Santiago

Santiago de Chile enjoys a spectacular setting: sprawled across the fertile Santiago valley, 100km (62 miles) from the Pacific coast, the city is dominated by the mighty Andes to the east and a smaller coastal mountain range to the west.

Many visitors still regard Santiago as little more than a convenient place to spend the night before heading elsewhere in Chile. But to avoid Santiago is to overlook a quirky, vibrant city. Travellers prepared to venture beyond their hotel lobbies will be rewarded by colonial churches, lively markets, colourful street life and a surprisingly varied restaurant scene and nightlife.

In the bustling city centre, modern structures sit alongside colonial buildings, and the 18th-century cathedral is reflected in a glass-fronted tower block. Santiago is a city of atmospheric old quarters and shady parks with a thriving artistic and cultural scene. The city's museums, albeit small, boast impressive collections, while quality cuisine is accessible to those on even the tightest of budgets.