How to Explore Santiago’s Hidden Gems on a Budget in Spring
Before coming to Chile, I had heard that Santiago was unsafe and not particularly enjoyable. I thought to myself, “Really? It’s the capital of Chile; I need to explore it properly,” feeling a bit skeptical.
Upon arrival, I quickly realized that the safety concerns were not unfounded. As soon as I reached Plaza de Armas, I noticed that locals mostly carried crossbody bags or waist packs, with their hands always on them. I adapted swiftly, and whenever I needed to check my phone for maps, I would find a discreet corner and have my boyfriend keep watch. Thankfully, we managed to avoid any incidents, thanks to our caution and a bit of luck.
As for the fun factor, Santiago didn’t quite live up to my expectations. We hurriedly checked off the Plaza de Armas and the standard cathedral next to it. The Pre-Columbian Art Museum and Neruda’s house, while interesting, were both relatively small. The famous Bellavista district, known for its impressive graffiti, mostly featured advertisements.
Santa Lucía Park was filled with couples lost in their own world, and San Cristóbal, although it boasts a Christ statue and offers a panoramic view of the city, is essentially just a large public square, accessible by funicular and cable car.
However, there are aspects of Santiago that I genuinely enjoyed. The seafood restaurants, such as Aqui Esta Coco and Ocean Pacifics Buque Madre, were fantastic. The KFC fried chicken lived up to its reputation—crispy and juicy. The locals were incredibly friendly; restaurant staff would come out to remind us to put away our phones, and passersby who noticed we might not understand Spanish kindly alerted us when our number was called.
Uber drivers, like modern-day Robin Hoods, broke the high-price monopoly of taxi drivers, and taking a taxi at the airport felt like a secret rendezvous, adding a touch of adventure to our journey.
In the end, it’s hard to completely hate or love Santiago. Reflecting on my travels, I realize that the cities I’ve visited before were carefully chosen, but Santiago is different. Despite not being particularly drawn to it, Chile’s long and narrow geography and scattered travel destinations made frequent visits to this transit point necessary.
After multiple trips, my impression of the city remains somewhat flat, and the memories fade quickly, which is a unique experience. If my Spanish were better, I would really like to ask the locals what they think of Santiago.
