Santiago de Chile was founded in 1541 and is the oldest city in the country. The location of the Chilean capital is quite spectacular: the snowcapped mountains of the Andes provide the backdrop for the city.
Santiago is very much the center of the world as far as Chileans are concerned. For nightlife, eating out, or anything at all this is the place to be. Some of the best places to experience these things are the Barrio Suecia and Bellavista neighborhoods. The young, colorful Barrio Brasil neighborhood is undergoing a renaissance and also offers many excellent opportunities for people watching and eating, including the famed Las Vacas Gordas steakhouse on Cienfuegos.
The city is no tourist attraction. It is a good place to live in, compared to other capitals in the region a civilised and tranquil city. This is a place where you can cross a street without fearing for your life. But the city seems to be made to be practical, not impressive, like Buenos Aires is. This means that tourist alcohol consumption reaches record highs in Santiago, because it a place where you have to entertain yourself. It is a great place to gather strengths, relax, or live.
For a good view of the city, take the funicular to Cerro San Cristobal. Santiago offers some great possibilities for daytrips as well. Valparaiso and Vina del mar are not far away, the mountains have great hiking opportunities, and the ocean is nearby. And, of course, wine lovers have easy access to the Concha y Toro vineyards as well as other producers in the Maipo valley. There are several winter resorts in the nearby mountains. The Ski season opens in june and goes into October.
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