A Chilean city with quite a distinct personality of its own, Santiago features colorful street life, buzzing markets, great sites and world class museums. Some of the Santiago attractions that are worth a visit include:

Plaza de Armas:The historic center of Santiago, the Plaza de Armas is the heart of this city. This square is the social, administrative and commercial hub of Santiago since its founding in 1541.

Mercado Central:The colorful Mercado Central of Santiago housed inside a wrought iron structure was built in the year 1872. The place is famous for its buzzing fish market, as well as a fruit and vegetable market.

Chilean Museum of Pre-Colombian Art:An extremely fascinating place, the Chilean Museum of Pre-Colombian Art is located inside the Royal Customs House. The museum exhibits art work and artifacts belonging to about 80 pre-Colombian South American civilizations.

Cerro San Cristobal:This 2,752 foot hill towering over the city of Santiago offers mesmerizing views of the city, its surroundings and the Andes. The summit is marked by a 70 foot tall magnificent statue of Virgin Mary.

Though the number and variety of hotels has grown considerably since the last few days, the city center remains the main hotel sector of the city.

City Center:Offering beautiful views of the Santa Lucia Hills, Hotel Foresta is a centrally located hotel that is the preferred lodging option of many travelers to Santiago. A favorite of both leisure travelers and business visitors, Hotel Diego de Almagro is a perfect example of great architecture. The Hotel Conde Ansrez and Hostal Residencial Alemana are ideal choices for the budget conscious travelers. The Crowne Plaza Hotel, one of the most lavish and modern hotels in the city, is also located in the city center.

Vitacura:One of the most expensive, high-end and fashion conscious areas of Santiago, Vitacura offers a few good options to lodge in to the travelers. Hotel Director is a luxury hotel that offers services and amenities at par with any other five star hotels in Santiago. Hotel Park Inn is another remarkable hotel in the city that is regarded to be amongst the best.

Las Condes:Home to most of the high-end hotels of Santiago, the Las Condes area is located in the upper northwest of the city. Some of the most prominent luxury hotels in the area include Hotel Radisson Royal Santiago, Grand Hyatt Santiago and Santiago Marriott Hotel. The Ateva Apart Hotel is perfect for travelers who`d like to hire lodging options for a long duration whereas the business visitors would cherish their stay at the Hotel Regal Pacific.

A passport is required by all nationals seeking entry into the Chilean capital city.

A visa is not required by the nationals of US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and South Africa for stays of up to 90 days. However, the nationals of above mentioned countries need to be in possession of a Tourist Card that is issued free of charge upon arrival at the airport.

Passengers with America, Canadian, Australian and Mexican passports must pay a reciprocity tax on arrival at the Santiago international airport.

Spring or autumn season is the best time to visit Santiago as the weather is quite pleasant during these months. December to March is the summer time when the city inhabitants head towards the hill. Travelers seeking to avoid crowds would best enjoy their Santiago vacation during this time.

Santiago enjoys a Mediterranean type of climate. Summers in the city are hot and dry, whereas winters are mild and moist. The summer season experiences an average high of around 28 degree Celsius and in winters the average temperature hovers around 11 degree Celsius. Santiago witnesses maximum amount of air during winters.

Currency:The unit of currency used in Santiago, Chile is the Chilean Peso (CLP). Foreign currency can be exchanged either at the airport or Foreign Exchange Bureaus. Do consult with your debit and credit card banks about the foreign currency transaction fees charged at Santiago.

Language:The official language of Chile is Spanish. Several indigenous languages, such as Mapudungun and Aymara are also spoken in the country.