or barrios which make up the greater Santiago metropolitan area. Generally speaking, the more to the East or Northeast one goes (i.e. closer to the mountains), the better the neighborhoods will be. The northwestern, western and southern districts are called barrios bajos inhabited by the middle and lower classes. The slums, poblaciones, portray the extreme social inequities that exist as in almost every large city in the world. However, they are not as visible as in other large cities in Latin America. During the day time, it is possible to move around without confronting any problems or danger in most neighborhoods. Still, we suggest being on the watch for potential pickpocketers. It is also advisable to avoid parks, large green spaces and poor neighborhoods at dusk and after dark.
Santiago is located in central Chile and it has a Mediterranean climate. The winter months are characterized by occasional heavy rains and low temperatures from June to August. The weather in Santiago is quite pleasant all year round and the city is suitable for tourists at any time of the year. The best time of year for a visit is definitely between October and May unless you want to take advantage of the ski slopes in the Andes, only a 90-minute drive from Santiago. The ski season starts around the end of June and ends in September. The ski resorts are excellent as some European national ski teams complete their summer training in Chile.
Santiago de Chile by Night The inhabitants of Santiago (called Santiaguinos) are very proud of their modern subway system (Metro). It is always expanding and it already reaches the most populated and visited neighborhoods. The subway is clean, fast and safe. During the peak hours, though, it is packed with people. Similarly, there is a modern network of public buses (micros) which cover the entire city. It is important to know that an electronic card must be purchased in advance (tarjeta bip!) in order to use both the buses and subway. The buses do not accept cash. The bip! cards can be obtained at kiosks on the street or at the subway ticket offices.