Santiago/Central

The Historic Center is the traditional financial downtown district in Santiago de Chile.

The Historic Center is served by Metro Line 1 (Santa Lucia, Universidad de Chile, La Moneda, and Los Héroes), Line 2 (Los Héroes, Santa Ana, and Puente Cal y Canto), and Line 5 (Plaza de Armas and Santa Ana).

• Plaza De Armas - The capital's main plaza, also the site of the national cathedral and main post office. It's few blocks from the traditional Central Market and has its own Metro Station. During the last years, Plaza de Armas has been used as a meeting and recreation place for the community of Peruvian immigrants. This has lead to a lots of cheap international calling centers, traditional Peruvian restaurants and Peruvian spice and food stores, being an interesting place to walk during day hours.

• <do name="La Moneda Presidential Palace" alt="" address="" directions="Metro La Moneda (Line 1)" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.gob.cl/english/la-moneda/ven-a-conocer-la-moneda/">Presidential Palace, guided one-hour tours are free, but unfortunately require a reservation of at least seven days in advance (Spanish only).</do>

• <see name="Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art" alt="" address="Bandera 361, at junction with Españia" directions="Metro Plaza de Armas " phone="56 2 29281522" url="http://www.palaciocousino.cl/" hours="Closed until late 2013" price="CLP$3000; CLP$1000 for ISIC holders and children" lat="" long="">The well put together Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art houses various artefacts from Mesoamerica and South America, featuring cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Inca civilizations. Descriptions of the artefacts and the ancients' way of life are well-written in both English and Spanish. Highlights include a Mayan stone stele and Andean mummies, which precede their Egyptian counterparts.</see>

• <see name="Teatro Municipal" alt="" address="Agustinas 794" directions="" phone="+56 2 24638888" url="http://www.municipal.cl/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Historical performance venue, including international dance and opera, worth a visit even if just from its outside.</see>

• <do name="La Moneda Cultural Center" alt="" address="" directions="Metro La Moneda (Line 1)" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.ccplm.cl/sitio/">Located underneath the Presidential Palace, the Cultural Center has rotating art and cultural exhibitions all year. Local crafts and souvenirs are available at middle-high prices in the local gift shop. A café is also within the facilities. Note that most exhibitions are not free of charge, however, prices are very affordable.</do>

• <do name="Estación Mapocho Cultural Center" alt="" address="Plaza de la Cultura s/n" directions="" phone="+56 2 27870000" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.estacionmapocho.cl/">Cultural center with theater, dance, music, and other various cultural activities and conferences year-round. Hosts the International Book Fair (Feria Internacional del Libro) every spring.</do>

• <do name="Central Market" alt="" address="Ismael Valdes Vergara 900" directions="" phone="+56 2 26968327" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">As with La Vega, fruit and vegetables are sold, but the attraction here is the fish and seafood brought in fresh daily from the Pacific to be sold under an elaborate wrought-iron roof.</do>

• <eat name="Bar Nacional" alt="Matias Cousiño 54" address="Paseo Huérfanos 1151" directions="" phone="+56 2 26965986" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Offers hearty Chilean meals and a range of local and imported drinks.</eat>

• <drink name="Bar Catedral" alt="" address="Merced 395" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.operacatedral.cl/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Nice bar downtown between between lounge bar and more folklorica. Good rock bands often come to play. </drink>

• <sleep name="casAltura Hostel" alt="" address="San Antonio 811" directions="near Parque Forestal, Santiago Centro" phone="+56 2 26335076" url="http://www.casaltura.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="Dorms from CLP$10.800" lat="50" long="" email="" fax="">Spacious hostel in a beautiful old building with a roof terrace. The interior is modern, comfortable, and always clean. It opened just a few months ago so it can be a little quiet at times, but if you're not looking for a party hostel you're sure to enjoy the laid back atmosphere. Very friendly and helpful staff. Free internet and Wi-Fi.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Plaza de Armas Hostel" alt="" address="Compania 960, #607" directions="Metro Plaza de Armas (Line 2)" phone="+56 2 26714436" url="http://www.plazadearmashostel.com/" checkin="13:00" checkout="11:00" price="US$12-16 dormitory, US$34-38 double with shared bathroom, US$48-50 double with private bathroom" lat="" long="" email="hostel@plazadearmashostel.com" fax="">On the central square with a great view out over the plaza near the subway and museums. Small (located on an upper floor of a building) but lively place with good staff. Free internet with three computers, Wi-Fi throughout the establishment, common room equipped with a two TVs and a DVD player.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Residencia Tabita" alt="" address="Príncipe de Gales 81" directions="Located on a small street off of Moneda between San Martin and Amunategui" phone="+56 2 26715700" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="Singles from CLP$8000, CLP$15000 for doubles" lat="" long="" email="tabitachile@hotmail.com" fax=""> Cosy, friendly and quiet, but right in the middle of town. CLP$2.000 for unlimited internet access during your stay using Tabita's computer or Wi-Fi.</sleep>

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