SantiagoChile.com The Ultimate Guide to Santiago – for Residents & Visitors
Most foreign visitors to Santiago choose to stay in three out of the city’s thirty-seven comunas, or legal divisions of communities. One of these is Santiago, or Santiago Centro, which occupies the central, downtown area. To the East of Santiago Centro is Providencia, a financial and residential district. To the East of Providencia, and occupying an enormous area of Santiago, is the residential area of Las Condes. These three comunas provide many useful services to foreigners, often in English, and contain many of the established cultural hubs of long-term expatriates living in Chile.
Santiago Centro is one of the densest, liveliest parts of the city. Its central location makes it easy to go almost anywhere in Santiago via public transportation. This is where many of the city’s most popular attractions are, including Plaza de Armas, La Moneda Palace, and more. For those who choose to rent a car, it can be very expensive to park here. Small rental apartments are quite easy to find, and there are constantly more on the way. Likewise, those staying in Santiago Centro can often expect to wake up to the sounds of construction, if the loud traffic does not do it first. Nonetheless, some of the oldest and most unique accommodations in Chile are in Santiago Centro.
Providencia is a great choice for vacationers. Staying near the major thoroughfare of Avenida Providencia provides transportation throughout the city as effective as that found in Santiago Centro. By day, Providencia is a center for financial institutions and major companies, but this lends to the wonderful variety of restaurants, pubs, clubs, and other entertainment found throughout the neighborhood in the evenings. Cerro San Cristobal is walking distance from most of Providencia. This comuna is considerably quieter on weekends, so a few restful days are guaranteed for those who stay here.
Las Condes covers an enormous area of Northeastern Santiago, although it is not densely populated. This upper-middle-class neighborhood is largely residential, but punctuated by some of the most entertaining malls and parks. For those coming to Chile in the winter, Las Condes provides easiest access to the mountain ski resorts. Spacious rental apartments with parking spaces, and plenty of houses as well, can be found throughout Las Condes. However, access to public transportation can be sparse. Those who want to experience the advantages of both Las Condes and Providencia should consider searching in Vitacura, a lesser-known comuna that borders both.
Santiago Centro is often perceived as the most dangerous of these three and Las Condes as the safest. A great rule of thumb for safety across the board is to avoid being alone at night, specifically when away from well-lit major streets. A useful tip to remember is that Line One of the Metro connects all three of these comunas. The most expensive rentals will generally be in Santiago Centro, although the costs of various amenities and spacious apartments may add up in Las Condes and Providencia as well. The location of travelers’ accommodations in Santiago has a huge impact on their experience of the city, so always make sure to research and reflect on what is ideal for the goals of the trip.
