Santiago, the capital city of Chile, is one of the best cities to visit in South America. Free tours of Santiago never fail to amaze those who try them out given the level of fun one has. This region blends the best of South American culture with the modern world. Here are a few things to do when you head south.
Plaza de Armas
This historical building has some of the best scenes to see when you get to Santiago. It has a religious background to it and thus will satisfy those into religious history. You can also visit the museum where you can have a pick at the history of Chile for free on Sundays and holidays.
Music
In the whole of Santiago, there are many clubs and other places where you can listen to live music from bands and enjoy the music. Fans of the graceful yet energetic dance of salsa will not only watch the pros do their thing, but they can also take classes to perfect their own moves.
Futbol
The country of Chile is known for many things one of which is soccer or Futbol. The Chilean national soccer team, the La Roja, is an award-winning squad that is a glory to behold. You can catch a glimpse of the team on an international assignment or a simple warm-up exercise in Santiago.
Palacio de La Moneda
This is the Chilean presidential palace and it stands as one of the most beautiful buildings in the Chilean country. Guided tours of the palace are provided to the thousands of people who throng to the palace to see the majestic building. If you plan on seeing the building for yourself, make sure you have booked for a guided tour a week to the actual date since the booking is always outdoing the capacity of each tour. One of the highlights of this tour is the change of guard at 10 am during the week and 11 am on weekends. The palace even has an art gallery nearby for those who want to know more about Chile as a country.
Grocery shopping at La Vega Central and Mercado Central
If you want to sample the seafood that Chile has to offer, then head over to these two markets. Although Chile is not renowned for seafoods, you will change your mind once you have had a meal or two here. To save on costs, make sure you visit the restaurants and markets around the edges of the two markets as the central locations are priced a bit higher than the others. This is because they are meant to serve tourists. No matter where you choose to have your meals, however, you will have a great time.
The majestic views
Santiago is surrounded by many hills that give awesome views of the city whether you are looking at it from below or above the hills. One of the best locations to view the city is the Cerro San Cristobal. This is a hill that gives you an aerial view of the city with the Andes Mountains completing the beautiful picture in the background. This view, to say the least, is breathtaking.
