Santiago in 300 words!

Santiago is Chilean's capital city and its administrative, financial and cultural center. The official language is Spanish, it has a population of over 6 million people and is divided into 'comunas' which are similar to large suburbs, each with their own city council.

The city almost doesn’t have manufacturing industries, because these are mainly in the north and the south of Chile. The main service industries are banking, financial service, tourism and is home to the regional headquarters of many multinational corporations.

Santiago is such a big city, you will sometimes need to travel from one side of the city to the other. One way to get around is using the very efficient Metro. It happens to be one of the cleanest and safest in the world but almost all day is crowded. The other option is to take one of the local buses called “Transantiago” but don’t have a good frequency.

The historic center has an European arquitecture and atractive cultural facilities like a theatres, museums, and music. In the Bellavista neighbourhood, at Manuel Montt Street and in Ñuñoa Square you will find a large array of restaurants and pubs.

Santiago is also a great base for exploring the surrounding region. With the Andes so close and accessible, you can be right in the mountains in an hour or two. In winter people go skiing for the day. Though the downside is that the city is polluted with smog in the colder months. In warmer months the Cajón del Maipo offers fantastic trekking, horseriding and rafting. Heading west towards Valparaíso you’ll also find good hiking opportunities in the Parque Nacional La Campana. Nearby villages such as Los Andes and Pomaire can provide a relaxing antidote to Santiago’s bustle. Still more tempting are the many vineyards within easy reach. Summer is really hot which is why most people leave Santiago in February to go to the beaches less than two hours away.