Santiago de Chile/West and South

West

South

• Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos

  address: Avenida Matucana 501
  One of the city's newest museums showcasing the human rights violations during the Pinochet dictatorship.

• Museo Interactivo Mirador

  address: Av. Punta Arenas 6711
  Interactive science and art museum, targeting children. The exhibits can be touched and manipulated by visitors. You can go there by metro, though it's about 1 km away from the closest station Bellavista de la Florida on line 5.

• Paseo de la HistorietaIn San Miguel, next to Gran Avenida there's a park with statues with figures from Chilean history as they appear in the comic book series Condorito.

• Estación Central de SantiagoThe country's main railway station, designed by Gustave Eiffel is past its glory days as rail transport has been replaced by planes, buses and cars. Still, this remarkable building is where you will arrive at if you travel to Santiago by train and worth seeing even if you don't. Plus, it has even given the name to the neighborhood it's located in!

• Basílica Santuario Nacional de Maipú (Templo Votivo)

  address: Republica 1890
  Constructed on the orders of Chilean independence leader Bernardo O'Higgins, as he wanted to thank Virgin Mary for the final victory over the Spanish forces in the plains nearby. The best time to visit is the first Sunday after Easter when the Feast of Quasimodo takes place. The basilica complex also includes a museum dedicated to the first Chilean government including documents, clothing, paintings and vehicles.

• Parque Quinta NormalOne of the city's largest and most traditional parks, with many museums located in and around it. These include the National Museum of Natural History of Chile, the Museum of Science and Technology, the Railway Museum of Chile. Its surroundings are also the Artequín Museum, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, the Matucana 100 Cultural Center, and Library of Santiago.

• Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio

  address: Avda. Pedro Aguirre Cerda 5000
  This museum is all about historical Chilean aircrafts. It's also a venue for aviation-related events.

Interesting neighborhoods

• Barrio Brasil - Residential district west of the old town, has been turned into a commercial zone.
• Barrio Yungay - One of the most traditional barrios in the city with varied architecture, associated with artists and culture.
• Barrios República and Barrio Dieciocho - Nowadays home to university campuses, it used to be the home of the city's wealthy, so there are many beautiful buildings to be seen here.

• Centro Cultural Matucana 100

  phone: +56 2 29649240
  address: Matucana 100
  Inaugurated in 2002, Matucana 100 is an excellent exhibition venue for a variety of arts.

• Parque Laguna CarénA lagoon and wetland area near the highway to Valparaíso. In addition to walking around in you can also practice water activities like fishing or rowing.

• Boulevard Lavaud

  phone: +56 2 26825243
  address: Compañía de Jesús 2789
  In Barrio Yungay, Boulevard Lavaud is more than a coffee and restaurant, is part of Santiago history. Better known as La Peluqueria Francesa, is part restaurant, part antique store and part hair salon

• Plaza Café

  address: Av. Brasil 221
  Pleasant place to eat a cheap three-course lunch.

• Ocean Pacific

  phone: +56 2 26972413
  address: Ricardo Cumming 221
  Stylishly blue decorated restaurant that has a broad range of seafood. The take-away parlor next door with the same name, has excellent empanadas.

• Santa Isabel

  address: Ricardo Cumming and Compañia
  Big supermarket where you can gather the ingredients for your own meal. It also has simple take-away items such as chicken or rice.

• Los Buenos Muchachos

  phone: +56 2 26980112
  address: Avda. Ricardo Cumming 1031
  Great food and great entertainment.

• Ostras Azocar

  address: General Bulnes 37
  Nice restaurant to eat Chilean seafood, specially fresh oysters.

• Las Delicias de Quirihue

  phone: +56-2-26951096
  address: Domeyko 2059
  Traditional dishes from rural southern Chile, BBQ, sausages and bean stew are things you can find on the menu.

• Las Vacas Gordas

  phone: +56-2-26971066
  address: Cienfuegos 280
  Specializing in BBQ, but they also have many other dishes on the menu.

Wineries of Maipo

• Viña Concha y Toro

  address: Av. Virginia Subercaseaux 210, Pirque

• Viña Santa RitaLocated in Alto Jahuel, Paine the current winery has been in 1880. Before this was a ranch, and the place where the Chilean independence leader Bernardo O'Higgins escaped after the defeat against the Spanish at the Battle of Rancagua. Tours need to be booked two days ahead and they include the a presentation of the production process, the wine cellars and of course wine tasting.

• Casa Bonita Bed&Breakfast

  address: Pasaje Republica 5
  Established in a national monument in a protected historical neighborhood. It offers single and double rooms with or without private bathroom and also has rooms for three or four persons. All rooms have central heating, cable TV and Wi-Fi signal. Rates start from US$58 for a single and US$67 for a double. A varied breakfast, internet access and cable TV are included. This B&B is personally run by its owners, a Dutch-Chilean marriage.

• La Casa Roja

  phone: +56 2 26964241
  address: Agustinas 2113
  Hostel in an old renovated mansion. The shared kitchen is huge and excellent. It's a party place, so it can get a bit noisy. Run-down area. Pool.

• Hostel Cienfuegos

  phone: +56-2-26718532
  address: Cienfuegos 151
  Associate member of Hostelling International.