Metropolitana de Santiago is the central Chilean region built around the capital, Santiago, a city of about seven million set in a valley between the Andes and the Coastal Range. Beyond the capital it holds the Cajon del Maipo canyon, the pottery town of Pomaire, the Maipo Valley vineyards and the Andean ski centres of Farellones, La Parva, El Colorado and Valle Nevado.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Lapis lazuli
Chile and Afghanistan are the only sources of this deep-blue stone; sold as rings, pendants and polished slabs.
Price: CLP 5,000-200,000 (~USD 5.3-210)
Where: Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia, Pueblito Los Dominicos
Pomaire pottery
Red-clay bowls, pots and figures shaped in Pomaire workshops, 65 km from Santiago.
Price: CLP 2,000-30,000 (~USD 2.1-32)
Where: Pomaire village, Mercado Central stalls
Maipo Valley and Casablanca wine
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Sauvignon Blanc bottles from estates in Pirque and Buin.
Price: CLP 5,000-60,000 (~USD 5.3-64)
Where: Wineries in Pirque and Buin and wine shops in Providencia
Merken (smoked chilli)
A Mapuche smoked chilli spice blend, sold in jars and pouches.
Price: CLP 1,500-5,000 (~USD 1.6-5.3)
Where: La Vega Central, Mercado Central, supermarkets
Alpaca and wool knitwear
Hand-knitted sweaters, scarves and gloves from southern and northern Chile.
Price: CLP 15,000-90,000 (~USD 16-96)
Where: Pueblito Los Dominicos, Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia
Copper kitchenware
Chile's largest export mineral becomes pans, bowls and jewellery.
Price: CLP 5,000-60,000 (~USD 5.3-64)
Where: Pueblito Los Dominicos
Manjar (dulce de leche)
Chilean caramel spread sold in jars and tins; the base of alfajores.
Price: CLP 1,500-4,000 (~USD 1.6-4.3)
Where: Supermarkets, La Vega Central
Chilean pisco
Grape brandy from the Elqui and Limari valleys, in craft and standard bottlings.
Price: CLP 5,000-25,000 (~USD 5.3-27)
Where: Supermarkets and speciality shops in Providencia
Mapuche silverwork
Traditional silver pendants and earrings with Mapuche motifs.
Price: CLP 10,000-120,000 (~USD 11-128)
Where: Pueblito Los Dominicos
Pablo Neruda poetry editions
Spanish-language and bilingual volumes of Neruda's poems, sold in city bookshops.
Price: CLP 8,000-25,000 (~USD 8.6-27)
Where: Bookshops in Providencia and Barrio Italia
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercado Central de Santiago
Wrought-iron 19th-century market hall by the Mapocho river, with fish stalls and seafood restaurants; locals shop and eat here at midday.
Where: San Pablo 967, Santiago Centro
Hours: Daily 7:00-17:00 (Sat-Sun to 16:00)
La Vega Central
Chile's busiest wholesale-and-retail produce market, across the river from Mercado Central, with great-value lunches at the counters.
Where: Antonia Lopez de Bray 887, Recoleta
Hours: Mon-Sat 6:00-17:00; Sun 6:00-14:00
Pueblito Los Dominicos
A colonial-style craft village near Metro Los Dominicos with 160 workshops selling lapis lazuli, copper, wool and leather.
Where: Av. Apoquindo 9085, Las Condes
Hours: Daily 10:30-19:30
Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia
Compact craft arcade next to Metro Santa Lucia selling lapis lazuli jewellery, ponchos and alpaca knits at competitive prices.
Where: Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins and Carmen, Santiago Centro
Hours: Daily 10:00-19:00
Feria Persa Bio Bio
A large weekend flea market of antiques, second-hand goods and curiosities; bargaining is expected.
Where: Bio Bio, Santiago Centro
Hours: Sat-Sun 9:00-18:00
Barrio Italia
A walkable neighbourhood of antique dealers, design studios and courtyards around Av. Italia, with cafes among the shops.
Where: Providencia, Ricardo Lyon area
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30-19:00 (varies by shop)
Costanera Center
South America's tallest tower sits above a large mall of international brands, a food court and an observation deck.
Where: Av. Andres Bello 2425, Providencia
Hours: Daily 10:00-22:00
Parque Arauco
Upscale open-air-style mall with international fashion, restaurants and an outdoor-clothing cluster in Las Condes.
Where: Av. Presidente Kennedy 5413, Las Condes
Hours: Daily 10:00-21:00
Mall Plaza Egana
A convenient mall at Metro Plaza Egana (Lines 3/4) with local chains, a cinema and food court.
Where: Av. Larrain 5862, La Reina
Hours: Daily 10:00-21:00
Mercado Franklin
An old-fashioned barrio market with antique furniture and household goods; the area is rough after dark, so go in the daytime.
Where: Franklin and Santa Rosa, Santiago Sur
Hours: Sat-Sun 10:00-16:00