Where can you go from Santiago?

By Tengri, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile

There is no shortage of nightlife for a student in Santiago, Chile. The city boasts a number of bars, clubs, and restaurants throughout its 32 ‘comunas’. Many, more prominent venues (notably Blondie and Sala Gente) offer themed events and notable line-ups with smaller establishments hosting classic outings like karaoke and pub quizzes. Your weekends spent in Santiago will be eventful, to say the least. However, at some point, you may wish to leave the city for a (figurative and literal) breath of fresh air. Here, you can read about some of the weekend trips I’ve taken out of Santiago and decide whether any might be the break from city life you need.

Valparaíso

Just a two-hour bus journey from Santiago lies the seaside town of Valparaíso. This charming port city is home to Chile’s most unique cityscape. The streets of Valparaíso are adorned with colourful houses, funiculars (more on that later), and sprawling murals. I stayed in Hostel Casa Volante which provided a great base from which to explore the town though, being a popular holiday spot for Santiago residents, Valparaíso contains a multitude of hostels and hotels available for you to customise your stay.

The historic town is known for its sixteen extant funiculars with the oldest having been inaugurated in 1883 . A highlight for visitors is to trace the path through Valparaíso’s winding hillside streets to ride each of the lifts within one day. After a day wandering the old town, there are many restaurants and bars at which to spend your pesos. I sat down for a meal at Mi Casa Restaurant on Cumming Street where I had perhaps the best fish and chips of my life – and that’s coming from a Brit!

Viña del Mar

Venture North of Valparaíso and you’ll find the adjoining city of Viña del Mar. This much more modern coastal town is the holiday destination choice of the upper echelons of Santiago society. Towering hotels and gentrified coffee shops characterise this city which offers a more refined experience than Valparaíso though with a slightly too clinical atmosphere. Viña del Mar is primarily a holiday town. I visited during the off-season and, as a result, many parts of the city felt unnaturally empty for such a built-up place. Still, it has nice beaches and good food and is only a short coach-ride from the capital.

Mendoza

Mendoza enters this list as the only trip outside of Chile. Located in the heart of Argentina’s wine country, Mendoza makes an excellent destination for a long weekend. The city itself is lively and full of greenery (which makes a nice contrast to Santiago concrete). However, Mendoza’s real selling point is the numerous vineyards and wineries that surround the city. For a small price, one can join a tour to some of these establishments to see the winemaking process and, more importantly, drink some of the Malbecs that make the region famous. The highlight of my trip to Mendoza was a visit to an olive vineyard where I tasted a balsamic vinegar that genuinely made me forget who I was. Some days I wake up and I can still taste the vinegar. 10/10 for Mendoza.

Ultimately, every city surrounding Santiago has its own character and way of life that I absolutely recommend you see at least once. Visit Valparaíso for a dive into the rich history of maritime Chile or Viña del Mar for a sunset plunge into the Pacific. And if you’re looking for a fermented olive cocktail that will change your life forever, Mendoza is just a plane ride away…