Santiago the largest city of Chile, spreading across the Central Valley, marks itself as a spectacular capital with a progressive economy, mushrooming shopping malls and conspicuously increasing skyscrapers. The sophisticated transport system of Santiago includes, but is not limited to, underground metro, efficient bus services and intricate highway system mostly tunneled with city's main river Mapocho flowing above it. Santiago is famous for its diversity and its very rich culture - cosmopolitan in nature. You would like it in all weathers be it a pleasure trip or the one purely official in nature. You can indulge yourself in outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and hot springs within an hour's drive out of Santiago. It may also offer discos, clubs, museums and universities of choice.

Santiago is famous for its football clubs such as Colo Colo, CF Universidad De Chile, Union Espanola, Audax Italiano, Palestino and Santiago Morning.

The majority of the population of Santiago is Catholic.

Santiago is famous for a number of universities, colleges, libraries and research institutes with Universidad de Chile being the largest of Chile and one of the older universities on American continent.

Usually hot dry summer lasts from November to March with temperature reaching up to 35 C on the hottest day. Comparatively humid winter lasts from June to August with minimum average temperature of 1-3 C in cold mornings.

Getting There and Getting Around

Santiago can be reached in from around 28 locations in UK and Ireland with airlines such as Condor, Qantas, Iberia, BMI, KLM, Air France, Delta, American Airlines, Lan Airlines and Tam Linhas Aeras.

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport is Chile's main, biggest and busiest national and international airport at a distance of 15 minutes from the center via the Costanera Norte motorway network. You can also reach Santiago by Car and buses from the connecting states. Major bus terminals are Terminal Alameda, Terminal Santiago and Terminal Los Heroes.

You can get around Santiago, Chile very easily and economically by using Bip!-card to both Metro system and buses.

Places to See

Some of the must-see places in / around Santiago must contain entries such as Santiago Metropolitan Park Zoo, O'Higgins Park, Forestal Park, Mapocho river, Santa Lucia Hill, Parque Araucano in Las Condes, Parque Ines de Suarez, Providencia, and Parque Intercomunal. For cultural places one must visit Fine Arts Museum, Central Station, Ex Nanational Congress and Government Palace. Estadio Nacional (site of the 1962 World Cup final), Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Estadio Santa Laura and Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo are the main sports venues.

Food & Drink

The renouned eateris in / around Santiago include, but are not limited to, Boulevard Lavaud, Amadeus, Anakena, Aqui Esta Coco, Bar Nacional, Cafe Dante, Plaza Cafe, Ocean Pacific, Santa Isabel and Los Buenos Muchachos.

When it comes to drinking spots, restaurants and bars - Santiago has got even more to offer. E.g. Barrio Bellavista and Barrio Brasil, Plaza San Enrique, Boomerang, Lacasa Club, Barrio Manuel Montt, Isidora Goyenechea, Plaza Nunoa, The Santiago Pub Crawl, Batota, Suecia, Vitacura, Bar Cetedral, El Candil, Bar Liguria and La Leyenda.

Entry Requirements - Visas

If you are a British passport holder visiting Chile for less than 90 days, you do not require a visa. If you wish to stay longer, you should consult the nearest Chilean Embassy. On arrival in Chile the Immigration Authorities will issue you with a "Tarjerta de Turismo - Tourist Card", an A5 sized white form. You need to retain this document and present it to Immigration on leaving the country. Once in Chile, if you decide to stay for 90 days or more, you should approach the Chilean Immigration Department located in Agustinas 1235, Santiago. Tel: 56 2 550 2400.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children

For information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Chilean Embassy in London.

Chile, Santiago, British Embassy