Chile Urban Life
Bustling nightlife, modern shopping malls, stunning textiles and mouth-watering Chilean food. You’ll find all these and much more in Chile’s lively cities. Come and explore them!
If you like fashion and design, visit the exclusive boutiques on Santiago’s most elegant streets. For those who like ethnic and artisanal products, the big markets in the towns and on the islands display typical arts and crafts from every region of Chile.
When you’re done shopping, there are many great restaurants and bars to choose from – you’re bound to find something exactly to your taste. Chileans love to hang out and socialize with friends, so every day – especially on weekends – you’re sure to find somewhere to have fun.
If you like gaming and the adrenaline of gambling, visit the lively casinos found in all the big cities, from Arica in the very north to Punta Arenas in deepest Patagonia.
CASINOS
Cards, slot machines or roulette: show off your gaming skills and flirt with lady luck by visiting the 25 casinos throughout Chile.
Set in luxurious buildings, their lights, night shows and delicious food are all part of the experience. If luck is on your side, don’t miss out on the hotel experience that most of them have and enjoy their spas, with state-of-the-art technology to recharge your batteries.
Visit the casinos in the north of the country, set right by the ocean and enjoy the amazing view of the Pacific and its magnificent waves. In Viña del Mar, the casino with its Roman columns evokes glamour, if you want to visit it though, remember to wear formal attire.
In the south, casinos are a must for nightlife. Be amazed by the scenic beauty surrounding the Castro Casino in Chiloé and visit the modern building of the southernmost casino in Punta Arenas.
CITY TOUR
Ready to see the capital from a different perspective? Why not explore Santiago by bike, hop on a bus for a fascinating tour, join a fun group for a gourmet outing or trace the footsteps of the most famous Chilean poets?
For an overview of the city’s main landmarks, catch one of the hop-on, hop-off double-decker buses that offer sightseeing tours of Santiago, with timed stops at the most popular spots and shopping malls. You may be interested to know that they also stop at a number of independent Chilean design shops.
Visit the city’s green spaces by bike – it’s by far the best way by far to explore at your own pace. Rent a bike or join a two-wheeled tour of Santiago’s main attractions.
Try a brisket sandwich, hot seafood stew and maybe a glass of pipeño (see sidebar) on one of the culinary tours focused on local food. Your route may take in some of the bohemian haunts of well-known Chilean poets, and you could find yourself being spontaneously serenaded in the street by a group of talented buskers!
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
Nature, adrenaline and unforgettable memories are part of what Chile has to offer to travelers enjoying their vacation with their families. Let your imagination fly and enjoy each new experience to the fullest!
Be amazed by the beauty of the condor and the fierceness of the puma at the Metropolitan Zoo. It´s the country’s main zoo and is located on San Cristobal Hill in Santiago. If you want to be in closer contact with the animals go to the Granja Aventura on the outskirts of the capital or to the Safari Park in Rancagua, you’ll be able to feed the cute little lambs or climb on a fitted-out jeep to be surrounded by a pride of wild lions.
Amusement parks are also colorful places for adrenaline junkies and to have fun with your family. In Santiago, the best place to go is Fantasilandia, with rollercoasters that defy gravity and a Haunted House that will give you goosebumps.
Take your family to the Artequin Museum and learn about international painting and sculptures with a didactic twist or discover how fun science can be at the Mirador Interactive Museum (MIM).
SHOPPING
Do you love window shopping and choosing the perfect keepsake? Shop for lovely things to your heart’s content in Chile’s many duty-free malls, luxury shops and countless arts and crafts markets Artisanal crafts in wool and horse hair, for example, make excellent souvenirs.
Visit the Tax Free Zone in the northern city of Iquique; a duty-free haven where you’ll find everything from perfume to electronic devices. Just a stone’s throw from the beach in La Serena, La Recova market has a great selection of typical local products like preserved papayas, spaghetti squash jam and dried fruits.
In Santiago, independent designer shops can be found in cosmopolitan districts like Lastarria and Italia. If your taste is for more refined luxuries, visit the Alonso de Córdova neighborhood for exclusive international brands and elegant local boutiques.
Looking for that special gift? At the Castro arts and crafts market on Chiloé, you’ll find textiles of every kind, from typical Chilote hats, gloves and socks, to beautiful woollen ponchos with intricate indigenous designs.
NIGHTLIFE
Eat, drink and be merry in style! You’ll find a thriving nightlife scene in all of Chile’s main cities, many of which boast a glittering casino. In summer, the top beach resorts pull out all the stops and you’ll find bright lights, lively music festivals and glamorous shows.
So, put on your glad rags and prepare to enjoy the high life. In Santiago, the Bellavista area is synonymous with all-night partying. Here on the banks of the Mapocho river you’ll find countless bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Or head to the downtown Lastarria and Yungay neighborhoods for a more bohemian, artsy atmosphere. Its art galleries and fashionable bars resonate to an ever changing soundtrack; from Latin dance music to avant-garde rock and the idiosyncratic ‘cueca chora’ (a rollicking variant of the classic national folk dance, the cueca).
The port of Valparaiso is also famous for its bustling nightlife. There are dozens of bars, cafes and pubs scattered across its picturesque hills, many open well into the small hours. If you’re a music lover, you mustn’t miss Concepción, a city renowned for its music scene. The birthplace of many famous musicians, the city also hosts a varied calendar of concerts and has a wide range of thriving live music venues.
Throughout Chile, nightlife goes into overdrive in summer. In cities like Arica, Iquique, La Serena, Pucón and Valdivia, you’ll find a profusion of arts events, live entertainment and open air festivals. Get ready to live it up after the sun goes down!
