Although Santiago has a decidedly adult air to it, there are several things which the kids will find highly entertaining. Besides the typical shopping centres and cinemas, there’s a great zoo, an aquarium and a couple of child-focused museums. If they love the outdoors, there’s a whole universe waiting for them in the Andes.

Fantasilandia
This modern amusement park is Chile’s largest and offers a good variety of rides, from a toboggan ride and haunted house to four stomach churning roller coasters. It’s open from April through November on weekends and holidays and December through March everyday except Monday. To find out more, telephone: +56 2 476 8600.

Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM) and Santiago Aquarium
These two highlights share an 11-acre park in La Granja Barrio. The Santiago Aquarium has a decent array of marine life and an entertaining sea lion show. The MIM is a fun way for kids to get interactive with the world of science and technology. Set in a very modern and high-tech environment, this museum contains over 300 exhibits ranging from robotics to dinosaurs. The 3D cinema is also a real treat for the kids. You can buy a combo ticket to get into both of these attractions and the price is very reasonable. For more information, please telephone: +56 2 280 7800.

Zoological Gardens
Santiago’s zoo is surprisingly diverse, featuring over 200 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Although it may seem a bit rundown at first, what makes this zoo special is just how close you can get to the animals. It’s an up close and personal experience which the kids are guaranteed to enjoy. Telephone: +56 2 277 6666

For a city with a relatively short history, Santiago has a surprisingly wide range of cultural diversity. This can best be seen in the array of distinctive neighbourhoods, each of which has its own special character. Santiago boasts some wonderful museums which trace the city’s evolution from its Spanish founders and Indian predecessors to the modern day struggle for democratic freedom. Mixed in with the museums, you will find numerous green parks dotting the landscape.

Barrio Paris-Londres
This hodgepodge neighbourhood was developed in the 1920s and 1930s on the grounds of the Monastery of San Francisco and oozes charm. The cobble stoned streets are lined with quirky shops and residential buildings. They lead into gaudy 1970s style gallerias and other mismatched buildings on the outskirts.

Bellavista
Santiago’s bohemian quarter is one of the most colourful neighbourhoods in the city. The tree-lined streets are full of antique houses, many of which have been turned into artists’ studios and cafés. It’s a great area to explore on foot any time, day or night. In the evening, this quarter comes alive as the bars and discos pump out the music. Chile’s most famous writer, Pablo Neruda, lived and worked here. His home, called La Chascona, is now a museum full of his antiques and belongings.

Casa Colorada Santiago Museum
This building, built in 1769, is considered to be the best-preserved colonial structure in the whole of Chile. Originally constructed as the president’s home, it now houses the Santiago Museum, which focuses on the urban history of Santiago up until the 19th century. Telephone: +56 2 633 0723 for more details.

Catedral Metropolitana and Museo de Arte Sagrado
The Metropolitan Cathedral dates back to 1780 and although recently renovated, offers a prime example of 18^th century architecture. The intricate interior craftsmanship warrants a look inside to admire the ornate altar and massive cypress doors. Connected to the church is a religious museum which has a fine collection of sacred art ranging from paintings and furniture to manuscripts and silverwork, all crafted by Jesuits.

Dieciocho Street
Santiago’s elite lived along this avenue at the end of the 19^th century. Many of the elegant homes have been restored, offering a rare glimpse at the opulence that once defined this city.

Palacio de la Real Audiencia and National History Museum
This handsome neoclassical structure from 1807 originally housed the Chilean Supreme Court and first Chilean congress. Today, it is home to the city’s National History Museum, which has a collection of over 70,000 artefacts from the Spanish colonial period. This incredibly comprehensive collection has virtually everything from the early days of Santiago. There is also an excellent photomontage of the history and social issues which have shaped the country. Telephone: +56 2 638 1411

Palacio de Bellas Artes
Both the Fine Arts and the Contemporary Art museums are housed in this regal neoclassical building built in 1910. The Fine Arts Museum features a mix of Chilean and international art from the colonial period onwards. The Contemporary Art Museum has a collection of over 2,000 paintings and sculptures by many well-known Latin artists. Telephone: +56 2 632 7760

Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro
This tiny plaza is tucked away in the Lastarria neighborhood and is one of the city’s up-and-coming artist’s quarters. The shops here are very interesting selling delightful antiques and old books. Two of Santiago’s best museums, the Museo de Artes Visuales and the Museo Anthropologia can both be found here.

The people of Santiago take their dining seriously and a plethora of restaurants have been opened over the years to satisfy their needs. Apart from traditional Chilean food, you will find a wide range of ethnic and continental menus scattered around the city. Make sure you wash down your meal with a bottle of fine Chilean wine produced in the vineyards just a couple of hours south of the city.

The most popular restaurants in Santiago tend to be concentrated in a few of the neighbourhoods. This peculiar Chilean habit of grouping similar businesses means you will have dozens of choices within a small area. Bellavista is perhaps the best place to start. The sheer number of trendy cafés in this neighbourhood is staggering, and could probably keep you satisfied for your entire visit.

El Bosque and Avenida Isidora Goyenechea, which run parallel to each other, are literally lined with a mix of bars and ethnic restaurants which like to put a twist on traditional fare. Avenida Italia in the Providencia district is also attracting a lot of trendy new restaurants. Despite all of the new dining establishments, the price has stayed incredibly reasonable and the cost of eating is one of the draws to the city.

The Pacific Ocean provides a great deal of the cuisine in Santiago such as sea bass, king crab, and conger eel. However, the European immigrants who came to this city brought with them their hearty country recipes, which fused into the local food. This type of robust cuisine includes cazuela, a thick stew made with meat, potato and corn on the cob; porotos granados, a thick bean, squash and corn stew; and humitas, corn meal steamed in its own husk.

People in Santiago like to dine late, so prepare yourself to change your eating habits. Many places don’t open for lunch until 13:00 and dinner begins around 20:00, although most restaurants don’t get packed until 21:00. It’s highly recommended that you make reservations if you want to dine at any of the popular spots in town.

Shopping takes many forms in Santiago. There are two enormous shopping complexes, the Parque Arauco and Alto Las Condes. Like many Latin American countries, a lot of the selling in Santiago is done from gallerias, maze-like areas which have dozens of compact shops selling everything you can imagine. They are scattered all over the city and are an insight into how the locals shop.

Santiago has several excellent outdoor markets, some of which are permanent and some weekly events. Los Dominicos is arguably the best permanent market in the city. Its design resembles a colonial village and is a one-stop shopping arcade. The largest market in Santiago is Feria Santa Lucia, a massive outdoor conglomeration selling everything from antiques to lapis lazuli jewellery. This is the most traditional market in Chile and offers a great experience even if you don’t buy anything.

Persas are another interesting shopping feature of Santiago. They are swap meets, where you can buy or trade everything under the sun. Old Chilean music on vinyl seems to be one of the hot items here. There are some real treasures to be found as people from around the country come to the city to sell their old stuff. The two main persas in Santiago can be found at the Central Station and at Bio Bio.

If it’s upscale shopping you’re after, head to Vitacura or Providencia. Row after row of boutique shops and designer labels are waiting. Shops in Santiago are generally open every weekday as well as Saturdays.

Chile is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, with its incredible range of terrain and stunning untouched nature. Santiago is situated next to the Andes, allowing keen skiers to be on the slopes within a couple of hours. White-water rafting is also a favourite with visitors, as are horseback riding and alpine walks in the valley. In the heart of the city, spectator sports take priority. There are also a handful of leafy green parks to provide sanctuary.

Football (soccer)
There are three stadiums in Santiago which host professional football teams. Though Chileans are not as fanatical about the sport as their Brazilian or Argentine counterparts, a Latin American football match is always an exciting event.

Horseracing
Santiago has two racetracks which hold horseracing events on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year. The Club Hipico is considered the better of the two and hosts its yearly classic, El Ensayo, on the first Sunday of November. It’s a colourful and fun Chilean spectacle. The Hipodromo Chile is the other racetrack and has its annual classic, the St Leger, during the second week in December.

Skiing
Chile is one the world’s premier ski destinations. The Andes are home to more ski runs than anywhere else in the southern hemisphere. As the ski season runs from June to September, diehard skiers from up north can hit the slopes year round. There are three ski areas within easy reach of Santiago: Farellones, La Parva and Valle Nevado.

Farellones is the closest ski area to the city but the terrain is mainly for beginners and the facilities at the resort are scanty. La Parva, with its 14 intermediate ski runs, is nearby. Just a bit farther up the road lies Valle Nevado. This luxury resort has over 300 acres of groomed runs with 11 ski lifts and very nice facilities.

The Cajon del Maipo
This stunning river valley just one hour southeast of Santiago is home to some stunning wilderness and the Maipo Rive. You can also saddle up for a half or full day horseback ride to get deeper into the wild Andes. Beginners and children are especially welcome in this area. Contact a local adventure guide company in Santiago to arrange the trip.